Bloopers 2010 !!!

This is actually a table that I haven't posted yet, but I took these photos late last summer when I had a girl's luncheon.  Note that I closed the door to the kitchen, since I was in the midst of prep for the lunch and chaos reigned, but I left the storage dividers for the plates on the floor in front of the door.  Sometimes, time is short and you have to just start flinging things!

Here's my favorite blooper!  Look just to the left of the wreath and you'll see a Daddy-Long-Legs!  And I was so proud of my new fall wreath that I never saw it until it came up on the blog!

This post is in answer to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.  She has a yearly New Year's Blog Party inviting all bloggers to offer their bloopers.  Check it out.  It should be good for a lot of laughs.

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Ski and Showshoe Table

I must admit that I'm sort of over Christmas decorations and tablescapes.  I was pretty sure that I'd post something non-seasonal this week, but we got a "gift" of snow in Atlanta on Christmas day, so I decided to do this winter sports themed table.  I have this cheerful tablecloth that I found at The Christmas Shop.  As a matter of fact, many of the items are from there.  Ok, it's not Christmasy, but it's not non-seasonal either.  Did you get that???  The skis....

and the snowshoes are embroidered on it several places.

I decided to use it on the breakfast room table for a breakfast for two. 

I limited the colors to just red and white. 

I started with a plate that Kroger is selling.  Pretty good match, don't you think?  I added our everyday flatware from Williams-Sonoma.  

Then I used a white plate under a red scalloped cereal bowl from Ballard's.

These red stems are so old that I can't remember where I got them.  Oldies but goodies!

I got a little clever with the napkin.  I found these at The Christmas Shop and bought them for a centerpiece or something.  I wasn't sure, but could any of you pass them up?  Didn't think so.

Here's how I used them!  Napkin rings???  Napkin skids???  Napkin adornments???  You decide.

   

And here's the best part.  The stag standing in snow with SNOW outside!!!!!

See?  Even the lower terrace has snow on it!

He's from Z Gallerie this year.  Couldn't resist.

Here's an aerial view of how it came together.

So, after I had almost everything put away, I realized that I forgot two items that I had planned to use!  Do you ever do that?  Well, since I probably won't be using this again for a long time, I'm slipping them in for you to see.  One is these cute little mittens that I thought I'd use as silverware holders.

And these juice glasses would have been cute, too.  Oh well, at least  they'll be available another time.  

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.  Go over there and see her great blog party.

betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com 

Christmas Dinner at Amy's

Just these three words: Christmas Eve Dinner.

Don't they tell of tradition, wonder, excitement and joy?  Our family is all on the same page for this event.  It can be in different cities, on different plates, at different times of the day, but one thing remains constant.  We must be together.  This year, our older daughter hosted our family at this beautiful table.

Each lovely place setting was a treat.  Most of these items were wedding gifts.  Each detail is flexible enough that it can be used a variety of ways.  Here it is perfect for Christmas.

The flowers are simply three bunches from the grocery store.  Cut short, they work well in three footed ice tea glasses.  These are made by Fostoria and called Americana.

I know!  You asked yourself, "What's with this crooked candlestick?  Nearly every post she does has a crooked candle!"  Well, you're right!  But they never look crooked until I post them!  This one is set into a glass holder from Tiffany.  It has a simple painted metal holly wreath around it.  I know, too, that the wick should have been blackened when put on the table, but, hey, it was Christmas Eve and we had lots of cooking to do!

 

On the red linen tablecloth, we started with the dinner plates from Tiffany.  Amy has always loved polka dots, so this fun but sophisticated pattern was perfect for her.  Then she chose Green Panel from Royal Crown Derby for her complimentary pattern.  I only found four of these in her china stack, so I used two of the Tiffany, but after they were washed, I found the rest.  Oh, well!  The silver is by Reed and Barton.  Can you see the dots on it, too?

These Waterford Marquis Hanover pattern of glassware ia a perfect choice for this china.  It has polka dots just under the gold rim.

These simple flowers from above.

An aerial view of the table.

The napkins are from Pottery Barn and nobody can remember where the silver napkin rings come from.  I wish we knew, as I'd like to get her more.

In the breakfast room, a pretty table was set for the children, too.  Spode's Christmas Tree pattern works so well here.  I have bought this for her for years.  The flatware is her everyday pattern, from William-Sonoma.  We all forget the pattern name.  The linens are a reverse of the dining room.

The boys were even pronounced old enough for the matching Spode glassware this year.

The centerpiece was pushed to the end, but it was holly in a French wire holder.  It has four sections, each with a grey pot.

This perfect amaryllis reigned in the corner.  It is in a fabulous French concrete pot. 

Menu:

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Cheese and Crackers

Shrimp Cocktail

Roasted Delmonico Beef

Spinach Noodle Kugle

Tossed Salad with Pomegranate and Apples

Cloverleaf Rolls

Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots

Peppermint Ice Cream on a Brownie

with Hot Fudge Sauce

The main dish can change, but the dessert must be the same!!!  Peppermint Ice Cream Forever!!!!

Stag Christmas Table

What is so special about the stag?  It seems so regal and majestic.  Do you remember that scene in "The Queen" when the queen mother was in the wild and a huge stag came to her?  I had chills.  This table is not truly Christmas themed, but it feels right for this time of year.  It "fits" our holiday look, too.

Here's the first item that inspired this table.  These metal stag candlesticks usually sit on a small book rack at the bottom of our main staircase.  Today I've moved them to the table where they are the star.  A small double faced satin ribbon is all the decoration they need.

Here they are on the table.

Last year, Z Gallerie had these great salad plates.  Aren't they just made for me?  Stags, acorns, oak leaves, green and brown!!!!  I think I went to at least three different stores to get as many as I "needed"! 

Here's the place setting I settled on.

Since I didn't use a tablecloth, I started with a light colored woven placemat which made each place show up on the wooden table.  Then I used a birds-eye maple patterned charger. 

Then I used a plain cream pottery plate from Target on top.

Don't these glasses look familiar?  I have used they over and over this fall.  The green stem is good for a pop of color and came from Swoozies. The tortoise colored glass is an old one that I've had for years.

The napkins are linen, and these perfect stag napkin holders are from Boxwoods in Atlanta.  I saw that they still had these in stock this year.

Same flatware I've also used a lot this fall! 

These paper mache deer are great for a non-floral centerpiece.  I just sat them on a bed of fresh greens and sprinkled them with some mica to look like snow.

Up a little closer.

I've used this runner on the table and the buffet.  It is ultrasuede with dark brown velvet cut-outs on the border.  I have it in a bridge table sized square, too.  Love this!!!!

Here's how it all shaped up.

An aerial view.

Here's where these guys usually hang out for Christmas.  They sit on a small dining room chest.  I again used fresh green, a little mica snow, and a variety of textured trees.  If you look closely.......

you'll see some tiny woodland friends.

The sideboard in it's Christmas look.

A matching runner, Woodland Father Christmas, and some pinecone and greens added to a bow that I have attached with "Cling".  Have you discovered that stuff?  It is a floral adhesive that's a really sticky clay.  It's great when you can't attach a holder, but boy,it is ever hard to remove.  I'll use Goo Gone, which I consider a miracle product!

I added a tiny bit of juniper to the lamps.  I love what it does to the ivory "fringe".

This settee with the raffia cloth seat has just a small little elf watching the event.  I like to use this to place favors if I'm giving them.  Sorry, no favor today!!! 

Be sure to go to Between Naps on the Porch on Thursday for her blog party.  There will be lots of table inspiration and a ton of Christmas joy!