The Final Four

For the past 17 years, I have been at the Gift Show in Atlanta on this day. Today I am in Chicago and it feels okay! I am so excited about our future plans and can't wait to fill you in on the details. But as most of you know, we are closing our retail location and we are in the final 4 weeks of being open .  We are trying to keep our standards and keep the store looking as good as possible during this sale.  We still have a lot of great merchandise to sell.   During the last couple of days, Katha, Penny, Julie and I have re-invented some of our displays!  As customers walk into the store, we  hear "is that new?" or "I haven't seen that before!".  That's what happens when you uncover layers and layers of "stuff" in our store displays. After all, we have never been accused of not having enough inventory!  Now you can just see most of it!  PS-We are adding a few new treasures daily as we discover things in storage or behind doors in cabinets!  And soon we will be pricing all the store fixtures.  Hope to see our local Chicago customers soon!

 

love this set of four burlap chairs

 

These jugs look great on a hearth or kitchen island

 

A set of sweet lavender dinner and dessert plates - a real steal!

 

Pots of hyacinths with white ironstone - love it

 

So spring like- weeping lavender in an umbrella stand.

 

The lanterns above the table are reproductions but are amazing!

The burlap suitcases look great stacked and are perfect for storing items.



 

Leather chair is the perfect size for a small area like a bedroom,

 

The menu board in the old frame is charming for a kitchen!  I have one behind my range.

 

Festive roses in a mosaic vase look pretty with the old French porcelain compotes.

 

 

 

Tea Pots Re-purposed for Flowers

Many people own silver tea pots, silver tea service sets or simply

 a silver sugar bowl that was most likely given to you as a gift or inherited.

 Lovely to look at , but when was the last time it was actually used to serve tea?

But these silver pieces are beautiful containers and look so pretty filled with flowers. 

 I found myself using them several times over the Holidays as flower containers.

 

 

 

Love these large peonies with the white roses

 

A couple of tea pots used with a sugar bowl and

placed together on a small table for a bigger statement

Love the center container - it stood on its own.

 

I particularly love this style of tea pot filled with flowers.

 

The handle has such interesting details

 

the same tea pot filled with pink roses and blue hydrangeas

 

 

A large sugar bowl filled with flowers- also very useful as a silverware caddy for buffets.

 

 

Yes, maybe one day I'll have time to enjoy tea from these beautiful containers,

but for now arranging  my grocery store roses in them, makes me just as content!

 



Ina's Melted Cherry Tomatoes over Salmon- Divine

Ina- you have  done it again.  I made your Melted Cherry Tomatoes over Salmon last night for dinner and I must say- it was divine. It is definitely  a new "go-to" recipe for my family. Your tips in the recipe really made this dish easy and very  successful!  I have never cooked my salmon so well.

 

 

First I sliced little "cherub" tomatoes in half. they are  truly the only tomato besides the Campari-on the vine tomatoes- to really taste like a tomato this time of the year in Chicago.

 

 

 

 

In general , you saute in olive oil  with onions until melted.

 

Throw in fresh basil.

 

Finish with balsamic vinegar and plate.

 

 

Sear salmon - skin side up- for 4 minutes- without touching- in an iron skillet.

This was an invaluable tip!

 

Flip with a fish spatula and voila- beautiful seared salmon.

 

 

 

Plate with the Melted Cherry Tomatoes.

We served with basmati rice. It was deelish!

 

Thanks Ina! You are my favorite and you have done it again!

Fresh and very healthy for the new year. 

This recipe is in her new book  "Foolproof".

Get this recipe and try it! We loved the tomatoes so much, that we made it again the next night and served it with  beef filets. Again, it was a hit!  This is a versatile  tomato sauce- perfect for many applications.

 

 

 

Dishing It Out!

I finally have a day that I can just spend at home cleaning up from the Holidays.  So I am organizing and putting away all the china and silver that has just been sitting on the dining room table.  And as I gaze lovingly  at the enormous pile, I know I am a "dishaholic".  Completely incapable of passing up a gorgeous plate, I still amaze myself with my ability to find space for them!  I love to mix and match and find new combinations that work together.  It is a silly waste of time, but I loooooovvvveee it!

A mixture of gold, pink and white china - mis matched little beauties perfect for Cinderella's breakfast table.

Lovely soft pinks on white porcelain - it just makes me smile

Little magical touches for the Holdiay tables need to be tucked away too! But wait, Valentines is just around the corner.
Maybe it can stay out until then??

Pink marshmallows dusted with coconut flakes seem perfect for this setting.

Just look at the detail found on china painting- exquisite

ready to join the other pink china in the dish pantry that didn't get chosen for the season's festivities

enter the dish pantry - a simple closet with all old door entry.

love this old door.

There is even an oil  painting of dishes in the dish pantry!



Gold floral dessert plates ready to be put away until next time.

 

 

stacks of plates - definitely a  sick sick sickness.

 

 

 

Then there's the large cabinet in the dining room-

Try to keep my old Paris porcelain, white and gold out here!

 

Stacks of Meissen plates- so intricate and pretty

 

 

Then there's the butlers pantry, where the everyday dishes get stacked.

Right out of the dishwasher below and on to those shelves.

 

 

little vintage transfer ware cups and old potted meat ironstone containers - perfect for daily sauces and spreads

 

 

Love these pewter glasses for ice water

 

 

Love love love transferware and ironstone

 

 

Need to gather these up from the kitchen counter and put them away too.

But I love looking at them!  Jill got me started on this tartan thing!

 

 

And I love to decorate with them too!  A series of serving platters in the guest room.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes I do love my dishes!  And I am not even going to show you the china stored  in the hobby room and laundry room.

Plus there's two large consoles in the dining room full of my little pretties. It's a certifiable sickness with no cure in sight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Day of 2012- A Day to Reflect

 

I found this Red Velvet cocoa mix at World Market during the holidays.  I have been thinking about it - wondering if it would be a gorgeous red hot cocoa! This morning- the last day of the year- I finally got time to try it- and no- it -is- not- red.  But very delicious anyway! I just feel lucky that I have time this morning to savor it's aroma because in a few minutes I have to go to work.  With bittersweet feelings,  I am on my way in to the store.  As most of you know, we are closing the store in about 6 weeks. It's time to change gears and do something with a little more freedom. But more to come on that exciting subject later.  Today I just am thankful that I live in a country where I can make the choices about my life.  With that thought in mind, this video really puts things in perspective.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnAJ41P5BDE

 

it's called "Lightning in a Jar"

 

Happy New Year Everyone!