A Dickens of a Table

Some tables please me more so than others, and this one really pleases me. I had no idea where I was going with this when I started putting it together, I just decided that I really liked the checked tablecloth and plaid placemats (barely visible here) that I used at Thanksgiving, and planned on putting both to use for Christmas, no matter what.

What makes this table particularly special is the Christmas goose centerpiece. My dad made that goose, and I painted it. My mother loved it, and kept it on display in her hutch all year. One year I asked dad if I could borrow it, and he just looked at me like I was crazy. Even after mother had passed away, it was not leaving its post.

With dad gone, it is now mine, and my first Christmas without him is not an easy one, so I am very pleased to have this simple, rustic piece at center, flanked on either side by Charles Dickens characters, Ebenezer Scrooge, and Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.

The plaid placemats are from local shop Three French Hens. The greenery and red bell-lined placemats (for lack of a better word) are from Pier One last year. They are a bit cumbersome when it comes to actually dining, but I love these.

On top of these is a tin charger, giving it a bit of a rustic look, a versatile purchase from another local merchant, The White Rabbit. (You can find something similar here.)

The plaid dinner plates are similarly from Pier One, the red plates on top stating what we all know to be true, “It is the most wonderful time of the year,” are by 222 Fifth.

Red napkins with white polka dots are from Pottery Barn (similar napkins can be found here); the red flatware was my mother's.

The cranberry red stemware is new this year, an eBay acquisition, and part of the old Avon Cape Cod collection. I thought they were perfect for this table.

This post is linked to:

Tablescape Thursday