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.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Leprechaun Lunch Table for Two

 Hands up if you refuse to believe that it’s March. I am in absolute shock! I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the faster time seems to hurtle by me at such a breakneck pace that it’s more frightening than I care to admit. It seems as though I was just setting up a Valentine’s Day table when all of a sudden St. Patrick’s Day is on the horizon.

I enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. For me, it is always the harbinger of spring. I love the colors (green in any form is my favorite), and I am a big fan of the food. I don’t think St. Patrick’s Day would be St. Patrick’s Day without my leprechaun pitcher at center. I have had this for a lot of years, and never grow tired of it. The shamrocks that I bought to put in it last year as a part of my centerpiece have long since overgrown it, so this year I decided to go with faux tulips in white and pale green.

 The runner (don’t you love this fabric?!) I got years ago on Etsy. I would love to have this pattern as a tablecloth, so I’m always on the lookout for yardage. Let me know if you find any.

 The salt and pepper shakers, like the pitcher, are by Fitz and Floyd, and in the same pattern. One of these years I’ll get a hold of the matching candlestick  holders and I’ll be all set.

 The tall, ample wine glasses I got years ago at Pier One.

 

 The green water glasses are from Villeroy and Boch, the Irish coffee cups were a gift.

The plate stack is a Bordallo Pinheiro sandwich of geranium leaf plates surrounding a salad plate in the Blanc Amelie pattern from Maison Versailles.

 

  The gold flatware (because leprechauns are always looking for that pot of gold.) I inherited from my mother.

 The yellow soup bowl with the handle is always a favorite. I have these in green as well. They are by Tender Heart. The stonewashed cloth dinner napkins in a pale sage complement nicely.

I always feel that St. Patrick’s Day calls for a bit of whimsy, so included a pair of leprechaun glasses and badges on the table. Both of these are from this wonderful assortment.

Enjoy this promising month!

 

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

 

Planning for Spring Tablescape

 A candlelight breakfast? Why not? Gazing outside imagining what will soon be, on an overcast but warm day like today, when the temperatures tickle 60°, I am champing at the bit to garden. With all of the seed catalogs that arrived in January, I am plotting and planning. This table is a tribute to people like me who get deliriously excited at a time of the year when others are wondering what to do.

 

I started with a neutral tablecloth and runner. It seemed only fitting that this table be topped with green leaf placemats.

On top of them are green Bordallo Pinheiro geranium leaf chargers. They are topped with a neutral, black square plates, on which I have placed a square green leafy luncheon plate by Fitz and Floyd, in their “Manhattan Garden” pattern. Plaid napkins are from Pottery Barn.

A Bordallo Pinheiro geranium leaf dessert plate tops this; a Longchamps wine label appetizer plate rounds out this garden inspired plate stack.

Mixing old with new, toast is being served on a vintage toast rack.

Adding a bit of whimsy is the garden gecko salt cellar from Pottery Barn, years ago.

The choice of stemware is a bit serendipitous. Is it properly placed? No. Do I care? Not one bit. Having recently stumbled upon the cranberry liqueur glasses that I bought about 35 years ago, I decided to get them out, wash them up, and use them for whatever beverage I like. The green water glasses are Villeroy and Boch; the wine glass is by Mikasa in their “Parklane” pattern.

What garden doesn’t have a butterfly or two? I had to add my white butterfly dishes that worked perfectly for serving butter pats and jelly.

The greenhouse at center gives an overall gardening feel. The sleeping Buddha, will awaken come spring.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Ho! Ho! Holiday Luncheon!

Back in my youth, I would host multiple holiday gatherings, enjoying each one of them. As I got older, the number dropped but at least, in my opinion anyway, the quality soared. This year I decided to host a holiday luncheon. I spared no expense. There were four of us, including me, and we were all looking forward to it. I worked for weeks in preparation, cleaning, decorating, planning the food, making the food, ordering fresh flowers and greenery…you get the idea. It was originally scheduled for Saturday, December 10, and then due to illness of one of the guests, I was lucky enough to be able to change it to Sunday, December 11. All systems were go until 9 o’clock that morning when I learned that one of the ladies had fallen, and the other had taken her to the ER. What was it that Robert Burns said about the best laid plans? Yeah.

On the plus side, the house is clean, it looks lovely, and I have a lot of delicious food. Truth be told, as many of the dishes that can freeze, will be frozen, I have plenty for some future event. But just because it can’t be enjoyed in the way in which it was originally intended, does not mean that I can’t share it with you.

This table went through numerous changes before I decided upon this final one. On top of the checkered tablecloth are black and cream placemats that you can’t see in the picture, but would be able to see during dinner because the leafy green placemats (that look like greenery surrounding the plates), are surreptitiously removed when the diners grab their plates to hit the buffet. There’s no way I’m going to insist that my guests hack their way through greenery to get to their food.

Originally I had tin chargers under the greenery and pine cone plates (that I got at Pottery Barn years ago), my intention being to match the tin to the reindeer vessel that made up the centerpiece. Later I discovered that the red charger plate with embedded rhinestones looked much brighter.

 

The Santa plate on top I inherited from my mother. It is from Fitz & Floyd 1989. It would be removed and later used to serve dessert. The flatware is from Cabela’s, and has a pine cone design to match the pine cones in the plates.

 I tried a number of different cups, saucers, and mug combinations, deciding that the white mug was the best as it picked up the white in Santa’s beard making things brighter. The emerald green water glasses I inherited from my mother. They have made many Christmas appearances. The wine glasses are from Mikasa and in the “Park Lane” pattern.

 The darling wooden Santa napkins rings were, again, my mother's; the napkins are from Pottery Barn.

 The candle holders that look like trees I inherited from my mother as well. I always admired them on her table, and am now thrilled to have them on mine.

 The little ceramic baskets with holly leaves at each place setting, holding a Lindor milk chocolate truffle, I inherited from my mother as well. They are bone china from the Philippines, 1986. I always like to have a little goodie at the table. In addition to this little treat, each diner was going to go home with a can of hot chocolate mix from local chocolatier, Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate.

 The centerpiece I have mixed feelings about. I had ordered this requesting the “Premium” (read: the absolute BEST and most expensive) size, and paid the premium price. This looked a little puny compared to what I was expecting. On the plus side, the vessel is darling, and I intend to make my own arrangement for future years that I guarantee will look much showier than this one.

 I had covered the serving area with fresh greenery, and used place card holders to display the names of the dishes. I find that people really enjoy knowing exactly what they’re digging into.

  The champagne flutes were a new edition this year, intended to be used for serving the house “Poinsettia” cocktail, a tasty mixture of cranberry juice, Cointreau, topped off with champagne.

 

Whatever you do for the holiday season, and however you do it, I wish you great success!

  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

 

St. Patrick's Day Lunch

It’s March! Can you believe it? I’m wondering what happened to February, and yet Valentine’s Day seems so long ago. Now that they are both behind us, it is time to think spring and St. Patrick’s Day! Not all inviting dinner tables need to be over the top, some can be beautiful in their simplicity, and such is the case with this table set for a holiday luncheon.

This table is simple, but sweet. It features green luncheon plates with matching soup cups, as well as stemmed fruit bowls, that I inherited from my second mother, Betty, when she passed away a number of years ago. Mother, Betty, and I would get together once a month. I would take the ladies on “field trips” every other month, driving them all around the city to places they wanted to see, but wouldn’t go to on their own. Each outing had to consist of a stop at a bakery. I can’t tell you how many bakeries we visited. It was great fun. Ahead of time I would make up an itinerary, include the menu of the restaurant where we were going to dine, and send it to them in an appropriately decorated envelope.

On alternate months we would dine at each other’s homes; Betty always served us using this set of dinnerware. I can’t tell you how much I miss our get-togethers, but when I’m feeling down, I get out this set of dinnerware and reminisce.

The centerpiece of this table is one I use every year. It is the leprechaun pitcher from Fitz & Floyd, filled with a pot of fresh shamrocks. A small pot of green and white M&Ms – mint flavored – sit at the base representing the pot of gold.

Crystal glasses by Mikasa were gifted to me by a friend. The table runner is from Pottery Barn; the placemats are woven water hyacinth. The white chargers (that I use again and again, and will never regret purchasing) are from Pier 1. The understated cottage salt and pepper shakers are by Magnolia Home.

Keep this simple table in mind when you get ready to set one for yourself, friends, or family. You don’t have to be over-the-top spectacular to be inviting.

  This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday