Thanksgiving Table Décor | Part 3 | Menus + Linens

PHOTO BY GABRIELA HANSEN

I love it when all of the lovely details start to come together. With the floral centrepiece and Moroccan-inspired "punched tin" mini pumpkins complete, it was time to finish the place settings. I love a simple yet layered place setting, and I am a big fan of the use of beautiful typography to set the mood for the special meal. Enter my lovely friend Melody Hansen, who graciously offered to design menus for this year's Harvest Gathering in order to give it an extra special touch of thoughtful detail and design.

PHOTO BY GABRIELA HANSEN

I love collaborating with people who understand my aesthetic. The natural and organic simplicity of Melody's hand drawn illustrations framing the top and bottom of these elegant menus were the perfect choice to communicate the casual elegance of our seasonal celebration. The watercolour paper on which we chose to print the menus had the same quality as a natural linen fabric - simple yet substantial and sophisticated.

PHOTO BY GABRIELA HANSEN

I'm a big believer in linen napkins - firstly because they are better for the environment, and secondly because they make the meal feel more elegant. That said, I didn't want the table linens to feel formal. With 14 people sitting around the extended table that we added, I also needed to come up with an option that was cost effective. The solution? $5/yard fabric from Designer Fabric Outlet, a bit of time in front of my sewing machine, and voila! French bistro style cotton-linen blend table napkins that were the perfect bridge between formal and casual, just like the menus.