Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A Look Back at Christmas 2010

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here

is hosting a

Holiday Dining Block Party

I'm sharing our holiday table from 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 served 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 chargers 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.

51 comments:

  1. How lovely. I have been caught up in chores and errands, and have not had a chance to think about Christmas, but your story put me in the right mood ;-) Merci beaucoup. I will go up in the attic in a minute and take out a few ornaments... It's a start. A bientôt. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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  2. Beautiful, Sarah! I love the pretty colors...so French at Christmas! Your guests must have been captivated! I also must say that I love the Gift of the Maggi as well...such a touching example of selflessness! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  3. Sarah...both tables were amazingly beautiful and filled with wonderful detail! That really makes for a special time! I know you received a lot of compliments. This is mine!

    Happy Holidays!

    XO,
    Jane

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  4. What beautiful tables, Sarah! I really like the red tassels and your centerpiece on the first one. Merry Christmas to you!
    Beth

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  5. Sarah,
    Doesn't it make one feel so very special to dine at one of these festive set tables? I adore the elegant simplicity of the first with the red tasseled napkins. The whimsical nature of the second table is stunning with pink added to the mix of Traditional Christmas hues! Thank you for sharing these beautiful Christmas Tablescapes with us!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  6. Just beautiful. I love the Queen's Rooster dishes - perfect.
    I'm always happy to sit at a pretty table - it doesn't have to be complicated, but there's something about the little extra effort that the hostess makes that is so very welcoming.

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  7. Beautiful table settings Sarah!
    merry, merry!
    xo Cathy

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  8. Both tables are so pretty. I really love the centerpiece of the first one. There's just something special about fresh flowers and greens.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and your sweet comment.
    Barb

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  9. Beautiful tables, Sarah! I love the colors!

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  10. Sarah~ I have long admired your Queen's Rooster! I saw some this summer at TJ Maxx and talked myself out of them and I'm kicking myself now :)

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  11. Just beautiful table setting...I love how elegant it is without being garish. I also loved the pomegranates in the centerpiece.

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  12. I so love those Queens dishes! Also the pairing with the greens.. so pretty. I loved your tassels too.. just an all around beautiful table! The second table is quite lovely too. xo marlis

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  13. HI Sarah

    Thanks for mingling with me at Sherrys

    Love the simplicity of your Christmas eve table and the pinks of the Christmas day dinner table.

    Pink and green are a beautiful combination.

    Carolyn xx

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  14. I've had a feast, just looking at your beautiful photographs. They made me smile and I had a delightful time visiting here.

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  15. What lovely tables you set, last year. I'm sure you have many new ideas for the up coming celebrations.

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  16. Delightful table. Pink-o-rama! Loved the winter birdie on the red linen mats with green borders. The Vietri red chargers with white polka dots works perfectly with your traditional Spode Christmas Tree dinner plates. Pairing the traditional with contemporary doesn't always work, but your pairing turned out great. ~CJ

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  17. Very pretty! I'm glad you re-posted as I don't remember seeing it before.

    Katherine

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  18. Hi Sarah,
    both tables are so elegant and festive. You brought both settings to their best. I love the way how you combine simple things to a gorgeous table. You have a great basics collection to play with! Love the pomgranates with the Christmas ornaments. Great idea.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  19. Lovely to see this post again, both tables are delightful.
    I'm particularly taken with the ironstone centrepiece, very elegant & chic.

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  20. I didn't remember seeing this post before, Sarah, so it is totally new to me! Just lovely & I feel the same way about the Spode pattern.

    Hugs,
    Rett

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  21. I loved those plates when I saw them last year. The borders are so nice! Great tables! Love the tassels too. Heard it got rather cold down your way! It's certainly cold here! Stay warm!
    Miss Bloomers

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  22. Both tablescapes are so pretty. You know, I never noticed the rosy pink color in the Spode before, and I really like the way you accented that color in your accessories. Love your use of pomegranates and snowy ornaments. I'm glad you posted these as I don't remember seeing them last year.

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  23. Sarah this is a beautiful tablescape. It's good to visit our posts from Christmas past. Such lovely inspiration from you. I love the layered place setting here. One of my favorite patterns for anything is gingham. These red gingham border plates, I love, love those! The antique tureen made a lovely container for the arrangement. Hope your are enjoying the season.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  24. What lovely colour combinations you used.

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  25. Beautiful festive tables, Sarah and I absolutely love the centerpiece for the Christmas Eve table.

    Jermaine

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  26. So traditional and beautiful! Love it. Makes me anxious to host a dinner at my house! Nothing like fun and laughter at the holidays.
    Blessings!
    Tammy

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  27. What festive tablescapes Sarah. Certainly a wonderful memory of a Christmas past to treasure. Thank you for stopping by for a visit Ms. Sarah...Always wonderful to hear from you my sweet friend. Wishing a wonderful weekend.

    Hugs and Kisses,
    ♥Ana

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  28. Love the plates! Beautiful table! thanks for sharing,JoAnn

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  29. Beautiful plates, and your table is gorgeous! So festive and ready for the holidays. Merry Christmas.
    FABBY

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  30. I love the red, green and white...very Christmas-y. What beautiful floral arrangement.

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  31. Lovely table, the flowers and branches are just right!
    Lezlee

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  32. So beautiful!


    Hearty Pink, come and see when you get a chance.

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  33. Hi Sarah,
    What beautiful table settings. Love your red and white plates. The border is so sweet. Your centerpiece was wonderful. Love the bird placemats of the second dinner. Isn't it wonderful to spend time with family and friends!

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  34. The checked plates are so charming. It just amazes me how many wonderful plates there are out there. I love the tassel too. On the second table those napkins are wonderful. They would be great in my kitchen right now. It is so fun to share in everyone's holidays.

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  35. Sarah, you have outdone yourself in such a lovely warm setting. Love the little touches that are so inviting.
    Merry Christmas
    TTFN ~
    Marydon

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  36. The christmas decorations are just beautiful, I love the winter birdie and the beautiful ornaments, thanks for sharing...phyllis

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  37. Hi Sarah...

    My friend, I sooo enjoyed both of your beautiful Christmas tables! I love the fresh floral that you created for the first table's centerpiece...very pretty! I do have to admit, that the pretty red and white checked swags on the Queen's Rooster pattern just steal my heart away! I just adore that pretty pattern! Ohh yes...and I love that you used red tassels to hold the beautiful monogramed napkins! That's a GRAND idea!

    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful Christmas Past with us for the Sunday Favorites party this week, dear lady! As always...it's such a treat coming to your place!

    Warmest Christmas Wishes,
    Chari

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  38. Hi Miss Sarah! Your holiday table is adorable. I especially love the napkins with the candy canes on them. I am a busy bee wrapping today and getting out my Christmas cards. Oh, and staying warm because it is quite cold here today. Have a wonderful week.

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  39. Very nice Sarah. Love the dishes with the red checks! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  40. I love your white napkins with the "A" (of course!) It's all so lovely and I just adore the Spode Christmas dishes too.

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  41. What a magnificent job you've done there sweetie. Your table setting is just magnificent!

    Great job!!!

    God bless and have a marvelous day sweetie.

    BTW: Giveaway...my place...ya'll come!!! :o)

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  42. I've always loved those plates with the swag checked border. I finally found some, but they had the rooster in the middle of the plate (not as appropriate for Christmas). I want to be a guest at your house, so I can take home some of those chocolates. What a nice little gift. I also love the Spode Christmas plates. laurie

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  43. Sarah, what a LOVELY tablescape! My daughter collects the Spode Christmas china and I was able to find the three tier cake server at an antique/consignment shop and can't wait to give it to her. They had the box and everything. She will love it! Your plates with the red trim are so precious...they are so festive! You really put a lot of time in to adding personal touches. LOVELY! Merry CHRISTmas! ;)

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  44. Sarah, such wonderful memories. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us this year!

    - The Tablescaper

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  45. You know I love those plates! I am not fond of the rooster on the salad though, lol, but I bought them anyway for the checks!
    It was nice to revisit 2010 at your home. I hope all is well!
    I am way behind!

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  46. I'm going back to those Pomegranites!! Ours stay yellowy orange on the outside. HOW GORGEOUS are the red ones.
    Many Christmas wishes of love and joy to you Sarah.
    Sorry for the long absence
    xxx
    Ange

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  47. good Lord Sarah....it took me a bit to catch up. It seems like I have been away forever. I really enjoyed your last posts very much and always marvel at the sight of your beautiful table settings.I think I am also a dishaholic, and you know how much I love red.
    I enjoyed your visit to Normandy via post. It is so pretty there, and the food looked delicious. I suddenly got very hungry. It is so wonderful to have friends, and even more wonderful when you can visit them in such a heavenly spot.
    I hope this coming year will bring you more happy travel and much pleasure.
    I wish you a very happy holiday and a healthy and happy new year.
    Warm hugs, Evi

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  48. I know I'm about the 50th person to say this, but I love those plates, and your centerpiece with the fresh greens and flowers is just beautiful!

    I hope you're enjoying the season and have a very Merry Christmas!

    Nancy

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  49. GOOD MORNING SARAH!!!!!

    OK, Pomegranates are now becoming quite popular at my house, IN THE KITCHEN and now, you have given me the idea to use the at the table!!! SO LOVELY MY DEAR and thank you for the holiday greeting! All MY BEST to you and yours! Have a wonderful celebration. Anita

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  50. Sarah, love your table. The red and white dishes are so pretty and unusual. Oh, the tureen with green and white - one of my favs! Beautifully done! Linda

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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.