Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Merry and Bright




Happy Tuesday! It is beginning to look like Christmas at my home. Today, I am joining twenty table stylists for a Christmas Tablescape Blog Hop. 



Thanks to Rita@Panoply for organizing this blog hop. Rita has recently moved into a new home and hosted two blog hops close together. Kudos to Rita and all she has accomplished.

Please click on the links to all the table stylists at the end of this post. Each table stylist and blogger has a unique style of her own and you will be inspired.


As I thought about what direction to go in for my tablescape, I knew I wanted to use this vintage tablecloth that belonged to my Mother-in-love.  It sparks beautiful memories for me and is merry and bright.


Here is the same tablecloth in 2016 with a more formal look.
 To view the entire post click here.




My plate stack consists of Christmas Tree plates by Spode, Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage ware plates, and Robert Stanley plaid chargers. Sterling flatware is Buttercup by Gorham and the napkin rings are handstitched needlepoint by my MIL. The napkin rings are snowmen, wreaths, Santas, and Christmas trees. Red napkins and goblets complete the place setting.


Tall red spiral candles in crystal candlesticks flank the centerpiece. An English ironstone vegetable dish was selected as a container for the flowers and placed on a contemporary red lacquered tray. The ironstone lidded dish was bought some years back and has looked pretty in a cabinet. This is the first time I have used it and I love its size for a flower arrangement. As I arranged the flowers, I remembered I bought the ironstone piece at a holiday bazaar from a blogger you might know, Marian Parsons, aka Miss Mustard Seed. 





For the centerpiece, I choose red carnations and added pittosporum greenery cut from my garden. Variegated Pittosporum is a great scrub for color in your garden and is useful for flower arranging.
 Martha Stewart says when conditioning carnations be sure to make your cut just above one of the nodes that run up the flower's stalk. This will allow the stem to more easily draw the water it needs.


Do you notice anything here besides seeing a close-up of the Christmas tree napkin ring? Yes, the charger is not plaid. I went back to the store to buy more chargers and they had sold out!!! Procrastination does not pay!


After I loaded all the pictures I started thinking the red tray under the flower arrangement was too harsh. This white platter stands out less. What do you think?


Sometimes you know it needs something but you can't decide. 


Here, I added a runner! I need to leave well enough alone!

 Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas. 

✨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


For wonderful tablescape inspiration click on the links below:

Everyday Living - A Nutcracker Parade
Pandora's Box - "I can't decide..."
Hyacinths for the Soul - Traditions ~ A Tablescape Blog Hop
Living with Thanksgiving - Merry and Bright
Tablescapes at Twenty-One - Winter Sports
Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Evergreen and Gold Christmas Table
The Painted Apron - Christmas Trucks and Trees
Red Cottage Chronicles - A White Christmas Tablescape
Life and Linda - Gnome for the Holidays
Belle Bleu Interiors - Christmas Blessings
The Bookish Dilettante - Dreaming of a Pink Christmas


Blessings to you and your families this Christmas,





25 comments:

  1. Good Morning Bonnie! What beautiful tablecloth and sweet embroidered napkin rings from your MIL. I'm luck to have some needlepoint pieces from my MIL that I cherish. I love your Variegated Pittosporum paired with your carnations in your ironstone tureen as a centerpiece. I just looked it up and saw it’s hardy in zones 8 -11. We’re in 7b so we might be a bit cold to grow it here. Love your plaid chargers too and pretty plate stack! Hobby Lobby turns their inventory so quickly, I have had “should have bought it when I saw it” remorse when I hesitate there too. As always it’s a treat to join you at the table and hop with you again. Wishing you a Merry December. ♥

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  2. So pretty, Bonnie. You clearly love to play with the different table combinations! I think the plain platter or the Spode platter are both beautiful and work with the table. The cabbage ware plates are ones I gifted a sister 20 years ago. And I just picked up a large cabbage ware bowl at the thrift store last week!
    Your treasured tablecloth is a perfect canvas to start with. Thanks for the tip on the carnations :)
    Merry Christmas

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  3. Oh my mercy Bonnie! I love everything about this table. So very lovely and elegant. Just like you! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  4. Bonnie I love the bright red elements on your table. It just screams Christmas to me. Your carnations are stunning and thanks for the MS tip on where to cut for the best "drink" of water. I love both platters under the flowers...each has it's own statement. Unfortunately, I buy on-line way too much and way too many... as to not have "regrets" of missing out on something. LOL

    Have a very Merry Christmas and I know you and your family will celebrate the Reason for the Season.

    Blessings always my friend.
    Kari @ Me and My Captain

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  5. Bonnie, the tablecloth and the needlepoint napkin rings are exquisite. They are beautiful keepsakes and memories from your MIL. The carnations are perfect for Christmas and are often an underrated flower. I love their frilly appearance, their clove-like scent, and their longevity in an arrangement. The ironstone bowl holding the flowers is beautiful. Oh, I am like you…I overthink. I love both pieces holding the ironstone bowl. I also love the plate stack. I have the plaid chargers from HL that I purchased a couple of years ago. How often I have thought too long about a purchase, and then it was gone. Wishing you a merry and blessed Christmas Season ♥️

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  6. What a lovely table! I like the red tray under the floral arrangement (and I remember Marion well!). Your flatware is so pretty. Each napkin ring is so sweet and special! I love how the holidays and its decor brings back touching memories! Enjoy the season!

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  7. Beautiful table Bonnie, the tablecloth and needlepoint napkin rings are so special and meaningful! I have Spode Christmas Tree china too, given to me when I got married by my mother's best friend. I had to smile about you experimenting with different trays for your centerpiece, I think we all do that! I like them both! Maybe you can get more plaid chargers next year...you've got me wanting some now, I love the way they look with the Spode :) I wish you a very MERRY holiday!
    Jenna

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  8. Bonnie, such a treasure to have your MIL tablecloth and prized napkin rings. Your table is such a lovely traditional table with it's red, white and green. The carnations look fabulous in your ironstone bowl. Love the white or Spode platter with the carnations. The plates are perfect with the sweet trees. Spode is always a winner. I understand procrastination. If you love something it needs to be bought because later it will be gone. I always say, "if you snooze, you lose." ha ha.

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  9. Bonnie, your table is exquisite! The vintage cloth and napkin rings from your MIL are simply beautiful. I love love the clean lines of your table. It is so inviting and perfectly beautiful. Blessings to you and your family. I will send this along while praying it will not duplicate again. I am so sorry that happened last time.

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  10. Bonnie such a merry, bright and festive table! Very special to have your MIL’s cloth and those heirloom, needlepointed napkin rings. I think I prefer the red tray, as it contrasts against the white tablecloth and container and ties to the stunning flower centerpiece. The whole thing felt traditional and nostalgic, giving me a festive, warm feeling. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  11. I love your traditional red and green theme! Your plate stack is stunning. The combination of the Spode plates with the cabbage leaves and tartan charger is perfection, but the solid red works beautifully too! Your vintage tablecloth is lovely, and I think your centerpiece looked stunning no matter what you put underneath it! Miss Mustard Seed is one of the very first blogs I ever read! Her ironstone collection was quite impressive and how lucky are you to have a piece! The red tray was bold and beautiful, while the white and the decorated plates underneath were more subtle, but equally beautiful! A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  12. Your table is so elegant, and the vintage tablecloth is absolutely stunning. I like the red tray with it because it enhances the red in the tablecloth. The white is pretty, too, and I love the colors and simplicity of your pretty centerpiece. You always set the prettiest tables, Bonnie! I hope you are having a wonderful Advent so far.

    Merry Christmas!
    Ricki Jill

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  13. So pretty, Bonnie, each and every twist, lol. I know exactly the process you went through all too well. Marian was famous for gathering her ironstone in the Lancaster PA area and doing so well in reselling it! You got a good piece, and the ironstone underplate is really pretty too. I love your tablecloth and handmade napkin rings. I'm still contemplating what and where I will plant in my smaller landscape. The variegated pittosporum is nice, and definitely a nice cutting for tabletop! Bonnie, thank you for joining me on this hop. Merry Christmas season!

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  14. Bonnie, your Christmas tablescape is lovely. I especially like those pretty needlepoint napkin rings! Merry Christmas!

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  15. Those needlepoint rings are such a treasure. I love your flowers, too. I don't see carnations often enough and I love them. I think I do like the white ironstone a little better although I saw nothing wrong with the red till you mentioned it! It's a beautiful table, Bonnie -- anyone would love sitting there!

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  16. So beautiful Bonnie and such an endearing post as well. These precious needlepoint napkin rings in a variety of Christmas patterns. Nostalgic elegance in so many detailed ways. Gorgeous red carnations too.
    Merry Christmas Bonnie!
    Jemma

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  17. The favorite parts of your lovely tablescape are your dear MIL’s needlepoint napkin rings and her tablecloth. Aren’t they precious reminders of her?? Your carnations in the ironstone bowl look so festive and cheery. I love carnations because they last so long. You always set a pretty table, Bonnie!

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  18. Merry Christmas, Bonnie. I have Buttercup, too - an inheritance from my MIL. We also have some of the same Christmas dishes. I love your pops of red against the beautiful tablecloth. Great tip about the carnations.

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  19. Bonnie, I love your table - everything is just gorgeous. The tablecloth is so pretty. I thought all of items under your flowers were lovely. However, I think I am partial to the Lenox platter. Enjoy these days, they are moving too fast.

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  20. First...that tablecloth is vintage!??!?! It looks so "au courant" as the aristocrats (not me!) would say! But I guess all that is old is new again, which is lucky for us! That tablecloth is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! Those plaid chargers sold like HOTCAKES this year!!! I bought some at end of season last year (thank goodness), and hoped they'd have more this year. By the time I got there, ALL GONE!

    I like the way you experimented with the centerpiece. Sometimes more than one thing in the decor arsenal works!

    Merry Christmas, Bonnie! Stay blessed!

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  21. What treasures to have the napkin rings and tablecloth from your MIL! They are absolutely beautiful!
    I’m glad to know that I am not the only one who moves things all around when doing table styling.
    Lovely centerpiece my friend!
    ~Nancy

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  22. So many special things on your table Bonnie. The lovely tablecloth you were gifted from your MIL really caught my eye, it's beautiful. It makes the perfect backdrop for your stack, which I love. The Christmas Tree pattern is one of my favorites Christmas collection. I understand the feeling of the chargers too, which are so pretty. The stitched napkin rings are an addition special touch, so pretty. I had to laugh when I see how you like to ry different looks, which I think are all pretty! I'm like that, I do that too. Thanks for all this lovely inspiration Bonnie. I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season.......

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  23. Bonnie, your beautiful vintage tablecloth brings back some fond memories of Christmas at my Grandmother’s many years ago. She was always working on a new embroidery project whether it be a tablecloth, napkins, or pillow cases. I like the changes that you made with the tray and the runner. Don’t you just hate going back to the store just to find they no longer have the item you wanted! So frustrating!! Nevertheless your table looks wonderful and inviting. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!❤️🎄

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  24. Bonnie, your table is both gorgeous and elegant. I knew it would be! The vintage tablecloth is so pretty with your beautiful plate stack. I adore the Spode Christmas tree plates. Your centerpiece is stunning. I love red so your table makes my heart sing! Wishing you a most Merry Christmas, sweet friend!

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  25. Bonnie, what a beautiful and traditional Christmas table setting! I just love the vintage embroidered tablecloth and the handmade needlepoint napkin rings. How special that you have those family heirlooms to use and treasure! I also met Marian (at Lucketts Spring Market) and bought some fabulous things. She is the first blogger I ever followed and she inspired me to start blogging! The carnations look lovely in the ironstone dish. Thanks for sharing Martha's tip to keeping them fresh! It was fun hopping with you. Merry Christmas!
    Rebecca (Zucchini Sisters)

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