Christmas Tablescape

The holidays are my favorite time to decorate our home and tables.  I have amassed a collection of dishes from my mother, thrift stores and my own purchases over the years.  

I'm in my late 60's now so I'm out of the acquiring mode and have parted with some sets but enjoy mixing and matching  collections I've had for years. 

I love getting different looks by layering different patterns together.  I have favorite holiday dishes and use them every year.    Dinner plates designed by Tracy Porter and purchased at Target many years ago paired with Bordallo Pinheiro bowls compliment each other for the Christmas.   

 

I inherited tablecloths for almost every occasion from my mother-in-law along with some lovely sterling silver.      Although our Moms have been gone for a number of years I feel they are with us on special occasions when our table is set with family pieces.

We celebrated my youngest son' s birthday this weekend and also had an early Christmas dinner with my son who lives in Florida so I set our formal dining room table.  Always special to have my sons together to gather around our family table. 

 

Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season and 

Merry Christmas!

Linking to Susan's Tablescape Thursday

Christmas Tablescape

Quiet Christmas

We enjoyed a quieter Christmas this year like so many families.  We enjoyed a delicious meal with our sons and I loved setting the the table with a tartan tablecloth and my favorite Christmas dishes.

 I usually place the Christmas tree in the corner of our dining room across from the front window since our dining room is in the front of our home, right off the entry hall.  Our tree is full of meaningful ornaments filled with decorations my sons made when they were little, gifts and special ornaments from places we've visited over the years.  

I use my mother-in-law's sterling silver and a few other family pieces for our table and it makes me feel they are with us.  

Things we have collected over time make a home so warm.  This year I think we all focused on our families and blessings through a difficult year.   I spent a lot of time in the garden this past summer and now this winter I'm focused on projects indoors. 

 Hoping everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season!  Wishing everyone a Blessed New Year!

 

 

 I'm joining Marty's Inspire Me Tuesday at 

A Stroll Thru Life  

 

 

Mud Pie Revisited

This is a re-run from last year of my favorite Christmas dishes.  Thought I would share again since this month has been so busy.  I'm hoping I do get time to play with my Mud Pie soon! 

Mud Pie makes me think of  my childhood, that sinfully delicious chocolate desert, adorable baby clothes and my favorite dishes of all time!

I'm been gathering and playing with my Mud Pie holiday dishes
 and planning a tablescape which I 
finally finished.

The hospital gift shop where I worked as a nurse until my recent retirement, stocked a line of Mud Pie baby clothes.  Thank goodness my kids were grown or I wouldn't have brought home a paycheck!  

When the gift shop eventually started stocking Mud Pie serving pieces
 and the Christmas collection and I knew I was a goner!

2011

The vibrant colors and fun graphics along with the three dimensional designs just melted my heart.   I was hooked!!  I started with a few pieces and ornaments and then the gift shop announced they were closing and everything was 50% to 80% off 
for employees!!  

You would have thought someone gave me a winning Powerball ticket!  

Santa Ornament

 I was able to purchase two of the black and white desert/cheese plates and the adorable loaf  pans...

FaLaLa

and Merry.

The large mugs also found their way into my shopping bag as well.

2011

Oh and lest I forget this adorable picture frame 

and these cute Halloween bowls.

  Oops... and this sea turtle cheese server that I purchased for me and my best friend who adores sea turtles. 

Who could really fault me for falling in love with such an adorable collection?   Especially since I purchased most of the collection for at least 50% off !

2011 
Snowman Ornament

I have bought some darling Mud Pie baby gifts for friends as 
Mud Pie has the cutest baby clothes I've ever seen!  

No I'm not a spokesperson for Mud Pie nor have I received any money or products from them...(although I'd be happy to take some off their hands) I just adore their products.



Each year they introduce new holiday pieces that are fun and festive!   Even though last year's pieces aren't available...the new pieces coordinate nicely from year to year and can be easily mixed and matched. 

 I love that because I mix patterns and plates all the time to get new looks!   I layered the black and white desert plates on my green majolica
and red chargers from Portugal.

This year since the hospital gift shop is no longer open I had to find another Mud Pie source.   Thankfully our local stationery shop,  Paper 'N More in Oklahoma City carries a large selection!  Here's  a photo of the gift department and their Mud Pie display!

I used great restraint and purchased two mugs that coordinate with my desert plates from last year's collection.

  Rudolf and Santa!

I also chose one of the new 
cookie plates with a black and white fluted edge.  
I wanted two more of the black
 and white checked desert plates but 
they were unavailable.  Maybe I can find them on ebay.

Many of you have inquired where to find the collection and online is probably your best bet.  Mud Pie has a great website!  A good number of  hospital and fine gift shops carry the collection so you may have to make a few phone calls to find them in 
your area.   

So finally I set my table for two at our breakfast table and added my favorite teapot "Mrs. Potts".

I used the placemats and napkins I purchased back in February while in Carmel and added a simple silver napkin ring.  

Mud Pie brings out the kid in me and I love playing with such pretty colorful dishes and adding them into the mix with things I 've had for years.   I can't wait to share this table with my best friend!

Topiary in a Mug

Merry Christmas and I hope you find time to be a kid again during the holiday season and do something you love!   Remember to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with your family and friends!

                              I'm linking with: 

    The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday

Sneak Peek

I've been up in the newly re-organized attic getting my Christmas decorations and putting away the fall bins.  I was stressing because the ONLY things I couldn't find were my favorite Christmas Mud Pie dishes!  Silly me I didn't put them there!  I found them safely in another part of the house and I had even labeled them so nicely.  So much for my memory!

When I found them I was so excited I had to stop right then and play with   my dishes!!  This is a preview of my next tablescape.

Now I can relax and go grocery shopping...but I'm definitely going to make a list since I can't seem to remember things!   

Hope you all find  your 

Christmas decorations!!

I'm linking with

Kathleen's Let Dish

Cindy's Show and Tell Friday