When two good friends got together earlier this year, they discovered they shared a common desire: to do something positive for their favourite charities.

In the case of Jeanne Pearman it was to support the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's newly acquired hyperbaric oxygen chamber, while Zoe Butt loved helping the Sunshine League.

As both women are not only highly creative but also experienced hostesses, they hit upon the idea of organising a display of creative tabletops, and charging people admission to see them.

While the concept is not new elsewhere -- Tiffany's in New York always has gorgeously set tables on its second and third floors -- the ladies felt it would be a different type of fund-raiser here.

"We wanted an event which would appeal to all ages and all walks of life, and not be expensive to attend,'' Mrs. Pearman says. "We also felt that, because we both travel a great deal, this was a concept which would not require endless meetings and complex administration to execute.'' Sure enough, it has taken just two meetings to bring the whole scheme to fruition.

"We drew up a long list of possible themes, chose people whom we knew to be very creative, and let them select what table(s) they would like to do. Some had their own ideas, and we were perfectly happy with that too,'' Mrs. Pearman explains.

Thereafter, responsibility for designing and executing each theme rested in the creator's hands.

Most contributors will be preparing one table each, while Mrs. Pearman and Mrs. Butt will be doing more than one. In addition, six merchants have agreed to do tabletops as well: Bluck's, A.S. Cooper's, Smith's, Trimingham's, Calypso and Hamma Galleries.

By all accounts, Creative Tabletops will be a magical event, with no less than 27 different themes to see. Among the titles are: Roaring Twenties, French Country Dinner, Shells, Artful dining, Italian baroque, In a Garden, Roof Wetting Party, Wedding Shower, Children's Birthday party, and Fourth of July.

For her part, Mrs. Pearman has chosen two themes: Teddy Bears' Christmas Party, and Coffee with Napoleon and Josephine. Of the former, she says: "I have bears of my own, and others I have borrowed. I also have a china doll which has been `invited' along too. I borrowed a Christmas rug from a friend, and a Christmas table cloth from my daughter. In addition, I bought an electric train with Santa Claus which goes 'round and 'round. A friend said to me: `This is like playing house as a grown-up' when she saw what I am doing.

It is such fun.'' For her Napoleon and Josephine table, Mrs. Pearman is also drawing on artifacts in her home, but has imported a quantity of Emperor Napoleon figurines to enhance her theme.

Like Mrs. Pearman, who confesses she loves preparing special tables when she entertains, Mrs. Butt is similarly enthused. In fact, she enjoys creating table themes so much that she regularly does them for her friends as well.

The Hamilton Parish resident is preparing several themes. One is a romantic Valentine table for two, and another is a Indian/Oriental theme which she is preparing in conjunction with Lynn Lovett.

While all of those involved have "begged and borrowed'' everything from props to china and glassware in an overall spirit of co-operation, Mrs. Butt has gone all-out in her preparations.

"I'm doing a nine by six-foot Arab or Oriental tent, for which I bought Indian cotton in London's Berwick Street market, and silk for the floor cushions from the same source. I have imported exotic Moroccan glasses and other items from France. In addition, Hamma Galleries is lending me two gorgeous Moroccan carpets for the floor, and the Irish Linen Shop is lending linens. My gardener, Altino Lopes, made the nine by six-foot metal frame for the tent, and I have an Oriental table.

"A lot of thought and a lot of money has gone into the this, but it is all reusable. We will rent it out to other people if they want to use it,'' she says.

For her cream and silver Valentine table, Mrs. Butt has hand-sewn red roses on the table cloth, which will also be decorated with rose petals, and since the setting is romantic, it will include a gift "for her.'' But the tables are not just about de mcor and detail. Food, such as fruit and spices will also be used, as well as beautiful flower arrangements where appropriate.

Certainly, all of the talented creators are going all-out to provide an unforgettable feast for the eye, and the organisers are hoping that public support will result in them being able to make large donations to the two charities.

They are proud to say that already people who cannot be here when the two-day show opens on Friday have made donations, and Mrs. Pearman says that anyone who cannot attend is welcome to make a cheque payable to Creative Tabletops and mail it to 9 Bellevue Drive, Paget PG06.

Meanwhile, she and Mrs. Butt are not only upbeat about the show, but also the good the funds will do.

In explaining her chosen charity, Mrs. Pearman says she became very interested in the King Edward's Hyperbaric and Wound Treatment Department after undergoing treatment in a similar unit in England, where she also met many other patients with a variety of conditions which the chamber helped.

Mrs. Pearman says the hyperbaric department here is "thrilled'' to know that funds are being raised for it.

Because she has always taken a keen interest in children's welfare, and is also a close friend of Mrs. Lauren King, immediate past president of the Sunshine League, Mrs. Butt's decision to raise funds for this registered charity was a natural one.

"I think the Sunshine League does a marvellous job, but they are always in need of funds. It is a very Bermudian charity -- one of the oldest on the Island, in fact -- and I am hoping that we can raise a lot of money for them.'' Creative Tabletops is being held in the main gallery of the Bermuda Society of Arts on the upper level of City Hall on Friday and Saturday. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Tickets ($10) are on sale at all participating stores, and will be sold also at the door. Children under 12 will be admitted free.

Representatives will be on hand to provide members of the public with information about the chosen charities, and Dr. Carol Ferris, physician in charge of the King Edward Hospital's Hyperbaric and Wound Care Department, will attend the opening to answer any questions the public may have.

contain hand scrolls, folding albums and fan paintings.

The new gallery was funded by an anonymous benefactor and the California-based Christensen Fund, which supports many museums. The fund requested that the gallery be named after Michael Sullivan, a British expert on Chinese painting, and his wife, Khoan.

Sullivan was professor of Chinese art at Stanford University in California and now lives in Oxford. He will chair the opening of the scholarly symposium on October 12.

Vainker lived in China for two years, polishing her language skills and studying art and architecture at Nanjing University.