I forgot to give credit for the carrot/napkin idea.
It came from:

Welcome back OA ! What a cute idea with the napkins ! And if those are pink dishes that I'm seeing under the blue ones .. well, let's just say your daughter may have to take a number and stand in line :>). You know.. I saw some Easter eggs in a magazine that would fit in nicely with the "carrots". They simply took some eggs and blew out the yolks and then dyed them. Then they cut "carrot tops" out of green construction paper ( your maiden hair would be perfect for the tops ) and glued them to the tops of the eggs. They were absolutely adorable ! As for your "wrinkly old hands"... the eyes may be the windows to the soul, but the hands tell the story of our lives. These hands have made a home,cooked meals,earned a living and most important of all.. have held a small precious child close to the heart while rubbing it's little back and gently rocking it to sleep. Don't ever be ashamed of your hands. They are the wallpaper of our lives.
Susan

OA, I was shocked to see you had posted (something I've wanted badly, so it didn't seem real at first, were my eyes decieving me? LOL)
Now I can't even get my thoughts straight for your pretty pictures, as I'm just totally relieved you are ok and here, and just keep thinking TYG. (Thank You, God).

guess I was more worried than even I knew. LOL.
hugs, Karen

Oh, I know I should have posted earlier, but I been so preoccupied with other things that have been consuming my every thought, that I just couldnt get my mind wrapped around dishes (which are normally such a fun part of my daily routine).

First of all, happy belated birthday to Susan and Lynns sweet sixteen daughter. Hope your days were extra special in many ways.

Yachter, your blue and white bunnies are terrific and I like how you displayed them. But I am lusting after the plaid plates. They are WAY COOL.

Slinkey/Jame, I am thinking of you and saying prayers for you daughter. Hang in there.

MM, I like your little collection of glass bunnies that are on you side cabinet. And the floral arrangement in your bathroom is very pretty.

Jim, as usual, your arrangement is beautiful. Its inspired me to get my cloche down from its perch and try something Eastery.

Karen, you have to separate the boy bunnies from the girl bunnies. Theyre definitely "multiplying as fast as rabbits." I love the bunny plates too. They are wonderful. I may have to acquire a few pieces of my own over the next year at least 2 dinner and 2 salad plates to use during the Easter season with my hubby. Really, I am very taken with them.

Luckygal, I am in love with the cast iron bunnies. So, tell me, whats a doilie bowl? Ive got some "family doilies" too and would love to have more ways to use them.

DD, you already know what I think of your table setting. Im trying to rip it off completely. I even found a tablecloth much like the checkered one you used, but Im not sure its right for the dishes I have although I cant see why Im not liking it.
Maybe when I go to actually set the table it will all come together.

Kathleen, please send the egg tulip vase my way. I really like its look . Hi to Peter, Flopsy, Mopsey, and Donald.

Hope I got everyone.

Heavens OA... I'm so glad to see you posting. :)
I've been mostly lurking this week due to "mood issues/zero ambition" but was a bit worried since I hadn't seen any comments from you in a few days.
I love the carrot idea , so creative (and to be honest... I'm actually guilty of owning a set of bright orange napkins myself. lol)
Your plate setting is so pretty. I see something wonderful coming together soon.

You have a set too!! Go, MM! For the life of me, I can't remember when or why I bought them. When I first came across them and the matching orange tablecloth (never been used), I thought I must have gotten them for a Halloween party. But then I dismissed that idea, as they were also with a yellow (as yet unused) tablecloth. So I think I must have thought about doing a layered look. Heaven only knows what was on my mind (and what apparently quickly left my mind).
At any rate, you can see why the carrot napkin idea caught my eye. Those napkins, and the true reason for their being, have haunted me ever since I discovered them in January.

I am changing Step 2. Instead, fold the napkin in half and then fold it in half again (in the other direction) to create a square. It's much more substantial that way.

Gosh, I've missed you, OA!
Love your Happy Easter table and the idea for the carrot napkin flatware holder. It's so easy, too! As for the orange napkins, I need to keep an eye out for some. I recently bought some orange placemats on sale, hoping to use them come Autumn and Halloween, but didn't notice any matching napkins. Your story of discovering yours, unused after all this time, made me chuckle. I do that kind of thing all the time and am glad to hear that I'm in such good company ;^D
Lynn

Welcome back OA, was wondering why you had "disappeared". Real life often gets in the way of our "fun" doesn't it? Hope all is better now.

Cute idea with the orange napkins, and you found the perfect thing for the tops too. I'll have to keep this idea in mind if I ever run across any orange napkins on sale.

Susan, I loved what you said about hands--so sweet.

Luvs

Yes, Susan. That was so sweet of you. You know, I can remember the day (a long time ago now) when I put on my coat and, for the first time, saw my mother's hands come out the sleeves. I was not happy, believe me. But I feel different about it now, after having read your little paragraph. I'm thinking, rather than being wallpaper (which is pretty), mine are more like road maps!
Thanks again for making my heart glow.

Glad your back, life really can be over whelming sometimes. Your carrot napkins are just darling and I really like the pink flower plates. That was very sweet what Susan had to say about your hands.
Syble

OA, we're always here for, and with, you. And don't ever think you "should" post. I think each of us knows that sometimes its just not possible to get into the spirit to do so. I'm just glad to hear you were up to lurking some and seeing goodies at least. Hope it helped distract you from Life's problems. And I pray they are better, or soon will be. You are such a delight, and loved here.

Susan, I also meant to comment on what you said about hands.
My son, Jason, had the most beautiful hands I always thought. Then the fire and amputation of some of his fingers, and the disfiguremnt left from all of it, made them horrendous to look at. One day, when I saw him actually able to pick up his badge again and return to work, to play golf (and play WELL), I suddenly realized how grateful I was he HAD hands. They were nearly amputated.
Now I think they are beautiful because of the story they tell of his journey back from the Fire. I am keeping what you said, it is so touching and beautiful. Thank you.

hugs, Karen

Nice to see you back OA! Pretty placesetting and novel idea for the *carrot* napkin.

I've posted a link to CL magazine where I first saw the doily bowls and if you do a search at that site you will also find other doily crafts. I've seen the bowls on various blogs and craft sites on the internet. You can use fabric stiffener or make a sugar starch (boil equal parts of sugar and water until the sugar is completely dissolved), use liquid starch, or use diluted white glue. Lots of instructions if you google doily bowls. I think Martha did the same to make doily snowflakes which were hung in a window.

If you make one before I do (good chance of that!) please post a pic. Right now our real life is taking over as we are fencing, will soon be gardening, and going on our spring trip. I'm also still setting up my craft room - will that *ever* be done I wonder! ;-D

Thanks, LG. I saw a couple of ideas that I'd like to try. Seems like such a shame to leave beautiful, handmade things in a drawer.

I'm glad you gals like the pink plates. I've had them for a while now. The little chick candy cups are the new items from my daughter and my hubbie. My daughter picked them out and, I suspect, my husband was one one who really paid the bill. They are from Pfaltzgraff. I liked them so much that I went on line and ordered more. After sometime, I did not hear from the store and just checked back yesterday. They're sold out. So I don't know if I'll be receiving mine or not. Oh well.

Hi there girly!! I'm so glad to see you!! I've been using your "oval equation" pretty regularly, making tablecloths for spring, so I think about you a lot! I am just thankful that you are able to get back to us. Thank you for the carrot instructions!
J

Welcome Back OA...
Even though I've lurked more than I've participated here lately, you were truly missed.
Great Napkin Idea..and sooo cute too.
I'm sure your daughter will get many
years 'how to' from you, with those dishes!
Enjoy them.

jane

Good to see you post, OA...and slinkey/jane, too! Was pretty quiet around here sometimes with you two MIA's! Cute carrot! And your place setting is cute, OA!

And I simply love the repoire on this forum among you all! "Hands"...such a lovely posting. Jeanne S.

Glad you are back and ok, OA. Life has to come first, we all undersrand...Hope things settle down for you!
Cute napkins..I don't think I have orange napkins..not my color!