Saturday, December 9, 2017

Last Year's Christmas Dinner in Black White and Red

It seems that I'm either late to share our Christmas tablescapes or never get around to it at all. Some bloggers seem to be able to go all out with their designs in advance of Christmas eve or day. I just can't manage that with the need for us to bring in an extra table an borrow extra chairs to accomodate16 people. 
So, here I am sharing last year's tablescapes that we enjoyed on Christmas day 2016.

Black and white gingham and pops of red was the theme of the day.

 An extra table and our kitchen peninsula allowed us to have enough seating for all.


 Layered plates in red, white and black looked simple, yet festive.


 A sprig of berries and a strand of red, satin cord made simple ties for the napkins at each setting.
 I added festive words to each glass with white marker...a last minute touch that I realized would smudge. I didn't have time to do a more permanent job with paint.



 The round table sat six and was positioned right next to the 6 ft. folding table that sat another 6. That way everyone faced eachother and no one had to look at someones back.



I remember being so frustrated with taking last minute pics before everyone arrived and having such trouble with my camera's settings and the bright lights and shadows of the day. I never did get a good pic of the lantern centerpieces that co-ordianted with the window theme!


A few different angles of all of the seatings.





This was the view entering from the front hall. 
 I did manage to get one good pic of one of the lantern centerpieces.

 It was surrounded on both sides by this votive vignette.

  
 Thankfully, our kitchen and dining area is nice and large.



 Each seat had a chalkboard tag with a berry sprig and ribbons. The chair covers are one of my most "pinned" posts of really easy 50 cent covers.

 The chandy's got greens that I cut from the yard...
 and berries, silver bells and a big gingham bow.






  
A Holiday punch on a made up stand to catch any drips and make it easy to pour!

The mirror that I added was nice and flat making the jug nice and stable for serving.

A little hack that I like to do to add more serving or prep space in the kitchen is to add a cutting board to a pulled out drawer!




 This was last year's bay window theme in the kitchen that never made the rounds in sharing...you might like to see it here

I loved the theme of all the lanterns, especially lit at night!

The best part of our feast was the, good old southern, oyster roast that we enjoyed, beforehand, outside in the 70+ degree weather with drinks and the family.

Love, Hugs and Kisses,
JP
and Gucci, too!



Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Christmas 2017 decorating is done

Our Christmas 2017 decorations are finally done. I got a later start this year since we made a trip back home to New York for Thanksgiving with family. Always so happy to get back to visit and feel the love!

The first thing that I started with the year was our bay window in our dining area and my old wheelbarrow made it's show once again.


 Here it is at night.

  I tried really hard to keep the theme on the simple side with only a few extra additions.

The antique scale and dry goods measure filled with mini pomegranates and cinnomon sticks created a little hanging vignette on one side.
 The white lantern and tiny snowy owl were on our mantel last year and hang in the window, to the left, flanking the wheelbarrow below.

It's so pretty by night!

Baby owl is so darn cute!

A Better Homes and Gardens tablecloth makes a window skirt for the wheelbarrow vignette.

Red, white and black just makes me so happy!

I forgot to light the candles for this pic....and then

by the magic of photo editing with "pic monkey" voila!

 Last minute epsom salt snow was added to the red transferware cup and creamer.


Two more owls sit on the valance with a braided jute swag of pomegranates and cinnamon sticks that were on the mantel last year, too.


Just when I thought that I finalized all of my decorating something made me want to make a little change. I felt that my red cardinal needed to be in with the living room decor with his other feathered friends.

That allowed for the two owls that were perched on the valance to come down to where they'd be better seen. So, the little one decided to perch on a cinnamon stick in the rusty scale.




The large one nested where he should have been all along!

They look so much so-o-o much better, now!


This year I removed the shades from the chandelier to show off some edison bulbs for a different look.



You can print out these tags if you'd like them, too!

 This was my first centerpiece on the lazy susan...

until I decided to switch to popcorn and cranberries...it needed something white to make it "pop!"

Now onto some Holiday touches sround the room. with a little touch of Christmas on top of our antique country cupboard.

Wee little grain sack stockings hang from each end of the window valance.


A sunny morning, in the 70's,  here in December made this a welcoming place to enjoy.

My mother's Christmas bell from the 50's is, oh so, cherished and is displayed in our old corner cupboard among a collection of  vintage white ironstone.

My treasured corn husk angel was a gift from my Kristi Marie and is another item that always has to be displayed.

The faux chalkboard window that I made a few years ago is decked out for the Holiday, too!

My jp clay snowmen always make their way into the decor for Christmas and stay throughout the winter.

Another year, another Christmas window is done....I'll be back in a few days to share more of this year's decor with you.
 Love, Hugs, and Kisses,
JP
and Gucci, too!