Tablescape inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes, including a jolly old elf. Especially when he’s cuddling adorable woodland creatures.
Bristol by Fitz and Floyd is still an active pattern. though it’s getting harder to find the pieces in the retail market. I already had some of the creamy white serving pieces which I had used in an earlier table with Wedgwood Shell Edged plates. Here is the water jug.
And the individual soup tureens. They’re very reasonably priced and useful in so many different tables.
But the cobalt blue aspect of Bristol was a new discovery. There are several Santa and Reindeer options; I confined myself to the cookie jar, and employed cobalt blue and cream pieces I already had from other patterns.
Starting at the bottom of the plates, the Ruffled Gold Rim dinner plate is new this year from Williams Sonoma. On top of it is a salad plate in Pacifica Navy, also from Williams Sonoma from a few years ago, but still available.
The top plate is one of four different cocktail plates in Jardins du Monde from Juliska. The plates are no longer offered by Juliska but can be had from various stockists.
Back to Santa. He’s surrounded with squirrels, foxes and rabbits. I knew my “blue” daughter, Kirsten would love him and her two little girls would be enchanted by the animals, so after his starring role in this table setting he moved to her house.
I was intrigued by the attention to detail, right down to the checkered pattern on his mitts and the inside of his coat,
During his sojourn in Cape Cod, he rubbed shoulders with other Bristol pieces and Pier 1 house lanterns from a couple of years ago.
Some church and house salt and pepper shakers (e-Bay) tied in well with the other creamy bits.
The gold-rimmed chargers coordinated with songbird napkin rings for a touch of warmth. I debated the napkins for a while.
These blue and white ones seemed a bit nautical, but I decided to include them. I think they go. What do you think?
The Depression glassware is Buttercup by Fostoria. It was actually produced between 1942 and 1959, but it fits the “Depression Glass” genre. These two are the water glass and the iced tea glass. It’s one of my very favourite patterns for regular use, as the wine glass is just so darned comfortable in the hand. It holds a nice quantity of wine without being excessive, and the glass is well balanced. Just love it.
Such a happy table!
Thanks for visiting, Santa. I know you’ll love it at Kirsten’s house, where you’ll be very much loved.
How is everyone’s preparation for Christmas going? Under control or feelings of mild panic? It doesn’t seem to matter how much one plans in advance, there are always last minute changes that come up, and it takes some mental bobbing and weaving to fit it all in. We have the added chaos of two fur-babies this year, Dundee and Clementine, both determined to join in ALL the fun. As well, we get a lot of dust and dirt tracked in from the frequent trips outside as Clementine grasps the finer points of housebreaking. Enough said! As I write, she is galloping through the house at top speed, leaping over the snoozing older dogs, chewy toys flying in all directions. Dundee, who was wrestling with her earlier, has fled downstairs out of the way of the thundering and increasingly enormous paws. Nuts, I tell you. Nuts. It’s wonderful chaos, though.
Enjoy the final weekend before Christmas, everyone.
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Santa certainly hasn’t always worn red – though St Nicholas allegedly had red robes. I’ve never seen a blue one before though; and he is beautifully crafted! Merry Christmas, Helen, to all of you. Best regards, Mike x.
Merry Christmas to you, too, Mike! I hope Santa (whatever colour he’s wearing) is good to you and your entire family. Thanks for everything this year. It was such a pleasure meeting you and photographing Ripon Cathedral together. I still have to do that post. Soon!
Dear Helen, I do feel a disconnect between the organic designs of the Bristol (I have the pumpkins, too) and the somehow nautical plaid of the serviettes. Maybe a vine pattern, or harlequin?
I haven’t ever seen you mention music, but is has always been central to our Christmas preps. By Dec 1, I’ve already had it with the ubiquitous Rudolph and want something more spiritual. Of course, there are the Bocelli/Pavarotti/Aled Jones compilations, and jazz discs like Chris Botti. But first the Ceremony of Carols (please, for treble only–no female-choir recordings!) Several cathedral choirs do an excellent job. As kids we used to gather round the piano and attempt the intricate 5-part songs, dissolving in laughter when, inevitably, someone lost her way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQyunriE1zg
Next, the joyous rollicking Missa Crillola (great recording available on Amazon–the Ramirez orchestra on PolyGram), but stirring too in live performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONdarlgcWIs
Then on to the magnificent collections of Robert Sund, which include the achingly sweet StrĂĄlande Jul, guaranteed to bring tears…
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Music-Sweden-Orphei-Dr%C3%A4ngar/dp/B002WP3WKG
The Orphei Drängar recording is all men, but this female version is nice, too, and shows the traditional costumes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsUxInTblhU
I play it whilst shaping Sankta Lucia buns on the 13th (but I dispense with the candle headdress). Bet you never thought of Santa Lucia as a Christmas tune–she was a Neapolitan who saved the Swedes from starvation, and they love her.
Finally, for a breath of fresh air, Wyndham Hill has a soothing, but not soporific, non-commercial Celtic Christmas sampler (multiple discs). Nice when you’ve exhausted all the tired standards, and great unobtrusive background music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnPsEt4lVRY
Happy Christmas to you and yours, and hugs all round to the four-footed! Best, Beatrice
It sounds like you have a richly musical tradition, Beatrice. It must be incredibly uplifting to be surrounded by such a variety of stupendous music. Thank you for all the suggestions, which I am passing along to the music master in our house, Glenn. He’s an enthusiast of most genres of music (rap being a notable exception, thank goodness), so we are lucky to receive the benefit without having to make too much effort!
Thanks also for the observations on the nautical napkins. I thought the same as you. Oh well, next time!
Have a marvellous Christmas, Beatrice. And thank you for all your thoughtful and enthusiastic participation. It’s a delight.
xo
Helen
I love the Santa as well. He is Definitely an eye catcher. The blue is striking more so than red but as you know most people are traditional red. As far as your napkins go, they’re perfect. Why buy more blue when you probably have 100 napkins anyway!! Did you set this in your spare time? Happy Christmas to you, Glenn et. al.
Thank you, Maura. I did it before we left the Cape, so had the pictures at the ready. Santa is making Kirsten’s house jolly as we speak. Best to Bill!
FESTIVE and FUN!! Well Done!! franki
Thanks, Franki!
Santa appears to be enjoying himself! You can never go wrong with Fitz and Floyd — they have such beautiful pieces. Although I’m partial to red and green for Christmas, your table is appropriately wintry.
It’s fun to change it up, I find. Traditional red and green is a wonderful combination, and one I embrace wholeheartedly, and was surprised how much I liked the blue. The chartreuse and magenta combinations are quite something, though! 🙂
Since blue is my favorite color I love this blue Santa! What a pretty table, yet very simple. Thanks for sharing your talents.
Thanks for visiting, Darlene! I tend to do more blues in the summer, but cobalt does seem to fit in nicely in the colder months. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Love this tablescape! Blue and white is always a winner!
Thanks, Bev. It’s such a classic, isn’t it? I’m already dreaming about blue & white spring tablescapes with daffodils… In the meantime, Happy Holidays to you!
I’m loving the Blue and white, which I use often myself. Jolly old Elf set a great table, make sure to tell him so!
Thanks, Sandi! I’ll pass on the word
Your table is delightful. I love the finding the blues in a starring role. Thanks for inviting us for a peek. Merry Christmas. CherryKay
Merry Christmas to you, too, CherryKay. I hope you and yours have a lovely holiday.
That Santa is so outstanding and beautiful table as well! Wishing you and yours A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and thank you for sharing. -Brenda-
All the best of the Christmas season to you and your loved ones, Brenda. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
Very Beautiful…Merry Christmas to you and to yours. Sujatha:)
Thank you, Sujatha. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!