Winter greenery, in the form of holly, pine, juniper and winter berries, feature heavily on Woodland Berry plates by Williams Sonoma,
The dinner plate has lots of clean white space in the centre, forming a perfect backdrop for a delicious feast.
The salad plate is more densely covered, and the white area at the top draws the eye up through the foliage and berries.
I had been eyeing the pattern for a few years and was delighted to receive the dinner and salad plates for Christmas last year, a joint gift from my daughter Lauren and my daughter-in-law, Annie. It gave me lots of time to plan its debut this season.
I extended the naturalistic elements with twig placemats and a burlap runner.
I decorated the Chocolate Orange cake to pick up on the greenery, adding dried orange slices to hint at the orange curd filling in the densely chocolate cake.
Then I tucked additional dried orange slices into the napkin rings (Pier 1, several years ago), which surrounded deep burgundy napkins (custom made more than a decade ago).
The goblets are antique wheel cut from Elise Abrams Antiques. Here they are functioning as wine glasses, and I’ve used small green tumblers by Magnolia Home for water glasses.
We most often use them as water glasses to accompany antique Webb wheel cut wine glasses, as we did in this table featuring Bittersweet by Royal Cauldon.
Two pairs of small green glass open salts carried on the natural green colour.
What do you think? Festive enough?
Such a pretty pattern! I had a hard time deciding on the accoutrements, as there were many different directions it could go. I’m sure you’ll see it back in circulation in future festive tables.
I was sorry to dismantle the table, but the centrepiece was soon to be consumed, and Dundee was eying the orange slices with evil intent.
Note his “Oh no, Mum! I wouldn’t dream of doing anything so wicked.” expression. I’ve seen it before, just as he is about to bat something to the floor or leap on one of his sisters. I’m not fooled in the least.
I’ll leave you with a couple of shots of the table and Chocolate Orange Cake.
How are your plans and preparations coming along, dear readers?
It seems one must have the wisdom of Solomon and the hide of a rhinoceros to navigate the holiday complexities with the general state of outrage this festive season! Let’s all try to keep our sense of humour and stay above the fray as much as possible. That’s my plan, anyway!
Love the way you have styled the delicious looking cake to coordinate with the plates. The festive napkin rings also pick up the foliage in the dinner and salad plates so very well. A suggestion…perhaps add evergreen candle rings to the pillar candles to carry the theme a little further. Love the addition of the dried orange slices to the napkin rings to tie in with the orange flavoured cake! Beautifully done table setting!
Hi Alayne,
It’s funny you should mention adding some evergreen to the centre of the table. I thought it looked bare, and was tempted in that direction, but veered off because I thought the napkin rings were already quite effusive. But candle rings would have been perfect!! Great, great suggestion. I could have attached some greenery to the candles with some twine; that would have echoed the twine on the twig placemats and added a bit of something to the plain centre. Thank you!
Have a lovely holiday,
Helen
Two years ago, I bought the salad plates. Here’s the table I put together: http://dreamsandepiphanies.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-buffalo-plaid-christmas-eve.html . This year I’m going to add the dinner plates, too, so your table is providing some wonderful inspiration. It’s utterly beautiful! And your cake! Wow! I hope my table comes out half as nice!
Your 2020 Christmas was just lovely (don’t you adore teardrop picked peppers? I had them fir the first time this year).
I’m eager to see what you do for 2021. All the best of the season!
Your table is quite festive, and that cake looks amazing!
Thanks, Joy! All the best of the season to you.
Dear Helen, those Webbs are to die for! I love that woodland pattern even more than the Juliska or Lauren versions, both with pheasant feathers. I thought of buying some myself but never got around to it in the flurry of last year before I left. I agree the candles themselves look bare, but I think some plain pillar holders would do. Don’t you love the smell of dried oranges? I remember making elaborate clove-studded pomanders with orris root for a school jumble sale. As they are a cure for pestilence, I think they are appropriate now, too!
I’m with you on this Woodland pattern vs Juliska and Lauren’s versions. I wasn’t keen on the pheasant feathers.
I had to chuckle at your pestilence comment about the orange pomanders. Perhaps it’s time we all started carrying them!
Perhaps Dundee is related to Tiger Tiger, the troll, who waits near the doorway to swat her sisters as they go by.
Love the dinnerware. Quite a gift.
If someone is looking for orange slices, Michael’s had a pick of pine with orange slices that didn’t sell well. Only thing left.
Thanks for the tip about Michael’s, Annie. As time is running short for everyone, it’s a nice alternative to homemade! Have a lovely Christmas season.
Helen, the table is beautiful – I love the WS winterberry collection! I’ve had my eye on the charger plates for some time now hoping they would go on sale, but I see they are sold out. WS also had a new plaid plate this year to coordinate with the collection – so pretty. So many plates, so little storage… Sigh.
You are so right not to trust that look on Dundee. I’ve seen a similar look myself many a time. For our cats it just means that “I’m trying to look disinterested so you will hopefully let your guard down, but the minute your back is turned I’ll be in there doing whatever it is I’m not supposed to be doing”. Too funny. Hope you have a great Christmas, Covid notwithstanding!
Thanks, Kim. The pattern has definitely grown on me, and the more I studied the plates while designing the cake, the more I found to like about it. I have a full set of tartan dinner plates from Certified International … hmmm … perhaps next year I’ll coordinate those with the Woodland Berry salad plate. Thanks for the idea!!
Cats do the bait and switch very well, as you have pointed out. “Nothing to see here” followed by mayhem.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year. Bring it on, 2021!
Love and hugs to Dundee, adorable kitty, no cake for you.
Dundee is thriving, and his girth increases with his confidence. 🙂