Welcome to the 69th Tablescape Thursday!
Every year, for our Christmas feast, I pull out my trusty “apple tree form” and create my very favorite centerpiece for our Christmas dinner table. Next, I set the table with my much loved Christmas china, Lenox-Winter Greetings. But this year, I’ve had a little change of plans.
You see, I haven’t had the heart to remove the Dept. 56 tablescape from my dining room table. (If you missed that tablescape, you may view it HERE.) I’ve just loving seeing the little Christmas town aglow each night. I really, really wanted to re-create the Winter Greetings tablescape again this year in the dining room. I have a much better camera and I was just itching to take all new pics to see what I might capture this time around.
But, I just can’t do it…can’t take the village down, just yet. Sooo, tonight, I’ve decided to repost the Winter Greetings tablescape from last year, with a link to a post I created a little later, detailing how the centerpiece is made. Hope you enjoy…even if the pics are taken with my old Olympus!
The table is set for a Christmas feast…
Come on in…
Your place is right here…
China is Lenox, Winter Greetings. Just click on the name to find it at CSN with free shipping. The pattern features classically rendered holly branches, mistletoe, chickadees, cardinals, berries, and ribbons. This china was designed by artist, Catherine McClung who is well loved by collectors for her vibrant bird portraiture. You may read more about Ms. McClung and see more of her beautiful art, HERE.
When I came across this Lenox pattern on an historic home tour in Madison, Georgia…I knew I had found my Christmas china. One of the things I really liked about it, is that you could easily use it throughout the winter season. There are three birds on each dinner plate…a cardinal, nuthatch and chickadee. I love how the little chickadee has the end of the ribbon in his beak!
Jingle bells encircle linen napkins…
Napkins are from Neiman Marcus, online. They often have them on sale with free monogramming…
Place card holders (by Raz) have a Christmasy feel…
I made the centerpiece using all fresh fruit. The center topiary is made of apples, with holly tucked in between. It’s topped off with a beautiful pineapple, a welcoming sign of hospitality. The base is surrounded with magnolia leaves and nandina berries. Click HERE for a tutorial showing how it’s done.
Crystal stemware is Waterford: Wine goblets are Crimson hock and the pattern is Lismore. Iced Beverage pattern is Araglin. Cranberry salt cellars were found on eBay.
Another view of the centerpiece…
Christmas dinner by candlelight…thanks so much for stopping by…
If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. If you aren’t sure how to obtain your permalink or have any questions about using Mr. Linky for this post, just click HERE for detailed instructions.
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Please link back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful tablescapes posted for this Tablescape Thursday.
Please do not add your link below, until your tablescape post is actually published to your blog.
The following blogs have beautiful tablescapes awaiting your visit:
I remember this gorgeous table, Susan. Thank you for reposting. Winter Greetings is a favorite of mine. I have Lenox Winter Greetings Everyday. I would love to collect this one too.
Merry Christmas!
always elegant Susan! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us!
I'm so glad you left your village up!
Your dishes are my favorite ones. They look so wonderful with that beautiful centerpiece.
Elegant!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
I love the pineapple centerpiece and the cute bell napkin rings and the adorable place card holders….working so amazingly well with all the super elegant crystal, etc.
GORGEOUS!!
Many blessings to you,
Lana
PS And I adored the mice/glasses, etc. from the last post, too!
Susan, This is one of my favorite tablescapes of yours. Merry Christmas!
Hi Susan,
It is sooooo nice to see this tablesetting again, it is amazing and what a fabulous table to sit around at Christmas time.
I can understand why you don't want to take the other one down, it is very special.
By the way Susan……..I spelt my STYLING name wrong when I logged into your party today, are you able to change it for me please.
Have a happy week,
xxxxxxxxxx Coty
I so remember this table Susan and also how you did the pineapples and shown us how to…and girl I would not have taken off those villiage either just too pretty…I also did a cardinal table today ha ha!! Many blessings to you Susan….hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
I love the pineapples instant mean Southern Hospitality! The table is so beautiful and inviting.
Happy Holidays, Susan!
Beautiful!
You are seriously talented, Susan. My jaw always drops when I see what you've come up with. This is gorgeous!
Thanks for hosting the fun party. I don't get to join this one very often, but this week I actually had something to show–and you can see the wreath I won here a few weeks ago hanging in my dining room now, too (love it!). 🙂
I don't blame you for not wanting to dismantle the Christmas village scene tablescape!
And lucky for me that you are re-posting a tablescape from last Christmas as I wasn't here then so I missed out.
This is beautiful (as are all your tablescapes). I'm going to have to buy a thesaurus because how many times can a person say 'beautiful'?!
Each and every photo is a work of art, and each photo has a little something special speak out to me, but I'll just name a few.
I love the jingle bells in photo six (at least I think it's photo six, I may have lost count), I love that they are just slightly out of focus (I don't know if you meant that) but it makes them look so soft and pretty.
Photo seven the monogram so prominent, and in the last photo the wreath in the background glow of the candle light.
BEAUTIFUL!
Merry Christmas!
All the best,
Eileen
Susan, your table is absolutely gorgeous. You have an incredible talent. Thanks for sharing your fantastic ideas:-)
Thanks so much for hostessing…love the elegance of your table!
Ellen
I love seeing this classic post. And one day I WILL make that centerpiece. I will i will. About those Dept 56 houses. I have Dickens Village, and I know exactly what you mean. It's like taking a little trip into a miniature world. Leave yours up and play.
XX 00
i have always loved the fresh fruit topiaries, my idea of perfection~ and of course the red room too!
I don't blame you. If I put something like that out for the holidays, I would not want to put it away for a long time. I remember this tablescape from last year – beautiful! Thanks for sharing it with us again.
Glenda
My husband would love the Pineapple centerpiece! And…don't you just love Winter Greetings from Lenox?
I have some of these pieces… they are favorites of mine! I am using the Winter Greetings place mats for my tablescape tonight~
Thank you for hosting Tablescapes Thursday~
Have a Merry & very Joyous Christmas!
Maria
Susan, Gorgeous as usual. I love it all. I remember it from last year even though I was a "lurker".
Blessings and Merry Christmas.
Donna
The china with the cardinals are absolutely stunning! I always love seeing all the detail you put into your tablescapes.
Susan, I really like the china. This tablescape is so lovely. Your apple tree centerpiece is very nice with the pineapple on top. Happy Holidays!
This is so pretty — and I've always loved that china pattern ever since the first time I saw it! Merry Christmas from my table to yours!
Absolutely gorgeous as always! Love the Colonial feel of the centerpiece. Fabulous:-)
Such a lovely table! The beautiful centerpiece reminds me of those seen in Williamsburg. I LOVE pineapples, apples and magnolias!!!
Jane (artfully graced)
I didn't see it the first time, so I really enjoyed it this time! I love the centerpiece. I don't blame you for not taking the village down, it is one of my favorites!
Sue
I absolutely adore that china. The birds depicted are just so perfect and sweet and pretty. You have set yet another beautiful table.
Christi @ A Southern Life
I con't blame you–I couldn't take it down either! I remember how much I loved this..I have one of those apple forms from my Williamburg phase of life :)I had forgotten how pretty they are!
Hi Susan,
I adore this table. I think this is one of the first tables I met you with and I adored it then. As always everything is perfection. You are the best.
Happy Holidays
Maryrose
Susan, your dinin room is all aglow! I love the shiny items and the red stem ware. The fruit centerpieces are magnificent. As usual you have hit another one out of the park. Christmas Blessings, Marla
Just stunning, Susan. I especially love the fruit centerpieces…
Susan-
Thanks for this fun and creative opportunity. Everyone did such a beautiful job. Happy holidays to all!
Natalie
Hi Susan! I loved this tablescape when you first posted it and I still love it now. In fact, I love it so much that I bought the china, still sitting in boxes but I have them, lol. Now, I have to see your Christmas Village. You must have posted it while I was gone….Christine
That's cheating! No fair! But, with all the other fantastic things you do for your followers, it will be forgiven. Hope you win the "pants" off the contest. You've brought a whole new reason for enjoying living for me as I could go "anytime". Jackie A Huge Fan.
Oh, Susan… you have the perfect Christmas dining room, and I adore your table. I see you've got Winter Greetings in the china… I have the stoneware one in yellow and red. I love this pattern. It's one of my favorite Christmas patterns ever! Those fat birds are the absolute cutest.
Great table. Love the centerpiece, too.
XO,
Sheila 🙂
Susan I just love the birds on that Lennox China!!!!! Your table is beautiful! Thanks for sharing & I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Hugs! Charlene
Hi Susan…
My friend, what a joy to see this lovely Christmas tablescape again! It's just as fabulous as I remember it!!! I certainly don't blame you for not wanting to take down your little Christmas village! Of course, I had to follow the link over to see it…it's just adorable, Susan!!! What a fabulous centerpiece your little village makes! I can just imagine all the wonderful conversations started by it! Ohhh…I want to dine at this beautiful table!!!
Thanks for sharing your fabulous home and creativty and talents with us, sweet friend!
Love ya,
Chari @Happy To Design
Your table is beautiful, as always.
LOVE the use of pineapples… totally FABULOUS!!!
Susan,
Your Winter Greetings is just lovely as always. Thank you for sharing this beautiful table. I have posted a tablescape this evening. I have not done one for some time and it was good to be back in the grove.
Have a Blessed Christmas.
Charla
What a beautiful tablescape. I especially love the pineapples and apples as centerpieces. I am going to follow so I can try this soon. It is one of my favorite things to do.
Holly @ 504 Main
I don't blame you for not wanting to take down the Dept. 56 Villages from your dining table. They are so charming and enjoyable. I wasn't here last year, so it's wonderful to see your pineapple tree centerpiece. And I'm not sure what you are blurry pictures you are talking about. They all look perfect to me.
I wish you could help me with my Christmas tablescape for this year. I'm not a blogger and not a pro at this like many of you are. I can't seem to figure out what to do this year. I have my Williams Sonoma red and white toile tablecloth on the table with both red and silver chargers. Maybe I should only use the red ones since I will use my Lenox Butler's Pantry Gourmet dishes. I have red linen napkins and jingle bell and pinecone wreath napkin rings. But I have no idea what to use for a centerpiece this year. I don't have a lot since I was a single mother for most of my adult life and have only been married for five years. I haven't collected a lot, but I thought surely there is something I can come up with to use with the toile tablecloth. Or should I ditch the tablecloth and go in another direction. Can you or some of your readers/blogger friends help me? I'm at a loss this year.
Thanks for any help.
Oh Susan, I remember this beautiful post! This is when I first fell in love with that china. I would not have been able to take the village off of the table either. That is another beautiful look you created, and it's so unique. Every time I think of setting a Christmas table, I start thinking about the village on your table. laurie
Susan, I remember this table and it is still just as gorgeous today as before. Merry Christmas to you and your family
Pineapples are everywhere here in Australia at the moment so I think I might just have to borrow this idea if I may Susan! Thank you for hosting this great linky party again-you are very kind.
Best wishes, Natasha.
That is beautiful. I love the dishes and stemware. I don't blame you for not wanting to change your tablescape.
Beautiful Susan. I wasn't around last year, so I so glad you posted it again. Your dishes are wonderful and the centerpiece and pineapple candleholders are so clever. Would have never thought to use them for that. You have the perfect dining room to decorate for Christmas.
That said, I also immediately went back to view your Dept.56 table again. I just can't get enough of it either.
How beautiful! Getting lots of ideas.
I love those plates! My MIL is obsessed with birds. I may have to go searching for this one!
Love your Christmas china and the bright red chargers. Also the ornament place card holders. Beautiful table!
Blessings!
When I saw your "Winter Greetings" from last year, I knew that I had found my Christmas (and winter) china. I have a service for 8 now plus 36 of the smaller plates for an open house. Your tablescape is very pretty, I hope mine looks as nice this year. Thanks for reposting!
Susan…your table is stunning, as always! I love the cardinal dishes. Is this the same ones on the cover of Tea Time magazine this month. Very sweet!
Thank you for hosting each week. I enjoy this event very much 🙂
CHRISTmas Blessings!
Gail
Susan, as far as I am concerned, you can feature this exact table setting year after year — it is just so pitch-perfect. Gorgeous!
Cass
Hi Susan,
I loved this when I saw it first (not so long ago, when I spent many happy hours exploring BNOTP as a new follower). I adore it even more now, seeing it at this wonderful time of year.
Thank you for your friendship, kindness, inspiration, and guidance. What a treasure you are!
Bill
I really love the idea of using the pineapples. A lot of times I already have tons of fruit around my house. I will have to use some it for centerpieces!
Well I can see why you have 2000 followers! Your table scape is gorgeous! If dinner is as good – what time do we eat? Just kidding. I know it is last year's, but it's this year's to me! Beautiful!
Just beautiful! Love the stemware!
Hi Susan; As always,your table scape is so beautiful,, I love the one from last year, and the one you did this year is just gorgeous as well…. I can see why you are finding it hard to change… Merry Christmas.
Hugs;
Alaura
I love the cardinal plates! I hope I find some…
Stunning Susan, and in that gorgeous dining room again, love that room!
China to die for, all the little touches and the fruit, it's great.
Linda
Susan, This is not about your Christmas tablescape which was absolutely divine last year and a treat to view again this year. This is about the tablescape contest you should have won. I learned, the hard way(40 yrs.ago)that when you enter a contest you'd better use every ingredient possible made by the sponsor or display as much of the sponsor's product as you can, then you WILL WIN the contest. That's why Stacy won that tablescape contest. It wasn't because her table had the most votes (it didn't), it's because she said in the very first paragraph that almost all of her "display items" came from Home Goods. BINGO the winner. Not fair, because yours was by far the best, with the most votes, but then life isn't fair, is it! Next time you'll know the "secret". Jackie "A HUGE fan".
Susan:
Absolutely beautiful china and glasses. I did not see this setting last year so am pleased you re-posted this.
I have little glass christmas parcel placecard holders and cannot wait to set the Christmas table. I thought of your other village house setting as I put mine once again on the sideboard.
Thank you for sharing.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
What a lovely table….those red etched glasses are perfect….let us know when you get tired of those 🙂
Merry Christmas Susan!
Beautiful glassware! The centerpiece is very Colonial! Very pretty!
This is my first time posting here as have just found this network of beautiful blogs. Your home is stunning! I look forward to sharing and seeing more. Thanks for the inspiration.
I shall never forget this lovely Tablescape. But now I think the cardinal china would also be wonderful on a winter day after Christmas as the Cardinals are feeding from bird feeders. I seeing the Cardinals everyday out my French Doors, I have wings chairs sat up near a wood heater and just watch them.
Susan,
What a pretty table….I hope you will be able to share it those you love!
xx
Your home reminds me of those cozy houses in Christmas movies. Everything looks stunning!
Thanks for hosting.
Merry Christmas,
Erika
Hi Susan,
Happy Holidays! I adore your table setting. I have been to Williamsburg during the holiday season, and you have captured a glimpse of the past.
Best,
Carrie