Wednesday, December 29, 2021

A Look At Christmas 2021~ Table Settings and Highlights

Christmas 2021 is but a memory now, but before the year's end
I want to look back to document a bit of our Christmas this year.

Our tree, as in years past, is decorated with special
ornaments collected through the years.  

Our Sadie girl likes to nap under the tree, and she
loves her new Christmas bowl and Santa lamb.

She likes to nudge her way among
 the gifts, sniffing out any food items.

The adorable Santa lamb, a gift from Joelle,
 her very thoughtful and loving groomer.

My Mother-in-law traditionally gifted us a small Christmas cactus
each December, so I like to continue the tradition in her honor.
A blooming plant provides the perfect floral centerpiece all season. 

Just the two of us for a simple Christmas Eve Dinner, 
but I made certain the plate stacks were festive.

A generous friend sent me an early Christmas package.
Included were a pair of gorgeous Kim Seybert tartan linen napkins
beautifully woven in a traditional blue and green. A delicate
embroidered gold star motif adds sparkle on the borders.
They set the stage for my choice of plates for dinner.

I've long been a fan of lighthearted checks and the complexities and historical significance of tartans from the Scottish Highlands. 
I knew immediately I would use the napkins with my 
MacKenzie-Childs Limited Edition Royal Check Star Plates.

My newly acquired Crown Linen Design black velvet ruffled placemats were a perfect base for green Zrike chargers, 
Juliska's Stewart Tartan dinner plates, vintage Spode luncheon plates,
Arte Italica Finezza salad plates, and the Royal Check stars.
The antique Mother of Pearl silverware added a touch of elegance.

Did you notice the darling Tuxedo Stewart Tartan napkin rings?
I've admired these Juliska charmers for a year, 
so Merry Christmas to moi!

We happen to have 
the perfect blue stemware.

The theme of the evening: 
~ Imagine Magic ~

A simple tabletop tree on the buffet will
take us through the coming winter season.

The branches of this Bethany Lowe green feather tree 
offer the perfect perch for the glitter birds and acorns.
Each bird carries a message.

 Wish ~ Hope ~ Dream ~

A trio of reindeer wait below.

Petite fours from a friend 
were the perfect sweet ending.

Christmas Morning started with ruby red grapefruit.
                                                                                                                                 
Same Stewart Tartan Tuxedo napkin rings, same Zrike chargers, and 
same velvet placemats, but I switched out the napkins for favorite 
Crown Linens with a crown design, Robert Stanley Home Collection winter plates, and cabbage leaf Bordallo Pinheiro bowls.

My guy requested waffles with .   .   .  

Maple syrup and melted butter.

Velvet and needlepoint stockings were hung,
but this year we opted to forgo any gifts to each other.
       
We did make deliveries to family and friends.

Vintage Santa figures were tucked here and there.

Including one from my childhood 
and one from my guy's.

The Santa figures like to mix and mingle
among the French faience.

Darling Byers Choice reindeer and a sleigh full of gifts
arrived as a surprise from a friend.

Vignettes feature Christmas 
needlepoint stitched long ago.

I've not had a needlepoint finish in a few years, 
so my goal this year is to finish a work in progress,
a Woodland Santa by Melissa Shirley.

A favorite counted cross-stitch pillow 
sits in the kitchen sitting area.

It's fun to pull out Christmas pillows.  
The needlepoint button tree was stitched decades ago and
embellished with vintage buttons from my Mother and Grandmother.  Are you a button collector?

I created a new tabletop tree this Christmas
that sits on a chest at the side entrance.

Some years ago, I discovered the unique ornaments offered 
at Coral and Tusk, and began to add one or two each year.
It was fun to pull them together along with a few other 
woodland theme ornaments to create a Woodland Tree.
Coral and Tusk offers unique designs embroidered on linen in
table linens, towels, pillows, and ornaments.
If you sign up and make a purchase,
you can use my code for $10 off.
Just copy and paste:

8c5dabceg49168c32



Still savoring the season here, but the elves and I will 
soon pack it all away and welcome a new year.


Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Tales of the Traveling Tote #29

Rabbit, Rabbit
Can you believe it is already December 2021?