I had a flood of ideas come to mind that day in October when I walked into my local Michael's craft store. They had a great-looking display featuring Christmas greenery, frosty berries and snowy pine cones. I had grown tired of my Christmas tablescape in my formal dining room. It was easy, fast and always looked great...for the last......14 years. Years. Yes. I had used the same idea for my table for 14 years (I'm ashamed to admit it). Well, now that I've said that, let's move on to this year---back to Michael's. In less than five minutes, I had my new table decor all planned in my head. Over the next few weeks, I began to search for and purchase all the components that I thought might look good on the table (I'll note where I made my purchases at the end of this post). I already had the MAIN item for my table. A SNOW SLED! Yes, a snow sled. And not a cute little miniature snow sled----I was going to use a real snow sled! When I mentioned my new table idea to a few folks, they seemed interested in the idea but I could tell some couldn't quite imagine what my dining room table might look like with a full-sized sled as a centerpiece.
Well............ It looks great!
I purchased my vintage sled several years ago and have enjoyed using it as a part of my Christmas decor. It usually sits at our fireplace hearth in our family room. I often see sleds propped up by fireplaces or doors and porches on Pinterest--- I haven't seen them on formal dining room tables, though.
I started with a new plaid table runner.
(I tried a burlap table runner, but fell in love with the plaid).
I added the sled.
I placed it at a slight angle and I made sure that
I placed it at a slight angle and I made sure that
I could still seat guests around the table, too.
I added fresh greenery and pine cones.
I clipped up a few icy-looking berry sprays
and tucked them into the greenery.
I also bought and clipped up one package of frosty sticks.
I tucked these into the greenery, too.
I added some distressed-looking silver mercury glass ornaments.
I added some "snow" flakes.
Here in central Alabama, we don't have white Christmases....
unless we MAKE them ourselves.
I added the cute galvanized deer--one to each end of the table.
I added the red mercury glass candle holders and a bit more snow.
I added the red mercury glass candle holders and a bit more snow.
The hardest decision was the charger.
I have galvanized chargers, but they didn't look right with my Christmas china.
I didn't want to use red chargers, either.
But, I had these burlap ones and I thought they
looked okay with the china.
I didn't want to use red chargers, either.
But, I had these burlap ones and I thought they
looked okay with the china.
I used these cute plaid napkins with the plain napkin rings
(I kinda miss the Santa face napkin rings I've been using for so many years--sniff).
I added the poinsettia and dressed it with a burlap bow. I had planned to use an old crock to hold the poinsettia, but it wasn't a good fit. Instead of the crock, I used this vintage, galvanized calf-nursing bucket. It's perfect!
The head of the table.
The foot of the table.
Here's the last view of my table.
I'm pleased that I tried something new this year. I can get pretty happy in my rut---do you like a rut or something new every year?
Here's the link to my previous Christmas table decor:
I'm pleased that I tried something new this year. I can get pretty happy in my rut---do you like a rut or something new every year?
Here's the link to my previous Christmas table decor:
Nutcracker Dining Room Table
Plaid table runner-T. J. Maxx
Frosty sticks-Michael's
Icy berry sprays-Michael's
Galvanized deer-Hobby Lobby
Plaid napkins-Hobby Lobby
Red candle holders-Target, T. J. Maxx and Michael's
Other items I mentioned and already had:
Burlap chargers: Hobby Lobby
Christmas china: Country Holly by Lenox
Napkin rings: Belk
