Pages

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

Whether you are enjoying a quiet evening at home or out whooping it up, I hope you are bringing in 2011 exactly how you want to.  Happy New Year to you all!  
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who check in here at Dining Delight from time to time to see what new tablescapes and decorations I have come up with.   I appreciate your visits and comments so very much!
I wanted to share this pic with you tonight as it looks rather celebratory to me.   
My mom decorated this shelf in the sunroom at my parent's house.   I love the reflection of all the candles in the mirror and the garland with lights below. 
To me, the gentle glow of the candles brings to mind the promise of a New Year.  
All the best to you in 2011 !

Thursday, December 30, 2010

All The Best for 2011

Happy New Year to All!  
 I have always considered New Year's Day as part of  Christmas and am so surprised when I read about how many people have already started taking down their Christmas decorations!!  It seems so strange to me when you consider the amount of time and energy that goes into putting them up.  
Mr. Delight and I are firm believers in celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas (and even longer!) and we are only on the 6th Day right now!

With that in mind, I'm showing my Christmas Tablescape which many of our guests said could double as a New Year's 'scape because of the white/black & silver colour combo I used.  

We had 12 guests for dinner and it was a challenge to have a sit down meal but we were determined.

By using two tables linked by some plywood Mr. Delight cut with a rounded edge (covered by tablecloths) and some stacking chairs from our church, we were able to fit everyone in nicely.

I used 5 light-up Christmas trees, 3 glittery ones and 2 shiny silver ones down the length of the table.

Clear Christmas tree plates were used for dinner buns or some guests put their salad on them.

I alternated between black and silver chargers at each  place setting.

My shiny silver penguin on a silver tray  with two other trees served as the main centerpiece.

Some other views...




Rather than passing so many dishes around the "over-decorated" table, we opted to have everyone take their plate and help themselves to the food served buffet-style on our island and kitchen table.

Wishing you all the best in 2011! 
And remember, there's no rush to take down those decorations!  Sit back and enjoy them for awhile!

Acrylic napkin rings - Avon
Acrylic light-up Christmas Trees - Avon, Cooper's Foods and Sears catalogue
Glilttery Silver Trees - Home Hardware
Silver Penguin - Home Hardware
Shiny Silver Trees - Pharmasave Drug Store
White Plates - Pier 1
Clear Christmas Tree Plates - Pharmasave Drug Store

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

2010 Tablescapes in Review

As 2010 draws to a close, I thought I'd share a month by month (approximate) review of some tablescapes I've created for the various holidays and seasons of the past year.

You can view the corresponding post by clicking on the month at the top of the picture.









 



 

  

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting Tablescape Thursday throughout another year!  For me, this is the greatest meme out there and I love to participate as well as view all the fabulous contributions to it.   Please stop by HERE and check it out!
 Happy New Year and All the Best in 2011!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Black & Red Christmas Table


I'm late to the TT party and also late getting my Christmas preps done around here so this week, I'm showing my Christmas tablescape from last year.  Hope there are a few of you out there who didn't see it!
 
 


This was my tablescape for our Christmas dinner on Boxing Day last year.  We had had dinner with the extended family elsewhere on Christmas Day but I always like to cook up a turkey for us to have at home as well.   Our daughter and her boyfriend and our son and his girlfriend were home and it was special to be able to have a smaller dinner with them.
 

My daughter and her boyfriend gave me these black/red poinsettia plates last year for Christmas.  I love the drama of the dark rich colours and used them with a black tablecloth.

 
I used napkins as placemats as they matched the runner.  A black charger was layered with a shiny gold one followed by gold-rimmed dinner plates and of course, the special black salad plates.  Then came gold-look flatware, doubled red/green napkins and acrylic-crystal napkin rings.  


 
The centerpiece was created using a faux greenery swag that has some gold spray on the ends.  I added some picks, pinecones and balls to dress it up.  Six stemmed candle holders (older item by Partylite) were placed at various points throughout.
 
 The snowy white backdrop outside creates a nice contrast to the  deep rich colours inside.

 

If you look close you will notice that the clear glass stemware(beside the black glasses) has the same "ribbed" type appearance as the candleholders.  I didn't buy them together but was pleased with the "match".

 


Be sure to pop by Susan's  (BNOTP) for Tablescape Thursday where you will find all kinds of ideas for your Christmas table. Thanks, Susan for hosting this meme throughout the year!  We all love it! 
Merry Christmas to All My Followers and Everyone in Blogland!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Etagere Decorations


Tis the season to create a Metamorphosis in the home by decking the halls!  Here's a look at the way I've decorated my etagere stand this year.  A closer look at each shelf follows.


The middle shelf holds this favourite of mine, a white Santa by the fire with a dog in a chair set.  I got it at Costco about 8 years ago for $24.99.  
I added this trio of crystal trees purchased at a local boutique store called "Inspiration Gifts".  The white mini-lights behind really make the sparkle.



The three trees in this pic below light up and turn three frosty colours though it was hard to capture the effect with my camera.

Another favourite of mine is this Nativity set Mr. Delight and I picked out quite a few years ago.  Actually, it was the same time and place where we bought the White Santa set....it was also the same price $24.99.
As a mother, I like how Mary has her arms open so you can place the Baby Jesus there instead of always in the manger.  Us moms, know we would be holding our newborn babe and I'm sure Mary would  be too, being in awe of this miracle that had just transpired.  I also added a piece of cloth to represent the "swaddling cloths" she was about to wrap him in.
Beside the Nativity, I placed Mr. Delight's grandmother's old King James Bible. (special to us as she is no longer with us)  It is open to Luke Chapter 2.   This scene is on the middle shelf of the etagere.


On the top shelf, I have a Nativity of Mary, Joseph and Jesus which looks like it is carved out of driftwood but is actually resin.  I found it at a local grocery store (Cooper's Foods) for $20 a couple of years ago.
I've placed two gold glitter trees (Walmart) in the opposite corner.

Another look at how the etagere stand is decorated with each scene.

Thanks for stopping by. 
I'll be linking this little Metamorphosis to Susan's Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.
and 
Showcase Sunday at Under the Table & Dreaming

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Decor - Living Room

I ran across a linky party at Nesting Place called
and thought it sounded terrific so here's my entry!


With a blog name like Dining Delight, I'm usually all about setting pretty tables but it stands to reason, that when someone loves to decorate a table, it carries on through the house! 
Here's an overview of my Christmas decorating in our living room this year.

The coffee table centerpiece
The fireplace decor

Two cozy chairs by the fire to curl up in 
- need to get some cute comfy pillows for these chairs
Closer look at the Mantel decor
Santa and Stockings by the fire

Main Christmas Tree by front windows 
(need some pretty pillows for these chairs too!)

View towards front entryway

We have a small house by today's standards but I'm okay with that as I prefer the cozy feel you get from smaller spaces. We've lived here for 25 years and raised our kids in this home. Now that they've left, it feels much larger!

Mr. Delight and I plan to cuddle up on a loveseat and enjoy a glass of wine in front of the fire tonight.  It has been snowing most of the day and it will be wonderful to watch the flakes fall outside the front windows as we "dream by the fire"  and "since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"
  Be sure to check out the other entries at Nesting Place's Christmas 2010 Tour of Homes!