When the green
tablecloth that I had planned to use for my second dinner table at my annual
Boxing Day dinner didn't fit, I had to get creative. Rummaging through my
tablecloth closet (read: the jam-packed craft closet in my
office/studio that only has about three feet of space for actual hanging which
is where my tablecloths are stored), I knew I was going to be in trouble. The
cranberry tablecloth was way too big, the white tablecloths way too blah. I had
a patterned
one that worked well in the past, but had something different in
mind for the centerpiece, so reached for, the first time ever at Christmas, the
blue one.
It looked great in the room, blended perfectly with my new Santa pillow, and
ended up being quite popular once I decided to swap out my planned evergreen
plates for my Currier & Ives winter scene ones.
This is a table that, if I wanted it to, will take me all of the way through
winter. There is nothing about it that screams Christmas, just winter coziness.
As it turned out, everyone loved this table and raved about it. It was set for
eight during the party, but for every day, it will just be set for four.
The centerpiece is one that is a mishmash of some of my favorite things,
including wooden trees that I have used in the past here and here. Twig reindeer are
also more winter than Christmas and from Pottery Barn years ago, a purchase that
I have never regretted.
The “tin houses” are pure genius, fooled everyone, and were the brainchild of Debbie
of the wonderful Confessions
of a Plate Addict blog, whose easy instructions I followed, and am I ever thrilled
that I did (read: buy houses, buy paint, spray). I do not recommend waiting
until the last minute and putting on the final coat on the day of the party,
but this darling trio of cardboard houses from Hobby Lobby (that stack inside
each other for easy storage) will appear again and again. For only $15 for the
houses and $5 for the Rustoleum Hammered Silver spray paint (that I found at
Wal-Mart), I ended up with these super cute tin look houses. Even up close
people were completely fooled, and can you imagine what I would have spent had
these houses been actual tin? Lots!
The flickering tea lights inside are from Pier One and are battery operated. Do
NOT use real candles. No.
The tabletop greenery is actually a taken apart swag that I bought days before
the party at Home Depot for half off. I love using fresh greenery not
only for the looks, but also for the fresh pine fragrance, and it is nothing
additional to store.
Plates - decades old
Napkins - Pier One
Flatware - Oneida
Crystal - “Marquis” by Mikasa
Napkins - Pier One
Flatware - Oneida
Crystal - “Marquis” by Mikasa
This post is linked to:
