If you have been following my blog you likely are aware that I have been doing a series of tablescapes using the same Disney Dishes, same Disney flatware and the same plush friends (Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, & Daisy Duck). This series begun when I was wondering if it was possible to do a unique holiday Disney table for each holiday without buying (and having to store) a set of dishes for each. So far I have done on “All Season” Table celebrating animation, one St. Patrick’s Day Table, and an Easter Table. Today I am adding a tablescape for Cinco de Mayo. If you would like to see the previous tablescapes, please check out the links below.
Cinco de Mayo is the official anniversary of Mexico’s victory over France in 1862. However, over time, outside of Mexico, the Cinco de Mayo anniversary has come to be more of a celebration of Mexican Culture, Heritage, Traditions and Cuisine. The World’s largest celebrations of Cinco de Mayo are in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. Cinco de Mayo brings much celebration here and is enjoyed by those of Mexican heritage as well as by those of other cultures. It seems like a wonderful holiday for Mickey and Minnie to celebrate. For more information on the holiday please check out these articles from Edarabia and Wikipedia. Does your city or your local Mexican restaurants celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
My tablescape adventure began, as it often does, with me trying to find a centerpiece for my tablescape. Because I have really enjoyed using the holiday “porch greeters” on my tables, my plan was to find a set of Cinco de Mayo Mickey and Minnie Mouse porch greeters similar to the porch greeters used in my Easter and St. Patrick’s day Tablescapes. However, I was surprised to learn that Disney porch sitters are not available in Mexican dress , which was a big disappointment and shock as Mickey and Minnie in Mexican dress have long been a part of Disney World’s – Christmas celebrations, and Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the park, and in Mexico, at Epcot on an almost daily basis. In fact, a Mickey and Minnie in Mexican Dress also appeared at Disneyland Paris in 2017.
The only Disney Mickey and Minnie plush available for Cinco de Mayo are the small 9″ beanie plush from the “Globe – Trotting” series and they are only available on the secondary market (eBay and Etsy) at this time. They are adorable but really too small to be used as Centerpieces.
I began to think the only way to have a “Cinco de Mayo Minnie and Mickey Mouse pair” was to use homemade outfits, and since sewing is not my gift, I immediately texted my good friend Susan and asked her opinion as to the difficulty level of doing so. Susan is the friend who was the chief seamstress for the Halloween Astros skeletons that we had in my yard this past October. There have been two skeleton posts regarding these – “Astros Skeleton Team has a “Thrilling and Chilling” Start” and “The Astros Skeleton Baseball Game – Held Over By Popular Demand”. Although I sew for these projects as well, it is Susan who is the expert.
I had decided, for this Cinco de Mayo table, we would change the outfit of a set of Christmas Minnie and Mickey porch sitters, to that of a Mexican dancer and musician. I picked my porch sitters based on price and on whether or not they had shoes that would coordinate with a Mexican theme (and possibly other themes as well) and whether their clothes or holiday accessories could be easily removed. Interestingly some of the Disney porch sitters have Santa hats, beards, etc. that are a part of the actual structure of the body of the porch sitter and not easily removable. The ones I chose and purchased from eBay and shown below, seemed to have mostly removable clothing, or clothing items that could be easily covered up.
When my friend Susan and I tried to remove the sweaters, we found that the only way to keep the sweaters intact to reuse later was to remove them by arms first and then sliding them down the body, and off of the character’s feet. Although the Mickey and Minnie heads don’t look big – in reality – they are HUGE!
After removing sweaters, we headed to Party City, where we purchased the Mexican hats, necklaces, napkins, some window decorations, and some maracas. Then we were off to JoAnn Fabrics, and selected some fabric for the Cinco de Mayo costumes. We were looking for a stripe fabric for Mickey that also coordinated with the Mexican charger plates I already owned and planned to use, and also coordinating solid fabric for Minnie’s costume. We found fabrics we love and then headed back to the house to plan the next part of the project.
The following week Susan headed up to the lake for the day, so we could start working on the costumes. We started with Susan working on the complicated, multi-fabric flouncy skirt bottom to the dress, and I began with the Mickey serape – a mostly straight seam sewing project – my kind of simplicity.
I continued on Mickey’s serape , and I did well with the straight seams, and in adding the trim to the bottom. I believe adding trim to a garment was a first time thing for me. The neckline on the serape, however, was out of my league, so Susan and I traded garments and I worked on Minnie’s neckline, while she took over on the serape. Susan started work on Mickey’s pants. Somewhere in the process we started brainstorming about how we were going to make pants for Mickey, due to his huge feet and the difficulty getting the pants over those feet. Eventually we decided that we should not sew the outer seams of his pants of his pants together, and instead we should join sew velcro on each half of the pants, as that way the pants could fit over the feet, (putting them on like a diaper) and then be joined together with the velro. This worked like a charm. I was thrilled with how both characters’ outfits turned out. See Mickey, Minnie and I below:
The Disney guests, that have been featured in each Disney Tablescape so far, needed to be dressed for the party, so Susan and I grabbed the accessories we purchased from Party City, and dressed the guests. Goofy got to ride the donkey piñata and is wearing a straw hat, while Donald has a red felt jeweled hat. Pluto is also wearing a red felt jeweled hat, but meanwhile is nibbling on his light-up red pepper necklace. Pluto reminds me of our new puppy, who is now 11 months and has a very loving temperament but STILL EATS EVERYTHING. (new posts coming soon about adventures with Simba!) and Daisy is wearing a pink sombrero to match her pink and purple outfit.
The plate stack this week consists of the usual (for the Disney Series) Disney Zrike Sketch Book dishes and added to that is one of my yellow square Tommy Bahama melamine plates from Homegoods. All of these plates sit on top of my aqua blue metal Mexican charger plates. These Mexican charger plates are actually serving platters from Homegoods. Because they are serving rather that dinner plates, there were only a few at each store, so it took me quite a few stores to find all the ones I needed. I think it was definitely worth “the hunt”.
Each place setting also has a Mickey Mouse gloved hand napkin ring, with a Cinco de Mayo napkin. It was my first time to use these and I love how they stand out with the red tablecloth, yellow table runner, and the aqua napkin.
Each place setting also contains a sombrero covered water goblet, and Disney Mickey Mouse Icon flatware.
While Susan and I sewed the outfits for Mickey and Minnie – our dogs enjoyed entertaining each other. It was a blessing to watch out the windows and see how happy they both were!
Cinco de Mayo Hats – Party City
Papel Picado Fiesta Sign – Party City
Picado de Papel Cinco de Mayo Paper Beverage Napkins, – Party City
Fiesta Time Paper Fan Decorations – Party City
Aqua platters used as Chargers – Homegoods around 2021
Yellow Square Melamine Dinner Plates by Tommy Bahama – Homegoods – purchased around 2017 and frequently available since
Mickey and Minnie Mouse Porch Sitters – eBay
Mexican Banner of flags with cutouts – Party City
Fabric for Mickey and Minnie Mouse Cinco de Mayo outfits – JoAnn Fabrics
Yellow Table Runner – Homegoods
Red Tablecloth and Napkins – Kate Spade Larabee Dot (Cranberry or red)– available at Dillards and other retailers originally – available now occasionally on eBay. Any red tablecloth and napkins would give a similar look.
Disney Sketch Book Dinnerware, water glasses and Serving Pieces – Zrike Brands by R squared – Homegoods (sold at various times over the last 4 years) – also available on Ebay. These also come in the Bamboo version, which may be better for very young children. I think any black and white Disney pattern is a good start for an “All Season” Disney table.
Daisy Duck Plush – ShopDisney.com
Donald Duck Plush – ShopDisney.com
Pluto Plush – ShopDisney.com
Goofy Plush – ShopDisney.com
Disney Flatware – Mickey mouse icon/logo – Shop Disney.com; also available at times on eBay or Etsy – in silver finish and sometimes in gold finish
Mickey Gloved Hands Napkin Rings – eBay
Lighted Tree 7′ Raz Imports – Amazon
Del Sol Flag Pennant Banner – Party City
Fiesta Mini Sombreros 8ct – Party City
Waterford Marquis Iced Beverage Glasses– Macy’s – Also available elsewhere but with Macy’s sale price and additional coupons Macy’s price cannot usually be beat on this item.
Nora Fleming Serving Pieces and Minis – https://norafleming.com
I would love to hear about your celebrations if you have time to share!
Because you chose this Cinco de Mayo post, you may also enjoy my “Lighting up the Night to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo”. This Post takes a look at our outdoor decorations for Cinco de Mayo.
If you enjoyed the sunsets in this post, you may also want to see the following post.
If you enjoyed this tablescape, you may also want to see the following
If you enjoyed the Disney table, you may also enjoy the Disney Outdoor Decorations we had for Valentine’s Day.
If you enjoyed looking at the making of the Mickey and Minnie Mexican outfits, you may enjoy the following 2 posts where Susan also came to my aid, by helping me make costumes for other unusually shaped “characters” of the spooky variety.
Link Parties
I often participate in Tablescape Thursday, Please click on the link to see the website of one of my favorite bloggers, which is followed by photos and links for many other wonderful tablescapes.
I also often participate in Inspire Me Tuesday, as well. Please click on the link to see the website of a another blogger who’s website I really enjoy, and it is followed by photos and links for many other ideas.
Recently I started following Katherinescorner.com. Today I have joined her TFT blog. The TFT blog contains links on many topics with lots of great ideas – click on the following link to see her blog hop this week – Katherine’s Corner TFT blog hop.
I recently started following SouthernSunflowers and their Link Party – to see their posts and links to other posts featured at their website, please click on the following link: Home Matters Link Party
This Lakeside Thanksgiving Tablescape features roses, turkeys, pumpkins and the Williams-Sonoma “Famille Rose” dishes. …
November 14, 2024This Halloween Tablescape features dogs and cats, in costume. The Pier 1 plates feature …
October 31, 2024
Susan | 20th Apr 23
I liked the bright lighting in one of the photos of the table. The sunset and approaching darkness adds an interesting contrast. It’s quite a celebration!
Patty | 21st Apr 23
Susan, Thanks so much! I’m so glad you liked the post! I couldn’t have done those outfits without you! The sunset was wonderful on Tuesday and I love to photograph things as the sun starts to go down. I agree with you that it has some great effects on the table. I think photographers call it the magic hour. Thanks for all your help! – Patty
Veryl Stockdale | 21st Apr 23
What a fun table that is… it would be so enjoyable to have a meal at such a table
Patty | 21st Apr 23
Veryl, Thank you for such a nice comment about the Cinco de Mayo table! I’m so glad you think it looks fun because that is what I was hoping to convey! I love it when a tablescape can convey fun and make people feel welcome and special. Your comment made my day! Thanks so much! Patty
Jane | 24th Apr 23
Such a festive Cinco de Mayo table! Enjoyed seeing the display of Disney characters decked out in colorful costumes.
Patty | 24th Apr 23
Jane, I’m so glad you enjoyed the Cinco de Mayo table, and the Disney characters in their special outfits!! The colors for Cinco de Mayo were so fun to work with! Thanks so much for your kind comment! – Patty
Heinz | 10th Jan 24
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless,
just wanted to say wonderful blog!
Patty | 11th Jan 24
So sorry I missed your long comment. That is unusual that it disappeared, so sorry. Just so you know there is a bit of a delay on comments posting to the website once written, the program holds it until I approve it. I do this just so a can catch any spam before it is visible to readers. but yours would have been approved of course! thanks so much for taking the time to write another one, I’m so glad you like my blog! thank you! – Patty
A Blue and White Mother’s Day Tablescape - Life is Better Lakeside | 25th Apr 24
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