Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Celebrating Friends ~ Christmas 2010


The joy of Christmas for me is time spent with both family and friends. Our holidays are simple times of shared meals, laughter, and friendship.



Traditional red, green, and white were the colors of the evening.



Our Christmas Eve dinner was around a table simply set with a theme of evergreens and red tassels.



An antique ironstone tureen held fresh spruce branches accented with ornamental cabbage, white mums, and cuttings from the garden.



Christmas red tassels severed as napkin rings for monogramed white linens.




The tassels gave a nod to the festive border on the dinner plates in Queen's Rooster. The border of red gingham, swags, and tassels was the perfect compliment for the evergreen wide bands of the Zrike chargers. Larger white charges beneath were used in place of a linen cloth on the table.



Place cards were little decorative favor boxes filled with chocolates for each guest to take home for a late night snack.



The next evening's table of pine trees, pomegranates, and red birds continued the color theme for Christmas Day dinner for four of us at a friend's home.



A simple white bowl held bright red pomegranates, white twigs, and gorgeous tree ornaments.



A closer look at the ornaments shows red birds among a snowy scene.



Each place setting featured this little winter birdie on the red linen mats with green borders. The Vietri red chargers with white polka dots held traditional Spode Christmas Tree dinner plates.



Spode Christmas Tree, a favorite traditional Christmas pattern, was first introduced in 1938. Even after all these years and with all the other beautiful Christmas patterns available these days, I find this pattern totally charming with its simple pine tree decorated with ornaments.



Linen napkins with a peppermint candy design were held with rings of red jingle bells.



Petite boxes of Godiva chocolates were the sweet little favor to carry home.



Christmas 2010 is now but a memory ~

One of joyful memories of cherished friendships!

Joining






Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

37 comments:

  1. This is all so cheery, Sarah! The napkins are beautiful, and how indulgent to give GODIVA! Yum! Happy New Year! Thanks for all your kind visits to me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. All the work, all the preparation, all the thought.....and when it translates into sweet memories of time with friends it's all perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a darling post. It says it all.. from our home to yours Happy New Year! hugs ~lynne~

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a sweet table. I just ate some of those Godiva's that were given to us in a wonderful gift basket. Happy New Year Sarah!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ah... and what memories. Those evergreen chargers are gorgeous!

    Happy New Year. Hope to see you at Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful table, Sarah! Love all the details which all go together. So well thought of. Happy New Year!...Christine

    ReplyDelete
  7. A lovely tablescape. Very well put together!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Two great Christmas tablescapes, how pretty they both are.
    I have Spode Christmas tree too. Happy New Year to you & Mr A.
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Sarah...

    Ohhh...both Christmas tables were sooo very beautiful, my friend! And I just adore your pretty Queen's rooster plates!

    Well my friend, it sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family...just what the season is all about! Here's to wishing you and yours a blessed and happy New Year!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari @Happy To Design

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Sarah! LOVE your Queen's Rooster plates accented with your red tassels! Holidays with friends make for memorable celebrations~

    I have so enjoyed visiting with you this year... thank you for your encouragement & all your generous comments! Best wishes for a Happy New Year :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful tables, Sarah!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sarah -
    We can always depend on your post for some really good table designs. These Christmas posts are darling.
    Linda @ A Toile Tale

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a lovely table. I love the red plates with the tassles, they are so unusual. It is very enjoyable reading your posts with your beautiful pictures. Happy New Year.
    CareyAnn

    ReplyDelete
  14. very pretty sarah, looks like you all had a wonderful time~ of course i am smitten with your needlepoint too~ happy new years!

    ReplyDelete
  15. lovely tables both of them. I so love those red swag plates! they'd compliment the spode so well too. Happy New year to you and yours, may the new year bring you plenty of blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow! Love the beautiful red tassel plates with gingham! We don't see gingham like we used to and it reminds me so much of childhood. Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such a sweet & lovely preparation. Simple but absolutely elegant. Love the tassles...

    Happy TS & Happy New Year...

    Greetings from freezing Stockholm,
    /chie

    ReplyDelete
  18. Very pretty! Hey, I hadn't thought to use the ornamental kale in a bouquet. Great idea!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sarah, that looks beautiful! I am so happy you had a good Cmas, and you treated your guests royally!
    It goes so quickly! I think we should move Tgiving to Oct like the Canadians so we can have longer to celebrate Cmas!
    Happy New Year to you!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful tablescapes, Sarah! I love the red tassel napkin holders, the centerpieces and the thoughtful favors.

    Happy 2011!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful Sarah, it looks like you had a marvelous holiday! Your table looks so festive.
    I wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy New Year.
    Hugs,
    Terri

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Sarah, this is such a pretty and festive table. You thought of everything and the colors are awesome. I LOVE Godiva chocolate.
    Have a wonderful New Year.
    Hugs, Jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful photos of a lovely table - the white tureen with flowers and greenery is my favorite!

    Sending love and very wishes to you and your loved ones as this year ends and we begin a new one. Hoping this will be a healthy, happy time for us all.

    Thank you Sarah for being such a delightful friend, hopefully we'll meet this coming year!
    Love, Mary

    ReplyDelete
  24. I don't even know where to begin because it all looks lovely and festive! Of course, now I am craving Godiva chocolates...

    Trying to get caught up on favorite blogs and wish folks a very Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  25. HI Sarah..what a fabulous and beautiful post..so much red-inspiration and filled with festive magic!!Gorgeous! Yum..Godiva chocolates..!!Such a special post!

    Wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful new year filled with sparkles and blessinsgs! It has been wonderful getting to know you and the magic you share!
    Hugs
    Kiki~

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a pretty table. Your plates are lovely. Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a pretty table Sarah! Have a very Happy New Year!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  28. You always make your tables so special and I enjoy reading your blog everyday. Have a happy New Year and I look forward to more lovely tablescapes!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sarah, both of these tables are quite lovely. Love those red tassels with those gorgeous plates. Happy New Year -- looking forward to your 2011 tables.

    ReplyDelete
  30. The red tassels are a brilliant element in your lovely tablescape. Thank you for sharing your charming designs. Happy New Year! Cherry Kay

    ReplyDelete
  31. Dearest Sarah, I loved seeing this so much. You have such a wonderful way of celebrating, and I always enjoy seeing tables you set. Just gorgeous!

    Happy New Year to you and yours and blessings overflowing...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dear sarah,
    what a wonderful post.
    I wish you a very Happy New Year full of Health, Luck and Joy.
    Greetings, Johanna

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Sarah~ What a sweet post- I love your tablescape- it is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday~ Happy New Year to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Happy New Year Sarah! May blessings & joys fill your days. Thank you for your friendship ... look forward to many more moments to treasure.

    TTFN ~
    Hugs, Marydon

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wow so nice dinnerware! This table is decorated with their nice dishes. I really appreciate your idea. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Spode Christmas

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sarah, I'm so glad I came back to see this post. Every time I see that "Queens Rooster" china pattern, I think I really NEED some of that china. (Of course, then I start looking around for a place to store it, and that stops me in my tracks!) Your Christmas Eve table is so festive and pretty. Love the place card candy boxes too. Such a pretty dinner at your friend's house too. I enjoyed seeing both of these celebrations. laurie

    ReplyDelete

Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.