Swan Centerpieces or China Doves for The Easter Table

Easter Table Decorations, 1901 from the New York Daily Tribune.

      For table decorations at an Easter luncheon the favored combination is green and white, and originality of design and arrangement is not inexhaustible by any means.

      The china doves, which are pictured, are one of the novelties of this season, and the many ways of utilizing them in table decoration are particularly effective. One modes is to arrange green satin ribbon across the table, from corner to corner, in the centre of which is a large nest filled with ferns and Easter eggs. The doves, holding lilies of the valley and greenery, are grouped about as one's fancy may dictate, and to add to the effect flights of doves, also filled with the flowers, may be attached to the chandelier or ceiling, each flight being connected by narrow green and white ribbons tied around their necks.

Original photo of china doves filled with ferns
and lilies of the valley that accompanied this article.

      If a brighter effect is desired the gay toned spring flowers should be used-jonquils, tulips, daffodils, crocuses, primroses, hyancinths or cyclamens--arranged in simple but artistic fashion.

      An ingenious hostess of this city is planning to give an Easter Monday luncheon to six of her women friends. An ornamental box will be presented to each guest when she enters the dining room. Every box will contain a leghorn hat, which the recipient is requested to wear throughout the luncheon. The hats are to be trimmed with natural flowers (no two alike), with ribbon garnitures in corresponding colors. One hat will show bunches of violets, with green foliage and violet ribbon: another will have trimmings of lilies of the valley, mignoette and green ribbon: a third, La France roses and pink ribbon: and the remaining hats will have garnitures fo daffodils and yellow ribbon for one, moss rosebuds for the second, and red carnations intermingled with black velvet for the third.

This elegantly carved wooden swan is by Jack Hughs, JRH, 1985.

A view from the top of the swan; its simplicity is lovely.
This swan may appear as an interesting center piece for
my Easter dinner table this year.

My mother-in-law acquired it on one of her many
antique hunting trips. Although it is not an antique,
it will certainly be worthy of becoming one
someday. I love antiques, but, I appreciate beautiful
artworks even more.

She looks as though she wishes to tell us a secret, doesn't she?

How to make a 3-D origami swan center piece for your Easter table: start this project early, folks.

View more bird center pieces for the table:

• Beautiful Vintage Crocheted 12 Swan Centerpiece Majestic Design
• A Swan Tureen
• A Bird-i-ful Easter on a Budget!
• Beautiful Swan by Kylo Chua

Easter Tin Pails Instead of Baskets

I often display Easter tin pails in my cupboards 
instead of baskets.

I have two yellow and white painted tin pails displayed
 between the yellow ware in the cupboard above.

The tinware, unlike the pottery, is not antique; 
I purchased it many years ago at a Hobby Lobby.

A closeup view of the tin pails.

Using vintage decorations, crafting experts Jennifer and Kitty O'Neil 
 take the concept of the traditional Easter basket and transform 
it into something much more unique.

View More Easter Tin:

• Mechanical Tin Drumming Robot Easter Bunny
• Chein Tin Litho Easter Baskets, Pails, Toys
• ...hopping down the bunny trail
• Vintage Tin Lithograph from Merry

A Repeating Line Butterfly Design

      Give students newsprint to fold, design and cut out their own butterfly stencil. 

      Then have them trace around their stencils onto some interesting tissues or napkins printed with bright colors. Cut and decoupage these butterflies to a very large piece of white drawing paper and let the pictures dry. 

     Students may then use markers to draw lines around their butterflies that echo the shapes, colors and rhythms of their butterfly decoupage.

The butterflies appear to vibrate with the rhythm of the line work.

• The Lord Is Risen! coloring page
• The True King's Crown

Color Alphabet Chicks

      Use a heavy tipped, permanent, black ink marker to write all of the letters found in the word "chick" onto a large piece of white construction paper. Spread the letters out and repeat them if you'd like. Then, color lots of little chicks using the letters found in the word as a guide.

Teacher's sample.

Doodle an Easter bunny or a chick

      Draw a doodle with a thick black marker on your page. Now turn the paper round and inspect the shapes and twists of the lines carefully. How can you turn it into a bunny or chick?
      Add color with markers, crayons or paints to interpret your Easter squiggle into a funny, fuzzy character.

Teacher's Sample.