Our Thanksgiving table several years ago.
Thanksgiving was A LOT different for many families this year. For some families, staying at home and away from family and friends was a “no brainer.” During these trying times, it’s more important to keep the elderly and those with health issues safe than to get together for a big meal.
This year it was just me, my husband and our two children. In years past we’ve had over other family members, friends and my kid’s “significant others.” Not this year. It wasn’t worth risking our lives, or the lives of those we love and care about, for a meal.
Just because dinner this year was my own little family, it didn’t mean for one moment that I didn’t treat Thanksgiving as a special holiday. We still got dressed up (not too much, but we didn’t wear sweats or tee shirts). We also enjoyed appetizers and a full holiday meal, including several yummy desserts. We even used our good silverware and drinking glasses.
I take pride in setting the perfect holiday table. I grew up having our holiday table all done up, and I have continued that into my adulthood and with my own family.
Most of the year my family and I are eating at different times. Sometimes we eat in the living room, sometimes at the table and at other times standing up in the kitchen. That is why it’s important to me to make sure my holiday table looks inviting and special.
This year our holiday table looked amazing, thanks to beautiful placemats and napkins from CaroleShiber.com.
Photo Source: Carole Shiber Designs Facebook Page
I know what you are thinking, how can placemats and napkins be THAT special. Trust me… the ones from CaroleShiber.com ARE!
Carole Shiber offers hand painted placemats and beautiful fabric napkins and napkin rings that resemble flowers (more on that later).
Carole Shiber’s artful designs and concepts have been licensed and sold through many of our favorite “go-to” stores for years ~ retailers such as Macy’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, QVC, Linens & Things, Pier 1, JC Penney, Sears, Kohl’s, SteinMart and Home Goods, while her innovative table linens, as meticulously hand-made and painted in Brooklyn & Kingston, NY, and have been consistently selling to high-end stores and fine arts and craft venues since 1994.
The first time I saw Carole’s designs, I was in love! They are beautiful! They are NOT your typical placemats. These are more like a piece of art. Combine them with Carole’s signature napkins, and you have a table people will be talking about long after the holiday season is over.
I was sent to review some of Carole’s fall placemats and napkins, as well as a few of her Christmas placemats and napkins.
Carole’s placemats are more than just a place to rest your plate. Her placemats can be inter-connected to form a table runner. You can also connect them to become a centerpiece for your table.
Carole Shiber’s placemats are hand painted designs. They are easily cleaned, so there are no worries about them getting ruined should anything spill on them.
I was sent to review six of Carole’s “Sweet Leaf” placemats in autumn colors. They were the perfect addition to not only our Thanksgiving table, but also our autumn table when we weren’t eating our holiday meal.
Here is what my Thanksgiving table looked like this year. The placemats are from Carole Shiber.
It’s difficult to see from the photo, but the placemats have some shimmer to them. The “veins” are hand painted and really add to the design and overall look to these placemats.
Pictured above the placemats are used like a normal placemat, one at eat place setting at our table.
Earlier in the post I mentioned that the placemats interlock to form a table runner. You can make the runner as long or as short as you’d like, depending on the number of placemats you want to use.
I really wish the shimmering gold, green, and copper “veins” came through in the photo. They are really lovely, especially when the light hits them just right.
If you prefer having a centerpiece on your table, and not a runner, Carole’s placemats can accommodate that as well. Simply interlock them and fan them out to crate a centerpiece.
Because our table is narrow, I only used three. You can use as many as you’d like.
The colors in this photo are washed out (too bright). The placemats are really the color in the next photo.
The color in the first picture is a little off. The reddish placemat looks purple. It’s not. It’s a nice, deep, rich, red color.
Depending on the set that you purchase, the placemats come with matching coasters. Sadly, we didn’t have room at our table to use them for Thanksgiving, but when it’s just the four of us, I plan on using them.
These leaf shaped placemats are available in different designs and colors. They could adorn your table year round. Simple swap out the spring/summer colors/designs for fall/autumn and/or holiday/winter. There are also colors available to match any home’s décor.
Another thing from Carole Shiber are her napkins. The fabric napkins are unlike any other I have seen before. Rolled up, and combined with her “leaf” napkin “rings,” Carole’s napkins resemble FLOWERS!
Check out the centerpiece I made for our Thanksgiving table using Carole’s napkins and leaf rings. When it came time to sit down and eat, I just removed the napkins from the centerpiece bowl.
How beautiful are those “flowers.” I am obsessed with them (LOL!). They make such a lovely bouquet and centerpiece.
Unlike real flowers, these flowers won’t ever wilt or die. They are 100% sustainable. You can use them to adorn your table year round. You can swap them out to reflect the different holidays and seasons.
Check out the bouquets I made with the Christmas napkins and flower “rings” from Carole Shiber’s collection.
Kudos to Carole for coming up with such a wonderful idea.
To be honest, I never used fabric napkins before because I thought it was too much of an effort to wash them. Not anymore! I WANT to use fabric napkins. They are more elegant than paper napkins, and they make a stunning display when not in use.
Speaking of the holiday season, Carole also has a delightful assortment of hand painted placemats, and other napkins to adorn your holiday table.
I love this placemat! It’s darling!
The gold spots on the placemat shimmer and shine in the light. It’s so pretty in person.
The top placemat is more of a deep red in person. The lighting makes it look more purple.
These are just a few examples of the marvelous products available from Carole Shiber. If you would like to see all that she has to offer, visit her online at CaroleShiber.com.
You can also check her out on Instagram and Facebook.
What do you think about Carole’s placemats and amazing floral napkins? Would you love to set your table with these lovely products? Feel free to comment and share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Photo Source: Carole Shiber Designs Facebook page.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
