Three Snowmen Tablescapes for Winter

January 19, 2025 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I am reposting three snowmen tablescapes that I did in 2021, 2022, and 2023 because I am still behind a bit from our Southern California Tablescapers BTS Gathering this weekend. It has been cold here, at least cold for us this time of year, so snowmen seem to be an appropriate theme for this week’s tablescape.

This is the first Snowmen tablescape that I did after I started tablescaping. This blue and white gingham cotton tablecloth came from Amazon. I have bought many tablecloths on Amazon, I often look there first. These snow people salad plates were illustrated by Susan Winget and the series was called Snow Friends. There were four different salad plate designs in the series. They have been discontinued but they sometimes appear on the secondary market.

I love these snowman napkins rings. They were called Sweet Shoppe Christmas and they were made by Sango and designed by Susan Lipkin. I found them online at Replacements, Ltd.

I used my red Waterford Marquis Brookside goblets for this table setting. The dark blue acrylic goblets came from Pier 1 on sale several years ago before our store closed. It’s difficult to see but they have a rope design around the top of the goblet. I often use them on summer ocean themed tablescapes.

I bought this snowman cookie jar at Target several years ago. He is sitting on a red Pottery Barn drink dispenser stand. During the Christmas season there are lots of snowmen cookie jars for sale and I must admit I now have about five of them that are different styles. I love all my cookie jars because they are the perfect size and make great centerpieces but they take up too much space in my storage areas!

More information about this Snowmen Tablescape here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/blog/2021/1/10/a-winter-snowman-tablescape

This is the second tablescape that I put together, this one in 2022. Tablescaping in January can be a challenge. The holidays are over and Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day are off on the horizon. I wanted to post a snowman tablescape but finding snowman designs that don’t have any Christmas elements on them can be difficult. I finally found these snowman salad plates several years ago but I didn’t have a chance to use them on a tablescape until this tablescape. This sage green tablecloth came from Amazon several years ago. I love it and it washes and irons beautifully. I went back and bought a few other colors as well. It is called maxmill Jacquard Table Cloth Swirl Design.

These cute Snowman salad plates are made by Pfaltzgraff and the pattern is called Evergreen Ernie copyrighted by Diane Arthurs. They come in a set of four salad plates with four different designs. I love the blue, green, and brown colors, they are perfect for a winter tablescape and the birds are a cute addition.

The green acrylic goblet on the left came from our Pier 1 store before it closed several years ago. I think I bought the blue goblets on the right at Pier 1 several years ago too. When I started tablescaping I didn’t pay attention to the height of the goblets that I was buying and I soon learned that I like them to be taller like these two.

These tree candles all came from Crate and Barrel over the years. I can’t remember where I found the snow people candle holder, I have had it for many many years. It is labeled Center Street Design, Snow Couple.

This flatware set is labeled SR Showroom Italy. It was made by Zaffiro and I think I bought it on sale online at Horchow several years ago. The color is called Smoky and it looks like it has been discontinued. I really liked the simple design so I bought it in other colors as well. It is 18/10 stainless and a nice heavy set. The pieces are really longer in length than normal flatware. I have mentioned this before. If you are buying flatware and it isn’t 18/10 stainless always check the fork tines to make sure they have been filed enough and aren’t too sharp. Cheaper flatware often has this problem.

More information about this Snowmen tablescape here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/blog/2022/1/14/a-snowmen-winter-tablescape

I created this Snowmen tablescape two years ago. I knew that I wanted to create a snowman themed tablescape after the Christmas season was over and I decided to use a buffalo check design. I found this black and white buffalo check tablecloth on Amazon. It is heavy cotton and it is really easy to iron with a steam iron.

I looked for a salad plate design that had a snowman with black and white buffalo check and couldn’t find anything. When that happens I often start looking for something to set on a solid colored salad plate and I always check Etsy. This is a circle of aluminum that has been painted. It was sold as a large ornament for a wreath but it was the perfect design for this tablescape. I set it on a square black glass salad plate. We found these black glass plates somewhere in Virginia while we were visiting our son and his family a few years ago. They were made by Luminarc France. They are salad or tidbit plates.

I turned to Etsy again to find a black and white buffalo check snowman design to use for a napkin ring. This design is custom printed on hardboard. I think I was lucky to find it! I just taped it temporarily to a simple white porcelain napkin ring that I had. These basic cotton black napkins came from Crate and Barrel.

This black flatware is Ginkgo International LePrix. I have had this set for several years and it came from Overstock.com. I have this set in a few different colors now.

I knew that I wanted black and white goblets for this tablescape. The goblet with the black bowl and clear stem on the left was made by Classic Touch and it is called V-Shaped Water Glass, Black With Clear Stem. I bought them at Houzz online several years ago. I have very very tall white goblets but I had been looking for shorter white ones for a long time. I finally found these white goblets at Walmart several years ago. They were made by Artland and the pattern is called Veranda.

I found this snowman cookie jar at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. I decided to set it on a small black cake stand that I had but it didn’t fit flat because of the rim on the stand so I turned the stand upside down and I actually love the way it looks.

There is more information about this Snowmen Tablescape here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/blog/2023/12/30/snowmen-on-a-winter-tablescape

To see over 270 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my new Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I was recently asked to provide content for an article about entertaining guests for the Apartmentguide blog, https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/how-to-make-guests-feel-welcome/ . Even if you are not an apartment renter you should check out this blog for great lifestyle articles. I enjoyed reading recent articles about entertaining for Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

A Winter Tablescape

January 11, 2025 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

My daughter and I did a Winter tablescape similar to this one several years ago for a dinner party she was having. I tweaked it a bit for this version. I found the snowflake tablecloth at HomeGoods a few years ago. You can just see the snowflake designs on the tablecloth in this photo.

I wanted a napkin fabric that had some movement to it for this tablescape and I found these dark gray napkins on Amazon a few years ago. Once they got here and I saw them, I ordered a couple tablecloths in different colors in the same fabric because I really like this fabric design. I can’t remember where I found the shiny snowflake napkin rings online a few years ago but a Google search will turn up several similar designs.

I found these simple white dinner plates at HomeGoods several years ago when I first started tablescaping. They are labeled Ralph Lauren Club Porcelain.

This white beaded charger came from Williams-Sonoma several years ago and the pattern is called Antique Beaded.

The shiny silver placemats probably came from Pier 1 several years ago. I like the way they reflect light.

This frosted flatware set is made by Vietri and the pattern is called Aladdin in gray. I bought it on sale at Bloomingdale's several years ago. I bought the same pattern in a few other colors because I really like the design.

I can’t remember where I found these silver snowflake place card holders but they are perfect for this tablescape. I found the snowflake place cards in my place cards drawer. I can’t remember where they came from.

On the left is a Waterford goblet but one of their less expensive patterns. I think it is called Waterford Marquis and the pattern is Markham. I bought them at HomeGoods a few years ago. I have a similar goblet in red (but the pattern is Brookside) and it is one of the most used goblets in my tablescaping collection. On the right is one of my wedding crystal goblets, a Waterford pattern called Lismore. Even after 50 years this goblet is still in style.

I found this crystal candelabra at a local consignment store a few years ago. It is really heavy. It had been mended so I got a really good price on it. There was a matching one that I bought as well. I bought the silver candles at Hobby Lobby a few years ago.

Hubby found these two cut glass salt and pepper sets at an Estate Sale a couple of years ago and I added them on each side of the candelabras.

I usually have more color on my tables but I like the combination of white, gray, glass, and silver on this tablescape.

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We are planning a gathering for tablescapers January 18, 2025 in the Los Angeles area.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

A Winter Buffalo Check Tablescape

January 06, 2025 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I found this black and white buffalo check tablecloth on Amazon several years ago. This is one of those tables that I really didn’t visualize when I started creating it but I kind of knew where I wanted to end up. It reminds me of the mountains and our cabin.

These pine cone salad plates were made by Andrea by Sadek. I love the pine cone raised relief design. I bought them several years ago online but I can’t remember where. I used them on another tablescape that you can see here. Looking at the two tablescapes illustrates how you can take the same theme and a few of the same elements and create different tablescapes.

This black dinner plate was one of the first basic dinner plates that I bought when I started tablescaping several years ago. They were made by 10 Strawberry Street and the pattern was called Black Porcelain Glaze. I think I found them at HomeGoods.

I bought these Acacia wood round bark edge chargers at Target several years ago. They were made by Threshold. I love their rustic vibe.

This black flatware is Ginkgo International LePrix. I’m not sure where I bought the set. I have had it for several years. It isn’t 18/10 but it is still good quality.

These green napkins came from Pier 1 or World Market several years ago. I found the pine cone napkin rings on Amazon. They are called Park Design Pine Lodge iron pine cone napkin rings. I liked the color and design so much that I bought another set for our mountain cabin.

I can’t remember where I bought the wood stump place card holders. I wanted green place cards but the ones I have had spring flowers on them. While I was looking at them I realized that if I put two back to back I would have a rustic looking place card, simple solution!

The green acrylic goblet came from our Pier 1 store before it closed. The clear fluted goblet with the black stem is called Octime and the manufacturer was Luminarc Arcoroc. They were made in the 1980’s. I bought them on Ebay.

I bought the centerpiece lantern online at Gold Canyon, a candle shop now closed. I layered black and white stones on the bottom and then scattered a few pine cones around a green Luminara candle and turned it on for the photos. I bought the Luminara candle at Pottery Barn several years ago. I really like the size and shape of this lantern.

I added two pine cone tea light candle holders to the table and put Luminara tea lights in them and turned them on for the photos too. The pine cone candle holders came from HomeGoods. I can’t remember where I bought the Luminara tea lights.

Lanterns are such an easy centerpiece.

I love pine cones and check tablecloths and I think they are a good combination on this Winter tablescape.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

This blog post was featured at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, https://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.com/ Please visit this blog for lots of great recipes!

How to Tablescape, Choosing the Right Goblet Colors for Your Table Setting Collection

December 29, 2024 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I have been tablescaping for many years now and along the way I have learned a few things. When I started setting tables by themes, I chose goblets for my tables based purely on what color I needed, how easy it would be to find the same six or twelve goblets that I would need for that table setting quickly, and the purchase price. Most of my purchases came from Ebay, HomeGoods, and Pier 1 (our store is now closed) because I usually try to buy tablescaping items in sets of 6 or 12 (there are 12 in our extended family) and those sources were the easiest and most inexpensive to use to find what I was looking for. A large percentage of my tablescaping purchases since the beginning have been done online because there just aren’t enough stores in my area with the merchandise that I need in stock and I don’t have the time to wander around looking for things. My purchases are a mixture of old and new products but many of them are made on the secondary market (used). At the beginning, I bought several goblet sets on Ebay that were discontinued, sometimes a few goblets at a time. Some goblet sets were vintage (at least 20 years old). Estate sales and garage sales have been other great sources for goblets as well. Dollar stores often have glass and plastic goblets in many colors and the price can’t be beat! These days it is difficult to determine what is glass and what is plastic because the quality of plastic glassware has improved so much.

Once in a while I find something that is expensive but I really love it and I know exactly how I would use it on several tablescapes. When that happens, I buy one or two at a time over several months until I have the number that I need to complete my set.

After choosing the plates for your tablescape, the next decision to make is what color goblets you want to use on your table. It is always a good idea to look at your existing dish patterns and think about what color goblets would match them in addition to your clear goblets. Most people start with clear goblets and they can be used for any table setting.

I am showing three different patterns of clear glass goblets that I use on my table settings; on the left, my wedding crystal, Lismore made by Waterford; in the center another Waterford goblet from their inexpensive line, Marquis, the pattern is Brady. I found them at HomeGoods. On the right is my mother’s wedding crystal from 1938, Rock Sharpe made by Libbey, the pattern was called Ridgeway (I purchased additional pieces on Ebay). You can see my Waterford goblet on a St. Patrick’s Day tablescape here. I used the clear Marquis goblet on a Summer tablescape here. I added my mother’s Ridgeway goblet to a Spring tablescape here.

I took an inventory of 270+ tablescapes that I did in the past to see what goblet colors I have used most often and I used clear goblets the most often after red ones. I often use clear goblets with a colored goblet when I don’t have another goblet color that works with that color or I want to tone down the colors on the table.

The color goblet that I have used the most often on my tablescapes over the past several years is red. I use my red goblets several times a year; Valentine’s Day (see one here), any patriotic holiday (see one here), summer tables themes like Strawberries, Watermelons, and Picnics, and at Christmas time (see one here). A red goblet would be my first purchase after a clear goblet for a tablescaping goblet collection. I found these Red Waterford Marquis Brookside goblets at HomeGoods several years ago and I use them constantly. I have seen them for sale from time to time on Ebay.

I have red goblets in a few other patterns as well. My kitchen is white with red accents so I have a few extra red glassware patterns. I found these goblets on Ebay, no one (even Replacements) knows the pattern name.

These plastic goblets were a gift from my kids. They are perfect for a picnic themed table!

I bought these red spiral goblets at Pier 1 several years ago. I will miss Pier 1!

After red and clear the goblet colors that I have used most often on my table settings are black and dark blue.

Black is such a basic color that it can be used over and over depending on the table theme. I have used black goblets several times on Halloween tables (see one here) and also as a secondary color on other table settings that have black accents (see one here). I bought these black goblets on Ebay and they were one of the first sets that I bought several years ago. They are Lenox Midnight Mood black glass water goblets and they were made between 1974 and 1982. They are 7 1/4 inches tall. When I started buying goblets I didn’t pay attention to the height but now I like to buy goblets that are at least about 8 inches tall because my table is large and I think they show better.

A dark blue goblet is very versatile, I have used them on patriotic tables as well as table settings for spring (see one here) , summer (see one here), and winter. I bought these blue goblets on Ebay, you can still find them for sale there. They were made by Libbey in the 1970’s and the pattern is Tulip in Dusky Blue.

After black and dark blue, my next most used goblet colors have been lime green and sage green. I bought these lime green goblets at Pier 1 several years ago and I have used them often, on Spring tables (see one here), St. Patrick’s Day tables, Summer tables (see one here), and Fall (see one here) and Thanksgiving tables. They are actually a brighter green than this photo shows, almost a neon green. A bright green goblet is a great choice and it can be used throughout the year.

This photo shows this sage green goblet as a bit brighter and greener than it actually is, I bought them at Pier 1 when I started tablescaping fiftenn years ago. They are actually plastic, I have several plastic goblets and I use them often. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether goblets are glass or plastic now, the designs have improved so much. As with the lime green goblets above I have used them often, on Spring tables, St. Patrick’s Day tables, Summer tables, and Fall (see one here) and Thanksgiving tables (see one here).

After these goblet colors, the other goblet colors I have used most often over the past several years are (in order of frequency of use) cobalt blue, turquoise, amber, yellow, and brown. (I have other goblet colors that I use less frequently.)

I hope this all gives you some ideas about what color goblets you want to add to your tablescaping collection. Think about some of the table designs you want to create in the next year and that will help you decide what you want to purchase that will be used rather than an impulse buy that will just sit on a shelf gathering dust.

To see over 270 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We had a gathering for tablescapers in January 2025 in the Los Angeles area and we are planning another one.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks or click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto .

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!