Make your table a story of its own.

Above: 1. TEA TIME Bring the social aspect of tea time back and invite conversation over a cup or two of your favorite herbal tea with friends. The handcrafted Vietnamese tea set dons a contemporary crackle design on ceramic and comes complete with saucers, cups and teapot. The lovely teapot is fair trade and a guilt-free purchase Artisans’ World Marketplace, $68, 128 South Pineapple Ave., 941-365-5994.  2  THE MIX   From the creative vision of craftsman Andrew Pearce, this live-edge bowl is made from black walnut wood. This piece features a natural edge for a look pleasing to the eye. Guests are sure to enjoy a salad for a perfect start to a meal. Oil is sold separately to keep this work of art functional.  Pecky Interiors, $440, 100 Central Ave. #1026, Sarasota, 941-957-0300.  3 UNDER THE SEA Handmade in Milan by artist Paravicini, this amusing dish set becomes complete with simple, hand-painted designs. Schools of fish swim around the rim of these one-of-a-kind plates, creating a calming effect with a soft blue background. This particular design is available in several sizes including a dinner and dessert plate.  Malbi Decor, price upon request, 127 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 941-953-3113.   

Above:   4 SHINE Local Tampa artist Isabella Adams uses Swarovski Crystals in her elegant line of napkin rings. Unusual subjects like the grasshopper napkin ring draw attention to the dining table and are sure to be the subject of conversation at a dinner party. The intricate brooch-like napkin ring comes complete with a watercolor-inspired Ballard linen.  Stylish Living, $14, $250, 1425 1st St., Sarasota, 941-363-7975.     5 HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU, KID  Toast to memories with many more to come in these matching chic platinum glasses and craft. This set adds a futuristic element to any happy hour with its contemporary Rat Pack-style design. Mix drink infusions with colorful fruits and garnishes to peek through the glasses, delighting visitors.  Mercantile Home & Apparel, $40, $15, 1463 Main St., Sarasota, 941-366-2457.    6 WITH A TWIST   This southern-inspired four-piece glass mason jar cocktail shaker with copper recreates an American classic. Made in Brooklyn, the Mason Shaker can easily become the shabby to your chic with its patented rustic design. Invite the family over serving tarts and craft cocktails by the fire to kick off the holiday season.  Mercantile Home & Apparel, $34.  7  JUST A BITE Start the evening out on an artistic note with house guests, serving up hors d’oeuvres on this petrified wood cheese tray, perfect for social gatherings. Mother Nature’s natural design captures the eye at first glance, while pixels of amber reflect light, adding a new dimension to the social ritual.  Mercantile Home & Apparel, $390, 1463 Main St., Sarasota, 941-366-2457.   8  A FOREST  Inspired by a trip to the Amazon, Michael Aram’s “Rainforest” collection highlights the mysterious beauty of the tropical jungles. Made with stainless steel and with a natural brass handle in the shape of a walking stick insect, this pitcher marries clean lines and nature-inspired accents for an artistic contrast of styles.   Pecky Interiors, $250.