Candlelight and Roses

I am so glad you stopped by because I am happy to share some good news. I was very blessed recently! I won the Monday Morning Blooms Holiday Giveaway sponsored by Crown Linen Designs and Arte Italica. 

The gorgeous monogrammed runner and napkins are from Crown Linen Designs. Monday Morning Blooms includes four bloggers that share their floral creations on the first and third Mondays of each month. The four bloggers are Lidy@French Garden House, Pam@ Everyday Living, Mary@Home Is Where the Boat Is, and Shirley@Housepitality Designs.
 I look forward to each Monday Morning Blooms.

Isn't the runner exquisite? I moved the chair so as not to block your view.

The napkins are so lovely and I still can't believe I won! 

Hurricane globes and brass candlesticks flank the floral centerpiece of white and red roses. They are surrounded by votives interspersed among branches of greenery. I love the ambience of candlelight.

The roses I found were so fresh and were a delight to arrange. I must admit I was in hurry mode because the light was fading. Does that happen to you?

You can see them better in this overhead shot. There are two dozen roses. I couldn't decide whether to mix the colors or have a border of one color. The border won out.

The Arte Italica rectangular tray is beautiful. The size of the Natale tray and the nice handles make it perfect for entertaining. I will use this piece so much. 

This photo and the next one had the best light in the group but there is a blooper. I'm sure you see it.

I was in such a hurry because of the light, I failed to put one of the hurricane globes back on. Did you notice?

Crossing my fingers this video works!!!!! Click on the box in the right-hand corner to make it full screen.
I am so excited to have these lovely pieces I have shown you today. Thank you Crown Linen Designs, Arte Italica, and Monday Morning Bloom girls! I am over the moon!
From my home to yours, I wish you a very blessed Christmas. ✨ 🎄 ✨

Christmas Delights

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at my home at least on my table. I'm a traditionalist about waiting until after Thanksgiving to decorate.  Today, I'm joining a group of tablescapers for a Christmas Tablescape Blog Hop. This group is still going strong after five years. Chloe Crabtree @Celebrate and Decorate has been our tireless leader. I want to thank Chloe for her leadership but I also want to thank those in this group for your friendship and inspiration. The creativity through the years continues to inspire me. A  list of all the participants is listed at the bottom of this post. You will love visiting each one and let them know you were there with a comment.

Three different cloches with jeweled Christmas trees were my centerpiece. For me, it was a first not to have fresh flowers as a centerpiece since I love them so much. The cloches were placed over a vintage runner atop a white tablecloth also vintage.

It was fun to place Christmas crackers above the plates to add a little whimsy to the table. Christmas crackers are a traditional Christmas favorite in the UK. Christmas crackers traditionally contain a tissue crown( paper party hat), a motto (joke, riddle, or trivia question), and a small gift item. The gift contents are usually fairly inexpensive and range from plastic toys and noisemakers to magic tricks and edible treats.I bought these crackers from T.J. Maxx and they include a musical whistle, hat, motto and snap. You can look up the history of Christmas crackers @WhyChristmas.com

New to me this year is the Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage chargers. I'm so glad I shopped Nancy's Daily Dish sale on Labor Day weekend via Suzanne Zingg's Instagram account for the cabbage chargers. I rather like the plate stack with the cabbage chargers, Christmas tree Spode plates, another larger white charger, and a red placemat. I tucked in a tartan plaid napkin and placing the napkin this way saves space if space is an issue.

My favorite thing on the table is these vintage Christmas tree glasses. I remember so well buying them as a gift for my mother-in- law many years ago. She is gone now so it is special that I can use them and remember her.The emerald green goblets which I think are Lenox were bought at an estate sale.

 

Since I didn't have fresh flowers for a centerpiece the tablescape seemed to lack life so I decided we needed something organic on the table. And .... a red velvet cake came to my mind.I intended on buying one but couldn't find one so I ended up baking one. I haven't made a red velvet in many years! 
Now, let's leave the dining room and see another table in the kitchen with the same centerpiece with a few subtle changes.

I did this table in the kitchen last year when both our children and their families came to our house for Christmas. This table I set ahead of time because when you have ten people to eat doing everything you can ahead of time is a necessity. We used this table for breakfast, lunch, and a few dinners. I was able to fit seven at this table and three younger children at the bar not shown. Our Christmas Day meal was in the dining room with my formal Christmas china and fresh flowers.

This is the formal table in the dining room. Do you remember it from last year?

On this table, I used dishwasher safe glasses and cutlery. The plate stack was also simpler. The plaid cloth changes the look, doesn't it? It is more casual. 

I remember fondly my house full of my family last year and having us all together for the first time in about five years was a great blessing. We are hoping to be able to travel to our daughter's for Christmas this year but don't know what the next few weeks will bring. I'm glad we can escape the world's woes with pretty tables and enjoy each other's traditions. 
I will reply to your comments on this post under your comments. I wish Blogger would email comments again. Please check back for a reply.

✨Blessings to you and your families this Christmas season.🎄✨For to us, a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Click on the links below to view all the tables.

Celebrate and Decorate
Blue Interiors
Home is Where the Boat Is
Corner of Plaid and Paisley
Me and My Captain
The Zucchini Sisters
Calypso in the Country
Everyday Living
My Hubbard Home
Debbee’s Buzz
Mantel and Table
Panoply
Living With Thanksgiving
The Little Yellow Corner Store
Life and Linda
Design Morsels
White Arrows Home
The Sweet Sensations