Christmas EveTablescape

 

Kicking off my holiday season with a cozy December 7th luncheon for friends felt like pure magic! I went all-in on classic red and green, but wrapped it in the warm, storytelling glow of Charles Dickens.

 

Center stage sits the wooden goose my dad carved back in the 80s when country geese were everywhere—I still adore him. 

 

He’s proudly flanked by candle-holding Ebenezer Scrooge on one side and Bob Cratchit carrying Tiny Tim on the other. 

 

Across from the goose, tall frosted glass trees I snatched up at Michael’s last year catch every bit of light. 

I started with my trusty holiday tablecloth, then added a simple Pottery Barn runner for quiet texture. Because more is more at Christmas, each place got a woven placemat from local shop, Three French Hens, topped with leafy green placemats from World Market for that lush, wintry feel. 

The plate stack is pure joy: sparkling red jeweled chargers, black-and-white plaid dinner plates from Pier 1, and bold red salad plates from 222 Fifth that cheerfully announce “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” 

 

My beloved KEAWELL “Versailles” flatware made another appearance—those delicate scrolls look born for candlelight. 

 

Drinks are served in frosted red Scandi-patterned water glasses (finally out of the cupboard after years!) and merry Waechtersbach Christmas Tree cups and saucers (yes, the matching teapot is waiting in the hutch). 

A 1988 Fitz and Floyd water pitcher from their “A Dickens Christmas” collection—passed down from my mom—pours the water with perfect nostalgia. Mikasa crystal snowflake votives sprinkle extra twinkle everywhere.

 

And the sweetest touch? A jar of Coop’s salted caramel sauce waits at every place setting as a remembrance of the day. Trust me, I’ve taste-tested caramel across three states; nothing comes close.

Here’s to tiny lunches, family treasures, and tables that feel like a hug. Happy holidays, friends—the season has officially begun!    

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his post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday 

Santa All the Way Tablescape

 

This is a riff on last week’s Christmassy non-Christmas table. Many things remain in place, I just swapped out a few to get an entirely different look. If you are hosting a number of parties over the holiday season, there’s no need to go crazy digging out all of your dinnerware when a few changes can make such an impactful difference.

The hunter green tablecloth is the same, as is the yardage that I used as a runner. Similarly, the chargers and dinner plates are the same. I have come to learn that while placemats and chargers make up the overall look, people pay less attention to these background items than they do the specialty pieces. Because of this, it is so easy to change a table by only removing an item or two.

I kept the bold lime green napkins the same, as well as the Milano red flatware by Ginkgo International in the Le Pris pattern, but swapped out last week’s apple napkin rings for these Santa napkin rings that I inherited from my mother.

Instead of the apple items that made up the focal point of my last table, this one is Santas all the way. The same nubby-edged red plates from Pier One are in place, but I topped them with these darling Santa salad/dessert plates that I inherited from my mother as well. On top of those are these wonderful “Ho! Ho! Ho!” soup bowls that I also got at Pier One, and I love them! I was lucky enough to get these two, as these sold out almost immediately.

The Fiestaware pitcher from last week has been replaced with a Fitz and Floyd Santa pitcher that does double duty as the centerpiece. He sits on top of, and is surrounded by a variety of faux greenery (I used this and this) and berries.

 The coffee mugs match the pitcher and so are also by Fitz and Floyd. This set is very early Fitz and Floyd, and one of the first things of theirs that I collected. I still remember buying this at a gourmet shop (The Second Story at Plaza Frontenac for locals) in an upscale mall here in the area back in 1978. I guess that makes this vintage.

Finishing up the table I used simple black candlesticks filled with these wonderful battery operated pine tree candles.

This whimsical and colorful table is surely one that will delight young and old.

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This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

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.

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Meal Plan Monday Week #3

Do I have a meal plan for this very busy week? Yes I do! This morning, as you’re reading this, I am on my way over to do my dad's taking a sizable brunch. The rest of the week may involve ordering in (I just downloaded the Grubhub app and received a $10 off coupon on my first order of $15, so hooray for that), eating leftovers, and pretty much taking it easy. Still, I have a plan. 

Here is what I’m eating this week.

Monday - Brunch at Dad’s: Ham, Cheese Peta, Blueberry French Toast, Eggsquisite Egg Casserole, French Country Potato Bake

Tuesday - Open-Faced Ham Sandwiches (using leftover ham)

Wednesday - Number 1 son and family deliver food to their old mom

Thursday - Dinner out with friends

Friday - Split Pea Soup using ham bone from above

Saturday - Creamy Beef and Shells

Sunday - Frito Pie Casserole

Here is my place setting of the week. To see more of this table, click here.

 Merry Christmas Eve!

Here Comes Santa Claus Tablescape

Despite the direction in which I take it, no matter how I decorate my table at Christmas time, Santa always plays a part. It may not be a big part, but if you look close enough he’s always there.

In this table he takes center stage amidst silver houses, reindeer, "snow," and a darling little red truck cookie jar with lid removed, toting a miniature pine tree.

It’s festive, it’s fun, and young and old will both enjoy it.

Sources:

Tablecloth & Plaid Plates – Williams-Sonoma

Red plates, napkins & Truck Cookie Jar – Pier One

Leaf Chargers – Gift

Santa cups – Fitz & Floyd

Reindeer – Pottery Barn

Green glasses – Villeroy & Bach

 

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