The Evesham Luncheon

One of my New Years resolutions this year is to connect on a deeper level with the friendships that matter to me the most. As many a working wife and mother can tell you, sometimes our friendships take a back seat to the demands of everyday life, so this year I have decided to make time, find time and make the most of my time with my friends.
As reported in Better Homes and Gardens this month, many of us think having a quiet dinner at home with a few friends is better then an evening out. However to a tablescaper, dinner in does not mean that it has to be a casual affair on the everyday dishes. Setting the stage for a casual, comforting dinner is what we do best!

Welcome friends to -
The Evesham Dinner

As an homage to friendship,

 I have to tell you that it was a long ago

meeting of a wonderful woman from England

 who one day while having dinner

at a beautifully set table

 shared with me her passion for collecting

 Royal Worcester Evesham dinnerware

I commented on the numerous fruit patterns

 and number of serving pieces

 to which she responded,

 You must collect!

And so it began.

Shown here is the complimenting

 color banded luncheon plate

'Peach and Blackberry'

Sans the Bordallo Pinheiro

green cabbage leaf soup bowl

Here I have suited the Evesham luncheon plate

with the Queens bone china salad plate called

Hookers Fruit

 This set also has several variations

of the fruit pattern

 that mix well with the Royal Worcester and I was happy to discover could be found at many of our favorite haunts

Tonight I decided to go with the Portuguese

cabbage leaf charger

instead of placemats and/or tablecloth

As mentioned before,

 there are many, many serving

pieces covered and open

each having a distinctive pattern 

View of the top of

the small covered casserole

in the Evesham Gold

This little gravy boat and plate was bought

during a trip to London several years ago.

I had to buy several pieces from the source!

The napkins were a Linens and Things purchase

 many years ago 

and are a perfect match

 to the dishes

The silk orchard has been around for a while

as it can move from room to room depending on need

The candlestick holders are new this year from TJ Maxx

Of course after dinner there is coffee, set on the buffet

The small platter is not part of either set

 but if it was a fruit pattern -

 it was going home with me!

Final view

Thanks for joining me today.

 I wish you beautiful friendships in 2011

 and beautiful tables at which to celebrate them

This week I will be joining

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

and Susan at

Between Naps on the Porch

Special thanks to you both

Click on their links on the sidebars for more ideas

 from those sharing their creativity this week.