Monday, December 3, 2012

A New Chickadee Christmas Table


Last year I had a chickadee Christmas table—so fun!  Well, this year, I have a NEW chickadee table, and I couldn’t be more excited.  Last year’s dishes had to be returned :(, so I was chickadee-less for several months :( again.  So IMAGINE, if you can, my joy when I learned about Boehm’s Chickadees and Holly pattern.  I quickly went to my trusted resource, replacements.com and yes! they are lovely dishes!  And now they are MINE! living exactly where they should be living—at Chickadee Home Nest!
Have you heard of Boehm china?  I had not…where have I been?!  Here’s a little bit about it:  American company Boehm Porcelain has been producing the finest porcelain flora and fauna sculptures available since 1950. Inspired by the delicateness, complexity and vibrancy of nature's own artistry, Boehm's renderings of flora and fauna are cast from only the purest white clay, and created by singularly talented artisans with painstaking attention to detail to produce breathtaking original works of art available in both open and limited-edition collections. (Source: wildlife.com)
And so it is that they came to live at our house…happy me!  There’s always room for more chickadees at this nest!
Boehm Chickadees and Holly Christmas china, Christmas table at Chickadee Home Nest Are they just precious?  See the bottom right, where the china is “signed” `Boehm’?  I find that so interesting.  I wish you could see the detail of the art…it looks as though you can see brushstrokes.  Let’s take a closer look:
Boehm Chickadees and Holly Christmas china, Christmas table at Chickadee Home Nest

And here is the table I set for their homecoming dinner ~
Boehm, Chickadees and Holly Christmas china, Christmas table, Christmas centerpiece, at Chickadee Home Nest You might remember the red Pottery Barn champagne/footed goblets from other posts.  In fact, I used them last year too, for that Chickadee Table:  http://chickadeehomenest.blogspot.com/2011/12/chickadee-christmas-table.html.    And I also used them for a Fourth of July table: http://chickadeehomenest.blogspot.com/2012/06/4th-of-july-table-and-more.html.  I like red accent pieces because you can use it for so many holidays, and I’ve certainly gotten my {sweet husband’s} money’s worth out of these!  How did he know I needed these?!
Boehm, Chickadees and Holly Christmas china, Christmas table, Christmas centerpiece, at Chickadee Home Nest The centerpiece was super easy to make.  I used one of my favorite pieces—a red serving plate (gift from my youngest son…he knows I like red), as the under-plate, and placed a silver casserole that I really wanted to use this season, because it belonged to my dear SIL’s father, who passed away earlier this year.  I’m so happy to have it in our home.  To that I added a very vintage pressed glass compote, then filled the casserole with large “picks” (as in already put together) and a few fillers.  In the compote I used an arrangement I’d made for last year’s table and filled the gaps with pinecones and other fillers.
Christmas centerpiece Texture is so important for adding interest to a table, and one of the pieces that made a huge difference this year was the jingle bell garland.  The instant I saw it at Pine Tree Barn (http://pinetreebarn.com/) I knew it was going home with me.  I haven’t seen them anywhere else, but I imagine the good folks at Pine Tree Barn would be more than happy to ship them to you.
Some close-ups for those of us who savor every detail~ I wouldn’t want to leave you wanting for more.
Red goblet, Christmas table
Boehm, Chickadees and Holly Christmas china, Christmas table, Christmas centerpiece, at Chickadee Home Nest For soooo long I wanted vintage, etched goblets, and now I have several sets of various patterns.  I.cannot.get.enough.of.them.  This pattern (I don’t know the name) in particular, because of the vertical lines, catches the light beautifully, and if you look closely, there are “berries” in the design, following the berries throughout the table.  The wine stem is Waterford Alana, also a vintage pattern.
Christmas centerpiece, vintage goblets, Boehm Chickadees and Holly
Boehm Chickadees and Holly, Christmas table The darling S&P set is also a gift from our youngest and his darling…perfect for this table.
Christmas table, Christmas table centerpiece, Boehm Chickadees and Holly Christmas china I love having the sweet grandbabies’ highchair right by our family table, and here it’s pressed into service for after-dinner coffee.
Candy cane stirrers, Christmas table Napkins and Williams-Sonoma crystal “candy cane” stirrers in a Waterford vase.
Christmas table, Chickadees and Holly china, sterling individual salt and pepper shakers
Christmas table, Boehm Chickadees and Holly Christmas china, Christmas centerpiece
Boehm’s Chickadees and Holly china, Christmas table,
Boehm’s Chickadees and Holly Christmas china, Christmas table, Christmas centerpiece
DSCN5707
Are you a red-and-green Christmas person, or have you gone to other combinations that are now faves?  I always seem to gravitate back to the red and green, and then I’m ready for muteds or soft whites by the end of the season.
If you like what you see a lot, maybe you’d like to +1 this post or pin it on Pinterest too! And, I invite you to follow me. If you’ll let me know that you’re following, I’ll be sure to follow you back.
Happy holidays to all!  May your season be warm, calm, filled with music and beautiful things to reflect on the true reason we join together to celebrate.
Here’s where I’ll be seen this week; I hope you’ll stop by too.  They will be fun, fun parties with lots of great ideas sure to please.
Tuesdays at http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
Wednesdays at Let’s Dish: http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/
Wednesdays at Wow Us: http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/
Thursdays at Tabletop Thursday: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Thursdays at Home Sweet Home: http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Fridays at Feathered Nest: http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Sundays at The Tablescaper: http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/





26 comments:

  1. Absolutely exquisite! These definitely belong at Chickadee Home Nest!
    Thanks for sharing this beauty! ~ Sarah

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  2. Zuni, this table has YOU written all over it! I love the classic red and green combination, and your chicadee dishes with their silver-grey are a beautiful touch! I hope your holidays are delightful!

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  3. Yeah, I +1'ed you, girl! You didn't just knock this one out of the ballpark, you knocked it out of the country!!!!!!!! Get down with your totally bad self, Zuni!!! This is beautiful!!! You just went all the way! First, I'm so glad to see you back with a new post. I've missed you! I know you've been busy, but it's always great to see your new creations! Second, SO happy you have these beautiful dishes!!! I knew you hated to part with the others, and I actually like these even more! Like you said, it's like you can see the brushstrokes...like the guy custom-painted them just for you! You can actually see their little talons grabbing onto the branch! VERY creative job on the centerpiece!!!!!!! I have some of that jingle bell with silver bells that I picked up a couple of years ago, and I love it! I've only used it once, but it will come back into service again next year. I love how you slipped in additional centerpiece elements like the pine cones in julep cups and the crystal candlesticks. It really extends that centerpiece to fit the length of the table! Great idea to use the high chair for coffee service! Sweet! I'm also really glad you took a lot of detail shots. It makes me nuts when someone does a gorgeous table but then leaves out the detail close-ups we all love so much. Wow, Zuni! Wonderful job! WONDERFUL job!!!!!

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  4. Zuni... grand table!!! omg.. as Alycia said, you knocked it out of the ball park. Totally. I love these dishes.. I'm sure you were sad to see the others go. Loved the bark edge on those.. but these.. oh are delightful. I love the centerpiece.. the glasses (I believe those are Libby Rocky Sharpe? maybe... they are very very similar to mine. Send Replacements a picture and they will do the research for you!) Love this table.. xo marlis

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  5. Hi Zuni,
    You blown me away in your artistic talent. Love every inch and every treasure you have. Absolutely Beautiful.

    Greetings from a freezing & snowy Stockholm,
    /Chie

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  6. Hi Zuni,
    What a gorgeous table you've set. The colors are just perfect, and those dishes are really just stunning! I need some like that, I'd be so busy looking at the dish, maybe I wouldn't eat so much! (LOL) It truly says welcome home!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  7. Oh I love your Chickadee dishes! I have chickadees here at my bird feeders all the time and I love them! You found yourself a real gem with those dishes! Your centerpiece is beautiful!

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  8. Chickadees are my favorite little bird and what lovely dishes! And I like the traditional red and green decor for the most part, yes! :)

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  9. What a stunning table! I LOVE chickadees!I have never seen this beautiful Christmas pattern! Perfect for you!!! Your table is so rich and welcoming and full of Christmas magic!!!

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  10. love this pattern!

    hope you will find a moment to stop by and enter a giveaway i am hosting for followers (i hope you win!):
    http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2012/12/personalized-lovely-giveaway.html

    happy weekend to you!

    michele

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  11. this is one gorgeous table! The china is so pretty and I especially love your creative centerpiece!
    Just stunning!
    Thanks for coming by too. One of the best places to shop for old skates fairly cheaply is E-Bay.
    I find mine at garage sales but we have a skating club and so a lot of them are floating around.,
    Cindy

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  12. The perfect china for the Chickadee Home Nest! Your centerpiece is wonderful! We enjoy the sweet chickadees at our camp.


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  13. I'm lovin' every detail in your gorgeous table setting...especially the little chickadees and holly on your Boehm china. Everything is just beautiful. I'm headed back to see what I've missed in your previous posts.
    Babs

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  14. It's all so beautiful, truly. It is the true essence of Christmas. What every table should look like at Christmas time. I want those dishes!!!! Love, Patty

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  15. This is so pretty. I love this china pattern.

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  16. Beautiful! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home and have a Merry Christmas!
    Sherry

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  17. Your table is just gorgeous, so elegant!
    Merry Christmas! Thanks for linking to Let's Dish!

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  18. Just gorgeous. Elegant and filled with a ton of details.

    Great to have you at Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  19. Zuni - I love your new chickadees! I love the combination of little birds and the winter season. One of the things on my wish list is Winter Greetings by Lenox. There is something so utterly charming about little birds fleeting about in the cold of winter! I also love how you've let the dishes take center stage by not overcrowding the table. Everything is so beautiful! Merry Christmas, Zuni!

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  20. Hi Zuni, We just got back from our trip to Tennessee and Illinois. Ran into a lot of snow in Illinois.
    I am trying to catch up on some of my favorite blogs and what do I see but Boehm and Chickadees. Put the two together and you have a rock star.
    I have always loved Boehm porcelain art pieces but never knew they made china tableware. No wonder it is so beautiful. It is the perfect china for you and your table is just gorgeous. I don't think I have seen one prettier.The centerpiece is above beautiful.
    Boehm was an accomplished artist and did original works for heads of state and the Vatican. Some displays are as large as a person. He is a very interesting person to read about. I know you commented on my white porcelain nativity set. It is by Boehm and is about thirty years old. I have also collected some of his pandas. You surely found some quality china.
    Blessing for a Happy and Healthy New Year! Ginger

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  21. I've missed you atround my place, I'm so happy to be here to wish a wonderful, blessed, healthy and prosperous 2013!! Your table is stunning, with the gorgeous chickadee dishes, wow! Your table is also so elegant and inviting pretty lady! Big Hugs,
    FABBY

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  22. What a GORGEOUS Holiday table you set, Zuni...♥♥♥ your new Boehm china with the chickadees! Great fine & I know you will get lots of use for them.

    I just put my quilted chickadee wallhanging & table runner away yesterday with the Christmas stuff. Now I'm wishing I had left them out for all of winter.

    Thank you for your warm welcoming words. I hope to join in the blogging parties more frequently now that things have settled down here a bit.

    Have a Blessed & HEALTHY 2013.
    fondly,
    Rett

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  23. Everything is so pretty on this table. I love your centerpiece. Sad that Christmas is over, isn't it?

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  24. Love the chickadee china! I would love to have a birdie set like these. I'm gonna follow along your blog, as it has sparked my interest!

    ~ Sherrie (Bird Lady)

    http://www.birdladyblog.blogspot.com

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  25. Such a beautiful table and a most lovely set of china. The detail is amazing. Wonderful to have you be at Christmases Past at Seasonal Sundays.

    - Alma, The Tablescaper

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  26. I love your tablescape. Your china is gorgeous. You have done a fabulous job. So many great details.

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