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Next! Christmas Holiday tablescapes

7 days ago
last modified: 7 days ago

Yesterday it occurred to me that there are three situations where I like to create special tablescapes.

1.When we entertain, which is usually in summer. I've got that well in hand. In fact it is most of what I have here.*

2. Thanksgiving, where my new MO is to use my Woodland plates on top of my white Wedgwood Countryware with whatever Hester and Cook placemats I fancy that year

3. Christmas. I don't really have any specific tableware for Christmas. So I decided I would really like to do that.

So last night when everyone else went to bed, the girls and I were on a mission. The concept was, find an interesting salad plate and some napkins to pair with my Lenox (gift from my parents years ago) to make it feel Christmasy.

Come down the rabbit hole with us. And then I will tell you what we decided on...

PS *Shout out to the person who suggested I buy this item a few months back; I use it all time because I serve crudite with dip so often. It is melamine so I can use it by the pool, too.


Comments (118)

  • 5 days ago

    Pretty!

  • 4 days ago

    Just using what I already have, because adding to the madness would warrant Marie Kondo to move in!

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked njmomma
  • 4 days ago

    Because I am on an the cell 🤪

    Okay, so the bottom dish is my china and the top dish is my kitchen lunch plate.

  • 4 days ago
    last modified: 4 days ago

    oh @njmomma, i love that!!!

    I particularly like interesting plates with the napkins under, like a matting on art


    PS my red (?!?) tartan napkins just arrived. Along with snow.



  • 4 days ago

    Awe thank you! Can you believe that the top plate is Corelle dinnerware!?

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked njmomma
  • 4 days ago

    Don’t forget to post your new napkins

  • 4 days ago

    I don’t often use disposable plates, but these from Festive Farm Co would be contenders



  • 4 days ago

    oooh, those are nice!

  • 4 days ago

    Beautiful prints on those paper plates.

  • 3 days ago
    last modified: 3 days ago

    As soon as we cleaned up from Thanksgiving I set the table for our dinner next week with a few friends. I used the tartan tablecloth overlaid with a smaller white cloth that has a beautiful wool crewel holly pattern around all four edges. It didn’t come in a size big enough for my table but I had to have it and it works well enough like this. Silverplate chargers, white and gold Limoges plates, Christopher Radko bowls, Waterford water glasses and no-name plaid champagnes (from Tuesday Morning) with red fringed napkins. I may change the centerpiece to red roses in the faux bois planter if I have time.








    I will replace the platters here with serving dishes for the dinner, but the rosemary topiary in my pewter ice bucket will remain. The runner, which you can see in more detail below, has a red velvet band and is appliqueéd and sewn with red beads for berries. I bought it at Target in the very early 2000’s!


    Finally, I wanted to share the three small paintings I did tonight. I am painting five more and will write the menu on the reverse side and send them home with our guests.


  • 3 days ago

    the paintings are fabulous, KSWL!

  • 3 days ago

    Thanks, Mtn— I am going full-on plaid 😁 I have a special friend group in our choral society that meets every Monday for dinner at a local restaurant before rehearsal. Our Christmas concert is Tuesday and I am having them over beforehand for a fancy but light supper..

  • 3 days ago

    K, I’m so impressed by your hand-painted cards! Have you always painted/sketched or is it a newly developed skill?

  • 3 days ago

    KSWL what a festive table setting and your hand painted menu cards are so beautiful. What a talent you have been blessed with.

  • 3 days ago
    last modified: 3 days ago

    I’ve been painting in oils and acrylics in studio classes for five or six years, Bbstx, but just picked up water colors this past summer. There were daily classes on the Queen Mary with two great artists/ teachers, a different one each crossing. I sometimes took both the morning and afternoon sessions— absolutely loved it. and continued to play around with it at home. Part of our downstairs overhaul will turn that sunroom into an art studio for me.


    Thank you Bbstx and Njmomma 😊

  • 3 days ago

    Wow, ks, I too am impressed with your holiday paintings!


    Psst, not to brag, but I have a kswl original framed over my desk.

  • 3 days ago

    What gets me, is plaid ... in watercolors! That seems uber hard

  • 3 days ago
    last modified: 3 days ago

    Lollol, Mtn.. you def have to let each color dry before adding the next one! It’s a bit time consuming but incredibly satisfying. I am planning a series for Lent; choosing 40 subjects (to paint one each day) is somewhat daunting but I am hoping it will be a valuable spiritual exercise as well as fun.

  • 3 days ago

    My goodness, @Kswl, those cards are delightful and your table setting is perfection. What lucky friends you have that get the benefits of your artistic eye and hands.

  • 3 days ago

    @Kswl Beautiful paintings!

  • yesterday

    This isn't for the table, but when we were looking at plates, and came across Ginori my DD1 said to me "OMG, I have that saved on my pinterest like 5 times." She meant the pink and navy colorway.


    I saw this little trinket box and ordered it for her.


    I also love many of the other colorways:




  • yesterday

    Like them all but ❤️ the last one… lovely!

  • yesterday



    Finished my center piece. Until then I'll enjoy it on my coffee table.

  • yesterday

    Beautiful!

  • yesterday



    More Hester & Cook



    The plates shown are sold out. They recommend substituting these plates from Pottery Barn, which I think are adorable! But for the fact that I am trying to have less, I’d buy them.



  • yesterday

    The above plate is really lovely. Perfect dessert plate if they come in that size. Your table is so festive and that table runner is perfect.

  • yesterday

    @Kswl for someone not decorating for Christmas, you present a magazine worthy tablescape, sideboard and the most gorgeous hand-painted cards for your guests. Your not decorating is my over the top effort.


    ps - Need a link to your Etsy shop because I would 100% want to start a collection. Beautiful work. I mean, that plaid!

  • yesterday
    last modified: 21 hours ago

    Wonderful table setting photo Bbstx. Those red plates are too cute! I would love a dinner plate size… in green. IF I needed more plates, which I do not! Dishware is a slippery slope 😁

  • yesterday

    Link to the article where the above table appears: LINK

  • yesterday

    I stuck a bunch of branches from the back yard in a vintage vase yesterday and bam, I was done with my holiday centerpiece. My green tablecloth arrived yesterday, too, but I haven’t opened it yet.

  • yesterday

    Asaaah, miss read. Still a pretty table setting

  • yesterday
    last modified: yesterday

    (Deleted because I accidentally posted my pics on the wrong thread, sorry! Anyway, love #5, Mtn!)

  • yesterday

    When I put out the trash this morning, I realized that I have not put the Christmas wreaths on my front doors yet!

  • yesterday

    I went to a wreath-making class yesterday; it hasn’t made it to the door yet.



  • yesterday
    last modified: yesterday

    Love the little bluebird!

    I got a $12 TJ ’ starter wreath’ and added magnolia leaves and juniper berries.


    And with the vision of snow outside my rusty leaves and berries are now anxious to become compost.

  • yesterday

    Sweet cards, Kswl!

    I have nothing but plans at this point, and we won't have any guests for the holiday meals, so no need for fancy table settings, but I will decorate a bit for sure.

    And FWIW, a trick I learned in commercial art is to use a hairdryer to hasten drying of paint/inks, etc.


  • yesterday

    I do use a mini hairdryer Carolb, but am probably going to get a heat gun as the air can redistribute the paint if you’re doing something very wet. Ask me how I know 🙄

  • 21 hours ago
    last modified: 10 hours ago

    Ruby I missed your nice comment yesterday,🥰 thank you! I finished another couple of cards tonight, both trees. One with a red and gold base


    And one with a plaid base


    and this is is menu on the reverse


    The tuxedo truffle mouse cake is coming from The Fresh Market. I was writing the menus and worried that the store might be out of the cake —and that I would have to paint all new cards if they were and I’d included it— so I called the market and stayed on hold for 23 minutes while some person went off the find the cake. When he finally returned he was so apologetic; the store was a madhouse and I could hear it the whole time in the background, there was no muzac and apparently no hold button! People kept asking him for things and the manager had him looking for something else. Luckily they have it and I am picking it up tomorrow …..whew!

    adding……Ruby your post alternately appears and disappears on this thread. I have noticed other posts seeming to have been deleted, only to reappear at a later time. Has anyone else noticed this? Is there a reason? Are posts not visible while they are being revised, for example?

  • 11 hours ago

    Hester & Cook have Christmas tabletop stuff on sale - 20% off


    I’m thinking about buying these placemats and a red and white striped runner to go with them.




    H&C show the placemats with a gold and white striped runner or a pink and white striped runner. I like both of those looks, but I’m setting a table for small children. They like bright colors!

  • 10 hours ago

    Christmas 2024 (rental house post-fire)


    Brunch:



    Dinner:



  • 9 hours ago

    Love it, Mtn! Since you’ve seen the placemats IRL, do you think they will work with the red and white stripe?

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked bbstx
  • 9 hours ago

    Definitely!

  • 9 hours ago

    I am still waiting for my Hester & Cook order. It has been a week, which is forever. Maybe today, since I got an email saying it is at least in MA.


    Mtn, I love the candles on your table. Were those from the airbb or did you get them somewhere?

  • 8 hours ago
    last modified: 8 hours ago

    I got them last year at Whole Foods -- kind of scrambling to decorate in a very different environment. They have a scent, which I like, but is fairly strong.

    It says "Paddywax" on the bottom and "Sea Salt and Sage."


    ooh lost of cuties on Paddywax's website

    https://paddywax.com/collections/cherie

    Would this be like a reciprocal influence loop?



    PS okay that was fast - just bought these for my DDs:



  • 7 hours ago

    Those ceramic covered candles are so cute! I have seen them in a store somewhere.


    I spoke too soon, just opened the door to find both my H&C order and my plates from World Market! I love it all, except that one plate arrived broken. I emailed them, including a pic, so hoping they’ll send me a new one. I might have to clear my art project off the dining room table later and try out my new toys!

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked Sueb20
  • 6 hours ago
    last modified: 6 hours ago

    I like my oyster shell wreath. But BBSTX suggested I bring my bowl from the apartment. I worry it is too big and too high? IN any event I need more greens this I just stole from a mantle




  • 6 hours ago
    last modified: 6 hours ago

    Hmm, I like these?


    Might be too busy:



    One of my DDs is at the apartment, I will ask her to bring the bowl



  • 5 hours ago

    I know Sue has a cold, so I will allow her extra time to post her table goodies!

  • 3 hours ago

    Pearly ornaments in your bowl looks so pretty. Was just given this ornament, could send it to extend your theme.