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| Decorated Tabletops Add Warmth and Whimsy to Holiday Season Meals and Gatherings |
 (ARA) - No matter how you slice it, a table setting becomes the focal point of every gathering with family and friends. Whether it's a traditional holiday dinner or a buffet of hot cider and cookies, the table is where traditions take hold. Beautifully decorated tables can transform even the simplest gatherings into memorable moments, according to decorating experts. "One of the hottest ideas in holiday entertaining is to create "tablescapes" atop your table - by combining themed collectibles with special menu touches," says Charles Riley, Interior Designer, Hearst Magazines. Recognizing the importance of holiday table traditions, Department 56, a leading manufacturer of lighted villages, giftware and home decorative products, offers suggestions for bringing holiday tables to life. Decorating tips and menu suggestions are included in Tablescapes, a special section inserted into holiday issues of Classic American Homes, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful, Redbook and Victoria magazines. "We've filled the Tablescapes custom publication with a variety of holiday tabletop themes for decorating and entertaining, from Santa's North Pole Series candy mine to Elvis' Christmas decorated Graceland mansion," says Pam Schechtman, director of consumer communications for Department 56. Tablescapes offers the following decorating tips and themes to turn an ordinary gathering into a cherished holiday memory: Elegant Brunch Create an elegant holiday brunch with homemade fruit focaccia and simmering hot cider on a table adorned with the "Silver Bells Christmas Shop," part of The Original Snow Village Collection. Your guests will lean closer to peek into the festive shop, while a warm glow casts across the table from the shop's outdoor lighted tree lot and lamppost. Tea at the North Pole As children and the young at heart sample delightful confections at your afternoon tea, have them discover colorful sweets nestled among the illuminated "Sweet Rock Candy Company" North Pole Series cottage, a glowing miniature rock candy mine. Place candy cane fences and peppermint trees among the tea dishes. And for an additional surprise, include a couple of Santa's elves atop a mountain of sugarcubes. Elves and Elvis Start a new family tradition and celebrate a rock n' roll Christmas. Top the table with "Elvis Presley's Graceland" special edition Gift Set by Department 56, complete with reproductions of the original Christmas lawn ornaments Elvis displayed. Scatter the famous wrought iron front gates with musical notes, Elvis' playful pink Cadillac Fleetwood sedan, and two sets of twinkling Mylar trees among the place settings. Complete the mood by filling the room with strains of "Love Me Tender" and "Blue Christmas." Remembrances of Christmas Past Add a unique twist to a classic tale with a tablescape inspired by A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. As the smells of roast turkey with chestnut stuffing fill the room, invite your guests to join Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past as they peek through the lighted window of "Fezziwig's Ballroom," from Dickens' Village Series. Inside, three gaily dressed dancing couples whirl to a fiddle. Victorian England Traditions At the close of a special evening, rekindle a Victorian tradition by inviting your guests to snuff out candles with stylish extinguishers. Sculpted designs from Candle Crown Collections feature Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Crachit with Tiny Tim, and other colorful characters inspired by A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland. As an upscale party favor for very special guests, place a Candle Crown extinguisher at each place setting, and offer them as take home gifts. To learn more about Tablescapes, Department 56 or to locate the nearest retailer, visit www.department56.com or call 1-800-LIT-TOWN (1-800-548-8696). Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail:info@aracontent.com EDITOR'S NOTE: Cadillac, Cadillac emblems, Fleetwood, Fleetwood emblems are General Motors Trademarks used under license to Department 56. Elvis, Elvis Presley and Graceland are registered trademarks with the USPTO 2000 EPE, www.Elvis-Presley.com |
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Happy Halloween
