Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Changing Tables Is Easy When You Keep It Simple (And It Helps If You Can Embrace Imperfection)

My motto for the Season this year is "Keep It Simple And Enjoy"!



I am joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday, after visiting here please join our hostess Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch to view her beautiful Christmas tablescape and then click on the other participants to view some more wonderful creations.

My Thanksgiving table is usually decorated in all the beautiful Fall colors, but this year I didn't go with the traditional. I used creamy white pumpkins and I kept the centerpiece very simple. All I used was a vase of white roses.
This was my inspiration:



And so I went with it!





I kept the place setting very simple too:





I used the turkey dishes that I had found at TJ Maxx (only $12.99 for a set of four, I bought two sets):



Unfortunately there was only one set of dessert plates left, so...



...no problem, I used the plates from a set of amber dishes that once were my Mom's:


And I used the shallow bowls from the amber set as salad plates for all the place settings:



I like that the amber dishes are transparent enough for the strutting turkey to still be seen.


And once this tablescape serves it's purpose...



...it will be very easy to change to this!





My usual color scheme at Christmastime is the traditional red and green, or silver and gold, but again, this year I am breaking my tradition and going with creamy white for my dining table.


I added some decorative bead branches to the vase:




I switched out the pumpkins for a floral tray and filled it with decorative beads and Christmas decorations:


The beautiful doilies were crocheted by my very talented friend Diana and they arrived just a few days before Thanksgiving and I was happy to be able to include them in both tablescapes!


I exchanged the creamy marble candlestick holders for silver:




Another very simple place setting:



I was so happy to find these Christmas plates as they weren't the usual Christmas tree pattern I see everywhere. I also loved the color, not a true red, more of a rose/pink/red. They fit in well with the color scheme I wanted this year.





Unfortunately I could only get a set of four (I'm still searching to add to the collection), so, again, no problem, I'm Blessed, I was able to use dishes that have been gifted to me. They are a plain creamy white and I thought they coordinated with the Christmas place settings:



I also did the same with the salad plates, they don't match at all, but I thought they went well with the dinner plates:



I used these small decorative green plates for bread:



I was lucky to find these red napkins, they too were not the true Christmas red:



The cups are actually coffee mugs from Ikea, but I reach for them a lot when setting the table as they are sturdy, they hold a lot, they are not a 'traditional' coffee mug in that they have no handles, and so I use them for other beverages:




Last look during daylight:




Candlelight:







These tablescapes are not at all elegant table settings (in fact, all my table settings are exceptionally casual, they are more a hodgepodge of dishes, glassware, and flatware). Yes, my tablescapes are far from 'magazine quality', and my home never did live up to 'Martha Stewart standards', but I find as I've grown older (and now with grandchildren underfoot) I've become very comfortable with my imperfect life and I hope my guests are too.

And I wish you all a wonderful, Blessed Thanksgiving, and I hope the Christmas Season finds you taking time to enjoy special moments with family and friends, and take time to enjoy the simple things in life! (And embrace imperfection! It's liberating!)

24 comments:

  1. Eileen, I can't believe all of the neat turkey dishes so many of you girls have found this year! I must have been asleep at the switch. Those are perfect for your table! Yea for you finding them, and the vintage plates go perfectly with them. Your family is going to love your table!!!

    I don't like orange very much. I just don't, so I am loving all the white pumpkins. And I like the fact that you can go from Thanksgiving to Christmas by adding a little more bling to the table. Girl, you have got it going! :-) Love your Christmas dishes, too, Eileen.

    I enjoyed seeing this so much, and I am ready to come to your house for Thanksgiving AND Christmas. Actually, Mr. Magpie is taking me on a "date" tomorrow, or that's what we're calling it. I foolishly waited to the eleventh hour to make a reservation because I thought he would feel well enough to go to NC, so we are going to be seated at BRUNCH. Hey, we'll be first in line, so who's complaining??? Not I! LOL! I'm doing Christmas this year, so I have to get busy and figure all of that out. I think I'm going to do something different this year, though I like to use the same centerpiece to give some continuity to the holiday. BUT, I might be "forced" to change seeing your neat table and some of the others.

    I can't wait to see what all of your family thinks of your pretty table!

    Love to you, my sweet friend and a Happy Tablescape Thursday and Thanksgiving, too.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  2. All of that chatter, and I think I forgot to say, you outdid yourself! Great job! :-)

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  3. Hi Eileen, What a pretty thanksgiving table... Love all the white...Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family my Friend
    xoxo
    Julie

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  4. The turkey plates are wonderful, I will have to start keeping my eyes open for some for next year! My tablescapes are much more casual then others but they suit me and my lifestyle. Have a great Thanksgiving.

    Linda

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  5. Hi, Eileen,
    Well I just love both your tablescapes! I love the gift from your friend. Just the right colors for the season. And the "no fuss" switch to Christmas idea is great. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
    D

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  6. Your arrangement of white roses is beautiful, Eileen! I think I like your turkey plates even better when viewed through the added warmth of your mother's amber glass pieces. Your post is a great lessson in mixing and matching shapes and colors to create totally different looks without changing everything on the table.

    Your Christmas plates appeal to me very much. Both the color and pattern are beautifully understated. I hope you'll be able to find more to add to your collection.

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Bill

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  7. Eileen, your tablescapes as wonderful! You have a knack for putting unexpected designs together in such a comfortable and happy way. What a collection of china you must have!!
    I have to say I like your dining table far better than Martha's any day. Hers are looking fabulous because she has unlimited everything but not the heart that goes with things that you found and have happy memories or family associations with.
    :)Irene X

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  8. Your table was beautiful Eileen! What I would like to know as I have been very curious about this is, Where do you keep all of these beautiful plates that you have? I absolutely loved the turkey and the Christmas tree plates! You put on a gorgeous setting Eileen. I am feeling better today so we will be going to my son's house,YEAH !
    Love Di

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  9. Happy Thanksgiving, Eileen!
    I am taking a little break from food preparation and peeking around the blogs... I LOVE your simple table! That's definitely my style these days. I love how you show the transitions from T-day to Christmas. So easy to do when you have the basics...like you said, just add bling. Well done! You have truly outdone yourself this week.
    Hugs...and have a wonderful day with your family and friends.

    In all things, give thanks,
    Jane (artfully graced)

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  10. This was a dish extravaganza! They are all beautiful and the white roses are exquisite.
    Happy Thanksgiving.
    Susan

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  11. First of all I have to say that I really like those painted chairs! I also like those rosy red transfer plates. That red is also my kind of red.

    The mix and match place settings lend a very comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, and isn't that what we all want?

    Enjoy your family and don't eat too much ;)

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  12. What truly luscious (and yes, they are too elegant!) table settings! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving today!
    Brenda

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  13. I love your tables! The dishes you shared are so pretty...LOVE the turkeys and LOVE, LOVE the Johnson Brothers tree plates. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  14. Hi Eileen! Oh, I think your table is very elegant! Love the white and those roses. Gotta love some turkey plates. I had to have some too! :) Love it that you can use your table for Christmas too.
    Hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving,
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  15. Hi Eileen!

    Lovely, just lovely! Love all your plates and the berry candle rings. Everything looks so simple and elegant.

    I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  16. LOVE the white pumpkins... hope you had a FAB Thanksgiving!

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  17. I love the white centerpiece! It really brings out the colors of everything around it and looks wonderful in candlelight!

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  18. Eileen, I don't know why I haven't visited this blog before, it is absolutely beautiful and so you! I love how you set your holiday tables, they are beautiful......you are so talented......:-) Hugs

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  19. I love your mom's amber pieces over your turkey plates. The simplicity of it all is just beautiful

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  20. I love all of your mix and match dishes! The turkey plates and Christmas tree plates are so pretty! Your tablescapes look so inviting and lovely, Eileen!

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  21. Each setting is strikingly serene in its simplicity. You really have the "knack" - as we say here - for setting a beautiful table. I always have one in mind, but in the haste of getting it putt together, I usually don't quite achieve my "dream". By the way, where to you STORE all these beautiful dishes????

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  22. I missed TT last week, no time to post, or read!

    Both of these tablescapes are beautiful, the simplicity is elegant. I don't consider your settings hodgepod at all, I love the way you have coordinated your dishes, and using family dishes passed down is all the more special!

    I don't set a fancy table for our family holiday dinners either. We are very practical around here. I used my yellow Fiesta dishes, they pop into the dishwasher with no worries. We have so much food on the table, there's no room for anything else! We did take time to let little Caden make place cards for everybody, and I had a few fold-out honeycomb paper figures of a Pilgrim, Indian, pumpkin, etc.

    I enjoyed seeing these tablescapes!

    Katherine

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  23. That looks great! Spacify offers wide range of Tables

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