Under the Pecan Trees

These Vintage Godinger Santa Spreaders were too great not to bring home! Two sets of four in the loveliest green velvet boxes. What do you think about using them as butter knives? Too wild?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2023 UL Alumni Friendsgiving Lunch - each one of us added to the table decor and menu. Of course the turkey plates and Atlas glasses made an appearance. Extremely grateful for this work family!

While I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving, I’m also dreaming of a white Christmas!

Happy Holidays! I’m seeing the chinoiserie/blue and white trend extending into Christmas, and the Spode tree plates just arrived. Can’t wait to set a table using these beauties! 🎄

It’s officially November! And we’re giving away a Friendsgiving Table! Llke the Under the Pecan Trees FB page, then post your name in the comments.

I’ll randomly pick one lucky winner to receive a Friendsgiving Table at your home or office. This free rental package includes up to 10 place settings (salad plate and dinner plate, charger, and crystal wine and tea glasses) and table decor. You provide table cloth, flatware and the friends. To be redeemed on a mutually selected date in November 2023, and location is within a 4 hour driving radius of Lafayette, LA.

October flew by, but not without exciting news. Under the Pecan Trees - as a small business - is officially open! We now can rent the dishes you see in our pictures or mix and match for your own look. Dream come true! Next up - a logo and inventory website! 🌳❤️ 🍽️

Beautiful weather calls for a mimosa brunch on the patio. And you know we had to use these new window plates!

Traveling today and found these sweet plates on the way. Each plate in the set brings a different color - red, blue, yellow, green… I see a French country brunch in our future. Croissants and mimosas! Who wants to join us?

Snapped pics this morning. I’m in love with these new tea cup sets paired with pastel fiesta plates. For spring, bring in a cute bunny salad plate or for baby showers, add a Wedgwood one. So many options by switching out the one piece. Note the recently acquired lilac plate 😍

Thanks to my favorite Uncle Larry, a limited edition discontinued lilac Fiesta dinner plate arrived today! To say I giggled with glee would be an understatement! Here it is with a couple of other pieces. I can’t wait to set a table and show you. Whose dining room table can we borrow? So pretty!! 😍

Yesterday I met two new friends for lunch at a cute little bistro inside the most exquisite interior decor /antique shop. Many of the displays shared a gold theme for the season, which inspired me to bring out these beauties. The dinner plate is Spode, salad is Wedgwood Patrcian, and appetizer/bread plate is Royal Bayreuth. The intricate gold rim on the wine glass is a favorite of mine. I really do need to learn how to take better pictures. These just don’t do it justice!

This reminds me of fall - caramel apples, apple butter, baked apples with cinnamon, warm cider. I like the different textures and the pop of red with the green. Remind me again, when will it feel like autumn?

I’m really excited - I’ve been working on an Easter place setting for almost a year and I’m now down to one piece needed. Ah the infamous limited edition, discontinued in the 1990’s, lilac fiesta dinner plate. Anyone have one plate they’d sell for under $100?

People often think designing vintage place settings means a simple visit to Goodwill. I wish it was that easy! Actually, my plates come from estate sales, antique stores, online vintage dish groups and such.

Most of the settings take several months to find 6, 8 or 10 matching plates in the same design. Then it takes a while to find plates to layer. Part of the joy is the creativity and the other part is the fun of the search!

Channeling fall by mixing plate designs and, in lieu of a traditional appetizer plate, adding a personal charcuterie board topped off with a taste of pumpkin bisque. The turtle cheesecake on the mini pedestal adds to the anticipation of autumn flavors. I’m ready for cooler weather!

There is something special about a place setting. Maybe because it gives us a sense of family - passed down holiday recipes served on Grandma’s dishes. Or maybe because it signals friends gathering to celebrate. Or maybe it’s a host’s way of showing gratitude for those sitting around the table. For me it’s all of these things and more. Join me as I chronicle journeys to build memorable settings for family meals, small friend gatherings and so much more. Welcome to the page!

-amy armstrong