Easter – New Life, New Beginnings

Easter is one of my favorite times of the year. It is the symbol of new life and beginnings. The hope for our “tomorrows.” Through the words of Jesus, the meaning of Easter is clearly defined: “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” Read Luke 22:14-20 for the full account of the last meal Jesus had before His death and resurrection. Framed around that Scripture, the name for our Easter tablescape this year was “New Life, New Beginnings.”

Easter Tablescape Inspiration

This year’s tablescape incorporated the colors of springtime, a time of new beginnings and a reminder of the new life we find in Christ. Our inspiration for the theme colors came from sitting on my porch one morning, enjoying my coffee while watching the birds feasting at the feeders. A beautiful Eastern Bluebird arrived. The buds on the trees were bursting with the color of green. The purple and white irises were beginning to bloom. Such a beautiful canvas, much like a Monet painting, representing the colors of spring, new life, and a new beginning.  Thus, the tablescape theme and color scheme began to take shape.

Childhood Memories

In preparing for this year’s Easter Celebration, several childhood memories came to mind. One memory was gathering the fresh eggs from the chickens on Saturday evening, boiling them, and then dyeing them beautiful colors. On Easter morning, we found our baskets on the screened-in porch, filled not only with the dyed eggs but also jelly beans, marshmallow eggs, and a chocolate bunny. Nothing fancy, just plain and simple baskets.

The highlight of our Easter Celebration was church, especially Sunday School. Dressed in our new “handmade and designed by our mom” Easter clothes, our family marched off to church; me in my frilly dress, hat, gloves, patent leather purse, and shoes, and my three brothers in new suits and pastel shirts. On our walk to church, we made a stop at my grandparents so they could see us in our Easter finery. Grandmother Headrick took our picture with her little Brownie camera.

After church, our Easter dinner included Baked Ham, Chicken with Cornbread Dressing, Sweet Peas, Candied Yams, Potato Salad, Fruit Salad, Fried Okra, Slaw, and Stuffed Eggs. Most of the food on the table was home-grown or raised. I remember the homemade yeast rolls baking in the stove and how the smell filled the house. I can still taste my mom’s Fresh Coconut Cake and Chocolate Cream Pies. Much of the meal traditions from childhood have carried over into our adulthood. We serve almost the same menu.

Our mother did a great job in teaching us that Easter is not about a bunny but a time to reflect on the Cross and the gift of life given through the death and resurrection of Jesus. However, as children, Easter bunnies were a part of our make-believe.  We enjoyed stories such as “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter. We were not damaged emotionally because Peter Rabbit’s father was baked in a pie by a gardener named Mr. McGregor.  But since the Easter Bunny would leave our baskets without us seeing him, we had our doubts about his true existence. That is until the family gathered at the homeplace to say goodbye to our Grandmother Crumpton when she passed away.

It was stormy weather the weekend our Grandmother died. My dad had four brothers, and with all five families together that weekend in Mississippi, there were a lot of kids age 6 and younger under one roof. With all the rain, we were concerned about the Easter bunny not coming to hide eggs. Our Aunt Joyce, to keep us quiet in a grieving household, looked out the window to see the farm animals grazing in the pasture and exclaimed, “There he is! Look, the Easter bunny is standing out in the field!” What she was referring to was a donkey with long, floppy ears, but she was convincing enough for us to believe we were definitely seeing the Easter bunny for the first time! It was settled. The Easter bunny did exist! In fact, it was several years before one of my brothers, who was five at the time, discovered that the Easter bunny was not a donkey. Oh, such cherished memories of days long ago. Comment below and tell me about your memories!

Creating the Easter Tablescape

The fabric we chose for the table runner, Wildflower, reminds me of a Monet painting. The reversible placemats, made with a blue diagonal design fabric, complement the table runner. Cups and saucers in purple (purchased at Old Time Pottery for $1.29 each), filled with the annual plant Sweet Alyssum, served as gifts for each guest to take home. The placemats had a bird appliqued to the front panel in the same fabric as the table runner. For the centerpiece, I used an oak log surrounded by birds, rabbits, and of course, Easter lilies. Chocolate Cadbury eggs were scattered around the centerpiece.

White cotton napkins trimmed in Battenberg lace were secured with a napkin ring I made from cardstock. Using Adobe Illustrated, I created an egg-shaped design with quotes and scriptures, then printed the design on white cardstock. To match the napkin rings to the look and feel of the “Monet” fabric, I used watercolors to paint designs on the cut-out egg shapes. Each cardstock egg was hole punched on each side of the top, ribbon inserted, and tied around the top part of the napkin to finish the napkin ring.

This tablescape was a fun and enjoyable project. I hope these ideas will inspire you and then share your results with all of us! We learn from one another!

Check out the weekly ads at Old Time Pottery. Great deals and you will find inspiration for your next Tablescape project!

All the colors of spring combined together for this Springtime tablescape.

Easter Tablescape with all the colors of spring.

The beautiful colors of spring combined together for this Springtime tablescape.

A punch of purple by adding the purple cup and saucer set as a gift for my guests.

Napkin rings made from egg shaped cutouts printed with quotes and scriptures about Easter Sunday.

Napkin rings made from prints with quotes and scriptures then tied with ribbon.

The center tablerunner from a line of fabric named Wildflower. Reminds me of a Monet painting.

Birds, rabbits, and Cadbury Eggs surround the log centerpiece.

Easter lilies added to complete the Springtime tablescape.