Write On: November 2010

11.29.2010

Quote of the Week

11.23.2010

At Table: Thanksgiving Table Decorations

It's Thanksgiving week and we love this time of year! Amidst the hustle and bustle of cooking, cleaning and all around guest prep frenzy- we thought we'd share a few inspired touches to help make you make your Thanksgiving table as lovely as can be- with simplicity and style. Delicious!!

Photo: Delish.com

Love the plates and julep cup o' feathers- especially combined with the brown and white "lighter" touches- especially great in a southern or warmer climate. It's easier than you think to create menus and a great way to recognize the hard work and talents in the kitchen! Use rubber stamps, a touch of string or ribbon, and layered papers (recycled Green Paper Company Goldenseal, Cottonwood and Chestnut would be ideal here)

Photos: Martha Stewart

Make guests feel especially welcome by creating individual place cards. It's easy (really!) and we even have pre-cut place cards in an array of autumn colors in the shop.

Photo: Weekend Host

What a better opportunity than Thanksgiving to share your thoughts with your loved ones- What are you grateful for? Have each guest pen a few words and start an annual tradition - a collection of gratitude notes that you can keep in a keepsake box. There is no better time than now to start creating a family heirloom!

Photo: Heather S Thompson

Photo: Delish.com

This is a really cute way to display notes of gratitude, and even family recipes. You can clip them to ribbon strung over your fireplace mantle or on branches placed in a vase. We love the idea of creating a family tradition that is a brief activity each guest can anticipate and look forward to each year. It would be wonderful to have family recipes written in the chefs handwriting to savour and be remembered for generations to come.

If you have a tradition that you love, please post a comment- we'd love to hear your inspirations!

Photo: Ada and Darcy

Simple center pieces: create clusters of individual vintage glassware or vases- mixed patterns add to the casual elegance.

Photo: A Creative Mint

We especially love the simplicity of wrapping a section of the vase in a lovely lace or translucent paper!

Photo: Martha Stewart

We could go on and on with more ideas, (especially all these cute and clever paper inspired pix), but alas... we are retailers after all and it is Thanksgiving week... the beginning of our most wonderful season of all! Stay tuned for Holiday ideas and enjoy the calm before the storm: Thanksgiving!!

11.22.2010

Quote of the Week

11.19.2010

Shop Local this Holiday Season!!

Two great efforts of late to support small businesses across the country from Independent We Stand and The 3/50 Project.

The 3/50 Project recently signed on American Express as a sponsor, adding much needed financial support, and has built two great new campaigns:

"Small Business Saturday"
and
"Big Things come from Small Boxes"

Both, preach the good word of shopping local this holiday season. Take a moment to check out these sites and to sign up and make your mark. Most of all- just say to no to the lure of 4 A.M. sales at the big boxes and harness your hard earned dollars into your local community. You may wind up with a bit less in your stocking this year- but a whole lot more down the road, when this Spring, your local brick and mortar shop is still standing.

A BIG small business thank you to Cinda Baxter (3/50 Project) and Independent We Stand for their outstanding efforts to send business our way this season and all year long!

All logos are registered trademarks of their organizations.

11.15.2010

Quote of the Week

11.09.2010

Erin and Andy's Wedding

Every season there is one truly fabulous wedding- and this year it was Erin and Andy's. The wedding was at the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota, and every detail was designed to perfection. We just received photos, courtesy of their wedding planner NK Productions and thought we'd share a first glimpse.