Clara's Dinner Party in the Land of Sweets

I modified my Nutcracker "Sweet" table from last year. Same idea, but some new tweaks!

I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

This year, I started with a gold tablecloth instead of white to give it a richer feeling. I used the same nutcracker runner and candy garland, but I got a new sleigh from Michael's. Also, behind the Nutcracker in the sleigh I added some gumdrop and candy sprays that I found a few weeks ago.

At each place I used a beaded platinum place mat and a gold charger. On top of these I used my Royal Doulton Canton china with pink peonies "waltzing" across the plate.

I found candy themed ornaments in the Target dollarish section last year and thought they would make good place card holders. I propped them up on individual glass vases and added some snowflake pick in the vases.

My guests are Clara, the Prince, Herr Drosselmeyer, Fritz, Mother Ginger and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

On the mantle, I have the Mouse King battling the Nutcracker, while Clara and Herr Drosselmeyer watch - surrounded by Sweets and Snowflakes, of course!

If you would like to see last year's Nutcraker "Sweet" table, it is HERE.

Sorry my pictures are all so small, but my card reader broke and I had to take these with my iPhone! There is always something breaking!

Hope you enjoyed The Nutcraker Table! 

November Blue Time Two

I loved this table from last year and wanted to share it with you again! As usual I will be linking to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks to her for hosting this blog party every week!

"November shadows, shade November change
  November spells sweet memory, the season blue remains"
The Avett Brothers "November Blue"


I was interested in doing a Thanksgiving table without using the usual Thanksgiving colors and china. I thought blue would make a pretty table especially with orange as a complementary color. I felt very original until one of my favorite Avett Brothers songs "November Blue" started playing. I think I was subliminally influenced by their music! So I decided to name the tablescape after their song.
 Here's the table:







I started with a warm white tablecloth and used copper colored chargers. I then used Spode Blue Italian Dinner and side plates. On top of the dinner plates I used pumpkin salad plates from Walmart (last year's clearance).




I used my Colonial Shell stainless and Pewter goblets finished off with orange napkins with a copper colored leaf napkin ring.








For my centerpiece I used a blue and white china compote topped with a ceramic orange pumpkin.








I added some orange berries and smaller pumpkins too and pumpkin place card holders in both orange and white.





So here is my November Blue tablescape!








Watching on the mantle are two pairs of Pilgrims.











And over to the side is my antique wicker tea cart with a cornucopia tea set and pumpkin mugs.





I hope you enjoyed my November Blue table and that it inspires you to try different colors for the holidays!

Time for Turkeys!

This week my table has gone from Pheasants to Pumpkins to Turkeys!

I used the green tablecloth I got last year from Bed, Bath & Beyond and added my snakeskin chargers.

With that I used my Spode Woodland Turkey plates, gold rimmed goblets and bronze napkins with coppery oak leaf napkin rings. Of course, I added a turkey tureen for the centerpiece flanked with some gold votive candleholders.

I used turkey place card holders from Clearance at Williams Sonoma last year.

I wasn't thrilled with and of my flatware choices and forgot to any on the table before I snapped these pictures! But I did add some for the place setting shop!

Hope you enjoyed my turkeys! I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. Happy Fall Y'all!

Pumpkin Fest!

I modified my previous table called Pheasant Fest and made Pumpkin Fest! As usual, I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

If you looked at the previous table, you see that I really only changed the centerpiece and added a pumpkin salad plate - and VOILA - Pheasant Fest becomes Pumpkin Fest!

A pretty ceramic pumpkin sits on the stand that formerly held the Fitz and Floyd Pheasant Teapot.

The pumpkin plates were on clearance at Walmart last year. I did change the napkins from bronze to dark green and added a pumpkin napkin ring. The green is really much prettier than it photographed! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Pumpkin Fest!

Dinner With Edgar Allen Poe

My table today is creepy and spooky and dedicated to Edgar Allen Poe.

One of my friends had a pumpkin she had made for herself and I loved it, so I commissioned one from her for me! As you can see the pumpkin is covered with words and quotes from Edgar Allen Poe and the raven on top has a locket with his picture. I love the storage bag also! Here is the table inspired by this centerpiece:

White tablecloth, black lace spiderweb runner, purple velvet place mats and black jeweled chargers all make up the eerie table.

I used white china and an orange silk napkin. On each napkin ring is a small "raven." Michaels may call them crows, but in this table they are RAVENS! I used pewter and red cut glass goblets at each place setting.

I used spider webbing and red candles in my candelabras and elevated the Raven Pumpkin on a cake stand. I also scattered clear, black, orange and red jewels everywhere. I made the mantle spooky also -

And also the teacart -

I added a few serving pieces on the table.

And Dinner with Edgar Allen Poe is ready!

Linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch!

Haunted House Cake

Last night for my Bridge Club I made a Haunted House Caramel Pumpkin Cake and I wanted to share pictures.

I used my NordicWare Christmas Cottage Bundt pan.

You can see how changing the icing and candy decorations it gave it a whole different look! I used the recipe that is sweeping the internet where you just use a 15 oz can of pumpkin and cake mix (any flavor - I used Caramel by Duncan Hines), beat for 2 minutes and bake at 350 deg for 27 minutes. I had baked it before in a rectangular glass baking dish and was happy that it worked in the House Bundt pan also.

I used Wilton canned frosting in orange and black with the tips included, a candy corn, mellowcreme pumpkin candy mix and marshmallow ghosts to decorate. A photo from Williams-Sonoma for their Haunted Gingerbread kit inspired me.

I had forgotten how black icing can turn your tongue and teeth black, so I warned everyone before they ate! We all had a good laugh! Here is the back of the house.

I hope you enjoyed my Haunted House as much as I enjoyed making it!

Linking with Designs by Gollum. Visit her blog for more great recipes!