Welcome to the 853rd Tablescape Thursday! Since I brought my wicker breakfast table up to the Dollhouse a few months ago…
…I no longer have a table in my breakfast room here in Georgia. So until spring arrives, you’ll probably be seeing a lot of tables here in the dining room. That’s a big change since I normally set tables in my breakfast room or on the porch where I get a lot more natural lighting. We will persevere though, right?! lol
I’ve been itching to use this Alice in Wonderland dinnerware I found in Tuesday Morning many years ago. It’s one of my favorite sets of dinnerware because it’s just so incredibly cute and clever. My hat is off to the designers of this whimsical design; you can tell so much thought was put into the design of each plate, bowl, and glass.
This AIW table setting ended up with a White Rabbit theme. I didn’t know where I was headed when I started setting the table, just knew I wanted to use my Alice in Wonderland dinnerware and gradually it just set itself. That’s how it feels sometimes—you start with one little idea and then the table just kinda sets itself.
I found these hilarious little “Eat Me” signs on Etsy many years ago…so perfect for an AIW-themed table. The bunny cupcake stands are from Pottery Barn many years ago. With Easter coming up in a few months, this would be a great time to watch for those appearing again in-store. I just noticed there’s a set of 4 stands available on eBay for the whopping cost of $268.50! Yeah, no! If you would like a set, I think I’d just wait and see what’s available this spring.
Let’s check out our place setting. Normally I would use white charger plates with this dinnerware, but since all 12 of those are in Ohio (note to self, bring 6 back to Georgia!) I was forced to go in a different direction.
Glad I added these red and gold glass chargers from Williams Sonoma to my charger arsenal a few years back. I like how they worked in this week’s tablescape.
The salad plates in this Alice in Wonderland dinnerware feature four different characters from the book. I bet you can guess which ones!
Of course, that wily Cheshire Cat is one of the characters we see on both the dinner and salad plates. If I’m remembering correctly, I found the glassware a few years after purchasing the dinnerware. I noticed as I was setting this table, each character is featured on the glassware, too. So I paired the glasses with their coordinating salad plates.
Did you guess the White Rabbit would be on a salad plate? He’s such a funny character!
As I was setting this table, I found myself wishing I had a doll-sized umbrella—more on that in just a second.
Of course, the Mad Hatter had to be featured on a salad plate.
Do you know where the phrase “Mad Hatter” comes from? Doing a little research online, I learned that a lot of hat makers during the 18th and 19th centuries used felt when making hats, and unfortunately, mercury was used in the production of felt back then. The mercury poisoning led to some really bizarre behavior in the hatters, including hallucinations.
I found the “Drink Me” signs/messages from the same Etsy seller who made the “Eat Me” signs. I can’t remember if they came with straws, or if I found those elsewhere.
The last character featured is, of course, Alice herself!
The wording on each plate has been done so beautifully! It’s one of the reasons I included the cups/saucers on the table. Again, this set was so cleverly and whimsically designed! In case you wish to look for this dinnerware online, it is hallmarked on back as follows: Alice in Wonderland Cafe, Paul Cardew, Designed in England, (c) 2010.
The dinner plate features all four characters that were featured on the salad plates with the addition of the Queen of Hearts. I wonder why they didn’t put her on a salad plate. Ummm. She’s not the most well-liked character in the book, so maybe they decided to stick with 4 characters for the salad plate design. The wording in the center of the plate says, “This is the most curious dinner party I’ve ever been to,” said Alice.
The Queen of Hearts is featured on the mugs that go with this set. (Photo from a previous table setting.)
Alice is on the other side of the mug.
I didn’t use the bowls in this table setting, but here’s how they look from a previous table setting. The wording on the bowls says, “I wish I hadn’t cried so much!” said Alice, as she swam about trying to find her way out. The cups have the same wording as the bowls while the saucers under the cups say, “I’m very tired of swimming about here, O Mouse! Mouse, do you know the way out of this pool?”
I didn’t have napkin rings that felt just right for this table. The closest thing I had were burlap, bunny-ear napkin rings that I made a few years back. They kinda work with the White Rabbit theme of this table. I bet there are some cute AIW napkin rings out there somewhere. I very much like how the gold, beading on the edge of the napkin paired with the gold accent on the charger plates. Not sure I’ve ever paired those two together in a table setting before, but I do like how they look.
Adorable salt and pepper shakers with the creamer and sugar behind them…
So, about our White Rabbit theme, I found these wonderfully tall, white bunnies in Marshalls many years ago. I love using them in Easter/Spring table settings. This bunny is holding a watch, trying hard to not be late! Har, Har.
Earlier I mentioned that I need a doll-size umbrella. The umbrella would be for the White Rabbit on this end. The White Rabbit in the AIW story is carrying an umbrella, along with his pocket watch. I found some cute umbrellas last night on Amazon that I think would be the perfect size.
A whimsical, fun cake stand is at the center of our table. I don’t remember where I found it so long ago, but I’m pretty sure it was in either HomeGoods or Marshalls. They always had the most charming pieces back in the day. In recent years, the HomeGoods near me had stopped carrying a lot of dinnerware, but the last time I visited a few months before Christmas, that had changed. They had so many cute things in, I had a hard time resisting. I did buy the woodland snowman that I’ve used in a few table settings and some charger plates that I’ve never gotten around to using. I should set a table with those sometime soon.
Lift the lid and you’ll find more cupcakes begging to be eaten. Hahaha!
I hope you enjoyed this whimsical, silly table setting! These are my favorite tables to set—they make me feel like a kid again, if only for a day.
Looking forward to all the beautiful table settings linked for this week’s Tablescape Thursday!
If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then copy and paste the address showing in the address bar, into the “url” box when you link up. You’ll need to include a link in your post back to the party to link up and participate. That’s so visitors to your blog will be able to find the party and the other Tablescape Thursday participants. Requiring a link back also prevents businesses and scammers from linking up to sell their products. Please, don’t add your post name/blog name ALL IN CAPS…it tends to create big spaces between the rows of links. Please do not link up table settings that were just recently shared in the last few weeks for Tablescape Thursday.
Thank you Susan, and your AIW tablescape is over the top adorable! I love it all!!
Thanks, Jenna!
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Love this cute table! And the red chargers couldn’t be more perfect. You must repeat this for your grandsons if you go to Ohio for Easter! (P.S. if you find yourself in need of someone to help with the edible decor – I’m available! LOL)
I was thinking about that, I think they would get a kick out of it. 🙂
This is quite possibly the MOST enchanting table that I have ever seen—just adorable!
Thanks so much, Merri Jo! It was fun to create!
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I really enjoyed this table setting. I thought the red charges looked fabulous with the place setting.
Thanks, Catherine! I believer I like them better than the white ones I always use.
Susan, I love your AIW table!!! So many cute pieces on the table! Thanks for sharing. I also love the AIW teapot!!
Sheryl
Thanks so much, Sheryl! They really created so many cute pieces for this dinnerware!
I LOVE your AIW pieces, Susan – SO cute!! I love those little bunny serving plates too, but you’re right, that Etsy price is a bit much. Thanks so much for sharing all your creativity, and for hosting, of course. Happy Thursday!
Yeah, I would never pay those extortionist prices. Have a great weekend, Barbara!
my favorite table !!!!!!
Thanks so much, Tamara!
Susan, I love that Alice in Wonderland tablescape. Those red chargers are gorgeous, but the whimsy of that dishware is so adorable. I think my granddaughter would have a lot of fun with that! Thank you for the party. I’m sharing the love and symbolism of a cardinal themed Valentine’s Day table today. Thanks for hosting us.
Ohhh, that sounds beautiful! I love Cardinals! I have so many Cardinals coming to my feeders in Ohio, was happy to see that!
What a whimsical table…transported me to Wonderland!
Thanks, Sandra! 🙂
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This is absolutely charming! Love it!
Thanks so much, Becky! It was fun to create!
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The Alice setting is so adorable, you have brought a smile, and a bit of a laugh!
Thanks so much, Jacqueline! Mission accomplished!
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So sweet!! Your Alice in Wonderland is such a fun table filled with so many enchanting details!! Love it!
Thanks so much, Ann! I had a lot of fun putting it together!
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Beautiful table. A very popular theme. An Alice in Wonderland restaurant was on the RCCL Harmony. We didn’t try it but the waiters were dressed like the characters. The mad hatter roamed around during lunch interacting with guests to get them to sign up for this specialty dining. If you ever visit Colorado Springs, there is a restaurant called “The Rabbit Hole”. Food is great, entrance is hidden and it is underground. Very whimsical. The menu items are all geared towards the book. Enjoy those cupcakes!
That is too cute! That sounds like such a fun trip!
So clever that they hid the entrance underground. We could have that restaurant in Underground Atlanta, couldn’t we? lol I wonder if Underground ATL is even still open.
What a creative table, Susan! You did a fantastic job. And I love the way those beautiful red chargers (some of my very favorites) look with the setting. The accessories like the chubby bunny salt shaker are adorable. And I really like the colorful mugs. The cutlery, the centerpiece bunnies and cake stand, all help create the scene. You brought it all together, beautifully.
As for those adorable bunny cupcake holders, I’ve had my eye out for some ever since I first saw yours, years ago. No luck. Therefore, I am calling “dibs!” if you ever decide to sell them, lol. Honestly, this is such a great tablescape and I personally love that it’s in the dining room with all the other pretty things in the background. Thanks for putting it all together for us. I bet it was fun to do.
Thanks so much, Pam! You got it! If I ever come across some online, I’ll let you know. A year or two after PB had those, I saw some similar ones somewhere, can’t remember where now, but they were almost identical. Maybe check eBay in March in case they start popping up there fore Easter.
Just charming in all aspects. Found myself wondering about the watch; is it an antique or a very good decor piece? Perfect with the rabbit.
Thanks so much, Cheryl! It’s an inexpensive decor piece, forgotten where I found it but I bought back when I put the first AIW table together many years ago.
That is such a fun whimsical cute tablescape, Susan. Who doesn’t love Alice and her cohorts? Well done.