By Gerri Miller
Elmore Autauga News Staff Writer
Two years ago, a Wetumpka woman started a Facebook group for people who had the same interest she did- creating beautiful table settings.
That group – called Beautiful Table Settings (BTS) – now has 115,000 members and founder May Eason said it has grown faster and larger than she ever dreamed. She currently has 7,000 new requests from Facebook users to join.
“The first year we had 35,000 members and the second year we grew to 90,000,” Eason said. “Last month alone, we added 6,000 people to the group.” The group now has seven administrators who help May with the day-to-day tasks of managing a successful Facebook group. “We have to vet every individual who wants to join the group,” she said. The group has members in 90 countries.
One of the things group members talked about was their desire to meet each other in person, so May started working last year to make that happen. She started planning the BTS Bash 2022.
The resulting conference on March 3-5, 2022, was another dream come true – she sold nearly all of her 500 tickets to the Wetumpka event and is planning for an even bigger event next year. “The people in the group wanted to meet each other and I wanted to show off my beautiful Wetumpka,” Eason said.
The conference was held at the Wetumpka Civic Center. The parking lot was completely full both days and cars overflowed to fill neighboring lots.
The large group boosted the economy of the Elmore-Autauga region by helping fill hotels in Wetumpka, Millbrook and Prattville, as well as bring shoppers and restaurant seekers to the areas.
There were 12 presenters who discussed everything from how to produce magazine-worthy photos to floral design, napkin folding and how to care for silver. There were also 16 vendors selling everything from china, silver and home décor. “I’ve made 12 trips to my car already,” one buyer was heard saying.
The Bash started with a Meet and Greet Thursday night catered by Provisions Wine and Cheese of Wetumpka, which served wine and charcuterie board foods. Mayor Jerry Willis welcomed the group to Wetumpka on Friday morning. Gigi Dinkins of Madison, Miss. and Charlotte Krag of Hattiesburg, Miss., gave travel tips for thrifting.
A delicious hot meat and three lunch was catered by Woodcraft Café of Wetumpka. Jim Gatling, of Morrilton, Ark. gave “Helpful Hints about China and a Down-home Southern Humor Story.” George Terrell of Gadsden did a BTS demonstration and award-winning rose competitor Joseph Wood of Montgomery did an IKEBANA Japanese Floral Art Demonstration. Debbie and Tom Jackson of Tampa, Fl., did the photography demonstration.
On both Friday and Saturday, Justin Peters of Enterprise conducted an on-stage Mini Antique Roadshow. Conference-goers who had signed up in advance brought to the stage everything from teapots and pitchers, rings and even a piece of jade. Each person had a story and a piece of history behind their items they wanted appraised.
“You did very good,” Peters told one woman, who said she paid $45 for a set of china and found out that it was worth considerably more money.
Peters also shared information on how people use tricks to “age” their items so that buyers think they are much older and more valuable.
On Saturday, Shellie Whitfield, director of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the group to Wetumpka. She gave them the history of the Big Fish house and told them what it was like to be in the middle of the HGTV filming in Wetumpka.
Eason gave a talk on mixing up table settings and floral designer Phillip Thompson of Atlanta gave design tips. Lunch was catered by Grumpy Dog, which served delicious chicken salads, ham wraps, banana pudding and tea.
Afternoon talks included “Taking Care of Handmade Doilies, Tablecloths and Napkins” by MamaLisa Martin of Millbrook, “Napkin Folding and Accessorizing Your Table” by Keeton Lloyd of Jasper, “How to Care for Silver” by Beth Walker of Bakersville, N.C., and “Floral Design: Celebrate the Seasons” by Timothy Ryan of Santa Rosa Beach, Fl.
So how did Eason get interested in creating beautiful table settings? She said she became interested in collecting china after graduating from college. “Eleven years ago, I started my massive collection of china,” she laughed. She collects Early American Patternea Glass from the 1850-1910 period.
She said she doesn’t have a date yet for the 2023 conference, but she may need a bigger building. “I just hope it will be even bigger and better next year,” she said.
SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE MASSIVE EVENT BELOW.
