Christmas Tête - à -Tête
December 2020
Tête - à -Tête
~ a conversation between two people
In French, a Tête - à -Tête literally means "head to head."
No question the holiday season of 2020 was by far
very different from all our past celebrations,
though that didn't deter me from adding festive
touches around our home this December.
A tray of Connie Roberts' folk art Santa whistles added
a touch of whimsy and brought smiles.
Twinkle lights and collected Santa figures are
like old friends come for a yearly visit.
Christmas mice, given to me by an aunt in 1975,
brought sentimental memories of special times.
Early in our marriage, The Chef hung a petite copper
heart chocolate mold on our tree, a thoughtful, romantic gift.
Over the years we found more petite copper hearts,
and a new collection began as I came across other little copper chocolate molds here and there, along with small copper bells.
Isn't that how most collections begin?
Now they decorate a small tabletop tree each year.
Another year, the chef gave me a large
copper heart with an endearing message in German.
Over time, he found a few more, and they are treasures.
The handsome wooden soldier came to live here in recent years,
a purchase from my friend, Rita @ Panoply
She and her sisters have a fun filled space at an antique mall.
Nutcrackers gather on the sun porch table.
Can you spot the new one?
I couldn't resist the small Highland Nutcracker on a flash
sale the week of Christmas with Christmas Eve delivery!
Thank you, MacKenzie-Childs!
The darling watercolor by Monique @ La Table de Nana
is a cherished reminder of friends across the miles any time of year.
The talented Jenna @The Painted Apron surprised
me with this darling farm truck that she painted.
It's the perfect accessory with my
MacKenzie-Childs Farmer Nutcracker.
Let's talk about holiday table settings!
COVID has changed traditional entertaining.
Tables for eight or ten are now a table for two.
To keep our home festive, I made a point to keep our table
set with the ambiance of the holidays through out December.
I simply changed up the plate stack a little from week to week.
Juliska introduced their Stewart Tartan this fall.
Those little gnomes insisted I add a touch of
this traditional look to our holiday table.
My generous, thoughtful friend Victoria @ Crown Linen Designs
They are a perfect pairing for the tartan!
A snowy vignette on a silver tray served
as a simple centerpiece for our holiday table.
origami reindeer from my ornament box. . .
Along with this cute MacKenzie-Childs gnome
and old fashioned faux snow sprinkled across the tray
to complete the winter wonderland scene.
An Instagram and blogging friend,
shared this wonderful stag plate on her IG feed,
and I rushed to Hobby Lobby with hopes of adding these
to my plate stack for yet another look. I bought the last one, and searches far and wide to add more turned up empty handed.
If any of my readers see this pattern for sale, please alert me.
They are part of the Farmhouse Christmas by Robert Stanley.
I layered the plate stacks atop my favorite
Crown Linen Design's
black and white check linens with a touch of
MacKenzie-Childs tartan napkins kicked to the side.
I traded out the white Vintage Garden charger
from the Ambiance Collection
for a green porcelain charger by Zirke.
Part of playing with dishes is trying out different
looks with the same basic stack.
Just change out a charger, salad plate, stack topper,
flatware, or linens for a complete new look.
Don't forget to add a fun plate
topper for a holiday touch!
with Bauble Stockings at each of our place settings.
Donner for The Chef.
Winter Wonderland for me.
Napkins ~ Victorian Red by Crown Linen Designs
Thank you, Emily @ The French Hutch!
Bauble Stockings are exquisitely hand stitched by women in Haiti who are paid a fair trade wage and provided with tuition for their children's education, books, after school curriculum, breakfast, and lunch.
As a lifetime stitcher, I stand in awe of Kate Stewart, her generous business model, her enthusiasm, her kind heart,
and these perfect little stockings.
Thanks for the visit.
Leave a comment and let me know
how you celebrated this holiday season.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we sometimes say in Texas,"Happy Y'allidays!"
Love Your Creativity @ Life and Linda Sundays on Silverado @ House on Silverado All About Home @ Common Ground Before and After @ Between Naps on the Porch You're the Star @ Electric Red Barn Happiness is Homemade @ Bluesky at Home Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate Keep in Touch @ Let's Add Sprinkles
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