"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."
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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

It's Tuesday so you know what that means!


Time for another Tablescape Tuesday! Hosted by the very talented Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch . I always have so much fun on Tuesdays, don't y'all?




Hubby cooked me a very special dinner this weekend. All I had to do was set the table & soak in a bath. I know, I know...I'm a lucky woman! Wasn't sure what I was going to do until I spied my Friendly Village china. I bought them last year (got 4 dinner plates for $10 a plate while antiqueing & then a week later, scored a huge set @ Goodwill, w/ many pieces, for under $15 for all of them) but never used them in a table. So I had to use them, at least once this year, to justify buying them. ;o)

click on any picture to enlarge


The Friendly Village china is made by Johnson Bros...my squared-off salad plates are in the Covered Bridge series but the other pieces in the place-setting are each in a different series. I used the beveled mirror candle plateaus that y'all have seen before, as chargers (half off @ Hobby Lobby) w/ a ring of pine garland. Goblets are Noritake & were a thrift store find. The "crystal" flatware is from Target.

I don't have a village scene set up, as it takes up too much room, but I do have a small collection of houses. I used a Christopher Lowell (whatever happened to him?) trick of placing boxes, under fabric (in this case, sparkly batting), to use as risers for the stable & Santa & his sleigh.





The bakery. I plan on glitzing these buildings up some w/ glitter but haven't gotten around to it yet.



The blacksmith stable. The thought of having a "pasture" full of horses is almost enough to make me want to set up a whole village.



Love the teeny-tiny carriage full of gifts!



The jewelry store.



A charming little home.



Stole the Santa from under my cake dome.



Love the long, crystal icicles on the chandelier! I got them this year @ Hobby Lobby. One of my few decor purchases of the season. The glittered snowflake I bought @ Hobby Lobby, last year. I bought a whole bunch of them, for my bedroom tree, but I didn't put it up this year.



The dinner plates are in the Schoolhouse line. I have a set of 8 of the dinner plates now. I only have 6 placesettings of the other pieces.



The bread & butter plates are in the Sugar Maples line.


And the tea cups & saucers are in the Ice House line.


Hubby doesn't follow a recipe (unless I make him! ;o) ) so I can't share the recipes w/ you but he made awesome lamb chops w/ a figgy glaze (a fresh fig, sugar, water, habanero pepper reduction) for appetizers. I was skeptical of the fig flavor, paired w/ the lamb, but I think it was the best lamb chops I've ever had!



And he added just a hint of the figgy glaze, to seared sea scallops too. Haricot vert (french green beans) & stuffed portobellos completed the course.


For dessert, we had profiteroles (storebought from the freezer section) & eggnog.



Hope y'all enjoyed this table...I know I sure enjoyed the meal! Come w/ me to Susan's to see all this week's tables!

And if you'd like to see more of my tables...just click on tables on my sidebar.

35 comments:

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Cami,
What an amzing idea to have the Christmas Village as the festive centerpiece! It looks gorgeous. Love your plates as well. What a beautiful scene on them.
Your a lucky lady to have your hubby cook that deliious looking meal for you. YUM!
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. ~Melissa :)

Deb said...

Hi Cami! I love these plates! How lucky you are to own them! You're tablescape is just beautiful! Merry Christmas! Deb

Shelby said...

What a beautiful setting AND how lucky to have grouchy make dinner! It looks delicious!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you found some of the Friendly Village dinnerware at a Goodwill!! That's insane. I bet you were beside yourself with excitement. Your table looks lovely. And is your hubby a chef? What beautiful food! Lucky you!!

Lisa (aka) French said...

Love your plates and the idea of the table scape just wonderful! Happy Holidays!! French;)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

How precious is this! Oh, it's absolutely adorable! And the food looks so delicious. I also love your cute vintage Santa mugs in your header! Love this all!

XO,

Sheila

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Cami, this is so pretty. I love that your plates and centerpiece carry out the theme so well. What fun to sit down to a meal and be able to visit your pretty little Christmas village while you eat. You have certainly trained your husband well. Dinner looked delicious. Have a wonderful Christmas. laurie

Unknown said...

You even made dinner! : )

I LOVE these dishes! I have never seen them before.... LOVE THEM!
Your village looks awesome as the centerpiece.

Merry Christmas!!!

~Liz

CIELO said...

Another beautiful table... now all you need is the visitors.... I'll be over as soon as I can! ;)

Merry Christmas and warm wishes from our house to yours...

cielo

Anonymous said...

Morning, Cami! Wonderful festive table. I love your dishes and you really got them at bargain prices! Love your little houses as your centerpiece! And what a lucky gal to have a cooking husband!
Have a Merry Christmas and
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

You are one lucky gal.. dinner cooked for you and served on these beautiful dishes.Your meal looked delicious. Your tablescape is wonderful. I love the village..crystal ice would look great on them..We always have projects dont' we?
From our home to yours,
Happy Holidays,
hugs ~lynne~

Myrna said...

Wow! A gourmet meal along with a FABULOUS tablescape! What a wonderful hubby you have! ;-)

Kathleen Ellis said...

How lovely! I love those dishes and the pine garland you used around the cargers...looks wonderful!
Merry Christmas!

Kathleen Ellis said...

Oh...and the lamb chops look soooo good! Isn't it nice having a hubby that likes to cook?! I've got one, too...sooo nice!

ellen b. said...

Cami! What a wondeful Friendly Village table! I love that you used a village for the centerpiece too!! ok you are making me drool big time with that fabulous looking food! Yikes!!
Merry Christmas!!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Beautiful table! I love the little village...and YUMMMMM

Have a Merry Christmas!

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Cami,What a great idea to use the villiage as a centerpiece. I really love this, and the meal looks amazing! Your hubby must be a wonderful cook, LUCKY! Merry Christmas! Kristen

Anonymous said...

Your table is wonderful, Cami! I love Friendly Village, always have.

The village in the center of the table is great! And the meal sounds and looks amazing!

Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

Yum. yum. Love the setting and homes too. mishelle

Unknown said...

Nicely done...love the village in teh center of the table..so unique.
Your plates are so pretty.
Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

what a feist and were you the lucKy one.those dishes are awesome.well,now you've done it.i am hungry and i want some of those dishes.haha.MERRY CHRISTMAS DEAR LADY...ANN

Anonymous said...

Hello Dear It really was a great dinner,Can't wait to do it again.Oh and your blog is awesome you really have done a nice job!

Peggy said...

Everything looks so pretty and yummy.

Have a great Christmas!

Peggy
http://pegslifeinthebuttonjar.blogspot.com/

Linda Q said...

Hi Cami,
This is so terrific with the village in the middle, I love it!
I like the dishes, a girl can never have to many dishes!lol
Thanks for sharing, totally wonderful. Going back for more peeks at your blog.
Linda

Femin Susan said...

wow ! so great about you . your creativity is very beautiful and different. I love your arts and of course your blog too much.
Wishing you "A Merry X'Mas and A Happy New Year''

Salmagundi said...

How wonderful to have a husband that can cook!! You are blessed. I love your table - Friendly Village is on my want list. I've checked them out a couple of times this season at the department store - waiting to find them cheaper!! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Sally

Miss Janice said...

Oh, I'm so glad I saw this tablescape. I want those "Friendly Village" dishes so bad. I worked at Dillard's for a while and set up a "Friendly Village" tablescape for them and just love that pattern. I love that you added the little village scene to your tablescape! It's so cute:-)

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Hi Cami, You are a lucky woman, and the supper looked delicious! :) Your tablescape is beautiful! Love the china set!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! ~hugs, Rhonda :)

Anonymous said...

Great idea for a centerpiece! Just lovely!

My stomach is now growling louder than an angry bear after seeing that delicious looking food!!!

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Hi Cami, I love your Christmas village as a centerpiece! The china is just the cutest...love that pattern. Wonderful table and yummy food!
:-) Susan

Tardevil said...

Dang...you just made me really hungry! Is he a chef, or what??? Love those dishes and the village. And did I say I LOVE THOSE DISHES??? You are right, my ostrich feathers would go great at the beach - thanks for that suggestion, had not considered that! LOL & Merry Christmas!

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Oh wow! I thought the table settings looked great, till I saw the food- even better then!

Merry Christmas!

Linda said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous!!! I LOVE the china.

Envoy-ette said...

I don't know what looks better...the table or the food! I love how you used your little houses with the white cloth! Very nice!

The Muse said...

A bit of Victorian..I love it, the entire design plays out delightfully! The colors, the styling, the placement...and the village center of attraction is just the right touch of Christmas whimsy! Well done!