The Tablescaper: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Seasonal Sundays #81–New Year’s Review

Welcome to Seasonal Sundays # 81. As we approach a New Year, it’s a great time to reflect on the past year. I’m reflecting on my past year of tablescapes. While this does not come close to including all of this past year’s tablescapes, it highlights some of my favorites. If you’d like to see the details and the complete post about each tablescape, just click on the photos.

Warning: Yikes! Totally photo heavy post!

We started off the New Year with a kiss of winter.

Some warm cozy colors.

A bit of shabby chic winter.

And then along comes Valentine’s Day.

A night of sharing yummy treats from Eataly.

Slipping from winter to Spring with graceful swans,

rich colors,

and a celebration of the royal wedding.

Before you knew it, it was Memorial Day.

Spring, glorious Spring.

Vibrant and dramatic.

As we drift off into the romance of Summer.

The glory of Summer.

The enjoyment of all forms of water.

And again, before you knew it, there was…

…Fall.

The rustle of leaves.

Pumpkins and gourds.

The frights and fun of Halloween.

The magnificence of the celebration of a time of thanks.

I’m not including any photos from this past month as I feel you’ve just seen them. I look forward to seeing all of your New Year’s posts, whether they be a reflection on the year that has passed, your celebration for the incoming year or your intentions for the year that has yet to come (plus I’m sure there will be some more sharing of your holiday celebrations.)

– The Tablescaper

Friday, December 30, 2011

Reprise of Christmas Tree Splendor

Welcome to The Tablescaper. I love this week between Christmas and New Year’s. I get to share time with my children and just slow down. I don’t believe in taking my decoration down until after the Epiphany. The Epiphany is on January 6th and is the 12th day after Christmas and celebrates the visit of the the three wise men to the baby Jesus. In my continuing celebration of Christmas, I’m bringing my repost to Chari at Happy to Design for “Sunday Favorites".

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010

Christmas Tree Spode Splendor

As anyone who regularly visits The Tablescaper knows, I have many sets of dishes.

I love to mix and match.

I have numerous different patterns of Christmas dishes, but…

…the only full set of Christmas dishes that I had was Christmas Lenox.

I wanted a complete set to use in my kitchen throughout the holidays. And for once, not to be mixing and matching (as much as I love it, for daily use, it doesn’t always come off.) Clearly the Lenox was too formal for everyday.

There is only one store that I go to, on the day after Christmas for the sales.

It’s a small local shop that carries china. What a surprise. LOL!

Through the years I had picked up a few pieces of Christmas Tree Spode, including these ramekins.

Last year, on the day after Christmas, they had such a great sale, that I took the plunge and bought the entire set. And yes, Kathleen, that means a set of 12 – cups, saucers, dinner plates, salad plates, and bowls.

As this December approached I eagerly awaited the debut of my new set.

I decided I wanted to do something a bit different with the table linens. It’s hard to find a more traditional set of Christmas china than Christmas Tree Spode. I wanted to give it a bit of flair. I was thrilled to find this tablecloth and napkins by April Cornell. The black background sets it apart from your more traditional Christmas linens.

The use of the olive tinted glasses harmonizes with the table linens and the Spode. They were a great find this Summer at Christmas Tree.

The flatware (also used in last week’s tablescape) was a long ago purchase from Walmart.

I can’t remember where I got the little stockings…

…probably HomeGoods.

The hurricanes were a purchase several years ago from HomeGoods.

And jolly old St. Nick was a gift.

Hope you’re enjoying the splendor of the season.

* Note: Last year April Cornell ran a Christmas tablescaping contest and this table won first place in the professional division.

See you Sunday for Seasonal Sundays. It’s my Sunday

meme and it gives bloggers a chance to share what the season means

to them. I can’t wait to see all of your year end posts, along with your great intentions

for the New Year!

- The Tablescaper

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas Eve Dinner 2011

Welcome to The Tablescaper.

I sincerely hope that you and your families had a magnificent Christmas.

My Christmas table for my family was all things plaid!

As my family is of German descent, our big celebration has always been on Christmas Eve.

After a beautiful mass, at which my youngest daughter sang with the choir, we all gathered at my home for the celebration.

We started with light hors d'oeuvres of a cheese platter and a tower of shrimp cocktail. Then Santa stopped by for a quick visit.

Our first course was sushi! I know, a bit different for a Christmas dinner, but we all love it. I used the tiny poinsettia plates for the soy sauce and wasabi.

The main course was filet mignon, steamed lobster (the little tree ramekins were for the melted butter), twice baked potatoes and asparagus. All served with lots and lots of champagne!

After dinner we exchange gifts and then leisurely drift into dessert.

Since dinner is so elaborate, I like to go a little light on dessert.

My sister-in-law Anne is a masterful baker and always brings a large platter of magnificent cookies. I also served an Edible Arrangement and lemon sorbet in lemons.