TRAY CHIC!

I have enjoyed making my "Breakfast Trays" and they have become quite famous since Janine posted them on her Minworks blog, Dec 31, 2011.  And once they hit Pinterest they started showing up EVERYWHERE!   I had made those little trays over 10 years ago and had even taught a workshop on them, yet I hadn't made any more until now.  These I've made over the past few months and I plan on making more.  Each is ONE OF A KIND and is supposed to tell a story on its own so it is packed with details that some may question.  The nice thing about this hobby is that you can do as you please and express yourself and interpret the moment as you like.  I call this tray "Wish you were Here".  It has old photos of  people and landmarks ,an Eiffel tower, pocket watch, a watch gear, an old postcard, a toile napkin, a tiny twig with tinnier buds on it, a couple of chocolate dipped biscuits, a teacup with saucer, and a teapot with pattern of architectural fragments along it's sides.  The tray is edged in black and the body of the tray is a faux burl wood.  The idea  was to make it look interesting and elegant.

I 've  named this one "Springtime!"  This was the first time I decided to try a draped cloth on the tray as a base for everything else on top.  The dynamics are changed with how much can be included and how it can be placed.  The fold of the cloth is now part of the composition and has to be factored in visually as well as practically.  One side of the tray has to connect with the other in a natural way and balance.  That is why I placed a small brown nest in the left corner.  Brown is a natural compliment to blue and gives some visual weight to the otherwise, top heavy tray.  The gold cake stand lifts the eye upward and then the view slides downward toward the right corner where the teacup and saucer rests on the folded linen.  The pink in the cakes is echoed in the small pink charger beneath the blue and white luncheon plate and the muted inside of the teacup.  Gold accents are carried across the tray in the teapot decoration, gold hearts and  in the cake plate.  The color of the rose, duplicated in the teacakes themselves.   The tray is a worn and faded blue with shots of gold peeking through. This piece is very feminine.

Bruce will be noting my lack of depth of field in this shot of the tray called "Mother's Day".  I have fuzzy cupcakes but as for the rest he just might approve.  The teapot has a dragonfly motif on a lovely pale green and gold is carried across the entire tray.  A tiny oyster shell with a pearl is on a gold and pearl necklace that is strung along the china and lost among the folds of the cloth.  A rose, a bowl of cherries and a picture of "MOTHER" is included.  It could be mother's birthday or a ' just because I love you, mom' kind of celebration.  The tray is a shabby pink with gold shots streaking through it.  The height of the cake stand makes the composition very light and airy.

Another pink and white tray but the tray is a bit longer than the other 3 and a bit wider. This is "Pastoral", I made it with the music of Handel playing in my head.  I made this tray frothy with lace and cupids frolicking amid the pink and white confections on the cake plate.  This tray has a pink and green teapot with a matching cream and sugar bowl.  again to give the visual weight to the composition, I covered the white dinner plate with a pale aqua cover that Fatima made years ago( and has since forgotten how).  It helps to gently guide the eye down from the serving tray to the centre of the picture and then up again to the teapot.  To enforce the tranquility of the whole thing a sheep ornament is situated in between the translucent plate cover and the "glass" pedestal stand.  A pink and lace placemat is the anchor color unifying the whole.

"PASTORAL'

Finally, the last of the current collection is for myself.  I  am so  blessed to have some pieces of Theresa Welch's work in my collection.  I purchased the teacup and saucer and the delicate china plate from the Seattle miniature show many many years ago.  They were NOT cheap.  BUT, the work is incredibly fine and the painted detail remarkable.  I gave Janine some of her blue and white china as a gift many years ago which she is now using in her china cabinets in her French House/ Dining Room.  This used to be sold under the banner of 'the China Closet' and  when I thought it was time to have more, I found that the business had retired, and that was that.  So, I treasure this eggshell china all the more and I decided to finally use it and so I made this tray using a beautifully patterned teapot from England and a VERY FULL cake plate that I made, of all the sweets that I plan on eating all by myself!  hahaha.( they are low cal).  The tray is burl wood and the top edge is lined in black which ties the teapot to it. The white draped cloth and the
antique lace napkin give the elements a feminine look but not nearly as soft and girly as the 3 prior.  The cake plate is wider and I think is actually too big BUT this ones for ME!!!
and for me it is 'TRAY CHIC'! 

elizabeth

BRUCE ALMIGHTY

I was able to take up Janine's offer to have Bruce instruct me on how to use the Canon digital elph, that was handed down to me via my son after he got an upgrade.  It sat in the drawer until I needed to get photos for this blog.  I have NO SKILL with electronics but I needed to acquire some basics if I wanted to showcase my work.  Enter"Bruce Almighty," who has saved the day once again.  Janine  has the most generous knight in shining armor who has rescued the readers of this blog. from photo sensativity.   Janine put out the S.O.S. (save our sight) and Bruce responded and schooled me on what to do and how to do it. Bruce took the photo of the peaches above.  The stem is preserved oregano.

I took this shot and jiggled the table which jiggled the camera so it is a tiny bit blurry.  Still need practice.

Bruce took this photo.  He was giving me a quick tutorial on how to use the camera that I have.  Janine was quick to forestal my desire to get a new one after so many photos of mine have come out fuzzy.  So glad that it was ME that was faulty instead of the camera! Just look at how close it CAN get.  Yahoo!!!!

Bruce demonstrated different ways of lighting.  This one is lit from the left side primarily, but is still clear.  I made everything on this table; how do you like it?

Another overview by Bruce using the light to create mood.

 Here is the same little table top taken on the real table top at the home of Bruce and Janine.
I had a so much fun visiting them.  I got a chance to look at the garden extension that Janine is posting on her MINWORKS blog. (go to www.minworks.blogspot.com)  The garden is AMAZING and it's still in its early stages yet.  Just call them the Dynamic Duo!  Thanks you two for all your help.
Bruce, is my HERO.