Our Next Event- Tartans, Toddies and Rhinestones

September 12th through the 14th will be our next pop-up event- Tartans, Toddies and Rhinestones!

We are so excited to have Blue Cardinal Antiques to be our guest for this show.  Allison and  her business partner, Jen, specialize in "Ralph Lauren" traditional style antiques with an emphasis on equestrian antiques. Allison writes the popular blog - www.thepolohouse.blogspot.com. Plus we are so excited that her lovely home is being featured in Midwest Living for the Christmas issue- need I say more? Don't miss seeing her and her incredible finds at this event.

 

On Thursday evening, September the 12th, we will have a preview party from 5 to 8 and continue with the sale on Friday and Saturday from 11 to 4.

 

For this sale we will  emphasize  fall decorating items.  Silver, crystal, tartan throws, oil paintings, and entertaining ware will be shown.  Here's just a few pictures of some of the items that are arriving!

Hand decorated in fall motif and perfect for hostess gifts,

these preserves imported from France taste divine and are so pretty to sit on a counter!

A collection of handmade down pillows, made from collections of Ralph Lauren fabrics, have just come in from our workroom! Embellished with vintage trims and buttons, they are so pretty!

And finally to show you today-  one of my favorite finds at the gift show this summer- a rhinestone collar for flower bouquets.
There are two styles- one simply sits on top a vase and serves as a flower frog for arranging flowers and the other one is a bouquet holder!  I love them both- very intricate design and makes simple flowers extraordinary!

We are excited about this next event and are working hard to bring you another unique shopping experience. Hope to see you,  so please mark the dates on your calendar! 

Fairies are in the Garden!

This week I had the pleasure of keeping my granddaughter for a few days. She lives in California, so we don't get to see her very often. So this was a real treat! I decided to invite my friend Laurell's little granddaughter, Charlotte,  over to play with Audrey and have a little girls fairy party. Of course, I had to completely spoil her while she was here- that's what grandmothers do!


Early in the morning, I hid garden fairies that I had purchased on-line in the garden.

Dressed in their fairy costumes-Audrey and Charlotte  raced to find the 16 hidden fairies!

 

 

 

 

Two real little garden fairies having a good time! Audrey trying to be the scary fairy face!

 

Fairy garden tea sandwiches were enjoyed by the girls- mostly the peanut butter and jelly ones!

 

 

And of course a Fairy Dusted cake for dessert topped with edible sugared roses, which they promptly spit out!  Loved the pink icing though!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audrey and Charlotte! Charlotte is wearing the necklace that she made during the play date!

 

 

In our cookbook, Romancing the Home Entertains, we have another version of this party for little girls.  Here are some of the pictures from our book!

 

A porcelain baby fairy hides in the bowl of peonies!

Pansies and lamb's ear are tied to the napkin.

A compote of blackberries and spring blossoms- a simple centerpiece!

 

A porcelain fairy from Susan Snodgrass climbs out of a mason jar!

 

Happy fairy hunting everyone!  It's the perfect time of year to find them!

 

 

Our book, Romancing the Home Entertains, can be purchased through paypal by the button on the sidebar of this blog!

 

 

 

 

Magical Dinner in Chicago Courtyard

A group of us were invited to Mariterese's brownstone in the city for dinner last night!  It was the perfect night- low 70's, no humidity and no bugs!  So dinner was outside in her breathtaking courtyard. We felt as though we were transported to New Orleans for the evening.

Looking down from the deck above you can see the lush courtyard below.

Looking up in the courtyard to the wisteria covered deck off the kitchen.

 

The newly installed fountain with roses floating in the basin.

 

 

The spectacular trumpet vine that was come back for the 2nd year and grown up and over the pergola- just glorious!

 

Huge hibiscus flowers

 

The crystal candelabra in the bird bath- so wonderful with the drippy candles.

 

And then you see the "creation "- the breathtaking dinner table. An artfully combined tablescape of roses and ribbons carefully woven into an artistic canvas.  Truly a feast for the eyes.

 

Treats of the olive oil and vinegar that were used for the dinner salad dressing were favors for each guest.

 

 

The ivy from the hanging baskets created a curtain around the  dining table.

 

Each place setting was on a wooden board with a black and white napkin tied with a rose and eucalyptus.

 

Dinner was divine- tomato basil soup served in vintage punch cups

A beautiful summer salad with tomatoes, peaches, roasted chicken and lots of yummy goodness

 

 

 

 

A simply divine summer pies for dessert with sorbet!

 

 

 

What a delightful evening- wonderful friends, food and the perfect setting. Thanks MT for another memorable time at your lovely home.