Christmas? In July???

Make sure to stop by for a visit with Felecia at Playing Dishes. She's hosting "Christmas in July" every Saturday this month. While you're there, you can see who else is participating this week. There are sure to be lots of fun, imaginative "holidayscapes!"

When Felecia contacted me about CIJ, I wasn't sure I could get in the holiday spirit just yet -- I'm usually one of those pathetic souls running about looking for last minute gifts on Christmas Eve. Besides, it's HOT in the attic where the Christmas decorations are stored (I admit I do have a LOT of decorations -- let's not talk about how many trees are sweltering in storage!). Then I remembered a bag of gold-colored ornaments I saw in the basement the other day. I grabbed those, ran outside with snippers to cut some greenery, pulled out some dusty gold-rimmed dishes, and the result follows:

I decided to set a table for two (I won’t be pretentious and write it in French this time!) in the breakfast nook. I brought in wicker chairs from the solarium to remind myself that it’s a summer Christmascape. The Quaker lace tablecloth is from an estate sale. It’s a soft creamy yellow, old and worn, and launders beautifully. I layered some metallic netting and white fabric printed with metallic stars under the centerpiece (and then proceeded to cover it with … well, a lot of things).


The china pattern is "Concorde" by Theodore Haviland. I layered lots of pieces and added a pear for the "appetizer." The dishes, the flatware, and the napkins are from estate sales. The Gorham napkin rings (with thrift store gold/cream earring embellishments) and the Cambridge Caprice candleholders are from antique shops.

The centerpiece is built on a Fostoria Holly round platter topped with glass cake pedestals. On the smaller pedestal I placed a goblet from Goodwill filled with oak leaf hydrangeas from the garden. The gold colored ornaments were bought on clearance at Hobby Lobby.

The larger of the glass swans is vintage -- probably by Duncan & Miller. The smaller one is from a recent estate sale. It's lead crystal made in Eastern Europe. I paid $8.00. Not sure it was a bargain, but I liked it.


I scattered a few glass icycle ornaments in the foreground.



The wine glasses are Mikasa. I bought them at a gift shop when they were moving and selling discontinued items at bargain prices.

The silverplated flatware is "Jamestown" introduced in 1916 by International Silver. It's one of my favorite sets -- a service for 12 with serving pieces (including a carving set) -- bought on day 2 of an estate sale for only $35. One thing I like about it is that the knife blades are silver rather than stainless. I find the overall shape of the pieces pleasing as well.




I'd taken several pictures before I realized I'd left off the coffee cups! Sorta needed those since the coffee pot, sugar, and creamer were in plain sight!!!


I really like the Caprice candleholders. I have matching stemware I'll show you sometime.


Swans "swimming" and pears ... if not a pear tree .....


I went ahead and poured the wine -- thought I'd need it if I planned to relax enough to take a deep breath ... and get this finished by Saturday!


So there you have it --- my version of Christmas in July. Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

I'm looking forward to seeing which dishes you show us this week. If you have questions or comments, I'll be checking in from time to time over the weekend. Have fun and keep cool!!!

Bill