Longing for Simple

If you are like me, you have spent the last 4 or 5 weeks preparing for the holidays...the menu planning, the shopping, the decorating, the Christmas cards.  Yes, some of it is fun.  But is also overwhelming and sometimes exhausting.  Maybe I was just tired when I set my table for Christmas Eve dinner.  Even my son Anders said...

..."It's kind of plain".  But just maybe that's exactly what we need right now...for things to be simple.  So here it is...my simple little holiday table.  Every once in a while I pull out these fun Santa plates.

I bought them years ago at Kohl's.  I think I found them charming, each one just a bit different....nothing fancy.  Everything on this table has been used in previous settings.

Like these lacy paper placemats,

and bright red napkins, covered with snowballs.  While I usually think of these as "summertime" glassware, on this table they remind me of ice.

I've chosen one single chunky red candle...

I think I'll let this darling snowman family be the stars of the show...

So kiddies...find your spot at the table.

It's a simple dinner...roast pork, dumplings, sauerkraut and creamed spinach (because they won't let me make anything else)!  

Wishing you a happy, healthy, peaceful, simple Christmas.  Please join me at...

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Take another look from a year ago,  Inspired.

Green and White and Red All Over

What's green and white and red all over??  Why, the perfect Christmas tablescape, of course.  I'm just a teensy bit behind in my holiday preparations, but looking at this fun and festive table makes me smile. Somehow, everything will get done in time...I just need to relax and not take things too seriously.  Like this setting...nothing serious about it!

I started off with a simple table cloth made of Marimekko fabric (always available at the Crate & Barrel for a ridiculously fabulous price).  With its giant burgundy, green and white dots on a bright red background, this cloth is just plain fun.  Time to stack...

I chose my white lacy paper placemats (also from the Crate) and

some shiny red chargers with my favorite plain white plates and

some playful red and white polka dot napkins (Pottery Barn) and

another little white plate and

finally my flatware, neatly tucked into a little red stocking trimmed with green baubles.  Beverages will be sipped from these festive glasses...

...a big chunky red water goblet and a deep green wine glass.  In lieu of a floral centerpiece, I opted for some playful holiday decorations.  From my rather vast collection of snowmen, I chose these handmade glass snow people...

...my very favorites,

This guy in his party hat...

...and this snow girl with her headband and scarf...

and Mrs. Claus!

I think they look rather happy standing next to this little burlap tree.  Excuse me, but I think I just might grab one of those wine glasses, pour something tasty, and ponder my to-do list.  Hope I inspired you to get in the holiday spirit.  Looking for more ideas?  I'm sure you'll find them at these parties...

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Take another look from a year ago, Green and Gold and Red All Over.

Dress Rehearsal

"Seriously...cooking that huge meal isn't enough?  Now you're telling me I have to practice setting my table!"  Now don't get me wrong.  I thoroughly enjoy preparing Thanksgiving dinner, but as you all know, my true passion is setting the table.  So I take my time, I play around with this and that, and most importantly, I have fun.  Oh, where will I begin?  On the actual day, I'll be setting one very long "Pilgrim-style" table for 22, but today I'm working out my plan on my dining room table.  Rather than renting linens for the big table,

I stumbled across these plaid tablecloths at Home Goods...reasonably priced, pretty, seasonal...they'll do just fine.  Last year I purchased these "Gobble, Wish, Give, Thanks" salad plates at West Elm.

Not your traditional turkey plates...I just love them and am happy to get to use them again.  The turkey plate season is unfortunately quite short!

It is really nice to have a large stack of plain white plates for an occasion such as this one.  While at Home Goods, I also pick up these golden napkins, and figured out a new way to display them...quite by accident.

I rather like how they look, simply gathered up on one side with these cute...

...Ravi pewter napkin rings from Crate & Barrel. I wanted my table to have a natural look, so I chose some jute placemats, but my white plates initially looked so dull on them.  Maybe this table needed a bit of glamour.  Yes...I like these shimmery red beaded mats (Pottery Barn, many years ago)...

...and I like them even better layered along with the jute mats! 

 We'll be sipping from my gorgeous brown Lennox water and wine goblets.

I still cannot believe these were a resale shop find.  I think creating a centerpiece for an autumn table is really rather simple.

I found this very interesting grape vine garland at Hobby Lobby and just kept building upon it...my favorite oh-so-versatile candle holder,

this time entwined with red berries, 

followed by mini pumpkins and gourds

and acorns and dried oranges and colorful leaves.  While I will most likely need to modify and simplify my "Pilgrim-style" table, I hope it still retains the look I have achieved here today.

So go ahead...play with your dishes...those turkey plates only come out once a year after all!  Need more ideas?  Check out the following parties for Thanksgiving ideas galore...

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Like my turkey plates?  Please take another look..."Gobble, Wish, Give, Thanks".

A Holiday Sneak Peek - the Fair Trade Way

I hope you enjoyed last week's Fall tablescape featuring many of the lovely items sold at Ten Thousand Villages.  Well, after unpacking and displaying the newest merchandise, which includes quite a few things for the holidays, I just could not wait to set another table and show off the new collection.

As you can see, even though the collection is a little glitzy, with red and green predominating, it certainly does not scream Christmas.  I think it's the perfect collection to ease into the holiday season.  I began with this...

...Flowering Vines tablecloth, hand block-printed by artisans in India.

The border is the prettiest part.   As with most of the cloth available at the store, matching napkins are available.   Set on a cream background, the intricate pattern is printed with rich deep red, green and gold dyes... and to my delight, just a little bit of grey.  You know how I love grey!

Yet another chance to use my glossy grey plates that I am so very fond of.  Set atop these shimmery beaded red placemats,  the setting is so festive.

I almost chose some green wine glasses and red water goblets, but opted for these gold goblets instead. Again, by using the non-predominate colors in the cloth as inspiration, the tablescape does not feel too Christmasy.  Now for the details.  I like to send my guests home with a little something to remember the evening.

I think these hand woven red and natural palm leaf stars (actually an ornament), made in India, are the perfect touch.  I do love to weave a garland around my tabletop, especially when it is as cute as this...

... Star Splash red and gold silk garland, also handmade in India.  And now for my favorite feature of this table...these oh-so-fabulous Sunburst  candle holders.

Whether you use a chunky candle, like these glittery red ones, or just a simple little tea light, I can see using these brassy dramatic candleholders all year long.  When I found this vintage yellow fan shaped vase at the Bountiful Barn in Glen Ellyn, I just had to bring it home.

I knew that flowers were going to sit just perfectly in this vase.  See what I created with just a dozen red roses (thanks again Trader Joe's) and one minute of my time!!  So, have I gotten you just a little bit excited for the holidays?  Please, please visit Ten Thousand Villages' website to read the artisans stories in greater detail and to shop for gifts with a purpose.  I invite you to join me at the following parties this week:

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

P.S.  Great photos, Laura!