Inspired by Sarah Raven to make napkin rings of cranberries and white hyacinths (hyacinths for the ladies, cranberries for the men), I used the same theme for the table centrepiece:
an ashet covered with pine branches and ivy leaves, strewn with cranberries and 'snow', with three hyacinths in individual vases to add a little height and fragrance. Small white bowls of snowy cranberries carried on the colour scheme, as did the place card holders.
The napkin rings themselves took no time to make - though as the florist's wire I had was very fine, I used a thickish needle to pierce the berries first - but the hyacinths offered no resistance of course. I made them all on Christmas Eve and they are still looking as good as new today. Sarah Raven says in her video that in summer she uses cornflowers in the same way as they also last very well out of water, so that's an idea I must remember.
I ought to say here, by way of explanation, acknowledgement and appreciation, that with the exception of some canapés, Mr. C. does all the cooking of the Christmas lunch, and a grand job he makes of it, and that is why I am free to fiddle around with the frou-frou.
Nature offering up the colours of Christmas, beautiful!
Posted by: Darlene | 26 December 2013 at 04:19 PM
Very lovely. Why ladies and men and not women and gentlemen? (I bet you feared I'd pop up with some silly question).
Love and Happiness I send to all of you, Peter x
Posted by: Dark Puss | 26 December 2013 at 05:09 PM
No reason at all, and thank you!
Posted by: Cornflower | 26 December 2013 at 05:11 PM
The garden furnishes the ivy, and the lower branches of our Noble Fir (a wonderful tree this year) have done duty in various decorations around the place.
Posted by: Cornflower | 26 December 2013 at 05:13 PM
How pretty!
Mr C is a treasure.
Posted by: Barbara | 27 December 2013 at 07:56 AM
He is!
Posted by: Cornflower | 27 December 2013 at 02:17 PM