May plastic champagne glasses be forgotten and never brought to mind

A regular glass tumbler will do fine if that's all you have on hand, and even clear
plastic is OK for a picnic or an evening concert in the park. But with New Year's on
Monday, it's time to chill the champagne and bring out the nice glasses and toast
the new year!


(l to r: luxembourg champagne flute, $68.00, Faberge, Bodanica; Lismore crystal toasting flutes, $135.00, Waterford)

Here are some caveats and suggestions regarding glassware that will provide you
with beaucoup de bubbles and a better tasting champagne.


(l to r: champagne flute, Saint Louis Crystal, $175.00, Michael C. Fina; Denise champagne flute, $45.00, Tiffany and Co.; Linear platinum champagne glass, $21.60, Kim Seybert;
Onde champagne flute, $80.00, Baccarat; Love Knots toasting flutes, $60.00, Vera Wang;
Victoria champagne flute, $90.00, Juliska)

The long, narrow Champagne flute is much more common these days than the saucer-style
glass. The wine doesn't slosh around and spill as easily as it does in a saucer glass. The
bubbles also can be seen more easily as they make a long bead to the surface (the best-
quality sparkling wines have bubbles like strings of tiny beads that seem to never end).
And it's easier with a flute to get your nose close to the wine to enjoy the aroma - and that's
good because taste is greatly enhanced by smell. Whatever glass is used, may sure it is
squeaky, clean and dry, with no soap film or streaks.


(l to r: Edge flute, $9.95, Crate and Barrel; Foster flute set, $175.00, Ralph Lauren)

Best of all is a crystal flute with no etchings or adornment that interferes with seeing the wine
Besides its elegance, the character of fine crystal adds a sparkle that enhances the natural sparkle of the wine. So when you raise your glass at midnight, ring in the New Year with style. Cheers!

Image source: Yum Sugar

This Christmas

"May we set an extra place at the table this Christmas, as we remember the hungry,
the poor. May we wrap an extra gift this Christmas, as we remember the lonely,
the confused. May we give an extra hug this Christmas, as an expression of love to
those around us. May we spend extra time in meditation this Christmas, as we
remember all the blessings we've received - - - beautiful gifts of life and peace"

- Norma Woodbridge

Above are holiday cards that I received from fellow bloggers who participated in
my friend Vane's holiday card swap. It was so great going to the mailbox and
getting these handmade cards, you guys are extremely talented. I hope we can do it
again next year.

To all my readers, I can't thank you enough for all your support, comments and emails.
It has been such a pleasure getting to know you and sharing my love of tableware
with you. Merry Christmas to you and enjoy the day!

Cheers to the well-dressed table,
Sarah

SEAson’s Greetings: Coastal tablesettings

Forget about Jack Frost nipping at your nose - better to slather on the sun block.
Dreaming of a White Christmas? You must mean the sand in your sandals. While
I’m here in New York with snow and freezing temperatures, there are people along
our coastlines that are basking in the glow of Christmas in a warm sun. Those living
along the coast have indeed put their own twist on the holiday. The key to coastal
style is bringing the outside in.



Bring the coast to your table with Cool Blues - silver accents sparkle when paired
with dinnerware in watery hues. Natural Neutrals - texture—from smooth mother-
of-pearl to rough pebbles—adds interest to a soft, white setting with fish sea horse
napkin rings and place card holders. Bold Black and White - who needs red? Go
for drama with starkly contrasting plates and accessories.



Remember the holidays only come once a year. Make this year count by updating
your holiday decor with coastal flare like sea shells and star fish. Family and friends
will cherish this special time for years to come thanks to your creativity and thoughtfulness.



Images sources: Coastal Living, Country Living and Coastal Christmas

A Blue Christmas Doesn't Mean the Christmas Blues

Blue is especially appealing because it matches many people's home decor
and many people have blue motifs in their homes. So boundless is blue that
you could pair it with red this holiday for a surprisingly elegant look.



Start with blue-greens ranging in intensity from pale to brilliant and temper
it with a deep, orangery red. No color combination is as endlessly versatile as
this dynamic duo. Here we see it change moods - - - cooling the modern with
aqua, igniting the exotic with chocolate brown, and raising the sophistication
level of traditional with white.





Yes, there are annual trends in holiday decor and this combination is one
of them. Blue and red are not only hot choices for Winter 2007 look out
for this combination in the Spring.



Image sources: House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Hostess with the Mostess,
and Real Simple.

Hooked on tradition: Candy canes, an old-time treat, used for holiday decor

Candy Canes are so festive, they just scream, "Christmas!" Candy canes are one
of the most recognizable symbols of the season. Not only are they a sweet treat,
they're used for decoration.



Sunday while talking to my Mom on the phone she spoke so fondly of the history
and symbolism associated with this product. It didn’t take me long to realize
that the candy cane is one of the few decorative things that we still have at
Christmas that retains the original symbolic meaning.


(above: Candy cane dinnerware, from $7.35, Golden Rabbit)

Candy canes were, according to popular legend, invented in the 1600s in Cologne,
Germany, by a choirmaster who shaped sugar sticks into shepherds' crooks in an
effort to focus the attention of his restless students during a lengthy Nativity program.



While the crook symbolized the staffs carried by shepherds visiting the newborn
Jesus in Bethlehem, the red stripes were originally intended to represent the
blood shed by Christ at the time of his scourging and crucifixion.



The candy is hard because Christ is the rock of ages. The flavor is peppermint,
which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family, used in the Old Testament
for purification and sacrifice and Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, come to be a
sacrifice for the sins of the world.

So, now every time you see a candy cane, remember what the Christmas candy
cane symbolizes. "Jesus is the reason for the season."

Image sources: Country Living, Hostess with the Mostess and Better Homes and Garden

"Season's Grrrreeting": My favorite dog dinnerware

Ask pet owners, and they'll admit that their dogs are "part of the family." This
isn't news. But in my Godmother’s home, her dog Sebastian, has been elevated
almost to the level of a child or a best friend.



Dog owners, just like most people spend a great deal of time, money, and effort
getting just the right furniture and accessories for their home; they want the best
fashion accessories and pampering personal care products for themselves; and
they indulge in gourmet treats for friends and family. So why shouldn't they
apply the same standards when it comes to purchasing for their four-footed furry
family?


(l to r: Gucci dog bowl, $120.00, Neiman Marcus; Arca Horn dog bowl, $585.00, Elements)

Today, you have dogs that are "lapping up the luxury" in designer dinnerware. Dog
bowls have certainly come a long way from the ubiquitous plastic bowl my family
dog had when I was a kid.


(l to r: Juicy Couture dog bowl, $55.00, Neiman Marcus; woven leather dog bowl,
$520.00, Bottega Veneta)

These are some of my favorite dog dinnerware patterns. If you’re a dog owner you
might want to consider these when stocking merchandise for your pampered pup.



(l to r: dog bowl, $50.00, Jonathan Adler; dog bowl, $19.93, Kate Spade, Michael C. Fina)


(l to r: dog bowl, People Will Always Need Plates; dog bowl, $40.00, Daisy dog studio)


(l to r: medium dog bowl, $18.50, Golden Rabbit; food and water bowl, Gaia and Gino)

THINK PINK (and green) for a Christmas tablesetting

This year’s must-have for Christmas is not a gadget; it’s not even a toy. It's
the color pink. At retail, designers have made it the hot fashion color and
Victoria’s Secret even has a line of casual wear named after the color.



People, especially those with a polished décor, want their holiday decorations
to reflect the overall mood of their homes. It's all part of the designer look that
is slowly creeping into holiday decorating. Red and green are no longer the
hot holiday colors, they been supplanted by other combinations - - - like
pink and green.



Pink and green make a punch color pair. This duo is preppy and chic all at once.
These colors are easy to mix and you can use pale, medium or bright hues.



There are many ways to incorporate this strong color trend on the table; an easy
way would be to incorporate either pink or green stemware to your place setting.
Perfect for the holidays, pink and green is a fun combination and hotter pinks are
more high-energy colors, which are great when used in rooms where people
congregate such as the dining room or kitchen table.



(top row: giddy glass, $12.00, Anthropologie; kassie goblets,set of 6, $39.99, Target).
(bottom row: backyard wine glass and champagne flute, both $18.00 at Anthropologie).

“Visions of Sugar Plums”: A Holiday Tablesetting inspired by “Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Silver bells, partridges in a pear tree and Rudolph the red-nose reindeer are
more than just images from popular holiday songs. They are also among the
themes we use for decorating our homes at the holidays. Used year after year,
I think these tried-and-true themes sometimes seem stale. If you’re looking to
infuse a fresh look into your holiday décor, let the line, "visions of sugar plums
danced in their heads," from “Twas the Night Before Christmas inspire you
to inject purple into your holiday preparations.



Purple? Of course. Purple was prominent on the fall runways, from Anna Sui
to Vera Wang. The color has leapt off the catwalks and is now everywhere - - -
in bedding, window treatment and tabletop accessories so why not Christmas
décor. Matthew Mead demonstrates on his web site some phenomenal ways to use
purple, from gift wrapping to creating gift tags (the gift tag shown above can be
downloaded from his site). Make sure to visit and check out the many craft projects.



From the rich purple associated with royalty to the distinctive hue of the
orchid plant, from sumptuous plum to delicate lavender, purple can boost
creativity and feed the imagination. It is a perfect way to add glamour and
grace to your holiday tablesetting.



Perfect partners for purple need choosing with care:

Purple with gold is traditional, ecclesiastical and royal.
Purple with bronze and silver metallics is eminently modern.
Purple glassware looks great, especially by candlelight.
Purple is a fashion shade, so use it for easily changed napkins, tablecloths,
candle votives and Christmas ornaments.



Red and green will always be needed, but if you want to be more daring this
holiday, let the vision of sugar plums inspire you!

Pining for simple holiday decor from treetop to tabletop

Pinecones appear seemingly everywhere at our feet this time of year and yet we
hardly notice them. Those with a keen appreciation for nature's gifts know that
pinecones offers a bounty of decorating ideas. Bringing them indoors for the
holidays can give your tablesetting a rustic, homespun flavor.



To create holiday decorations with pinecones, gather cones from your yard,
pick some up at a craft store or purchase a hand sculpted, porcelain pinecone
from Coe & Waito. Alissa Coe and Carly Waito are the creators of these
beautiful pinecones. Through these objects, they hope to express their
admiration of the elegant perfection of nature. So whether you dust them with
glitter or slip cast them in moulds, pinecones will add a real organic appeal to
your tablesetting.



The differing sizes, shapes, and textures of pinecones inspire many possibilities
for their creative use:



Pinecones make a trimphant return to the tree a glittering ornament, welcome
guest with a dramatic swag of pinecones and holiday greens. Dress your holiday
table with a pinecone display in place of a floral arrangement.



When you place these adornments alongside the season's bounty, you'll likely conclude
that nature has come up with some wonderful decorating ideas.

source: Country Living magazine and Martha Stewart Living.

Menorahs: A lovely addition to your festival of lights

(above: classic menorah, $34.00, Pottery Barn)

The lights that are kindling in thousands of homes across New York City are
beacons to the memory of wars won, of miracles wrought, of religious freedom.


(l to r: classic menorah, 29.95, Crate & Barrel; menorah, $160.00, Nambe)

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah began last night at sundown with the traditional
lighting of the nine-branched candelabrum called a menorah. For eight days
the candles will burn, a new one added each night, as reminders of the divine
presence of God and the miracles he brings to the faithful.


(clockwise: Mariposa menorah, $160.00, Saks Fifth Ave; Waterford menorah,
$300.00, Horchow; skyline menorah, $130.00, Jonathan Adler; Rivington
menorah, $350.00, Maxwell Silver).

Today, many artists have taken the menorah from a lamp used to commemorate
the miracle of the oil to an opportunity to explore the idea of religious objects
as art. Many people choose a traditional menorah for ceremony and artistic
renditions as year-long decorative objects .


(above: Candorah, $315.00, U+ Design Collection)

They range from serious to whimsical. With such beautiful offerings available,
menorahs can be part of household decor beyond the holiday season.


(l to r: Olive Branch menorah, $210.00, Michael Aram; Salusa glassworks menorah,
$149.00, Barney's)

I’ve shared a few of my favorite menorahs and it is my hope that people
permanently display them rather than box them up. Menorahs are a piece of
Judaica art that can really enhance the home and make a beautiful centerpiece
for the table.

Dining by Designer: Ralph Lauren - A Christmas theme where you can put your best face forward.

There was a time when clocks served one purpose: to let you know what time
it was. Today, clocks do much more than that. They make a decorating statement
by complementing, even enhancing, the look of a room. And they can make a
statement about Christmas.



With their bold graphics, nostalgic charm, and center holes for hanging, old
clock faces make inspired ornaments.



Clock faces add an interesting theme to holiday decorating. Extend the clock
theme to the table with this set of four charming brunch plates by Ralph Lauren.
Whimsical clock theme varies with each plate for a unique and stylish table setting.



Use vintage clock faces tied with pretty ribbon as ornaments. Match your clock
themed tree with your gift wrap and choose from the same color palette. All it
takes is a collection, or even an idea for one, to spark an exciting theme for your
holiday decorating.

Source: Country Living magazine, Assorted Clock Brunch Plates, $79.99,
Polo Ralph Lauren.

Bring the Tartan touch to your holiday tablesetting

There are few patterns that spread cheer quite like tartan plaid, the classic
fabric distinguished by intersecting, multicolored stripes. Tartan has long
served as an inspiration for designers of everything from haute couture
to furniture. Designers who've made tartan an integral part of their work,
range from punk-inspired provocateurs Vivienne Westwood, Jean-Paul Gaultier,
and Alexander McQueen to the more refined fashions of Ralph Lauren and
Burberry. It's time to bring a splash of color on to your holiday table with
the most iconic of Scottish fabrics - tartan



Love it or loathe it, tartan is a favorite Christmas theme for many. Shown above,
the tablecloth is an antique Scottish shawl on which red-glass dishes and goblets
sparkle. Little details like old postcards, place cards, tree napkins rings, plaid
ribbons, and a tartan fabric ornament, which can be taken home by guests as a
token, all enliven the table.



Braveheart did battle in it. Queen Victoria decked Balmoral in it. Madonna donned
it to strut around the stage. Tartan, the beloved symbol of kin, clan and nation
to the Scots, has evolved into the one of the world’s favorite fabrics. Update red
and green Christmas colors by using a very "of-the-moment" pattern in tartan
fabric and bows.



The bold checks of tartan fabric may still be used to make traditional kilts, cozy
travel blankets and ribbons for shortbread tins but, as pictured here, it can be put
to more fashionable use. But, if the idea of your table being covered in plaid
frightens you, then why not go for tartan tableware accessories instead?



Source: Lenox Holiday Tartan dinnerware. Buffet Platter, $63.20; vegetable
bowl, $137.60; cup, $34.40; fruit dish, $46.40; macy's.