Oh What Fun...

Oh what fun I have had creating this blog and setting the table these past few months, especially over the holidays.  I gave thanks, inspired you with lots of red and green and even had a visit from some sketchy Santas.  Now it's time to finish off the year with a bang!

I think I have energy for one more party, so bring out the bling!   I just adore the combination of silver and gold.

This tablescape begins with a silver and gold metallic striped table runner from West Elm.  

From the bottom up...a simple black placemat helps to show off my silver chargers.  

Next are these gorgeous snowflake plates from Crate & Barrel.  I just had to have them, along with the coordinating bubbly salad plates.  The black handles of the Aero flatware pop on plain white napkins.

For my centerpiece, I found these fabulous silver and gold branches at Target and simply plopped them into a pretty white porcelain Rosenthal vase.

All I needed to finish off my table were some sparkly snowflakes tossed here and there...

...and a scattering of mercury glass tea lights.  And for New Year's Eve, what party would be complete without a few noisemakers and party hats!

A special thank you to my photographer, Laura, for all of her hard work and enthusiasm and of course, her marvelous photos.  Thank you also to Between Naps on the Porch for allowing me to share my work with all the fellow dish lovers out there.  See in in 2012!

Inspired

Oh, the joys and perils of being a dish-a-holic.  I know I'm not the only one with such problems.  The holiday season rolls around, you're out window shopping (wink, wink) and you stumble upon a stunning tablescape.

You wish you could buy it all...every placemat, napkin ring, candlestick and shiny bauble.  This very situation happened to me at Pottery Barn last year.  So pretty, yet so simple.  Hmmmm...maybe I don't need to buy everything.  Maybe I already some things around the house to recreate this look.  I can do this!  So here is my version of a festive tablescape with inspiration from Pottery Barn.

All that I needed to purchase were these pretty deep red napkins embroidered with big white polka dots. 

How cute this silverware, Aero, from Crate & Barrel, looks tucked inside these linens.

This peppermint striped runner was already part of my stash.

Surprise, here are my favorite plain white plates, looking lovely atop brown wicker chargers.

These shiny red goblets, (Crate & Barrel circa late 80's) always have a place at my holiday table.  A few mercury glass tea lights, collected from here and there, along with some fresh red poinsettias, help set a festive mood.  Pottery Barn inspired me, and I hope have inspired you to set a simple, fun and festive holiday table.  Make sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch for lots of holiday tabletop cheer.

What's Green and Gold and Red All Over?

The holidays always present a problem to a dish lover...so many Christmas plates...so little time to use them all.

Thanksgiving is a delicious memory, but now tis the season for red and green.

This table starts with a classic plaid tablecloth, layered with a red and green linen runner.

A garland of greens and pinecones has been dressed up with a splattering of green and gold and red baubles.

Tiny bands of red and green fill the borders of these dinner plates which sit atop shiny red chargers, while...

salad plates, adorned with holly berries fancy things up a bit.

Looking lovely are my big shiny red water goblets and deep green wine glasses.  Sitting on golden brocade napkins, this stunning new silverware steals the show.

A simple hurricane holds a chunky red pillar candle.

The Table is set.  The presents are wrapped (thanks to help from a little champagne and curling ribbon)!  Now all we need to do is to fill the house with family and friends and share the joys of the holiday.  This table has been a lot of fun, but now I can't wait to see the other fabulous ideas at Between Naps on the Porch.

Champagne and Curling Ribbon

The holidays...so much to get done...not always enough time for fun.  The answer? Multitask!  One of my favorite events that I have been hosting is an annual Gift Wrapping Party. Here's how. Invite a few girlfriends over.

Ask them to bring their presents, some fabulous paper and ribbon, tags, etc.

Open a bottle of champagne and get creative.  Don't forget to break for lunch.  Oh, and remember, you're really really busy...so this time it's perfectly fine to pick up something fabulous at your favorite grocery store.  May I suggest chicken salad on croissants, a simple salad and a fruit tart!

I think my friends are going to love this table setting.

I could not resist this vintage inspired fabric and made myself a set of napkins

I've had this pink-on-pink checked tablecloth for years, and I think it looks just perfect. All that this pretty table needs is the good old plain white plates.

And for my holiday girlfriend lunch, I brought out my loveliest glassware...

...Romantika water goblets from Crate & Barrel (circa early 90's) and mint green champagne flutes purchased long ago from the Horchow catalog.

See..wasn't that fun?  And everyone goes home with wrapped gifts and a little holiday cheer (thank you, champagne!!)  Make sure to stop by Between Naps on the Porch to see what my fellow dish friends have come up with for the season.

Sketchy Santas

We all remember the holidays from our childhood years. For me, these fond memories include our Christmas tree covered with hundreds of ornaments from Scandinavia and my dad's perfectly applied tiny white lights, cheeseburgers and french fries for Christmas Eve dinner, and my Aunt Tess who was the most anxious one of all of us to open the gifts!

And of course...the dishes.  For as long as I can remember, we used these green square dishes by Franciscan China.

Although the majority are a deep, dark green...

there are several assorted lime green pieces which add to the fun. Over the years, these dishes have acquired quite a few chips and scratches, just adding to their charm.

And how many of us had these Santa mugs?  Oh so vintage, Santa's beady blue eyes always seem to follow you.

"He looks a little sketchy", according to my daughter, Sofie.

Equally vintage is this rustic red linen runner with a green edge, bearing the wax drips and wine stains of many a holiday dinner.  Not so fancy, really...but the memories are priceless.  I can't wait to see all the fabulous holiday tables this and every week at Between Naps on the Porch.

Gobble...Wish...Give...Thanks!

Thanksgiving...possibly the greatest holiday of the year.  The only thing I love more than the stuffing or the creamed spinach is the chance to set a spectacular table.

Oh, what fun I had with this one.  The inspiration for this table all began with these Harvest linens from Crate & Barrel.

Shafts of wheat have been embroidered with metallic threads on a natural linen background.  Butterscotch cotton napkins are a perfect compliment to these gorgeous placemats.

Let the layering begin.  This shiny silver and gold woven runner from West Elm gets things started.

My ruffly gold leaf(ish) chargers, also from the Crate, are next.  Those versatile plain white plates appear once again, just perfect every time.

And now...my favorite find of the season.  Not being the traditional turkey plate kind-of-girl, I fell in love with these whimsical Thanksgiving plates from West Elm.  Just a simple...

gobble...

wish...

give...

and thanks...

in shiny silver adorn these adorable little plates.  Many thanks to the folks at Better Homes and Gardens who ever so kindly have been emailing plenty of creative ideas all season long...like this fabulous centerpiece that took only minutes to assemble. All you need are some tiny cattails (West Elm), matching bud vases (IKEA) and dry beans (grocery store)!!

How cute is that?  The table is set...can't wait to share the day and a wonderful meal with family and friends.  Please feel free to revisit another of my favorite Fall tablescapes, Indian Summer, featured earlier this season.  And finally, a special thank you to my photographer, Laura, whose work just keeps getting better and better.

Marigolds and Lemons

Before winter descends upon us, and our blogs are filled with festive holiday tabletops, I thought I would set one last bright and sunny table.

This tablescape was put together with a little bit of this...and a dash of that.  My Hamptons green rimmed dinner plates are from Crate and Barrel as well as the cheery orange and yellow marigold napkins.

These bright yellow mats, I picked up at Kohls.

Perched on top of my favorite white plates is a stunning little Herend lemon, part of my Aunt Tess' collection.  On the other, a pretty yellow art glass piece.

Years ago I found these fun orange goblets at Home Goods.  They come in so handy, time and time again. The marigolds...snatched before the frost ...from my garden!

I can't wait to set my Thanksgiving tables next week.  I'm thinking a little silver, a little gold...and the debut of some awesome new flatware!  Make sure to check back and see what all of us have been up to each and every Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.