Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 1 this year, just about as late as it can possibly be. Does this mean a late spring too? Perhaps, so we need something bright and cheerful for winter days. It is a good time to do a new table with only what I have on hand. We’ll have some Mardi Gras fun today, and revisit a few past posts with more ideas. My tablescapes have become less elaborate as I concentrate on tables for two. I haven’t had a dinner party in three years, and don’t see myself doing one anytime soon. But still, I like a pretty setting for meals, and a little delight to dreary days.
The place settings have green chargers topped with my gold, square, stoneware plates. Purple flower-shaped cups with saucers complete the stack. I use these little cups for pudding and ice cream mostly, but they are just the right size for a soup starter. The purple dishes, gold plates, napkin rings, and candle stand are all thrift store finds.
Green napkins are held with gold rings sporting green beads alongside everyday flatware. There is a great story about those napkin rings, see the post Thrifting and An Amazing Story.
For the centerpiece, I got out my yellow ceramic basket and filled it with artificial greenery and purple flowers. Looking back at previous Mardi Gras tables, I tend to use this every year. In front, a candle stand with green glass votive holders.
All are draped in shiny gold, green and purple beaded necklaces. Coins are scattered around to complete the display. The beads came from the dollar store. I have scent-free tealights in the votive holders.
In the past, I’ve done more elaborate centerpieces, this one is one of my favorites. I used some of my evening bags and a pair of purple gloves in the display. The centerpiece is topped with a gold crown. See that whole tablescape in Mardi Gras Table 2019. That hop has a spring table blog hop and those links are still active, if you are in the mood for spring. It also showcases my green depression glass plates with purple chargers.
The evening bags are the perfect thing for the coins.
This one is so pretty with the white beading, and I haven’t been able to carry it anywhere in years. Putting them on a table is a way to enjoy them.
One more tablescape for you, my table from last year had a fleur-de-lis napkin fold, yellow print salad plates and a link to a tour of homes decorated for Mardi Gras. A Table for Fat Tuesday.
Now that we have a nice table, time for some food! I like shrimp, and having seafood makes sense for a carnival near the water. One of these days I need to share my shrimp and grits recipe that I plan to make for this year. But for today, my Shrimp Flower Appetizer with fresh avocado and remoulade sauce makes a great start to the meal.
Have my Asian Salad for the salad course, or a light lunch. It uses imitation crab. I still wish I hadn’t donated these plates back to the thrift store! They were deep enough to use as shallow bowls and perfect green to go with a lot of holiday meals.
If it is warm where you are, having some Cedar Plank Grilled Fish. I like salmon best, and My Sweet Babboo usually gets ahi tuna.
Try my Fish Tacos with two ways to cook the fish. Making shrimp tacos would be good, too.
Dessert? Well, how about having a Mardi Gras Cookie Party with my Vanilla Sugar Cookies with Mardi Gras sugar crystals in purple, green and gold. I cut these using a biscuit cutter to simulate coins with the crimped edges.
Mardi Gras wouldn’t be complete without my Mardi Gras Mini Quilt. This is a traditional block made up in purple, green and gold, with a hand beaded necklace on top. I put it out on the mini quilt stand, and complete the display with gold candles and a little green rabbit. I like to see my rabbits in springtime.
This Quick Squares Table Topper is in just the right colors for Mardi Gras. It sews up fast and can bust a bit of your stash for our Stashbuster Challenge. The March check in will be on Friday.
Do you have plans for Mardi Gras?
It is the last couple of days for Sulky’s Embroidery Month sale!
Impression Obsession – On Sale 50-60% off!
Fat Quarter Shop – Sales on Notions, Books, Patterns, and Fabric. See the Precuts and Books of the week, and don’t forget the daily Flash Sale.
MadamSew – up to 63% off notions, like rotary cutter blades and the Ultimate Presser Foot Set!
Find new ideas with Books on Sale at C&T Publishing.
From My Carolina Home 
What fun it is to see spring colors as February winds down. Delicious menu options! I have bunnies for every season, there are always some around keeping me company.
Those purple cup/saucers are amazing!
I agree, I love them.
As always, beautiful seasonal decorations 🙂
Love your tablescapes and all the recipes. By the way, in case ANYONE is on the fence about Madam Sew & their rotary cutters…. I ordered one during one of the amazing sales and blades. I like the feel of the rotary cutter in my hand and the blades are SO SHARP, and last SO LONG!
Not getting much done, more coming in than going out…sigh
What a lovely table! So glad I saw it on such a cold, dreary Sunday. I will try the salad and the table topper. Question – Are you through with Safelight quilts? I came across a bunch of blocks that I really planned on sewing, but, as usual, I forgot. Seems I do that on a regular basis. Next question – where on earth do you store all that china and stuff? Thanks, Carole, for a Sunday pickup.
Mary Ed
So fun to see your Mardi Gras tablescape – I love the purple and green together! I’m definitely ready for some more green in my world, so please, no late Spring. (Not that we have a choice 🙂 Those fish tacos sound yummy!
Honestly I’ve never cared for Mardi Gras colors till I saw your table, and wow, it’s gorgeous! And the mini is beautiful. I especially love those purple dishes. Thanks for the fish taco recipe – one of my favorite foods!
No plans for Mardi Gras so I sure enjoyed your post and experiencing it through that. I loved hopping to all your shared pages.
You have made me swoon again. Love your Mardi Gras tablescape. And the purple flower shape bowls and plates are to die for. With my health issues the past two years, along with the pandemic, thrifting has been out of the question. With the health issues resolving, really look forward to being able to start again real soon. Must find my own purple flower bowls. Thank you for the smiles and inspirations.
It must be a lot of fun to be a guest at your table.
Your tablescapes are always fun, Carole. Like you, I would have regretted giving up those nice green dishes, too! It’s one main reason I have trouble downsizing and getting rid of stuff, particularly stuff I love but hardly ever use. LOL Sometimes just nice to look at it. But I read a good hint (you’re a step ahead) to take pictures of these things as a keepsake, then donate. I’m working on it….not there yet. LOL
very lovely and festive carole…i did one of bonnie hunter’s mysteries in mardi gras colors…
Love your table and food fare for Mardi Gras. No plans here, just happy to have sunshine and spring-like temps in the forecast this week!
Carole, love your Mardi Gras table. and shrimp and grits would be perfect. I hope you share the recipe. No plans for us!
Thanks for the lovely picker upper! Dinner is over but I want to run to the kitchen and make the salad right now! And all the other yummy dishes. Even living alone now I set the table with care. Makes the food taste better! Love the collection of dining utensils and plates and thanks for sharing!
Love your table settings-great ideas! I somehow lost the emails regarding the stash challenge. I don’t know what I ended up with from last month? If you still have my results could you email them to me? If not I’ll just continue on from here on out. Thanks! Debbie
I love to celebrate and decorate for Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras! I’m glad the Spring holidays were spread out this year! Enjoy your festive and pretty Mardi Gras table and food!
Jenna
Fun table settings. I tend to only think about table decorations for Christmas, though did a few other holidays last year to cheer the house up a bit. No Mardi Gras celebrations planned. Didn’t even realize it was almost upon us. Life has been crazy with Covid, and then Putin’s attack on Ukraine, things are too much.
You have had some fun with Marci Gras, that’s for sure. I never realized what a big deal it is until I was at conference in Washington DC and the LA people caused quite a stir! They had beads and hats for the entire group and organized a dinner and party somewhere in Georgetown…they went all out!
Your table and dinner are beautiful. We don’t do Mardi Gras up here — about the closest it comes is Pazckis on Fat Tuesday. Looks fun and delicious, too!