Thursday, December 1, 2011

Plaid & Holly Tea

Bel Air Presbyterian Annual Christmas Tea commences the first Saturday of December. It has become a tradition for members to host a table and invite friends to experience the joys of a Christmas message and lovely treats, with the men serving as singing butlers.  At the last minute, they needed an additional table, and asked me to set one which I was DELIGHTED to do, and work behind-the-scenes to celebrate the women that create loveliness in our homes.  So, this is my "practice" table.  Scroll down to see the real table, and then some highlights of other Ohh-la-la-lovely tables. 

Started out with the red table cloth and Holly Holiday dishes I purchased years ago when hosting my first serious dinner.  Robinson's was going out of business so I bought two full sets and the tea service.  They are not my favorite, but when I found these plaid plates with birds at Home Goods, I started thinking about how I could layer. And I do love anything with birds on it!

Bird, plaid platter.
Community Wild Orchid Silverplate.

Another platter with two birds. What is better than one bird?  Two!
 Actual table at the tea.  I found a wreath that looked like a giant nest, so I nested my birdcage chapel inside the wreath (sitting on a small candle), put battery operated light inside. Sorry the pictures don't show the lights.  Layered the tablecloth with a second one in plaid.  Used a large metal cross I have in the living room.  Love shopping in the house.
 Ornaments a take home gift found at JoAnns, tied with plaid ribbon.


 Peacock table.  Wow.  I have envied these ornaments at Pier 1.  Purple, silver and turquoise is a FABULOUS combination. Need to create a table in those colors.  Maybe for New Years!

 Delightful table, sage and pink with feather boas for guests to wear. Ohh-la-la factor.
My favorite table!  Diva stylist at work.
 Sage and gray. Simple elegant, perfect.
 The greatest silver coffee pot I have ever seen.  Diva Stylist told me that she and her husband have been married for 40 years, and when first married everyone "had to have a silver tea service."  So on their one year anniversary, they went to Robinsons and found this service. They decided to buy one piece, and then buy another piece for each anniversary.  The saleswoman told them that "that would not do because then the pieces wouldn't match."  Their first credit purchase as a young couple was this FABULOUS service.  Maybe not the best choice then, but what a treasure to have had for 40 years!

The pumpkin detail makes me weak in the knees.  Serious silver envy.
 Great seat cover.
 My second favorite table - Penguins and Snow ohh-la-lovely.



The penguins are nestled in fake snow.  I saw some of this at a nursery and almost purchased for my table. It comes in a packet, and you add water to make a gel like, cold substance that is pretty cool.
 Love the use of white carnations.
 Another cool table in brown and white.
 Cute table using mason jars and paper plates.  Creative.
 Mason jars hold ingredients to bake Christmas cookies.
 Ohh-lovely napkin folding ideas.



 More Ohh-lovely chair solutions. 


 The overflow tent.



 

Beautiful day, celebrating the women that work to ensure that Christmas is filled with love, charity and goodwill to all. The annual tea is preceded by a service ending with the lovely reading of A Cup of Christmas Tea, by Tom Heeg.  Make the reading a family tradition.  Blessings to you and thank you for filling your home with Christmas joy.

Holly & Plaid Tablescape
Dishes-Holly Holiday dishes, Robinson-May years ago
Square plates-Home Goods
Wreath, Birdhouse, Cross-Home Goods years ago
Napkins-Red Holly, Thursday morning years ago
Napkins Rings-Siver bell ornaments, Cost Plus years ago
Water Goblets-Royal Danube, Amazon
Silverplate-Community Wild Orchid 1953, gift & Ebay

Joining
No Minimalist Here
Common Ground Vintage Party
Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday




13 comments:

  1. Oh my! I love your table! I have seen those same plates at Home Goods, love birds, but could never done as well as you did! Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I hope to see you again soon!

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  2. These tables are beautiful CJ. Of course I love those square plaid plates.;-)

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  3. Wonderful, creative tablescapes...so much inspiration. Thank you for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

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  4. Your table came out great! That plaid topper makes it so interesting.
    I would love to go to one of those table events. They don't seem to exist here!
    I am signing up for your email so I know when you do a new post! Don't want to miss any!

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  5. My goodness CJ, your table is just gorgeous!! ANd what a great event with so many beautiful and different tables! I too am swooning over the silver coffee pot. What a treasure!! Thanks so much for stopping by! I can't wait to see your Romantic England!!!

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  6. Oh, so many beautiful images! I just have to admit to the silver envy with you! What magnificent pieces. There are so many fun ideas here. I agree that the turquoise and purple peacocks are just amazing. Your table is so fun and it was fun to see your practice table too with different lighting. What a fun event. Thanks for taking me along.

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  7. Your table is my fav, it's gorgeous and elegant with all the beautiful silver that I love and beautiful dishes! All the others are terrific too, my goodness, such inspiration choise! Merry C'mas.
    FABBY

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  8. I love your table, the centepiece is darling. Oh my goodness the silver is "gorgeous"! What a memory they make each year buying it.. hugs ~lynne~

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  9. Your table is beautiful, as well as the other tables you shared. I agree with you on the silver. That was so gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing all of those tables. Lots of different themes and they were all amazing.

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  10. I loved the whole tour! What a fun night that must have been -- I love these kinds of events. Your centerpiece is beautiful as well as your stack -- love the plaid. That silver service is something special! Love the mason jars too with the ingredients to make cookies in it. Joni

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  11. Every table is so beautiful and what a wonderful event. I have to say, I am a holly buff so YOUR table does it for me!! Thank you for sharing!

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  12. Wow, you did a beautiful job! Those square plates are great, and add so much interest! What pretty tables! Thanks for sharing them all!

    Elaine
    Creating Wonderful Spaces

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  13. Beautiful,thanks for sharing,love your colors come back for a visit,Joann

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Thanks for your encouraging messages! No anonymous messages. Thanks!~CJ