Table Linens for a Fabulous Holiday Event

Very excited to announce the kick-off of our monthly guest blogger series.  Hope you enjoy this one about table linens from Cassie Bernardi at Pomegranate! 

"My job at holiday meals has always been helping my Grandmother decorate the tables.  I never really liked to help prepare the food, but I can remember running to the hall closet at my Grandmother’s house and pulling out the dry cleaned, white linen cloths.  Getting to choose one for the kid’s table, then the adult table.  Picking stemware.  Opening the cedar chest of silver and setting each place.  Then my sisters and I would run outside and cut holly from the yard, make place setting cards and set out the China.  I can almost remember the excitement of this ritual as much as the creamed peas and twice baked potatoes that make my mouth water in memory.

It sounds somewhat fancy, but my family is really a casual bunch.  We love to eat and laugh and play games at the holidays.  But my Grandmother did impart a tradition of “getting out the fineries” for the holidays.  It made the holidays so special to me and I loved helping her set each place.   

My grandmother passed away several years ago, and my mom, aunts and uncles now take turns hosting the holiday meals.  I still like to take charge of the table setting whenever allowed. 

As much as I love the crisp white linens, I am obsessed with color and love prints (how could you not working at Pomegranate).  This year, I don’t want to stick with the traditional red and green of Christmas or gold, rust and brown of Thanksgiving.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am totally inspired by Anna Spiro’s Absolutely Beautiful Things blog.  I love the colorful plates, and bold flowers she uses below.  I also love the idea of mixing formal with informal… just because we use the silver does not mean the flowers cannot be arranged in assorted mason jars. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love to dig through my Aunt Annie’s antique tablecloth collection to mix-n-match with the white linens that have now been passed down. Starting with a white linen cloth and then layering with a colorful smaller cloth turned on an angle allows the addition of color and print without having to find a tablecloth that fits the table exactly.   The cloths from the 40s and 50s are my favorite for their bold pallet and simple print design.

I also found some awesome ideas for adding a little extra touch with these cute details.  I love this idea of using butcher paper on the kid’s table from Southern Living…

Another idea is letting the kiddos help make place card holders.  It keeps them busy and out of the way while they wait for the main event.

I absolutely love the holidays! Spending time with my family and pigging out are two of my favorite things to do!  Setting a beautiful, creative, unique table is one of the ways you can make the day and meal that much more special.

Hope you have wonderful holiday season!"

-Cassie 

Don't forget that Pomegranate is having their warehouse sale December 8th through 11th at 951 Floyd Drive in Lexington KY.  It's a perfect excuse to load up on some fabulous linens for your holiday tablescape!

Happy shopping!

Holiday Tricks of the Trade

This week has been all about Christmas decor for me.  I hosted the holiday preview party for Polka Dots & Rosebuds and was honored to speak at the Living Well Holiday Edition at the Fayette County Extension Office.  In light of that, I thought I would share some fun and unique tips for you to put to use this holiday season.

- In lieu of weaving wide ribbon through the tree, try a table runner.  It gives a dramatic and luxurious look!

- Replace your traditional tree skirt with gathered fabric.  You can fluff it up to fill in holes between the gifts.

- Place your basic ornaments toward the center (trunk) of the tree and work the more decorative ornaments  further out on the branches.  It allows the fancy ornaments to stand out.

- Refresh old ornaments with a little spray paint and repurpose them as place card holders, fill with flowers to serve as a party favor or simply cluster them on a tiered plate stand for tabletop decor.

Happy Decking the Halls!!

Just a Twinkle For the Season

For those of us in the decorating business, Christmas time is already here.  Planning is underway, decorations are being purchased and the schedules are filling up!  I focus on the interior of a home but when it comes to outdoor decorating, I turn to Eddie McNeal of Just a Twinkle for the Season. His business focuses on nothing but outdoor holiday decor. Eddie is a fabulous resource for me and my clients so I wanted to share some insight with you that he shared with me.

Trends in outdoor decorating:
1. Using LED/commercial lighting.  Forget your Walmart strands, these commercial lights don't have to be scrapped when just one bulb burns out.   Another huge benefit is that up to 46 strands can be connected and feed off of one outlet.  When you order these commercial lights, they are cut to fit your exact dimensions leaving no excess.  That means you don't have to worry about getting tangled up in wires.

2. Yard art. Tasteful yard decorations are all the rage- everything from wooden reindeer to oversized ornaments for the lawn.  If you can't find the exact piece for your yard, look into having it made.  A good craftsman should be able to create the shape you envision and you'll have it for Christmases to come.

3. Shaped lights. What are those?  The lights that are shaped like icicles or candy canes or snowmen or, well you get the picture.  You typically see them hanging from the roofline of a home.  One thing to know before you buy these types of lights- be sure to purchase the  kind that won't blow in the wind and flip up into your gutters.  You don't want to have to climb up there and end up hanging off the edge of your house Clark Griswold style!

4. Outdoor trees covered in lights.  Depending on your overall theme and size of your tree this could mean draping in simple white lights only OR adding large outdoor tree ornaments to create a Christmas tree that would rival the one in Rockefellar Center. 

A good rule of thumb for the appropriate time span of decorations is Thanksgiving to New Year's.  It's okay if you don't spend New Year's Day packing up your decorations, but by the end of the week you want to have things taken down. 

Thanks to Eddie for his insider advice.  If you need some help with your outdoor decor, call Just a Twinkle for the Season at 859.519.7424.

Happy holiday decorating!!

Holiday Preview Party

November 3rd from 5 to 7 pm: Grab some friends to come enjoy yummy holiday fare and to get a jumpstart on your gift buying!!  A variety of sample ornaments, glassware, ceramic and canvas gifts will be on display. PLUS a special discount will be given to those who place orders at the event.  You can click here to start getting gift ideas.

The fabulous M.Ellen Designs will also be available that evening- great stationary, calendars and greeting cards with personalization available.  Visit www.mellendesigns.com for all the goods!

 Talk about convenient- all your greeting card and gift needs in one place!!

Here's a list to get you started:

Teachers

Neighbors

Co-workers

Boss

Employees

Sister

Brother

Mom

Dad

Spouse

Kids

Nieces

Nephews

Doctor

Dentist

Vet

Hairstylist

Gal Pals

Secret Santa

Fall has arrived and I'm SO excited!  Look at some of the Fall- appropriate things I spotted around town:

I am a huge houndstooth fan and this small chest uses just the right amount of the pattern.  It serves to make a space chic and homey!

The linen and stud combination is sooo popular right now.  It's being used on screens (like this one), headboards, sofas and more.  The linen fabric gives the pieces a clean, modern edge while the nailhead studs lend the piece a historic air.

I don't know if you know much about bamboo, but it's not just for pandas.  It hit the scene BIG with the green movement.  Bamboo continues to find new ways to be relevant, like these cable-knit throw blankets.  They are soft and perfect for snuggling up on the sofa or by the fire.  Some other great bamboo products include bedlinens like sheets, and bath towels. Who knew this plant could not only be beautiful in our landscaping but also inside our homes?!

Happy Fall!

The Christmas decor is starting to appear on store shelves.  Here's what I saw when I was at my local Hobby Lobby the other day:

The metallic color scheme is still very chic this holiday season!

 Look at all these super-cute stockings! 

This stocking is particularly appealing to me.  I have a penchant for the fleur-de-lis.

 If you have a love for all things Western, there are gobs of festive decorations for this Christmas.

 

Bandana-themed star shaped ornaments.  Adorable!

 

What a fun way to go all-out with the Western theme.  Everyone could have their own cowboy boot stocking!      

Christmas will be here before you know it, so its not too early to start thinking about your theme. Happy holiday decorating!                                                                                                                                                                 

What is your home telling you??

I recently had the opportunity to be trained with the American Lung Association to become a Master Home Environmentalist.  

 “What in the world does that mean???”,  you ask.  It means that I am certified to conduct complimentary home inspections to assess indoor air quality and suggest low or no cost improvements.  It allows me to offer a personalized approach in helping people who suffer from allergies, children, those who are confined to their home, or those who just want to know what they can improve within their home.  The assessment considers everything from dust and pests to household cleaners/chemicals and the environmental factors surrounding the house.  

If you are interested in finding out what your home is telling you OR know someone else who could benefit from this, please contact me to schedule an appointment:

859.552.5234

liz@polkadotsandrosebuds.com

Happy breathing!