Sharing Easter Favorites

We were to head off to France early next week, so I didn't plan to put my Easter things out this year. Then Life interfered, caused the trip to be postponed, and now I find us in town with the bunnies still hibernating in boxes. I wanted to post about some of my favorite Easter things, so I reached into the photo album to see if there was something I might share. The above mosaic is a table setting from last year. It was my turn to host our group of long time girlfriends for our Easter dinner. We've been sharing special times together for over 25 years. I posted about our Christmas dinner evening here.

The table was set with MacKenzie-Childs plates from the Taylor Series. Each plate has a fluted edge and a different design, but all are finished with pastel glazes. MacKenzie-Childs still produces items in the Taylor Series, though not all the patterns are still being made.

I used Sir Christopher silver and monogramed white linen napkins held with antique French napkin rings.

Individual leaping rabbits created by Debbee Thibault were used as place card holders. They were the party favors I sent home with each of my friends. I had luckily stumbled upon these in the clearance bin at Neiman Marcus Last Call months before. I scooped them up knowing they would be perfect for just such an occasion.

The center piece was a vintage rectangular silver tray (on loan from a friend) filled with some of my hand-painted eggs that I shared here in a mosaic last Saturday. Paper pulp rabbits by Two's Company and a covered bunny box by Nicol Sayre gave the nest of eggs a bit of dimension and interest. A chain of vintage glass bead garland imported by Bethany Lowe Designs entwined gracefully in and around the rabbits and eggs.

Dinner was served buffet style from the sideboard. A vase from MacKenzie-Childs held pussy willow branches on which I hung hand stitched felt Easter figures, a few other Easter ornaments, and some speckled bird eggs.

This sweet bunny made by ESC Trading Company, Inc. in 2002 demurely stood beside the vase of pussy willows.

Dessert of lemon meringue pie baked in MacKenzie-Childs Piccadilly pie dishes and served on dessert plates from MacKenzie-Childs was enjoyed on the sun porch so we could take in the lovely spring evening. A bouquet of white snapdragons from a friend's garden filled the Kaldun & Bogle pitcher which is in the whimsical form of a bunch of carrots.

These hand painted and embroidered linen towels were thoughtful gifts from friends who know I have a fondness for special tea towels.

Since I don't have my Easter things out to share today, I decided to give you a peek at my friend Susan's Easter things. You may remember her home at Halloween spotlighted here.

Susan's foyer includes a bench that 

is the perfect spot for holiday pillows.

This little bunny couple happily 

greets guests from the entry table.

Susan's mantel is ever changing with the seasons. 

 This year she added the glittered Happy Easter sign . . .

and a small egg tree at the other 

end among her treasured Staffordshire pieces.

The butler's table holds a 

crystal basket of fresh flowers, Limoges bunny boxes, 

and a majolica dish filled with eggs.

A handsome chocolate bunny watches 

over a grouping of antique dresser jars with silver lids.

Hand painted eggs and more collectable treasures 

share space with a vase of pink tulips 

and white agapanthus blooms.

The window seat holds more 

of Susan's collection of blue and white 

and offers a colorful backdrop to a 

silver tray filled with decorated eggs.

A vignette of antique boxes 

and majolica mix with . . .

a box filled with more special eggs.

Susan's collection of needlepointed 

Easter bunnies and eggs gathers 

together on another table in her living room.

Thank you for stopping by today and allowing me to share a few favorite things. Click on the links below to visit these beautiful blogs and see a list of participants for their fun weekly memes.

Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Laurie @ Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things on Saturdays

Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Tam @ Gypsy Corner for Three or More Tuesday

Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Cindy @ My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Happy Springtime to each of you, dear friends!