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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

CHRISTMAS TABLE-I’M A COPYCAT

Christmas Table-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

When Cuisine Kathleen issued her challenge to copy a holiday table, I knew just the table I wanted to copy.  So, I hope that Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, thinks that it is flattering to be copied.  Don’t panic if you haven’t done your table copy for the challenge.  I’ve done it again!  I’m a week early with my copied table! 

Between Naps on the Porch

When Susan first posted this tablescape, using Snow Village pieces as a centerpiece, I knew I wanted to try to set a similar table.  That was four years ago!  Thank you, Kathleen, for making me finally try to create this table.  Susan’s table was very elegant.  I’m not good at elegant, so I hope Susan isn’t offended that I am comparing my table to hers. 

Christmas Table-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

Susan put her houses in the center of her table, and very cleverly put the cord through the crack where the table separates to add a leaf.  That was my plan too, but the only outlet was far enough away that I knew someone would trip over the cord when they were trying to sit at the table.  Since I was using this tablescape for a couple of houseguests, I  pushed my table back to the wall and put my centerpiece on the edge, where it could be plugged in safely.

Christmas Tablescape-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

I have a strange collection of Christmas village pieces.  It does not bother me to mix pieces from different sets, or even from different makers.  My theory is that, unless you live in a planned community, the houses, stores, etc., do not “match” the rest of your community.  That’s my story.  (To be honest, I only buy pieces that are on sale, and sometimes I have been gifted with pieces, so that’s why they are all from different sets!)Since I’ve just begun to get out the Christmas decorations, these pieces made it to the table, because they were the most accessible in the holiday closet!

Christmas Tablescape-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

Christmas Table-Bargain Decorating with LaurieThese plates were as close as I could get to duplicating the borders on Susan’s plates.  The salad plates are Winter Greetings by Lenox.  Each one has different bird on it.  This bird is a Nuthatch.

Christmas Table-Bargain Decorating with laurie

I purchased 8 of these at an auction a couple of years ago.  I had intended to not go higher than $5 per plate, but it’s easy to get carried away at an auction, so I ended up paying $8 each for the plates.  This one is the Downy Woodpecker.

Christmas Table-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

The Cardinal.  Again, which birds landed on the table was dictated by which were on the top of the stack in the holiday closet, so I ended up with two Cardinals on the table.

Christmas Table-Bargain Decorating with Laurie

This Summer, when my sweetheart went into a hunting goods store, I spotted a flea market across the road.  So….you know exactly where I headed.  I found these four dinner plates and four matching soup bowls (Traditions, Holiday Celebrations by Christopher Radko). I did not need any more Christmas china, but since all eight pieces were $10, I couldn’t pass up the bargain.  (Yes, I know, it’s not a bargain if you don’t need it.  My sweetheart frequently reminds me of that.)

Christmas Tablescape

Do you think the toilet paper roll, covered in Christmas paper to mimic the pretty crackers on Susan’s table, could have something to do with the lack of elegance on my table?  I have three pierced plates (one of them was broken when they were borrowed for a wedding), so if I’d only been seating three people, I could have matched Susan’s pretty pierced under plate.  Instead I used my pierced metal chargers.

Christmas Tablescape

Susan’s gorgeous stemware added elegance to her table.  Oh my! Those champagne flutes are incredible.  I don’t have any champagne flutes, so I resorted to the little champagne glasses that were my mother’s.  I only have two each of two different kinds of red stems, so I had to mix the red stems on this table.

Christmas Tablescape-Bargain Decorating with laurie

Thank you for inspiring me to finally try this tablescape, Kathleen, and thank you, Susan, for the inspiration your table provided.

I’m glad to have you visit my blog.  laurie

I’ll be linking to:  Let’s Dish Wednesday at Cuisine Kathleen, Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters, and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

30 comments:

ellen b. said...

Beautiful job of copying and making it your own, Laurie! Love it!!

Kathe said...

I remember Susan's table! Your's is a wonderful copycat! I love it Laurie!

Stacey said...

Your table is just beautiful. Will you leave it that way till Christmas?

Anonymous said...

That is so pretty Laurie. I love the Lenox Everyday. I have the casual everyday and have thought about buying this one too.

Marigene said...

Beautiful table, Laurie. I haven't found a table to copy that I have the dishes for and can't justify buying new ones right at the moment...so I may just recreate one from my own blog!

xinex said...

This is so stunning, Laurie. Especially gorgeous with the lights on....Christine

Katherine said...

Gorgeous table! I wish now that I haven't turned our village pieces into a black Halloween village.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh my goodness....that is gorgeous. I just love it!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

You did a fabulous job Laurie!
Honestly, it is just stunning..like a winter wonderland all over your table.
Hugs,
Cubdt

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

I typed my name wrong.
Hugs,
Cindy

Sarah said...

Laurie, I should think Susan will definitely be flattered. You did a fantastic job! Your dishes are lovely, and the snow village scene is adorable. I'm all for mixing things up. '-)
Enjoy the holidays………sarah

Anonymous said...

such a clever center piece Laurie and I love (covet) the bird plates. :) I think your table is very elegant! o

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Laurie this is so cute and I think you did a great job! I love your mix and match village and the plate stack is gorgeous.

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Laurie, you won't believe this. I had made a note for myself to do this "village table" last year, and it just popped up on my reminders today at the office. I plan on doing my table this weekend (hopefully). Great job!! I love it!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Great job of copying Susan's table, Laurie. I love how you mixed up your houses as that's my style, too. I say go with what you love. I made crackers last year out of toilet paper rolls, too. Yours turned out so cute. xo

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Laurie, your tablescape is beautiful. I loved Susan's so much that I started my own set of houses.I always put it on the dinning room table but I am doing something different this year, if I can get to them. My garage looks like a horders house LOL.
I think your table is very elegant and the dishes are stunning.
Don't work to hard.
Mary

Sharlotte said...

Laurie,
this is a great table too! Susan's tables are always inspirational...in fact she's the reason I began blogging years ago!
I love your placement of the houses and those Lenox dishes! Those are some of my favorites!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Sharlotte

Celestina Marie said...

Laurie your table is stunning. Love those gorgeous plates. You find the best at a bargain. I love the idea to display the village as a centerpiece.
Love the crackers too. I have started to create a few myself using ribbon spools.
Always fun to visit.
Have a great weekend. We are waiting for ice. Yesterday was 80 lol
Hugs

lynne said...

I love your table, Laurie! So pretty! Lennox anything is just gorgous, they make such elegant things. I love your houses on the table, I have never thought of doing that. Maybe for Christmas, that could be a really different center.
Good luck with your challenge.

Got My Reservations said...

Love what you did with the inspiration table from Susan by making it your own. I am in the process of putting up my village right now on my sideboard, but I've never tried it on the table. Maybe next year...

Lulu said...

Omigooodness, you are ahead of the game and your table is a gift, you are brave to copy a Susan table and lucky to have such wonderful prices to pull it off. Good job!

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

Laurie, I LOVE your table! I am honored that you picked one of my tables to copy and you did a fabulous job! I love all your sweet houses and I love that you've mixed different pieces. Those always make for the very best tables. Girl, I need to follow you around...you find the best deals! I would have snapped up those dishes at that price, too! Good going! You tickled me quoting your hubby. :) I like your crackers way better than the store-bought ones...you can load 'em up with something much better than what you normally find inside. I'm thinking chocolate! :)
Thanks again for choosing one of my tables, truly an honor when there are so many gorgeous ones to see each week in blogland!

Chubby Chieque said...

Absolutely stunning Laurie.

Love your collections too and the toilet paper rolls are quiet smart. I do remember when my kids were kiddies. They use to make this in daycare §:-) Nostalgia mode here.

Thanks for sharing.

Greetings,
/CC girl

Rosie M. said...

Absolutely stunning!! You've done a wonderful job of recreating Susan's table. Love those chargers (where did you find them?; love your dish stack, love your glasses (I wish champagne glasses were still made in a bowl shape instead of tall and thin!) and love your village centerpiece. Bravo!! Rosie @ The Magic Hutch

thepaintedapron.com said...

I think your table is so pretty and welcoming! I love that you got the idea from Susan, but your own personal style comes through! I like the less formal treatment using your houses, they look simply great! I had to laugh when I saw your link and yes I did think, uh oh, she's done it again!
Jenna

Tea in Texas said...

Lovely! I love how you created this table as an inspiration from Susan"s tablescape. The story about each piece and how your put them together is wonderful. My favorite is when you find the Christopher Radko china at a tremendous price while your husband had gone to another store! I have been working on my tablescape for the challenge and awoke to no power! Luckily after 5 hours it is back on and I finished the table and photos but no cable or internet. So must wait and hope to upload photos if internet wire comes back on but we have power! LOL

Pam

Anonymous said...

Love it, and I think you carried out the inspiration wonderfully.

Kathleen said...

LOL, I waited till this week so I would be on time! You did a beautiful job, Laurie, truly amazing! The shot with the lights low is stunning. Thanks so much for taking the challenge, you aced it!

Kathleen said...

PS, So sad about your broken pierced plate. Do you have an IKEA near you? They have pierced chargers, really they are candle plates, but I think it would be close enough so you could use it.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful job! I bought Winter Greetings on sale before Thanksgiving last year after seeing it on BTONP. Great prices! Love your pierced chargers.