It’s been quite a bit longer than the promised week (I’ve been caught up with Christmas festivities and end of school events), but I’m back to share the details of the annual bookclub Christmas dinner I hosted recently.
As always, it was a beautiful evening with amazing food which we bring and share, joy, laughter and wonderful conversation. I often pick the theme for the table decorations almost a year in advance, when I have a chance to read the Christmas magazines and become inspired after all the busyness of the season has died down in the new year. This year I chose a green, white and orange theme.
At each place setting was a pomander (clove studded orange), which my Mum had helped to make (in between ferrying girls to dance concerts), the weekend before. These smell amazing and if it is not too humid will last for a long time. I also made some feathers out of old book pages for each setting which I stamped with some ink. I try to tie the book theme in somewhere! The little sprig of berries was from my ficus tree, which happened to be fruiting just at the right time of year and to look very festive.
Down the centre of the table I used some pine branches overlaid with some twinkle lights and the beautiful Australian Christmas tree, which is bright orange and looks very celebratory. I also used some antique jelly moulds containing tea lights down the centre of the table.
Finally, the pièce de résistance, this beautiful cherry and lemon jelly (from the latest edition of Delicious magazine), which was my contribution to our delicious feast. It was all a lot of fun and I can’t wait until next year!