Red and green and snow and Santas and reindeer and other woodland creatures. Does anything sound more like Christmas?
Better Homes and Gardens has produced this set of Heritage dinnerware for the past five years or so, featuring different salad plates each year. There are twelve in total, of which I’ve managed to acquire eleven (I did find the poinsettia, but don’t like poinsettias, so bought two of the woody car, instead). I discovered the pattern through browsing on Replacements.com, but it’s available in limited quantities each year, apparently at Walmart! Who knew? eBay is another good source if you’re interested.
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- Santa and sleigh
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- Amaryllis
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- Holly
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- Red Barn
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- Deer
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- Owl
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- Deer
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- Cardinal
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- Chickadee?
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- Tree
Here is a collection of the plates. The Woody car awaits me upon my return to the Cape as I was only able to snag it after I departed.
My daughter Stephanie bought me two snow-covered houses for Christmas last year. They go perfectly in this tablescape.
I’ve had the birchbark birdhouses for years and am always pleased to see the cheerful little birds make their appearance when the Christmas ornament boxes are unpacked.
Styling the salad plates with all kinds of woodland themed paraphernalia was enormous fun. The wood cake stand holding the pillar candles is from Pier One this year.
The holly runner, red caterer’s chargers and plaid napkins are Pottery Barn from several years ago.
I picked up these green open salts on Etsy several years ago.
The holly sprig dinner plates are from Pier 1 this year. They also carry a similar salad plate with a tree and deer, and one with a sleigh. They are 30% off this weekend, so have at it!
Here are some more close-ups of the plates. So much fun!
The red goblets are antique Venetian from Wisteria Antiques in Brewster, Cape Cod.
For those of you who aren’t shopping up a storm this weekend, but are decorating your houses, instead – enjoy! I’ll be doing the same.
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Such a charming table Helen! So welcoming…..the little houses from your daughter are perfect for this look.
I must admit to having a serious case of glass envy, your collection is stunning.
Have a super week!
Cindee
Thanks so much, Cindee. I am always thrilled to get things for the table from my kids. It makes it so much more special when I set the table. As to the glass, I’ve collected it over many, many years. Thanks for visiting!
I love this table – it immediately puts me into the Christmas spirit! I love the play between the vivid, more formal glassware and the charming birchbark bird houses and the snow covered houses. The “Tree” cake plate for candles – brilliant! I just love this!
Hi Mary! Very glad you like this. The table was more “fully furnished” than a lot of them that I put together, but it all seemed to work. May the festivities begin!
I love all of the use of the rustic pieces such as the pine cone napkin rings, the twig houses and baskets and the wood slices. I have some of the salad plates myself and would love to add to the collection. They are so endearing. The plaid napkins and the use of red and brown colors really adds to the lovely forest theme. So nicely done.
The plates were a new discovery for me last year, Marsha. I just love them. This year I have them on display in a lighted cabinet in the kitchen and they make me smile whenever I look at them. So glad you liked the table setting. As you say, it’s a forest-themed one, and I’m sure we could come up with a few more that would suit the plates 🙂
All of that red is just beautiful. I love the red charger with the red glasses and the plaid napkins. Very nice. I am inspired to do something similar with my Christmas dishes if I ever get around to doing a table. I am in the middle of a project in my kitchen and my table is doing double duty as a workbench.
Hey Lorri. Our house is a bit of a war zone right now, too, between the Cupboard Under The Stairs Playroom construction and gingerbread house and cookie construction going on in the kitchen. The dining room is in a far-from-elegant state, taking the overflow from the rest of the house. I’m hoping to get things put back together this coming week, as we’re having our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve and the dining room will need to be functioning as intended. Eeeek!
Warm, inviting and elegant! You nailed Christmas decor to a tee. In 2012, after my Mother passed away, I did my best to make a lovely holiday in style while missing her. I bought every piece of Winter Song china by Lenox I could get my hands on. It has thick red rims on dinner plates and rimmed soup plates, a sprig of pine and lovely birds. I’d like to borrow your gorgeous red antique wine goblets, please Helen, for Christmas. So envious. Your table is filled with true treasures! I enjoyed this article so much. X O
If you want a truly lovely red stemware for Christmas, see if you can track down some Arabella by Juliska. It’s discontinued, but worth a look. The red is a real clear ruby.
I couldn’t find those ruby stemware. Appreciate your suggestion.
I ended up setting table with Artland wine glasses with red bowl and clear pleasantly bulbous stems. Wish I had cabinet space for the larger all- purpose glass size to match. The wines hold quite small, dainty portion.
If you can tolerate some schlepping, Home Essentials storage boxes hold bulky glasses very well, keeping them dust-free and easy to transport.
Helen and fellow Christmas lovers: I’ve become smitten with Williams Sonoma “Twas the Night” dishes & platter, the nutcrackers especially. So pretty. Unique nutcrackers for holiday table. Lots of matching serving pieces and well as large platter & glasses. Gingerbread house also sweet!
So true! The design is quite similar with lots of white space and plenty of colours from which to choose for accessories. A charming set!
I continue to admire your ruby goblets and ran across Fostoria Distinction Ruby. The wine goblets are tall / all purpose type that I really like for Christmas/ family gatherings. Too expensive for me, since I’d like at least 8. Replacements never disappoints so I’m sure that’s fair and the goblets perfect. Was fun to window shop anyway. Onward to my birthday tomorrow & then Valentine’s day. Dear Helen. I look forward to your posts!
I hope you had a happy birthday! January is always tough for birthdays, I think, being so close to Christmas. I’m early February, as is my daughter, Lauren. Not quite as neglected, but in the neighbourhood of “already? didn’t we just get through present-season?” Hehehe.
I’m interested in the Better Hones & Garden pattern called Winter Forest. Do these plates have a white background or is it more if an ivory white background? My Christmas dinner plates are Sleighride by Lenox & has a white background. I’m shopping for salad plates. Thank you.
Hi Janet,
Winter Forest by Better Homes & Gardens have a bit more of an ivory/grey background than your bone china Sleighride, which will be a slightly creamy bone white. It’s somewhat apples and oranges, if you follow me. Winter Forest is a fun, inexpensive pattern — a little more “rough and ready” than Sleighride. The plates are thicker and won’t hold up as well as Sleighride, either.
I don’t mind mixing high and low, but it’s a matter of personal taste. Perhaps buy one Winter Forest plate and see how you like the combination.
Happy New Year.
Helen
Helen’s right (and, as usual, diplomatic). The BH&G plates are rather gray-yellowish-white and thick, with a cheerful if inexpensive look. I have couple of them that I use to deliver homemade goodies to the neighbours, but I would not try to place them over crisp and white porcelain. BTW, they chip easily.