Bling in the New Year

Where in the heck did 2017 go?    I always look forward to a new year and a fresh start.  My dog Cooper is not a fan of the fireworks that will blast off in our neighborhood so I will spend it at home with my best friend glued to my side.   I will enjoy a nice bottle of chilled champagne and  dinner along with some fun party foods to eat while watching Anderson Cooper on CNN.   This year Anderson  has another one of my favorites as his sidekick.   Andy Cohen from the Bravo Network will join him in Times Square to ring in 2018.   I'm sure they will have lots of fun and hopefully not freeze to death in the extreme cold temps expected Sunday night in New York City.   My friend Karen named the post this week after seeing all the "bling" on the table.  It's very shiny and sparkly and very pretty at night.      

The gold illuminated finials and the set of three sparking diamond ice trees in the centerpiece are part of the Valerie Parr Hill collection from QVC.  I used a white feathered boa that I purchased from Amazon around the finials and trees. 

The black cut glass flutes are from HomeGoods earlier this year. 

Yes, Cooper has his own place card at every table.  He's always by my side waiting for something to nibble on while I have dinner. 

The napkin rings are from Z Gallerie and are currently on sale in store and online.  

I used a gold wreath with a top hat on the server.  The 5 illuminated glittler wax trees , the illuminated faceted gem hurricanes with microlights, round mirror with faceted glass accents and champagne glittered leaf candle rings are from the Valerie Parr Hill Collection on QVC.   The gold and silver metallic orchids are from Z Gallerie a few years ago.   

Overhead view of the table. 

The plate stack starts with the black sequin charger plate, glass plates that I made with  clock pattern paper a few years ago, black salad plates and a smaller clock plate. 

The charger plate covers are made from a long black sequin skirt that I wore once many years ago.   It was just hanging in my closet with no place to go so I decided to cut it up and make charger plate covers.   I love the sparkle! 

Cooper's ready for the party! 

I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!   

This post was featured on "Anything Goes" Pink Saturday

Catherine

This post is linked to the following blog parties: 

483rd Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner
Wow Us Wednesdays #368 - Savvy Southern Style
Home & Garden Thursday #305 - A Delightsome Life
Home Sweet Home# 351 - The Charm of Home
he Pretty Pintastic Party #189 - Coffee with us 3 
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - December 30, 2017 - How Sweet the Sound
Share Your Style Link Party #150 - 21 Rosemary Lane
Foodie Friday and Everything Else - Rattlebridge Farm
Saturday Sparks Link Party 252 - Pieced Pastimes
Inspire Me Monday – Week 313 - Create with Joy
Dishing It & Digging It #181 - Life and Linda
Amaze Me Monday #246- Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home
Make it Pretty Monday – Week 236 - The Dedicated House
Creative Mondays Link Up! - Claire Justine
Celebrate Your Story! #109 - Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree
The Scoop #307 - Confessions of a Plate Addict
405th Inspire Me Tuesday- A Stroll Thru Life
Vintage Charm Party #114 - Our Hopeful Home

The Twelve Days of Christmas

What are the Twelve Days of Christmas? Many people believe that the Twelve Days of Christmas is nothing more than a song about the days leading up to Christmas Day.  But in truth, the real timing of The Twelve Days of Christmas takes place after Christmas. The Twelve Days of Christmas begin on Christmas day December 25th , and end on eve of The Epiphany, or Three Kings Day (or Day of the Magi) on January 5th. In many cultures Three Kings Day (January 6th) is celebrated much like Christmas Day.  

The tablescape this week celebrates the twelve days of Christmas.  I have listed a little history regarding the meaning at the end of the blog.   

Better Homes & Gardens introduced the 12 Days of Christmas collection this season.   I ordered the 12 piece set from Walmart.   

I am happy the collection offers soup bowls.  Each Christmas Eve I make homemade salmon chowder so these bowls will be perfect. 

The Walmart website shows the dishes out of stock.  I was able to find them on ebay.   I believe the 12 piece collection at Walmart sold for $34 and change.  The set includes 4 dinner plates, four salad plates and four soup bowls. 

The dinner and salad plates. 

The salad plates.   They are white china, but the photos came out more offwhite. 

The stack starts with gold leaf embossed clay charger plates, the dinner plate, salad then soup bowl.   I used a chintz plaid table cloth that I've had for several years.  

I found the artwork for the place cards on Pinterest. I used a PDF program to add our names over the 12 Days of Christmas print. 

It enjoyed gathering the accessory items for this table, but I had a difficult time finding a partridge locally.   I search high and low in every home goods store and speciality Christmas shops.   No partridges were found in South Florida. I finally ordered one on Amazon.  

The "pear tree" is actually a metal twig votive tree that I have used for years on my table.   I found the faux pears at Michael's and hot glued them to the tree.   I could not find pear leaves in store or online.  The closest leaf I could find were live ones off the ficus bush hedgerow across the street from my house.   I love this china and I know I will use it again next year so hopefully I can locate faux pear leaves and blooms between now and next Christmas. 

I had a few other items on the 12 Days of Christmas list.   The little hen on the top left is from Walmart last year. I painted some plastic rings gold to use as the 5 golden rings.  The two white swans swimming came from Joanne's this year.  The Canadian goose wood decoy is part of my Duck's Unlimited decoy collection.   The poor thing suffered a broken neck years ago in a move.  Thank goodness for a little wood glue and he's as good as new.  I will be searching for more items to add to the 12 Day collection. 

I used two illuminated faceted gem hurricanes by Valerie on each side of the pear tree.  I placed them on top of  7 3/4" round mirrors with faceted glass accents by Valerie. I added a icy blue/pearl holiday berry candle rings by Valerie to each hurricane.   The round mirrors and berry candle rings are currently in stock at QVC. 

 I used fresh pears with fresh greenery and cranberries on a china bread plate at each place setting. 

I used Christmas green and royal blue napkins.  I wanted to pull out the brilliant blue stripe in the tablecloth. 

The napkin rings were found at HomeGoods this season.  I added the gold thread to simulate a drum.  (12 drummers drumming) 

I used cobalt blue bubble glass goblets. 

I used 3 gold illuminated shatterproof finials by Valerie on the server.  I also used her set of 5 illuminated glitter wax trees.  These two items are currently in stock at QVC.   The gold leaf magnolia leaf garland and clip on taper candles are from the Lisa Robertson collection.

Close up view of the table cloth. 

I added the gold trim to the beaded napkin rings to simulate the look of a drum.  I will remove it after the holidays and use the napkins on other tables during the year.  

Below is  the history of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'

The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the Church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. To fit the number scheme, when you reach number 9, representing the Fruits of the Holy Ghost, the originator combined 6 to make 3, taking the 6 fruits that were similar: the fruit in each parenthesis is the that was not named separately. There are actually Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost.

The "True Love" one hears in the song is not a smitten boy or girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas Day. 

The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators. According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS:

The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments

The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The five golden rings rerepresented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity].

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

Original Source: Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, Nebraska

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

Catherine 


This post is linked to the following parties:
482nd Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
Make it Pretty Monday – Week 236 - The Dedicated House
Celebrate Your Story! #108 -Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree
THE SCOOP #306 - Stone Gable
403rd Inspire Me Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life
Wow Us Wednesdays #367 - Savvy Southern Style
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner
VINTAGE CHARM PARTY #113 - Our Hopeful Home
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #180 - Life and Linda
Saturday Sparks Link Party 251 - Pieced Pastimes
The Pretty Pintastic Party #188 - Coffee with us 3
Home Sweet Home #350 - The Charm of Home
Grace at Home No. 279 - Imparting Grace
Share Your Style Link Party #149 - 21 Rosemary Lane
Foodie Friday and Everything Else - Rattlebridge Farm
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - How Sweet the Sound
Inspire Me Monday – Week 312 - Create with Joy
Amaze Me Monday #246 - Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home