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[ Ethereal Christmas ]

 

An ethereal Christmas tablescape came from a Christmas past. Year after year, I assumed the responsibility of the holiday activities. This included, gifts, wrapping, baking, and decorating. One Christmas there was minimal response from the family.

So, I went out into the woods, and resurected the Christmas tree from the past. Yes, it was dead, with no needles. I sprayed it gold, put lights on it, and hung all the crystal, silver and white ornaments. In the day light it looked worse than a Charlie Brown tree, but at night with the lights on it glistened and looked ethereal. It was the talk of the village, "They have a dead tree!" All came to see it, and it won the hearts of friends.  Wish I had a picture!

I wanted to create the same in a tablescape that reminded me of that Christmas.

Step 1:  Linens - Red and white polka dot wrapping paper  for the table runner scattered with clear Christmas balls.

Step 2: Lighting -Tea lights in vintage port and sherry glasses, white tree candles combined with different size candle holders. All the crystal candle holders support tree candles from Crate and Barrel.

Step 3: Place Setting - Mininal place setting with white plates, and red linen napkins tied with ribbons.

Step 4: Pop - a mirror topped with a vintage cordial glass that holding a red & white box tea light.

When the holiday dinner is served, the candles and tea lights glow. The crystal reflects the light and provide the rainbows of happiness around the room.

Ethereal……….

[ Ribbons for Holiday Table ]

When you have many tasks on your to do list, you may want to simplify. You say to yourself, “Have to get the tree up, decorate the outside, bake, grocery shop, purchase, wrap and send gifts…”

 

Splurge on one item, the ribbon. The ribbon here is 4 inches wide from Mackenzie-Childs or can be found in a Neiman Marcus store.

 

[ The Centerpiece ]

Step 1: Simple elegant ribbon dancing down the table middle.

Step 2: Lots of interesting tea lights.

Step 3: Small glasses filled with greens.

The tea lights that antique “intermezzo*” cups. I have referred to these delicate cups as sorbet glasses.  The greens (snipped from my azalea bushes) are displayed in vintage port/juice glasses.

 

[ The Place Setting ]

Step 1: Glistening chargers

Step 2: Family vintage Noritaki china with red and green minimal border

Step 3: Ruby red cloth napkins with beaded Christmas tree rings.

 

[ The Pop ]

The ribbon, that’s the wow here.  The ribbon can be found at Neiman Marcus or Mackenzie-Childs.

 

Holidays are times to celebrate with family, create memories and traditions. There may be family dinnerware, glassware, flatware or serving piece that surfaces during this time. As you build your china closet, remember that you may want to use family china for tradition and then add something new. 

 

 *An intermezzo was frequently a European course during a formal dinner. The name references a very small plate of food served about halfway through a large multi-course meal, or just before the entree. A light, refreshing, two-bite affair, an intermezzo slows down the dining experience just enough to help you and your guests really savor the meal. They are intended to cleanse the eater’s palate and accentuate the meal’s flavors.

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