A Thanksgiving Tablescape

How are your preparations coming along for the holidays?  I am still working on the basics--having my carpets cleaned, some painting done, and dare I say it, cleaning out the garage.  It had gotten so bad that I didn't have room to bring my Christmas decorations down.  I like to use the garage as a sort of staging area--so that I don't trip over boxes lying in the floor.  Usually it is not this cold, so I am bundling up, and going out today to work on my staircase garland.  

In the meantime, I ran across these pictures of Thanksgiving 2013.  Guess I didn't have time to post, so here's a few from last year--in hopes that they will inspire!  

Again, I used my Battenburg lace cloth.  This tablecloth fits my table well with all the leaves in.

I kept the table uncluttered, and used a simple epergne-like bowl which held flowers, greenery, and candles.

The greenery, leland cypress and magnolia, are greens I frequently use for the holidays.

The centerpiece base is silver and the bowl is crystal, with arms extending to hold the candles.

The silver chargers were a Goodwill find, and I frequently use them for formal dinners.

I have been collecting vintage crystal with the gold-plate around the outside.  I find them at estate sales and online auctions.  These I used for iced tea and water.

I don't know the manufacturer of these, but I love the look.

I accessorized the table with silver pumpkins and gourds, and gold pumpkin candles.

My daughter hates it when I use place cards, but I find it's a lot less hectic when people can quickly find their seats. 

I used the kitchen table for desserts.  I also had a couple show up that didn't RSVP, so I had to quickly add two place settings to the kitchen table.  Worked out ok, and I was glad they came.

Since I'm not having a huge crowd this year, I will probably also use the kitchen for serving.  There will just be eight of us this year.  Still a lot to do, so I better get up and get going!  Thanks for your visit, and I hope you and yours have a very special, happy Thanksgiving!

Creating Centerpieces for the Holiday Table

Now that the Halloween boxes are all stored away, it's time to think about the holidays. They are quickly approaching, and once here, there's a finite amount of time to get everything done.  An elegant and beautiful holiday table is on our to-do list, but sometimes amid the hustle and bustle, it is not at all what we had hoped it would be.  You can achieve an elegant look, and create happy memories with your family and friends, without a high price tag or a huge time commitment by using some items you probably already have around your home.  A beautiful table is all about the centerpiece.

I will show you how I create two of my go-to centerpieces for Thanksgiving and Christmas using a simple grapevine wreath.

DIY Fall Wreath Centerpiece:

This fall-themed centerpiece started with a grapevine wreath that I found around the house.  You can purchase them at Michaels, for under $5.

I placed my wreath on a charger so it could be moved easily, and began by placing ivy around the wreath.

My supplies included artificial fall leaves (you can use real), varigated green acuba leaves, gourds, and cylinders with acuba leaves and floating candles.

I began inserting the fall leaves around the top  of the wreath.  It's easy to just stick the leaves in between the layers of the grapevine.

Keep inserting leaves all the way around, and then begin placing leaves around the outside.  I like using the bigger leaves toward the outside, and the smaller ones on the inside and top.

The wreath is now looking full, and could be used as is.  But let's take it to the next level.

I couldn't find my third cylinder, but I had two of the same size, so I simply elevated one with a small Tupperware cup.

After adding the cylinders, I placed the acuba leaves all around the inside, filling in where necessary.  Again, ok as is, but let's give it the "wow" factor by using the gourds.

Ta Da!!  A elegant centerpiece your family and friends will envy.  All you need to do is place this on your tablecloth or runner.  The personalized table runners from Shutterfly will add just the right touch.  Add Grandma's precious china and flatware, and you are good to go!  Now some folks don't want to use candles, as they eat during daylight hours, so here's another option, with pumpkins instead of the cylinder floating candles.

Click here to see a tablescape using this same idea..

Let's move on to the Christmas wreath:

The same principle can be applied, using the grapevine wreath as a base.  For this piece, I used a combination of evergreen from my yard, and some decorative items from my stash and Michael's.

 
I decided I wanted a white, sparkly centerpiece, so I chose sparkly baby's breath, white sparkly berries, a white branch-type garland, and evergreens--yew, cypress, holly, nandina, and cedar.

I started with the yew, and stuck it all around the outside of the wreath. You don't need big, long pieces, but they can be doubled up for volume, if necessary.  The greens will last longer if you soak them in water overnight before arranging.

I used the other greenery to fill in the top, inside, and outside of the wreath.  Continue using the greens until you are satisfied with the look.

I cut off the white branches from the garland and began placing them around the wreath, using my eye as a guide.

The wreath can then be decorated in any way you so desire.  I used the baby's breath to fill in the inside, and then used the berry  branches on top.  I felt like it still needed something, so I added clear, glass ornaments.  The final touch--a white, sparkly Christmas tree candle!

Not into sparkly Christmas tree candles?  Here's another option with the same base--

I used a large hurricane globe with a lacy, white pillar candle in the center.  You can even fill the hurricane globe with any type of vase filler--berries, fruit, table gems, etc.  The idea is to use what you have, or what you would like your theme to be--for the center of the wreath.

Thank you for visiting today!  I look forward to seeing what you create for your holiday table!

--Betsy

Family Traditions

Family traditions are passed down from generation to generation.  They create in us a sense of closeness, a tie that binds us together through the years, the glue that holds us together.  When I was a child, we had many traditions on which I look back now with fond memories.   

Christmas breakfast was a big to-do for us.  All of my mother's sisters and their families would gather at my aunt's house next door, and we would eat eggs, homemade biscuits, fried oysters, bacon, and country sausage.  After breakfast, we would exchange presents and visit, oohing and aahing over all the goodies that Santa had brought.  That evening, we would again gather around a table for Christmas dinner.  After dinner, my mother would play Christmas carols on the piano and we would all sing.  We laughed a lot when we didn't know all the words (we never knew all the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas), or when someone sang a bit off key. 

As a new mother years ago, I wanted to carry on some of the old Christmas traditions and make new ones for my little family.  Every Christmas Eve my children would open 2 gifts.  The first gift would be new pajamas, so they could wear them on Christmas morning for all the pictures.  The second gift was a movie or a book, so they could settle down and get to sleep, while I was making last minute preparations.  When morning came, the gifts were all wrapped--red paper for my daughter's gifts, and green paper for my son's--and under the tree.  Every year my son asks what color his gifts are, and we laugh!  We again eat a big breakfast together, and our menu always includes fried oysters.  Christmas afternoon, we gather with our extended family for a party.  Our family has gotten too big for a formal dinner, so we have finger food, and no gifts are exchanged now, but we still sing.  My mom is no longer here to play for us, but one of my cousins has stepped in and we still laugh when we don't know the words or someone sings off key!  Except when Jesus Loves Me is played, and we all get emotional remembering the many, many times my mother played it for us so that we could sing.  I cannot hear the song without crying.  Heck, I'm crying now. :)

We also try to get together for Thanksgiving every year, but different families have branched off to do their own thing.  This year there were 12 of us at my house.

Our table was set for 10, as we had two come at the last minute.

I used pumpkins and fall-colored flowers in the centerpiece.

I sometimes buy a plant, such as a mum, and cut off the blooms to use in arrangements.  It's much cheaper than buying cut flowers.

You have seen these salad plates many times.  I paired them with my mom's china, which I also used last Thanksgiving.

I used these frosted leaf glasses, which were also my mom's, and Park Lane wine stems.

I found these candle cups at Goodwill.  They have a hole in the center, to use with candlesticks, or in this case, with decorative candles directly on the table.

Oops, I missed a candle!!

With all the chaos, I'm surprised I remembered to take photos!

I know I'm a week behind with my tables, but I wanted to spend time with my children and family while they were here.  I will be back visiting with you this week!  Thanks for taking the time to look!  I would love to hear sometime about your family Christmas traditions.  I always appreciate your kind comments!!  On to the Christmas holidays!!