Poinsettias on a Winter Tablescape

January 02, 2023 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I am sentimental about poinsettias. My mother loved them and I always think of her when it is poinsettia season. I found this Ralph Lauren poinsettia tablecloth at HomeGoods several years ago. I have posted two other poinsettia and winter tablescapes in the past but I have never used this tablecloth until now. It is a heavy cotton broadcloth material and it is easy to iron. I love the scattered poinsettias design on it.

Andrea by Sadek Poinsettia Plate

I found this red poinsettia salad plate at HomeGoods several years ago and it had to come home with me. It is marked Andrea by Sadek. It is a true red color and I love the way it looks sitting on this white plate.

I bought these Fiesta white dinner plates in Salt Lake City a couple of years ago. They were 30% off, an unusual sale for Fiesta. I couldn’t resist them because I only have one other basic white dinner plate in my dish collection and it is a larger size than this one. i needed a smaller size and I know I will be using them often.

Juliska Ruby Berry and Thread Charger

This red charger was made by Juliska and the pattern was called Ruby Berry and Thread. Several years ago, while I was still working, I bought these chargers a few at a time over several months from various places online until I had the number I needed. I don’t think they are in production now. I like the simple design on the rim and they are a bit larger than some of the other chargers that I have. They are a deeper red than my other red chargers.

Cambridge Frosted White Flatware

I bought this frosted white flatware on sale online at Wayfair a few years ago, it was made by Cambridge. It is 18/0 so the fork tines are a bit sharper than I would like but I really liked the frosted color. It was difficult to find white flatware that was well made so I was really glad to find this flatware set.

Ralph Lauren Poinsettia Tablecloth

When I found this Ralph Lauren tablecloth at HomeGoods several years ago I also found the same tablecloth in the opposite colors and I bought that one as well and these napkins to match it. Although the reds look like different shades in this photo, they are almost the same color. HomeGoods used to have a great selection of inexpensive tablecloths but now they seem to only carry neutral colors that are a bit boring. I have had these dark red ceramic napkin rings for several years. I can’t remember where I found them. One thing that I have learned while tablescaping is how different color shades can be. Sometimes I buy something that I think will match something that I already have and it is a totally different shade that won’t work.

I bought these poinsettia place card holders online at Oriental Trading several years ago. I have bought place card holders on that site before, more than once.

Waterford Marquis Brookside Red Goblet

I am using my red Waterford Marquis Brookside goblets on this tablescape only this time I added the matching red iced teas too. I really love this glassware. It is well made, heavy, and a true red color. I bought the goblets at HomeGoods several years ago and I liked them so much that I slowly added the matching iced teas to my collection as I found them.

I knew that I wanted a vase of red poinsettias to use as a centerpiece for this tablescape. I found these faux poinsettias on sale at Michael’s a couple of years ago. This large white pottery vase is one of a pair of vases that I inherited from my mother. She received them as a wedding present in 1938. Because of her love for poinsettias it seemed fitting to use her vase on this table setting.

Mosser Glass Red Salt and Pepper Set

I decided to add a Mosser Glass red salt and pepper set to this Poinsettia tablescape. I bought this set online at The Vermont Country Store last year. The Mosser Glass Company was established in 1971 and it is located in Cambridge, Ohio. They sell high quality American made glassware and I love their products. I have a few sets of their goblets and a few cake stands too. If you read my blog you have seen their goblets on some of my tablescapes.

Avon Cape Cod Salt and Pepper Set

I can’t remember where I found this dark red glass salt and pepper set but it was probably Ebay a few years ago. They were made by Avon and they were part of their Cape Cod collection.

This is the tablescape that I did using the tablecloth that is the opposite colors of this tablescape tablecloth. You can read more information about this tablescape here.

I used the same poinsettia salad plate on this tablescape but it has a totally different look, more information about this tablescape here.

To see 260+ tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Tablescape Ideas group! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape Ideas. Don’t miss my Tablescaping How-To section at the top of this blog post for more tablescaping tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week so please check back!

Tablescaping DIY; Place Card Holders, What, Where, and When

December 27, 2022 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

Everything you need to know about place card holders

Place card holders are a great way to add a personal touch to your dining event. They can also be used to help direct your guests to their seats. Here is a guide on how to create and use place cards for your next dining event and where you can find them.

Tips on setting up the table for a dinner party with place cards

Start by designating one end of the table as the head of the table. This is where your guests will sit who are hosting the party. Next, determine where each guest will sit. If you have an even number of guests, simply put them in pairs and alternate their placement around the table. For more information about this Valentine’s Day place card holder and this Valentine’s Day tablescape please click here.

If you have an odd number of guests, place the extra person at the head of the table. Once you’ve determined where each guest will sit, it’s time to start setting up the place cards. More information about this stacked dice place card holder and this Playing Card Tablescape here.

While you are looking for place card holders keep in mind that whatever you find can sometimes be painted another color if needed. This metal pine tree place card holder was black when I bought it but Hubby painted it forest green for me. More information about this pine tree place card holder and this Winter Pine Trees tablescape here.

If you’re making your own place cards, print out each guest's name on a small card and then attach it to the front of their respective place card holder. More information about this Black Widow Spider place card holder and this Black Widow Spider tablescape here.

Alternately, if you’re using pre-made place cards, all you need to do is take out each card and set it in front of its corresponding seat at the table.

Place card holders provide formality and personalization

At a dinner party, guests are typically assigned seats according to their relationship to the host. This practice helps create a sense of formality and order at the table. It also ensures that everyone has an opportunity to converse with one another. Placing guests in assigned seats also allows the host to control the conversation by seating people who they want to talk to together. The easiest way to nudge your guests to sit where you want them is to literally put their names on the table. A simple gold place card holder is a good addition to your tablescaping collection. Read more about this place card holder and Old Country Rose Tablescape here.

From formal wedding to personal

To take the edge off of getting forced to sit in your assigned seat, I love the idea of making place card holders into favors. Although I don't often do this for the tablescapes I post on my blog (since I like to reuse my place card holders). Making place cards into favors is a great way to show your guests how much you appreciate them coming to your house. You can either make simple place card holders out of materials like paper or metal, or get creative and make something more elaborate like a miniature photo album or bookmark. At the last wedding I attended the wedding place cards were all custom chocolates that each guest could take to remember the big day. Sometimes themed party favor boxes can be used as place card holders to help carry out your theme. This simple decorated box can be written on or a place card can be leaned against it. More information about this place card holder and this 4th of July Celebration Tablescape here.

How to find place card holders

There are many different ways to make or find place card holders for your next event. Here are a few ideas to get you started. This palm trees place card holder is actually a group of two small plastic trees that I purchased online from a party supply site. I am constantly looking for small items that I can use as place card holders even though they weren’t made for that function. Also when I have a theme in mind I do a google search for the theme and the word place card holder and often something pops up that I can use. If you're looking for something elaborate, you can find creative place card holders online or in specialty stores. Some popular places to find these holders include wedding stores online, craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael’s, and online retailers like Etsy and Ebay. I love looking for vintage place card holders because they are so unique. For more information about this place card holder and this Palm Trees Summer Tablescape, please click here.

A simple clear crystal glass place card holder is a great addition to your place card holder collection. I like them because they pick up the color of the tablecloth when you don’t have a place card holder that is the right color. This was a special Waterford Crystal St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape that I created. More information about this place card holder and that tablescape here.

This crystal box place card holder can also be used as the base for a small item to sit on. More information about this small Santa that I used as a place card holder and this Santa on a Christmas Tablescape that it was a part of here.

Write-On place card holders are available and can easily be reused over and over. More information about this write-on pumpkin place card holder and this Pumpkins on a Fall Tablescape here.

I found these colorful butterflies online. They are not really place card holders but they have wires on the back that I bent into a stand for them. I knew the place card would slide in front of the antennae. More information about these butterfly place card holders and this Butterflies on a Spring Tablescape here.

These plastic black cat place card holders are magnetic. Such a clever design, it looks like they just cut a small plastic cat in half and glued a magnet to each side. More information about this black cat place card holder and this Black Cat Halloween tablescape here.

There are so many wonderful place card holders available for your tablescapes and they can add so much to the illustration of your table theme. This music stand place card holder is one of my favorites. More information about it and this Musical Tablescape here.

To see over 260 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my new Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We are planning a gathering for tablescapers in January in the Los Angeles area..

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

A New Year's Eve Tablescape

December 24, 2022 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

About this time last year I thought of an idea for a New Year’s Eve tablescape. I spent most of the year trying to pull it all together with no success so I ended up with this tablescape. Will try the other idea again another year, sometimes it takes that long to gather things together. I found this black maxmill Jacquard Waving Pattern tablecloth on Amazon a few years ago and I liked it so much that I bought it in three other colors. I bought matching napkins for a few of them too. If you look closely you can see the wavy pattern on the fabric. My phone camera struggled with this tablescape. The black looks dark blue in a few of the photos and some of the gold is washed out a bit. The white celebration sign came from Grandin Road online several years ago.

These gold and white salad plates were made by The Pampered Chef and I found them at HomeGoods a few years ago.

These simple white porcelain dinner plates were made by Ralph Lauren and I found them at HomeGoods several years ago when I first started tablescaping. You definitely need a simple white dinner plate in your tablescaping collection.

I found these gold chargers at Crate and Barrel a few years ago. Crate and Barrel never disappoints me, their products are well made and great quality.

This gold plated flatware set was a gift from Hubby a couple years ago. I had bought a cheap set of gold flatware several years ago. It was poor quality and the gold started flaking off. You get what you pay for! We found this set on major sale at Macys. It is made by Wallace and is called Mikasa Duchess Gold. I love the design on the handle.

The polyester black napkins match the tablecloth and they came from Amazon a few years ago. The hammered gold colored napkin rings were made by DII and I bought them on Amazon several years ago.

I found these gold colored place card holders on Amazon a few years ago. They were made by Gray Bunny. A simple gold place card holder is good to have in your tablescape collection.

These goblets are the tallest and largest goblets in my tablescaping collection. The black glass one came from Z Gallerie several years ago. It was called Onyx. They are eleven inches tall and the glass is thin and delicate. I bought them in white as well. The white and gold goblet on the right also came from Z Gallerie, a few years ago. It is a very large goblet in size. The gold swirl on the clear glass is in a higher position on some of the other goblets. You can see this in some of the other photos.

I found the hourglass at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. The black sand is a good match for this table setting. It is sitting on a wood stand that I bought at Pier 1 a few years ago. The stand was a natural wood color but Hubby painted it white for me to use on one tablescape and then black for a few other tablescapes. I added a gold bead garland and a gold necklace of mine to the table for additional interest.

These Booker bronze black candle holders came from Pottery Barn a few years ago. They are versatile because they can hold a taper candle or a pillar candle. I added a gold taper candle and scattered small gold bells around the candle base.

This is the New Year’s Eve tablescape that I did a few years ago. (Truth be told, I like it better than this one.)

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

Gingerbread on a Christmas Tablescape

December 17, 2022 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I did a Gingerbread Christmas tablescape a few years ago with some of the same elements that are on this table setting but I changed out some of it for this tablescape. I bought the polyester bright Kelly Green tablecloth on Amazon last year. You can see the earlier tablescape that I did here.

Susan Winget Gingerbread Plate

These appetizer or tidbit small Gingerbread plates were made by Certified International. The design on the plates was copyrighted by Susan Winget. I have some of her other Christmas design plates and I love some of her designs. The plates came in a set of four with two girl Gingerbread people and two boy Gingerbread people. The set was called Holiday Magic. I can’t remember where I bought them.

Fiesta Shamrock Salad Plate

I added an extra plate to this plate stack because I wanted the colors to alternate in a certain pattern. This small Fiesta salad plate in the color Shamrock is their smallest plate size in the older plate design. It measures 7 1/4” across. The newer Fiesta plate design Bistro has a smaller plate that measures 6 1/2”. Fiesta plates come in a few different sizes so you need to make sure you know what size you are buying.

I bought this red melamine salad plate at Crate and Barrel online with a matching dinner plate a few years ago.

Fiesta Shamrock Dinner Plate

This is the Fiesta dinner plate in Shamrock green. It matches the small salad plate on this plate stack. I bought them online from Macy’s several years ago.

This is another plastic charger from Dollar Tree, bought last week, that Hubby painted Christmas red for me. I wanted a simple red charger for this table and this one works perfectly.

Milano Red Flatware Ginkgo International LePrix

This flatware is Milano Red Ginkgo International LePrix. I have had this set for years but it is still for sale. Not sure where I bought it. I use it several times a year on tablescapes.

I found these metal gingerbread napkin rings online at Mercari online a few years ago. The red and green plaid napkins came from HomeGoods several years ago. I love the red and green plaid pattern, it is perfect for a Christmas tablescape.

I found the gingerbread boy and girl place card holders at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. There is just something so festive and cheerful about gingerbread people!

Mosser Arlington Hunter Green Goblet

I am using my favorite red glass goblets on this tablescape. They are Waterford’s Marquis Brookside goblets. I bought them at HomeGoods several years ago. There were twelve available and that seldom happens there. I bought them all! You can find them on the secondary market from time to time. I have been looking for a darker green glass goblet for quite a while and I finally decided to buy these green glass goblets made by Mosser. They are a bit shorter than I like but I love the color. The pattern is called Arlington and the color is Hunter Green. I bought them online at Everything Kitchens. I have the same color and pattern in an iced tea so I will be able to use the two together sometimes.

I found this Gingerbread cookie jar online at Mercari online a few years ago. It was originally bought at T J Maxx and it was made by Potter’s Studio. I love the icing and the bow design, and the happy face! The gingerbread man is sitting on a red Rhodes stoneware drink dispenser stand from Pottery Barn. I bought these stands in a few colors several years ago to use when I need to add height to a centerpiece. I scattered a gingerbread garland that I found on Amazon a few years ago to the centerpiece. The garland, green goblets, and the chargers are the only new elements on this tablescape, I already had everything else.

I added some gingerbread salt and pepper sets to fill in some space on the table. I found both sets on Ebay several years ago. I often add small salt and pepper sets to a themed table for more interest.

I love gingerbread decorations at Christmas time!

To see 260 tablescapes that I have created including 15 different Christmas tablescapes, please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Tablescape Ideas group! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape Ideas. Don’t miss my Tablescaping How-To section at the top of this blog post for more tablescaping tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week so please check back!