As Traditional As You Get

I think Lenox's Holiday pattern is just about as pretty as you can get and as traditional.  I have used these dishes with plaid, with stripes and with vibrant colors, but tonight, for our Christmas dinner, I decided to go with the most formal use of them, and here's why:

I was gifted this gorgeous tulle Christmas topper, handmade by my grandmother many, many years ago.  She made it for my mom, who never used it!!!!  Can you imagine?  It was a pretty good fit over my standard white Williams Sonoma linen cloth, too.

Look at this detail!  All of the applique and beading!  That line you see is sequins, and the edges are scalloped felt.  Over time, the felt and the tulle have yellowed a bit, but that is fine, as these dishes are a cream, and I have never liked the way they look on a stark white cloth.

See the edging?

The designs are fabulous.

Look at this handwork!  No Stitch-Witchery!  No hot glue!  These are all hand sewn with a million TINY stitches.  Thank you, Grandma!

Early this fall, I found these napkins at Homegoods.  They go perfectly with this china pattern.  I only found seven at the first store I saw them, none at the next one, none at the next next one, and then.....Eureka!.....one more in Cleveland when I visited our girls.  The flatware is mis-matched silverplate that I find much more interesting than my sterling.  That stays in the safety deposit box and I use this all the time.

I loved the color this glassware gave the table.

My daughter gave me these incredible French knives with china handles and brass blades.  I think they are really fruit knives, but I use them as bread and butter knives here.

I already had these place cards.

Since I REALLY didn't want any spills or messes on this precious cloth, I pulled out these crystal knife rests.  No....that is not tarnish on the blade.....it is the reflection of a red goblet. 

Every once in a while, I clip these little candle holders onto the chargers and it makes the meal really special.

I totally overbought these red carnations.  It always takes so many more to pave the flowers, so I didn't want to run short.  But I chose a smaller cachepot than I planned on, so I have a ton left.  Fortunately, carnations last so long that I'll find a use for them. 

Since I had so much gold going on, I substituted these gold angel candlesticks for the crystal ones I started with.  I always use them for Valentine's Day, but I never before thought to use them for Christmas.  Duh! 

I think the table looked pretty in the afternoon as I photographed it.

But it looked truly beautiful with this precious lady sitting there by candlelight. 

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Valentine's Day Dinner

I'm sending this old post (complete with bad photography) to a fun linky party.  You can find it here:

Here's the way my post read almost two years ago:

We celebrated Valentine's Day a few days early with some special friends.  The table was a high/low mixture, which I love to do.  The only thing on the table that is strictly Valentine's Day is the salad plate, the rest is just a mix of red and white.

We're still in shock that we had Valentine's Day snow here in Georgia, but it did make for a pretty picture of the pond in the front driveway circle.

Of course, the swan  (egret? stork?) got a pretty ribbon and faux flower.  Isn't the snow pretty on that peony?  The bird always gets the decoration instead of the little guy, because I can reach it standing on the side of the pond surround. 

Next to greet our guests was this wooden plaque from Michael's that I just added pretty ribbons to and hung it from the "speakeasy door".  I forgot to take a picture of the gates which are the first thing guests see.  I hung heart shaped wreaths with faux peonies and lots of ribbons. 

Here's the inspiration for the table and one of my most cherished possessions.  It's a square linen cloth with heart trim that my sweet mom crocheted for me years ago.  It really pops on this red linen tablecloth.

I use it for Valentine's Day and often find a way to work it into the decor of a wedding shower.  I also used it in some way for both of my daughters' bridesmaids luncheons.

The centerpiece was a wicker and wood stand with holes just right for 3 common sized terracotta pots.  I fill them with oasis and then put as many red carnations into them as they will hold.  Then just a few galax leaves make a slight frill around the bottom.  This centerpiece will last for two weeks or more.

Here's a better look at it.  It's chippy and cheerful!

I'm sorry for the quality of this photo.  I forgot to get a close-up so this is over-cropped.  Do you see who came to dinner?  Look closely.  George Clooney!

I put some dream dates on the cardstock flag and asked everyone to pick a seat with the name they most resemble.  It was pretty fun.  Mr. Pressed Pants elected to sit here.  Good choice.  I also put a little glitter embossed and stamped heart on the flag and tucked it into these striped napkins folded in the shape of a heart.  If you Google "heart shaped napkin fold" you'll find several sites with instructions on how to do this fold.  BTW, I took the last seat and it was for Jennifer Aniston.  I hear you laughing!!!!

I chose my mismatched silverplate and the pearl handled knives. 

Glassware was these etched pinky-red stems for water (I'd still like to know more about these.  Anyone?), and Waterford Lismore wine glasses.

These sweet cherub candlesticks held simple white candles. 

The key to my heart, anyone?  I scattered several keys adorned with simple bows around the table.  These keys were actually handed to us when we closed on our first house, believe it or not!  That makes them a very nostalgic addition.

These red chargers are available anywhere and the dinner plates were just some I found at a yard sale.  They are more like pottery.  The red and white plate came from Target last year.  It is plastic.  I never hesitate to use plastic mixed with "good stuff".  Unless you are celebrating a very solemn occasion, go for the mix!  I use these simple red glass bread and butter plates lots of different ways.  Can you see the heart shaped butter pats?

Waterford wine coasters, a French butter container and red s/p shakers finished off the table.

The back of each chair had lots of tulle, ribbons, and a sparkley red heart.  Who doesn't love a sparkley red heart?

As usual, I carried the theme over to the guest powder room.  That small heart shaped box held Altoids.  I got this idea from my best friend.  She always has them in her powder room.  It is so nice to pop one in after garlic bread, ya know?  I just leave the lid slightly ajar and welcome anyone to freshen up!

These frilly flowers and this cherub embossed salt glazed pitcher are made for each other.

And.....as the other powder room says on a vintage postcard......."Valentine greetings" to all of my blogging friends.

You'll find me posted at Between Naps on the Porch for Susan's Tabletop Thursday party.  Be sure to visit for lots of inspiration.

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