...family, friends, home and other tidbits of a blessed life

Friday, December 26, 2014

Dinner with Friends 2014, a Christmas dinner party

Dinner with Friends

Is there anything better (well other than anything that involves children and grandchildren)? 
This years menu:

Appetizers
Spinach Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Cardamom Spiced Pork Loin
Burgundy Cardamom sauce
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Green Beans and Shitake Mushrooms
Mocha Ice Cream pie


 The place setting: Zrike
red charger, Lenox Holiday Tartan dinner plate, a vintage pressed glass salad plate in a glorious shade of red, gold flatware, red napkin from Pier One that is edged in gold ruffles, the usual crystal and a showy napkin ring.


I had seen this on the Frongate site. Loved it. Tried to capture the feeling of this. I am truly a Kim Seybert fan and although her designs are pricey, I figured I could recreate her gorgeous napkin rings. I think I succeeded.

Mikasa Parklane water and a yet unknown wine. Loved the gold rim, an ebay find.

Knowing that I was going to use the Frontgate picture as a theme, I added gold trees and candleholders to the Christmas warehouse (aka garage).

The floral centerpiece was a gift from one of the dinner guests.


Tulips and stock (the white stuff). It was perfect for the table.

Found the small red votives this year. Having candlelight on many levels adds to the ambiance of the evening. Do you see the beautiful pattern?


Simple decorations in the chandelier were just what the table needed. Bows, greenery and red glass ornaments.


Found these mercury glass trees at Dillard's last year. They are battery powered and light up, adding one more layer of light to the table.




I'm already planning next year's event. Collecting new pieces has begun and a theme has been set. This makes getting ready for the event so much easier!

I'm hoping that you had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by loved ones and that the year ahead is filled with many blessings, good health and much cheer.


13 comments:

Dianne said...

Hi Marlis! Wonderful to see a post from you and a beautiful post no less. Your table is charming and completely captures what I love about Christmas. The greenery in the chandelier is perfect and I love the vintage salad plates. Merry Christmas my friend, and I wish you a blessed new year. Dianne

Pat said...

Marlis,
Your Christmas Tablescape is exquisite!!!
I love the Traditional color palette!!!
Tulips . . .amazing!!!
The chandelier is so~o~o festive, dear friend!!!
Planning for next year's table. . .now. . .great idea!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Fondly,
Pat

Sarah said...

Marlis, I was thrilled to see a new post from you. Your holiday table is exquisite, every detail. I smiled at the comment about already planning for next year. I picked up something today with a holiday table in mind for next year. I love it when inspiration hits.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Entertaining Women said...

So glad to find your post today. I hope to get one up this weekend, too. I'm pretty sure your beautiful new gold rim goblet is Tiffin. Your table is gorgeous, as always. The centerpiece floral was quite fortuitous. I've also bought some new pieces for next Christmas, too. And so it begins! Thanks for inviting us for a peek. Happy New Year! Cherry Kay

Diane said...

Marlis, what a beautiful and lush tablescape! You did a wonderful job creating the Frontgate feel. I am sure your guests felt special eating at this table and those napkin rings are a home run! Wow! Happy, happy new year!

Scribbler said...

Howdy, Stranger! You haven't lost your touch. The table is beautiful, as always. Wonderful to see you again.

A Toile Tale said...

Marlis -
Devine! I'm especially crushing on your Kim Seybert hack for the napkin rings. Beautiful table. I'm sure your friends appreciated it greatly.
Linda @ A Toile Tale

Alycia Nichols said...

Not only did you recreate the style and Christmas charm of Kim Seybert's napkin, you gave it your own signature stamp. I think people really enjoy and look forward to a nice dinner with beautiful decorative accoutrements that they know for sure were created specifically with them in mind.

Whether it's for friends or family, a beautiful tablescape like this one is sure to be enthusiastically considered as one of the season's highlights!

Happy New Year to you and yours, Marlis!

Cindy said...

I love your tablescape and I love that you are already planning 2015's Christmas tablescape!

Maria C said...

Marlis: Your post is yet another Christmas present to me! What a treat! I love your table. Your dishes are wonderful, and all the details just perfect. I, myself, have been slowly warming up to gold again. For a while there, I had forgotten how lovely it can be. The centerpiece is absolutely beautiful. There's nothing like fresh flowers. I know we tablescapers love to experiment with all manner of centerpieces, but fresh flowers are, well, they are real, and they complete a table in a way that nothing else can.

Rettabug said...

Exquisite, Marlis! I am head over heels in love with your Lenox Holiday Tartan dinner plates...so pretty!
You did a great job of mimicking the Frontgate's table but I think yours is even better.

Wishing you & yours a Happy & Healthy New Year!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Happy New Year, Marlis!

Your table is just gorgeous. You did a wonderful job with this, and how nice that your guest sent you such a lovely arrangement to incorporate.

I spy some goblets that we share. And I love the holiday tartan plates. I have Lenox plates, too, and I never get tired of them.

I agree with Rett's post above. I think your table is better than Frontsgate. You rock the tablescape world, my friend!

xo

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

P.S. I got tickled when I read that you are planning your table for 2015. I am, too! And Christmas, too, for that matter. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we decided to low key it this Christmas so I am preparing for a fun one next year. We had a quiet one, free of stress and after-Christmas cleanup, but next year, it is going to be a pull out the stops Christmas house!!! ;-)

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin