Carolyne Roehm - Candy Stripe Christmas

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. During this beautiful season when we celebrate harvest and Thanksgiving, I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger

Sooooo...Cuisine Kathleen is responsible for this tablescape.  She asked us to create a copy cat table based on a design that we admired.  I knew immediately that I would  use a Christmas Cookie Exchange Party featured in Carolyne Roehm's A PASSION FOR PARTIES as my inspiration.  The Garden Friends were coming this morning for our Christmas luncheon, and I knew that Roehm's confection of a table would be a great springboard.  I had a great time taking her delightful design and running with it.

If you don't have her books, run...don't walk...to your nearest book nook and pick them up.  They are all wonderful!  The first thing that I decided to do...of course, was....

...to make my own red felt table cloth with white felt Christmas tree appliqués.  Did your grandmother/mother have a red felt tablecloth!  Mine did, and her appliqués usually featured sequins.  I've told you before...felt is really inexpensive.  It's about $6.00 per yard, but a yard is 72" wide.  This did not require one single stitch.  It was all done with a pair of scissors and less than two hours of time to cut the scallops and the white felt trees...oh, and the white felt mats.  I don't have a large white charger, and I wanted my place setting to create a candy stripe effect.

Topping the white felt mat...my red resin/acrylic charger, the Wedgwood, "Countryware" dinner plate and the King's Crown Ruby Glass accent plate.  The chargers were a gift from a friend many years ago.  The Countryware was bought through eBay, and the King's Crown was found at an estate sale.

AJKA, "Arabella" goblets in red and green added to the Christmas theme and were paired with the Mikasa, "French Countryside."

The L'Argent, "Sohpia" flatware, from Horchow and Tuesday Morning, contributed to the candy  cane stripe motif when placed on the red felt.  An additional touch of peppermint goodness was added by using some delicious striped ribbon as a napkin ring with the Williams-Sonoma white linen hemstitched napkins.  I bought a large bolt of this lovely stuff last year at Sam's for $7.00.  I knew that I would find a good use for it at some point....today was the day.

Carolyne Roehm used a variety of candy cane stripe candles for her centerpiece with some touches of apple green.  I didn't find any striped candles, but I knew that I could wrap white pillars with my ribbon and achieve much the same look.  

The pair of Indiana Glass Ruby Flash Striped compotes continued the candy stripe theme.  But Carolyne and I kind of parted ways when I started adding touches of glorious apple green...I just couldn't contain myself.

A pair of AJKA, Green Crystal Bowls....

...were filled with pillar candles surrounded by my red glass raspberries, bought at Target, Tarjé, several years ago.

Michael's was my source for the shimmering green 'picks' spread the length of the centerpiece.  I've never thought of myself as a glittery kind of girl, but I sure have found myself drawn to all things shiny the past few holidays.  Of course, my hair, hands, and face have been covered with glitter for days.  

I'm a bit encouraged by the candlelight shots that I was able to capture this time...

 

I'm finally organized for Christmas!  

If you look closely, you'll see that the stockings are hung by the chimney with care...the garlands are festooned with ribbon and lights...

...Yummy food is ready for our feast...

The Garden Friends are waiting with eager anticipation to celebrate the most important birthday of each year.  We are blessed each week to be able to sit at the knee of our sweet Master, Jesus, lover of our ragged souls, and soak in the encouragement and peace that comes from studying His amazing Word.  We would welcome you to join us for prayer, study, and blessed fellowship any time that you happen to pass our way.  Just let me know, and I'll set a place for you at the table.  And so, this wonderful season has begun. Merry Christmas, my dear blogging friends!

Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, Tablescape Thursday.  I'll be linking my post to "TABLESCAPE THURSDAY."   Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 9:00 pm on Wednesdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube.  I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen.  You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site.  The girl can really write!  Her latest CD is called "Orchid."  It is available on iTunes or through her website.  I hope that you'll give her music a chance.  I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!  

...and the Garden Friends are all "fit to be tied" as we wait with anticipation for the celebration of the most important birthday of the year. I pray that your holiday season is filled with many blessings.  Merry Christmas!