Champagne and Pink Baby Shower

I thought I would include some more pictures of my above and beyond incredibly wonderful baby shower last month.  I just couldn't resist bragging a little about how wonderful it was to spend the day with my amazing family and friends!! :)

And once again - photography by the uber talented Shelly Ivy from Ivy Studios!

{Holiday Crafts} Silverware Stocking

Materials
Scissors
Felt
Patterned fabric
Hot glue or fabric glue
Rickrack
Beads
Beading cord (we used clear plastic cord)

Instructions
- Use the template to cut two stocking shapes from the felt, then cut the cuff and toe shapes from the patterned fabric. The cuff is a long rectangle with the two long edges folded under and ironed for a clean look.

- Glue the two stocking shapes together at the edges, leaving the top of the stocking open. Fold a 6-inch length of rickrack in half and glue the ends just inside the stocking's top. Glue the cuff and toe in place.

- String beads onto the cord. When the string of beads is long enough to form your letter, knot both ends. Draw your letter onto the stocking with glue, then press the string of beads onto it.

Craft project from FamilyFun.go.com

{Holiday Entertaining} Thanksgiving Tablescape

As I was sitting here today preparing my menu for Thanksgiving next week, I was also thinking about how I was going to tablescape our dining and buffet tables. So I went out on the search for some inspiration and ran across these beautiful pictures found on the Dining Delight blog.  They are absolutely stunning! And the blog has many, many more fantastic decorating and tablescape ideas.  I think I'm going to try the popcorn candles!  What do you think?  How are you decorating your tables?

{Holiday Entertaining} Serve in Style

Beautifully display 3 colorful beverages of your choice in our elegant contemporary Trio Beverage Dispenser. Perfect for entertaining. Self-service through the spigot. Dispenser is made of glass. Exclusive to Z Gallerie. Glasses sold separately.

And who can't have glassware that is just to die for gorgeous from ZGallerie.com.

This Majestic glassware has a beautiful amber luster with exquisite detail painted on the stem. Its grand size and height makes an impressive statement for your table setting. $51.80 (set of 4)

Brighten up those dark and stormy holiday evenings with our dazzling Puccini glassware. The most common libations are transformed into festive drinks in these bright reflective metallic glasses. The intricately etched gold exterior is cleverly paired with a Silver interior, supported on a clear glass stem. $31.80 - 51.80 (sold in set of 4)

Beautiful amber colored glass interlaced with white gives this glassware collection unique character. $31.80 - 39.80 (sold in set of 4)

{Holiday Entertaining} Thanksgiving Place Cards

Delightful Place Cards

Tip your hat to the occasion by making these delightful personalized place cards from miniature flowerpots

You can also make a large version of this Pilgrim hat for a complementary centerpiece.

What You Need:

• 3-inch terra-cotta flowerpots
• Acrylic paints in black, white, red, and blue
• Paintbrush
• Crafting foam in black, yellow, green, and purple
• Scissors
• Thick white crafts glue
• Black fabric paint pen

Instructions:

1. Decorate the pots. Paint each pot black and allow it to dry. Choose a color to paint the band around the top of each pot. Let it dry. Make white dots on the rest of each pot by dipping the handle end of a paintbrush in white paint and dotting onto the surface.

2. Add brims. Trace a circle from black foam about 1/2 inch wider all around than the pot opening, using an appropriate size dish, cup, or lid. Cut out.

3. Make the buckles. For each pot, measure the width of the band (the portion painted a different color). Cut a rectangle from foam that measures about 1/8 inch deeper than the band. Cut out a smaller rectangle from the center. Glue the buckle to the band. Let the glue dry.

4. Personalize for each guest. Use a black paint pen to write a name on each colored band. Allow the paint to dry before using.

Article found on BHG.com

{Pro in the Know} Table Linen Terms

When it comes to planning the details for your grand celebration, you should always consider the scheme of things and truly think about the big picture.  Linens can truly bring a room to life.  A lot of facilities already provide basic linens in typically white, ivory, black and some times brown. 


Here are some terms that will help you when looking into which linen option is right for you:


Classic Standard - This line offers the largest selection of colors and sizes and is the most economically priced it is the perfect solution for cost conscious budgets or, as coordinating linen to an overlay. If you are looking to add dramatic color and flair to your special event this is the way to go! 

Lamours -  Lamour is a smooth matte- satin fabric that lends a luxurious and polished appearance to you table. When you are the event planner, remember Lamour is the special event linen with a myriad of colors to reflect the feelings you are trying to reveal. From wedding linen to any party linen you can imagine, Lamours will present the sentiment you want the guests to experience.

Bichons and Bengalines - With the crinkled silk feel of Bichons and the luxuriously ribbed texture of Bengalines, these tablecloths, napkins and chair ties offer unusually rich color palettes to your table fashions and effortlessly become the party linens to have and showcase your special events!

Damasks and Brocades - Elegantly textured Damask and Brocades are sure to set your special event apart from the others, as you showcase that a tablecloth is not just a tablecloth, it’s a statement!

Pintuck - A very rich and elegant linen with a diamond shape grid pattern and gorgeous sheen.  Dresses up any table to an elegant, yet modern level.

Glitz and Glamour - With its wide array of fabrics that glisten and sparkle, this line will add sizzle to table linen and excitement to any event décor. Add that perfect party linen that will set your special event apart by adding that exceptional twinkle.

And one of the most important questions I get:


Lap Length Linen - If you are sitting at a table, this linen drapes over the top and comes down to just sit above your lap.  This is a great linen to use as an overlay over top of a floor length linen.  I don't recommend using it alone as you will see the table legs.


Floor Length Linen - If you are sitting at a table, this linen drapes over the top and comes all the way down to meet the floor.  


Linen descriptions and pictures provided by www.BBJLinen.com 

Haute & Tantalizing 3D Tablescape | Modern Autumn

This tablescape is a beautiful mixture of modern meets autumn. Yes, fall is quickly approaching, which so happens to be my favorite time of the year. With fall comes wonderful parties celebrating many occasions. This year, I want a fall table that is a bit more modern than the traditional coppers, browns, deep purples, so I created a concept utilizing beautiful black elements such a black and white satin linens and black glassware including the centerpieces and wine glasses. The centerpiece brings in the eye candy colors of plums and copper flowers, while the copper chargers tie it all nicely together. The floral vine invitation and stationery carries on the same floral element as the dinner plates.

Haute & Tantalizing 3D Tablescape | Garden Whimsey

Hosting a fun and whimsical garden theme party? This tablescape will be perfect for you. Invite your guests to your garden bash with beautiful lime and floral inspired invitations.

Create a beautiful centerpiece with carnation pomanders, drizzling crystals, and swirly candleholders sitting atop a bed of wheat grass. Your guests will enjoy the texture of the luxurious grasslike green linens. Personalize clear green plates with these adorable topiary name holders. And don't forget the oh so chic chameleon chairs that are sure to bring a smile to anyones face.

Haute & Tantalizing 3D Tablescape | Christmas Pine

We are actually really excited about this tablescape because we get to bring it to life come this December. One of our clients came to us in search of the perfect decor for her Christmas wedding. Her mandatory element was that we used pine that carried a very strong smell. So we designed this gorgeous kings table for her that brought in the natural pine trees through a long table garland and the various centerpieces. She also wanted it to feel very rich and elegant and that's where we brought in the gold elements like the chivari chairs, gold boxes, gold brooch napkin enhancements, and gold dinnerware. The deep red velvet linens will be exquisite to the touch and the candles will add romance to their evening. To start off this entire celebration, guests will receive gold boxes in the mail with a beautiful red ornament and letterpress invitation enclosed with a small twig of pine.

Watch for this post coming early next year as we showcase this glamorous Christmas wedding. You may even see snow, a hot cocoa bar, and many more surprise elements! (Snow is a big deal to us Phoenicians! LOL)

Haute & Tantalizing 3D Tablescape | Charcoal Trend

Charcoal and golden yellow bring the spin on the perfect modern celebration. It's hip, it's vibrant, and it's oh so modern! Tablescape your table with silver pintuck linens, white square china, blue cobalt glassware, and stainless napkin rings. Set your centerpiece with single yellow flowers of one kind like sunflowers, yellow carnations, or even tulips. Or use multiple yellow buds. Make a dramatic statement with matching yellow and grey metallic menu cards, invitations, and table numbers or place cards.

Haute & Tantalizing 3D Tablescape | Berry Chic Party

A beautiful zebra theme inspired tablescape that is rich in color and uber fun. Perfect for a sweet 16 party, bridal shower, or even super chic wedding reception. Introduce your guests to this fabulous theme with zebra and berry pink invitations. Once they arrive they will know they are in for a good time!

Haute & Tantalizing 3D Tablescape | Rustic Elegance

If there is one thing we love to do with our clients, it's to bring their thoughts and visions to life. Often times it's a challenge to sit down and pull everything from their minds and get it into raw, touchable form. But once you figure it out, it's a very rewarding challenge that we absolutely thrive off of.

However, in return, we are very creative visionaries ourselves with tend setting, creative, and innovative design concepts that live deep in mental libraries. Many times we can tell our visions to clients and the look on their face is priceless .... on one hand they have no clue what we just said, but on the other hand they are absolutely excited and love what we just said.

So we have to do is pull from within our minds to put them out onto paper and we do that through a simple 3D photo-realistic rendering. It's not always perfect and never the exact product, but it gives people a vision to enhance upon so they can give their feedback (good or bad). The end product comes out absolutely amazing because together our ideas, thoughts, likes and dislikes come together cohesively.

3D mock-ups are inspiring --- and you will get to spend this entire month watching many of them come to life through our "Haute & Tantalizing 3D Tablescape" series! Enjoy :)