Our Reclaimed Barnwood Farm Tables

I mean, I could take a boring photo of our lovely reclaimed barnwood farm tables sitting in a field somewhere, but hey, I figured why not take a photo of everyone chowing down while seated at one?! This is a photo of my neighbors in DC enjoying some grub at the French country inspired baby shower we styled.  Mind you this is after we've all be eating for a while and enjoyed a mimosa or two, so the set up is a bit messy but you can definitely see our new tables.

When I received the tables, the surface was unfinished and hand-planed reclaimed pine barnwood.    I topped with with 100% pure tung oil to bring out the lovely old grain.  The beauty of old growth wood can't be matched with today's new wood, even if you scuff it up and distress it. The grain is just so gorgeous...I could go on and on.   Plus, the wood is reclaimed so we are sticking to our pledge of being as green and eco-friendly as possible. Seriously, how amazing is this table?!

More pictures of the tables to follow...perhaps a bit more professional looking :)

I spy chicken wire chargers made by Something Vintage.....

Sneak Peek: French Country Baby Shower

This weekend, we styled a lovely French country themed baby shower brunch (we called it "Brunch du Bebe") for Sandra and Jean Paul.  The adorable parents-to-be did not know the gender of the baby but had decorated their nursery with a mural of an orange bird in a tree, so we chose orange as an accent color.  Check out these cute details--we made chicken wire plate chargers (for a rustic, country feel) and mounted on framed chicken wire these little birds made from old French book pages.  We also built buffet table from old pallets and hung the lace ribbon curtain (made from antique lace linens) from old pieces of picket fencing.  Isn't this a lovely set up for a nice fall day?  I'll take two croissants, s'il vous plait---courtesy of the delicious French bakery Le Caprice.

The shower was held at Wangari Gardens, a community garden right by the couples' home in Washington DC.  This is a photo that I took, so please ignore my lack of photography skills. The shots from the real photographer Anne Robert (who is UBER talented) will be much better!  Promise.  Stay tuned for more...

Instant Style: Macaroons on Vintage China

These macaroons from Paul Bakery Cafe in DC are lovely by themselves but we are really loving the look of them on vintage china.  The colors in this adorable vintage plate compliment the colors of the delectable treats.  Rather than using plain china next time you serve macaroons or desserts to guests, try serving them on a fancy antique plate. It's guaranteed to make your company swoon!

 

Time to Make the Donuts!

It is hard to resist a donut.  Coupled with their irresistible taste and high cute factor, you can understand why these single serving delights are making an icing-dipped splash as the latest event trend. 

The ring is the most recognizable shape of these little, tasty pastries but they are also easily adapted to fit your sugary needs.  So when planning your event, think about all the interesting variations that the donut offers: twisted, filled, frosted, powered, holed or sprinkled.  Available in all sorts of flavors, they can be tailored to fit your party theme, color or vignette.

Served on pretty china, they are the instantly upgraded to fancy desserts for baby showers and tea parties. Stacked in tiers they can rival any traditional wedding cake.  Put them on sticks and they are transformed to fairground confections.  Tied with homemade bows, they can be bagged and given out as whimsical party favors.  And who wouldn’t like to ante up to a donut bar and throw back a few?

“Donuts. Is there anything they can’t do?” – Homer Simpson

Photo courtesy of www.greenweddingshoes.com

Photo courtesy of www.projectwedding.com

Tea Party Attire!

Tea Party Attire by somethingvintagerentals

Once you've returned your RSVP card to an afternoon tea party it's time to decide what to wear. Whether this is your first tea or you're a seasoned veteran here are some tips and reminders!

1. A dress or pants-suit is a great base to your outfit. Choose a color and style appropriate for the season and your age. Spring and Summer tea parties tend to be more informal, while Autumn and Winter teas are more formal.

2. Read your invitation for specific accessory requirements. Do you need to wear a hat? Gloves? Is it a playful or children's tea party where costume jewelry is encouraged? If there are no special requirements we suggest finding authentic vintage pieces to accompany your outfit.

3. For an outdoor tea party wedges and flats are the practical footwear choice.

4. Bring a light jacket, sweater, or shawl. If the tea is formal, exposing your arms might be considered taboo. The weather or air conditioning could also create a chilly environment; this way you'll be prepared!

5. Wear a smile and bring a positive attitude. You'll surly meet new people at the tea and will want to make a great first impression.

Foraging for Flowers: DIY Wedding Flowers

Foraging for herbs and veggies seems to be all the rage these days, especially in high end restaurants like Daniel in NYC.

That got me thinking, why not forage for flowers for events and weddings?  There are so many pretty flowers that grow wild--even those that were once considered weeds, like Queen Anne's Lace (love, love love!).  So when I visited my in-laws in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho I couldn't resist giving it a try.  It certainly doesn't hurt that they have lambs ear growing wild everywhere!

Check out this great bouquet that I picked while taking a walk around their house!  Not too shabby.

Tea Party Etiquette + Invitations

 

Since many of us (at least younger Americans) did not grow up having "afternoon tea," some clients have asked for etiquette guidelines for tea parties.   So, I found a great (and humorous) Emily Post book "Etiquette" published in 1922 talking about all aspects of the tea party.

I'll post it in parts starting with tea party invitation wording because her guidelines are pretty long.  Take some of this with a grain of salt (or sugar!), especially the "servants" and "Best Society's" parts!

Please note that this is what was considered proper and tea parties then-- today, afternoon teas do not have to follow strict guidelines.

“DO COME IN FOR A CUP OF TEA” This is Best Society’s favorite form of invitation. It is used on nearly every occasion whether there is to be music or a distinguished visitor, or whether a hostess has merely an inclination to see her friends. She writes on her personal visiting card: “Do come in on Friday for a cup of tea and hear Ellwin play, or Farrish sing, or to meet Senator West, or Lady X.” Or even more informally: “I have not seen you for so long.”	20
Invitations to a tea of this description are never “general.” A hostess asks either none but close friends, or at most her “dining” list; sometimes this sort of a “tea” is so small that she sits behind her own tea-table—exactly as she does every afternoon.	21
But if the tea is of any size, from twenty upwards, the table is set in the dining-room and two intimate friends of the hostess “pour” tea at one end, and chocolate at the other. The ladies who “pour” are always especially invited beforehand and always wear afternoon dresses, with hats, of course, as distinguished from the street clothes of other guests. As soon as a hostess decides to give a tea, she selects two friends for this duty who are, in her opinion, decorative in appearance and also who (this is very important) can be counted on for gracious manners to everyone and under all circumstances.	22
It does not matter if a guest going into the dining-room for a cup of tea or chocolate does not know the deputy hostesses who are “pouring.” It is perfectly correct for a stranger to say “May I have a cup of tea?”	23
The one pouring should answer very responsively, “Certainly! How do you like it? Strong or weak?”	24
If the latter, she deluges it with hot water, and again watching for the guest’s negative or approval, adds cream or lemon or sugar. Or, preferring chocolate, the guest perhaps goes to the other end of the table and asks for a cup of chocolate. The table hostess at that end also says “Certainly,” and pours out chocolate. If she is surrounded with people, she smiles as she hands it out, and that is all. But if she is unoccupied and her momentary “guest by courtesy” is alone, it is merest good manners on her part to make a few pleasant remarks. Very likely when asked for chocolate she says: “How nice of you! I have been feeling very neglected at my end. Everyone seems to prefer tea.” Whereupon the guest ventures that people are afraid of chocolate because it is so fattening or so hot. After an observation or two about the weather, or the beauty of the china or how good the little cakes look, or the sandwiches taste, the guest finishes her chocolate.	25
If the table hostess is still unoccupied the guest smiles and slightly nods “Good-by,” but if the other’s attention has been called upon by someone else, she who has finished her chocolate, leaves unnoticed.	26
If another lady coming into the dining-room is an acquaintance of one of the table hostesses, the new visitor draws up a chair, if there is room, and drinks her tea or chocolate at the table. But as soon as she has finished, she should give her place up to a newer arrival. Or perhaps a friend appears, and the two take their tea together over in another part of the room, or at vacant places farther down the table. The tea-table is not set with places; but at a table where ladies are pouring, and especially at a tea that is informal, a number of chairs are usually ready to be drawn up for those who like to take their tea at the table.	27
In many cities, strangers who find themselves together in the house of a friend in common, always talk. In New York smart people always do at dinners or luncheons, but never at a general entertainment. Their cordiality to a stranger would depend largely upon the informal, or intimate, quality of the tea party; it would depend on who the stranger might be, and who the New Yorker. Mrs. Worldly would never dream of speaking to anyone—no matter whom—if it could be avoided. Mrs. Kindhart on the other hand, talks to everyone, everywhere and always. Mrs. Kindhart’s position is as good as Mrs. Worldly’s every bit, but perhaps she can be more relaxed; not being the conspicuous hostess that Mrs. Worldly is, she is not so besieged by position-makers and invitation-seekers. Perhaps Mrs. Worldly, finding that nearly every one who approaches her wants something, has come instinctively to avoid each new approach.	28