Springtime Tablescape

Finally, a few warm days in Chicagoland!!!!  It's time to set the table for weekend guests that are visiting from out of town and coming to dinner tonight!  The warm weather inspires me to use eggs and pastel flowers in my centerpiece. 

 

I  had kept the gnarly flowering tulip branch from flowers (above) that were in my kitchen a couple of weeks ago. They were so gnarly and cool that I couldn't bear to throw them away

 when the flowers died.

It was perfect for the base of my centerpiece.  I started by placed them in the center of the table.

Using pink and white roses, I created little bouquets in silver champagne goblets.

 

Then placed these little arrangements throughout the flowering tulip branch.

It kind of looked like a nest!

 

I then gilded and embellished eggs and placed in a gold nest lined with moss.

 Placed several nests in the branches.

 

 Turquoise tea glasses were used as votives throughout the floral centerpiece.

 

 

I used powder blue chargers with antique white and gold china and then popped it with gold and white zebra print napkins. 

 

The rhinestones on the eggs glittered in the candlelight during dinner.

 Next, it was on to the kitchen to add a little touch of springtime!  Home Depot just received their first shipment of spring flowers- yea! So I purchased a pot of violas - I love their faces!

 

 In the kitchen on the patisserie stand, I placed a vintage egg cup server and filled it with some of the  violas! 

 

 Added a couple of vintage ceramic lamb boxes to sit among the flowers on the stand.

Maybe we can't go outside yet and dig in the dirt- but this reminds me that it's not too far away!!

 

Have a wonderful Easter weekend everyone!

March- Spring Fever Arrives

March is the  time in Chicago where many of us start wishing, hoping, planning, thinking, and dreaming of warmer weather.  Mother Nature teases us with a few warm days and then suddenly snow blankets our homes. But we still find a need and an urge to bring Spring into our homes.  So out come the nests, the moss, the rabbits, and the Costco planters of tulips and hyacinths this time of year.  We eagerly scour the grocery store section of flowers for pots of spring bulbs, a bunch of tulips- anything to make us feel like Spring!    But as I said earlier- it is still winter in Chicago. A couple of days ago this is what my front porch looked like.............

 

A wintery storm blew snow into every crevice on the porch.

 

It looked like Mother Nature created lace made of snow on the wicker.

 

The wind pushed the snow through the wicker in these amazing patterns.

The iron gates were perfectly coated with fluffy snow.

Every branch was painted with white shimmery snow.

 

No swinging on the porch this time of year.

 

But of course- this only drove me crazy.  I really want my gardens back!

So I decided to take the winter arrangement of icy branches and frosted cabbages  out of the urns in the dining room and create some large springy arrangements..........add a little color to the gray March days.  I had some large lilac branches but I wanted to add something else.  So I googled silk kale and found these amazing silk kale plants from www.qualitysilks.com . They arrived 2 days ago and I am so impressed with the quality. Large- 14 inches wide, they really look like the real deal.  There are so many possibilities  for these silk beauties, but for now they are the base of my dining room urns. 

 

 They are available in white and purple, so I mixed the two together.

 

The leaves are very realistic and have a leathery texture to them. I can visualize a basket of these  with blue eggs and violets on a tablescape. 

 

While the snow is still on the ground outside, I can only create touches of spring inside.  So now- where did I store those nests and eggs last year?????? I really do have Spring Fever.



Tulip Magnolia Branches

This is our last couple of days in the store and it is looking very sad!  So it was quite delightful to get these beautiful flowers delivered on Thursday!  Jeannie from Twigs comes walking in the store with this huge vase of Tulip Magnolia branches and "Coffee" roses.  My heart did a back flip!  The color of these roses was the most perfect color of pink that I have ever seen.   Of course, I couldn't wait to get them home to enjoy them.  Covering them with a huge plastic bag, I took them home and put them in some fresh water.  I hope they last forever.  The branch is a gnarly organic texture with these pink tulip shaped flowers.  And the roses- well I am in heaven.  If I could only have one color- this would be it.

I just could not resist placing this little pin in the beautiful rose for a picture.  How romantic this little  guy looks!   Thanks Twigs for adding so much pleasure to my weekend!

Twigs Florist in Lake Bluff- a Treat for the Senses

My favorite florist, Twigs, located in downtown Lake Bluff, is a delight for the eyes.  I cannot wait to go in the little shop and look at the gorgeous flowers.  European in personality, the shop is packed with style.  Just take a look at these store windows- they stopped my car in its tracks as I was driving home the other night and I  had to turn around and drive by again just to soak in the sheer delightful beauty of  it!



One of the most exquisite store windows that I have ever seen. 
 As the flowers start to fade, Jeannie places them in the heart wreath to dry.  So so pretty.
Looks like a window in Paris!

 One of the gorgeous arrangements that she has made for me over the years.

 

I love these little iron eggs that she fills with little bouquets.

 

 

Birthday flowers from Mr. RTH- enjoyed on the terrace  with a glass of rose from a favorite California vineyard.

 



 

Centerpiece for a wedding reception at my home

 A little arrangement that she made for me to take to a friend.

 

 

Bouquet for a wedding shower at my home

 

Gorgeous bouquet for my surprise birthday dinner last summer!

 

 

 

little arrangements made for a brunch at my home last week.

Sweet little arrangement given as a birthday gift to a friend!

 

A tussie mussie in pink opaline glass for a birthday brunch.

 

 

Her roses stay fresh for days and never droop.

 

 

 

Love these little stone hearts- I wonder what she'll do with them???

 

 

I am looking forward to a little trip to the shop to see what tickles my fancy for Valentines.

Jeannie and her staff are so talented.  If you live in the area, please visit Twigs.

 They get my highest endorsement!  Their work is simply exquisite!

And as an added bonus, they are delightful to work with!