judith..what an AMAZING collection of tablesettings > from the simple to the sublime!! I was just mesmerized. I recognized many table settings of friends here and many of your elegant ones. Each one fit in perfectly. This collection is truly a 'keeper' for reference..It was soooo inspiring...
Thank you so much, I loved it..
jane

Oh heck, J, you mean we are supposed to dust the stuff before we use it??? LOL

Thanks for the link. Loved seeing your settings all in one place and DDelight's too!
Great job.
Personally, I like the ones done by real people, than by stores, etc. But they are good to snatch ideas from!

Some good ideas there. Like Kathleen, I tend to appreciate the "real life" table settings best. You're so right though, Judith, the best idea is taking a new look at the things you already own. It would be fun to see what the people here on this forum could come up with, using their own collectibles, etc. As much as I love decorating, inspired unique table settings are not my forte. I'm always looking for inspiration, so thanks for the link, Judith! I'll be looking at my own pieces with a new eye this year as I try to come up with a great table setting for our annual Christmas Day dinner.
Lynn

Well, it took me an hour to view all of that 'eye candy' of course I LOVED yours Judith!
Only problem I have viewing table settings is when they show food that is not prepared for a photo. Some food looks nauseating when it looks messy or greasy to me. I gagged a few times. I love seeing food set up or neatly placed, but when I see it run together or look oily or slopped on a plate, I just lose it. I think a LOT has to go into making food palatable for a photo including the light that won't make it look sickly. Just my opinion. I don't mean to offend anyone, but there is an ART to photographing food that should be left to more thought and preparation. After all, restaurants fix the food on your plate before serving it to their customers!

Thanks for sharing Judith! I have bookmarked it to go back and look when I have more time

gasuz

Which one had food that made you sick, Mary Ruth?
I didn't look at all of them, but would be interested in seeing the ones you thought were bad as I often post pics of my food...

Have you ever looked at FOODGAWKER.com or Tablespotting.com?
It is very interesting, beautiful pics submitted by food bloggers. Mostly regular people, not pro's...

kathleen,
Those are wonderful pictures of food! They look appetizing (even some made me hungry!), even the chicken feet were not that bad!
I guess I like my food pictures to be neat! ha ha! Thanks for sharing that site!

Oh, I could do without the chicken feet!!
But 2 gals I know from one of my forums are there. They talk about how they get rejected ...we joke about it....we are dish addicts there too, and we cook!

Once Upon A Plate, and Once in a Blue Moon....those are the blogs. You have to have a blog to post I believe. Check out their pics...

Like Mary Ruth, I just spent waaay too much time at that link, but it was fun! Of course, I always end up clicking on something else and getting off on a whole new tangent! LOL

Thanks for sharing that with us Judith, it was nice to see both your's and Dining Delights photos on there.

When I think of using collections, I always think about all the wonderful things Karen has collected. I just know that she has all the "ingredients" to make a wonderful table centerpiece. Can't you just see a greenery swag of pretty leaves down the middle of her table with some of her statues set along it? Add a couple of candles and voila! Or her horses, or her pretty set of lanterns,or her Christmas village,etc.--- you get the idea. Yes, Karen, you can do it! ;o) Now I'd better get out of here before she throws something at me!

Luvs

Luvs, you are a great cheerleader...GO...OOOO, Karen!

Luvs, you Stinker...I'd throw the lanterns at you...if I had any! LOL, what lanterns?
You are right, with all my crap, err good stuff, I have plenty for table creations. I just totally lack imagination, which is the KEY ingredient! I keep hoping some of it from you gals will rub off sooner or later.
{{gwi:127736}}RUN, Luvs, RUN

hugs, Karen

LOL! LOL! Karen, I knew I was going to get myself in trouble there! I'm looking over my shoulder, ready to run, as I sit here and type! ;o)

But it is true, you have wonderful collections of things--and I don't care what you say, you have a terrific imagination as seen in your cute fairy village and all your creations. And just look at the great vignettes you have been doing! You CAN do tables too, I know you can! ;o)

Instead of lanterns--I should have said candleholders. The wood ones with the glass in them that I covet everytime you show a pic and they are in it!

Yep, I'm a better cheerleader than a doer--I need to start checking my own stash and see if I can create something too.

Luvs

Thanks Judith for the eye-candy sharing....some great inspiration!

Jim