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Saturday, October 24, 2020

Halloween Decor on the Kitchen Sideboard

 I didn't do much decorating for Halloween this year as time just seemed to get away from me.  It seemed like one minute it was Thanksgiving and the next, the month is almost over!



I did manage to add some festive touches to our kitchen sideboard though and I'll show you some of the pieces I put together.



Here is the view looking towards the far end of the sideboard.



I've had "Ms. Witch" for a long time and she's been in many a Halloween display over the years.



She is lurking behind some pumpkins in the pumpkin patch in this vignette.



I've placed a metal lantern (Partylite years ago) and a black vase beside her with some buffet items in front.



These Halloween Rae Dunn tumblers and buffalo check mugs are ready to hold some hot or cold beverages with a little black rodent hoping some crumbs fall off the plates.



The shelf above the sideboard also displays a few Halloween accent pieces.



I hung an orange berry wreath with string lights and a Happy Halloween sign in the middle of this metal wall art piece over the center of the sideboard. 


A buffalo check runner was placed under all the decor.



Here is the vignette on the opposite side.



A raven watches from above while a jack-o-lantern glows brightly and a bat flies by.



I got this black jack-o-lantern at Walmart last year and it's perfect as there is no pumpkin carving going on around here and I can just plug this one in!



These plaid bowls (Pier 1) are ready to hold some hot soup to warm the bones on a chilly Halloween night if this little rodent doesn't get to it first.



A couple more Rae Dunn Tumblers and a buffalo check napkin sit next to the bowls. 



 The glow in this corner of the kitchen at night isn't too scary and is actually quite pretty!



Of course, Halloween activities will look different this year due to the pandemic but hopefully, you are able to do a few fun things to mark the occasion.



Happy Halloween!



Thanks for visiting!


I'll be linking this post to these wonderful blog parties:
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Thanksgiving Tablescape for a Small Gathering

 Last weekend, we celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada.  Although this special holiday looked different this year because of recommendations by our provincial health officer to keep our guest list small, I still wanted to set a pretty table and mark the occasion in style.



I realize we are all going through trying times right now, but there is always something to be thankful for.  



Whether it is for a small gathering or even just for yourself, bringing out your special dishes and creating a festive atmosphere is a terrific way to express your thankfulness and appreciation for all you have been blessed with. 


I was pleased that I manged to accomplish that by using only items I had on hand and not buying anything new.



Inspiration for my tablescape began with these leaf bowls that I've had for many years but are still a favourite of mine.



Under the leaf bowls, I alternated the colours of the dinner and salad plates and placed them on a gold charger.



A little pumpkin was placed inside the leaf bowl as an extra embellishment to each place setting.



I made pumpkin placecards using Clipart on my computer and printed my guests' names on each one.  These were placed next to a little bundle of wheat tied with curling ribbon.



I used my gold flatware for this special occasion...




...and I brought out my acrylic knife rests to make it look even fancier!



An amber coloured wine glass and a clear water glass served as the stemware.



Layering is everything when setting a table for a special occasion!  A gold tablecloth was topped with two beige runners crossing the table.  Orange placemats were placed under the runners.




 A dark orange cloth napkin was tucked between the plate layers.



The centerpiece was created by placing faux foliage with  pumpkins and gourds in a long basket tray in the middle of the table.


A ceramic pumpkin and gourd took centerstage when placed on a riser, covered by a cloth napkin, in the center of the long basket tray.



 Various other faux floral picks, pumpkins and bundles of wheat were tucked in here and there.   Battery operated twinkle lights were woven throughout.



Orange coloured pillar candles on brass holders were also given the twinkle light treatment with the battery packs hidden in the foliage.



Here's a full view of the tablescape.



The ambiance created by the candles and twinkle lights made our thanksgiving meal so cozy.



We started with pumpkin soup and homemade buns which my mom so graciously provided.  Both were super delish!



I served the Thanksgiving feast buffet style on our kitchen island with everyone helping themselves.



Pumpkin pie and Chocolate Dream Dessert were served on my leaf shaped plates.



It was a lovely time of thanksgiving and even though it was just Mr Delight and I with my parents, the occasion was celebrated to its fullest!



Did you or are you planning to celebrate Thanksgiving with a small gathering this year? So often we expend our greatest efforts when it is for a large crowd but why not do it for yourself or just a couple others?

This is the perfect opportunity to set that festive table for a cherished few, make all the traditional foods you love and above all, give thanks!



Thank you for visiting!  I'm very thankful for all of you who continue to stop by and check out my blog!


Thursday, October 8, 2020

Autumn in the Mountains Fall Tablescape

 Are you enjoying the beauty of the autumn season in your neck of the woods?  Here in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada, our fall landscape includes a lot of coniferous trees (evergreen) mixed in with the deciduous (leaf) ones. With that in mind, I created this fall tablescape which focuses on some of the natural items found in our local area at this time of year. 



I began by creating a garland type centerpiece down the center of the table using faux evergreen boughs and leaves along with real pine cones and birch log candleholders.



I used a faux cedar garland and a faux leaf garland and intertwined them, placing them in the center of the table. Next, I tucked in separate pieces of the same types of garland that I had cut and this created a fuller look. (Hint: Don't be afraid to cut garlands as you'll be able to maneuver them better and get more bang for your buck).

Mr. Delight made these birch candleholders for me a few years back and I still love bringing them out every fall. They were placed at various intervals throughout the garland. Then I added the pine cones, berries and a few pumpkins for good measure.



The tealights in the birch candleholders and the battery-operated string lights I tucked into the garland add the perfect ambiance to the table.



 Although I didn't use a tablecloth, there are still multiple layers for each place setting which include a burlap placemat, a green table runner (laid across the table) and a faux cedar placemat.



 A wood-look charger, an orange dinner plate and a brown salad plate complete the dish stack.



 Green and brown plaid napkins were set underneath a round wood slice which held a pine cone and a leaf.



 I made placecards with my guests' names and taped them to the wood slice at each place setting.



A brown mug and a glass goblet were chosen as the drinkware for the table.



 My copper flatware coordinated well with the other elements.



 For some extra embellishment, I made these swags for the chair backs using more of the cut up cedar and leaf garlands.



This type of centerpiece with the repetitive garland is my favourite...



... because everyone at the table gets a similar view and no sight lines are blocked.



 It might take a bit longer to create but the ambiance it provides is well worth it.



 This nature inspired fall tablescape would also work well for the winter season if you changed out the leaves and pumpkins for red berries and/or snowflakes...



...and the way time is flying by, before we know it, the winter season will be upon us! Let's enjoy fall while we can!



Thanks for visiting!