Sunday, February 05, 2006

Froggy Went a Courtin'




Click photos to enlarge.
There is an edit below.
A day or two ago, I clicked on a post at Melange, and I was surprised to see that Roxanne had a little something for me:

http://melange1.blogspot.com/2006/02/frog-went-courting.html

It was a big surprise, since I had been preparing this post called Froggy Went a Courtin', referring to the title of a tabletop design competition that I entered in a local floral design contest last month. The photos didn't come out all that well since it was darker than usual in the room, but perhaps you can get the gist of it anyway.

The dishes, which are my everyday ones, have frogs, lilypads, water lilies and dragonflies around the edges. In the top photo, you can barely make out a frog container; it has a yoke across the frog's shoulders, and it holds 2 small glass vials (which are holding lavender roses). The glass dish and the frog sit on a lily pad made from galax leaves, and there are tumbled green glass bits in the water, as well as 2 small frogs. Another small green frog holds onto the edge of the glass dish.

In the bottom picture, a small arrangement to the left (which was cut off in the picture) is in a green porcelain frog, and nestled amoung the roses is another small frog.

I do, as I have mentioned before, collect frogs. Not the cartoonish kind, but real-looking frogs, of any size. As time permits, I will photograph and post some of my frog collection for you. Enjoy!




Edit: some have asked how I did in the competition. I was the only entrant in the design for tables for two, so I won by default. This is the first competition I have ever entered, and the benefit of it was reading the judges' comments afterward. The judges (there were three) are given papers to fill out, with categories such as: relationship to theme, overall design, scale to table, floral mechanics. They have to assign a number from 1-5 to each category. Out of a possible 25 points per judge, I received 23, 22 and 19. The lower one said: "I would like to have seen a more whimsical tablecloth."


Had I been willing to spend a lot of money on the competition, I would have used a more whimsical treatment for the table. What you cannot see in these photos is that the front of the table cloth was pulled up into a fold on each corner and it had a bow like the ones on the napkins, into which a rose was inserted. I would have preferred a better cloth, but I used what I already had.


24 comments:

Lisa said...

what a lovely table setting! How did you do in the contest?

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I love alkl things Froggy! And that oarticular Rose, by the way, is my favorite one, ever!
Your dishes are charming, Judy...the whole arrangement of EVERYTHING is charming! Can't want to see more of your Froggy goodies!

Here from Michele this afternoon.

carmilevy said...

As someone who grew up with the nickname "Kermit," I can honestly say I relate all too well to frogs.

This is lovely: the lighting is just fine. And it brings comfort to see something so painstakingly prepared and so obviously perfect in every way.

utenzi said...

Wow! That's a lot of green, Judy. And a lot of frogs too. Your dedication to the theme is extraordinary--now you just need the right wedding to use it with. I'll echo Lisa's question and also ask how you did in the competition--or is it still ongoing?

Michele sent me!

Unknown said...

The dishes look like majolica, which I love. I like frogs too. There is something about them that is so silly and cute.

Love the whole table setting.

Here via you know who.

srp said...

Love the soothing color of the roses. Really, you should have won this contest. It looks wonderfully romantic to me.
Your frogs are much more refined than mine.

Unknown said...

Well, I think it looks wonderful in that Oprah-esque dining for the Queen style and I don't mind that the tablecloth isn't handmade brocade from some third world country. So there!

Here via michele. Ribbit.

kontan said...

how cute!

here from micheles

Greg Finnegan said...

Those are just delightful! It's worth all of yoour work, and the photos are very good, too! I wish I had your touch!

Merle said...

Judy ~~ A lovely post which shows
your talent as a florist.
Beautiful roses, dishes and frogs. Glad you did so well in the competition. Cheers.

Anonymous said...

What a work of art! I wish I was invited.

Here via michele's tonight.

Anonymous said...

Ooo...I love your design. How clever. Big frog fan here too! Doesn't matter that you won by default - you still won.

here via Michele...

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Very Very Inventive and charming as all get out!
Michele sent me back again, dear Judy.

Jamie Dawn said...

What a lovely and fun table setting. I give you 25 out of 25! My Gramilo used to sing me that song when I was growing up.

Dak-Ind said...

thats so cool, my neighbor is serisouly "into" frogs so i showed her your setting. she loved it!

by default is still a W! grats.

michele sent me

Karen said...

Judy, that is AWESOME! I think your design is beautiful and I would have given you a 25...for sure! Congrats on the win. It was well-deserved!

Michele sent me...

amarkonmywall said...

I would love to dine at such a charming table! Those lavender roses are my favorite. I have a sterling silver bush planted in the garden and they are fragrant and last long when cut.

I have a splendid froggie photo I will post for you sometime this week! And yes, Rich does know Paul quite well-says he a " real nice guy" as commissioners go. :-)

Unknown said...

Judy--What beautiful roses. I love your design and arrangements! I think you probably would have won anyway. Absolutely beautiful; peaceful and relaxing to look at. Just soothes the soul!

:)

Lisa said...

Well I think its great, even if you were the only entrant :-)

I hope you had a wonderful weekend, Judy, and enjoy the week ahead!!

Anonymous said...

What an enchanting table setting, the color of the roses look perfect with the china. I can only imagine the work that went into the project. (when you tell people you won, you should leave out the default part since you would have won anyway)

Malinda777 said...

OH MY GOSH! You are so talented! I disagree with the judge about the tablecloth. A "kermit" tablecloth would have cluttered up the quality of the presentation. Just perfect the way it is. My years meeting Asians in the casinos taught me that frogs are a very lucky and necessary water sign. I have a frog planter on my front porch.

By the way...for goodness sake...
WHO IS MICHELLE? She sure sends a lot of folks to your site. Must be quite a gal :)

Anonymous said...

Michelle never sends me, but I always come over on my own! LOL
I loved this table, Judy, especially the dishes. that's exactly what i'd pick if I were shopping for new dishes.

Michele said...

Oh Judy, how wonderful! I choose not to think that you won by default, but rather that you won by design.

I belong to a garden club that puts on a semi-annual competition and I have seen some glorious table-for-two enteries. Nome were better than yours and most spend a considerable amount of money.

I LOVE that you collect frogs. I have a ceramic (non-cute) one that sits hiding under one of my rose bushes. I have never named her - however, I shall inform her that she is now kenju. She will, of course, be thrilled.

ribbiticus said...

hi judy! wonderful table setting! thanks for sharing it with us. :) course, being a fellow frog-lover, i would have chosen you to win anytime anywhere. :)