Sweet Valentine's Tributes

 Sunday  night, I was at my friend Jill's home for dinner.  It is always a treat to explore her little antique vignettes that are displayed in her home.  She has a natural talent for creating little magical collections of fresh flowers and antique accessories.  While she was preparing a delightful  dinner, Marlene ( who was visiting from Tennessee) and I were admiring and taking pictures of these thoughtful little displays. 

 

On the kitchen pine farm table, a mirror plateau with two small pitchers of fresh flowers, a candle, salt and pepper cellars and a sugar bowl.

 

A wooden bread board with Leslie Stowe crackers, Camembert, truffles and fresh roses - served with a gorgeous horn cheese knife.

 A collection of  silver, horn and iron pieces with fresh tulips and a boxwood ball for a pop of color!

 Parchment books, Victorian iron planters filled with fresh ferns,

a terrarium filled with tulips, nests, eggs and moss.

 

 

 The fresh ferns and moss remind us that spring is coming soon!

 

Moss, ex votos, roses, candles and the boy statue on a cement Jan Barboglio plateau in the center of the dining room table.

 

 

On a side note-----

The three of us had spent the day before at a local flea market.  One of the booths was displaying some handmade items made from old lace, rhinestones and old books. 

 We simply could not resist them.

Little card board potting pots with wire handles were covered with vintage lace remnants and then embellished with rhinestones.  Excited about my purchase, I placed them on a silver tray and filled them with dried roses that were left from Julie's birthday  party last weekend.   

 

Tossing a little bright green reindeer moss on the tray added the contrast that I needed.

Insides of old books are wrapped and tied with laces and rhinestone embellishments.

I added these to the tray.

 

I had purchased the candle bobeches the month before and they looked perfect with this Valentine's vignette.



 

Old wax cupids from the 1920's were then added to the grouping.

 

Vintage blush and grey beads from the flea market look so pretty on the tray.

 

 

 

Just need to add a few votives and voila-  a wonderful centerpiece for Valentines!

 

I have found that silver trays, plateaus, bread boards, and books are all great elements to "corral" a collection together on a tabletop. It unifies the statement and makes a stronger impact with all the items grouped together, rather than placed individually on the table. 

After being inspired by my friend's home on Sunday night, 

 I have decided that  Jill is a master of this skill! 

Twigs Florist in Lake Bluff- a Treat for the Senses

My favorite florist, Twigs, located in downtown Lake Bluff, is a delight for the eyes.  I cannot wait to go in the little shop and look at the gorgeous flowers.  European in personality, the shop is packed with style.  Just take a look at these store windows- they stopped my car in its tracks as I was driving home the other night and I  had to turn around and drive by again just to soak in the sheer delightful beauty of  it!



One of the most exquisite store windows that I have ever seen. 
 As the flowers start to fade, Jeannie places them in the heart wreath to dry.  So so pretty.
Looks like a window in Paris!

 One of the gorgeous arrangements that she has made for me over the years.

 

I love these little iron eggs that she fills with little bouquets.

 

 

Birthday flowers from Mr. RTH- enjoyed on the terrace  with a glass of rose from a favorite California vineyard.

 



 

Centerpiece for a wedding reception at my home

 A little arrangement that she made for me to take to a friend.

 

 

Bouquet for a wedding shower at my home

 

Gorgeous bouquet for my surprise birthday dinner last summer!

 

 

 

little arrangements made for a brunch at my home last week.

Sweet little arrangement given as a birthday gift to a friend!

 

A tussie mussie in pink opaline glass for a birthday brunch.

 

 

Her roses stay fresh for days and never droop.

 

 

 

Love these little stone hearts- I wonder what she'll do with them???

 

 

I am looking forward to a little trip to the shop to see what tickles my fancy for Valentines.

Jeannie and her staff are so talented.  If you live in the area, please visit Twigs.

 They get my highest endorsement!  Their work is simply exquisite!

And as an added bonus, they are delightful to work with!

 

"Putting on the Ritz" for a Birthday Brunch

Today we celebrated the 60th birthday of Julie, one of my Romancing the Home girls. She is my rock- the one everyone calls in to cover absences, the cleaner, the absolute organizer and the one that follows the rules---------- and I wanted to do something special for her  big birthday.  She is such a special person in my life and I am so lucky.  About 16 years ago, she was a customer, shopping  in my store. I remember her buying a leather bound book and she said to me " If you are ever looking for someone- I would enjoy working here"- and I hired her on the spot!  It is a decision that I will never regret. I love this girl! 

 Since the weekend of her birthday is  Super Bowl , we decided to do brunch.  I had my favorite florist, Twigs, create the flowers, while I concentrated on the food.  I wanted to set the theme as a "virtual " week in Paris.  So I decided to turn the kitchen into a French Café.

I took Twigs a collection of pink and turquoise opaline glass . Julie's favorite colors are pink and blue.

 

 

 

Pink Opaline glasses - so pretty and so hard to find.

 

Love these turquoise votives used for  the party.

 

 

 

 

She created several little arrangements so that I could place them in several locations.  

 The ones above were on the patisserie stand on the kitchen island.

 

 

 

Vintage tumblers were dipped in cranberry juice and then dipped in

Raspberry and Rosemary sea salt.

 

 

 

Sea salt was placed in the black swan salt cellar that my dear friend, Mariterese gave me.

 

A grapefruit liqueur ,Pamplemouss Rose, from France made by Cartron  was chilled and poured in the salt rimmed glasses.

 

 

A fresh squeezed grapefruit taste prevailed- delicious little aperitif for brunch.

Beautiful color.

 

 

Fresh berries ready to go on honey vanilla yogurt parfaits with apricot granola.

 Tarragon egg salad in little champagne glasses, topped with crumbled bacon, pear bread, strawberry bread in little pink wraps on the 3 tier stand.

 

Close - up of the Strawberry bread wrapped like a present on a 3 tiered tray.

 

Bacon and Eggs the easy way - egg salad with crumbled bacon and a sprig of fresh tarragon.

 

A pink opaline vanity piece substitutes for a votive on the breakfast buffet

 

French Toast Bread Pudding with fresh raspberries and whipped cream- great recipe.

An over night recipe - no hassle and very good!   I finally found 12 gold ramekins just before the party!  I have been looking for them for years.

 

 

 

Fresh hot chocolate croissants from Trader Joe's- right out of the oven.

You simply cannot beat them for taste, a wonderful smell in the kitchen and convenience.

 

We made  brunch casual - served in the kitchen and eat where you want! 

 Laid back and easy for a snowy Sunday morning.

 

 

 

Mariterese sent a special delivery of macaroons from a  Belgian bakery in Chicago-

and trust me -they were divine!

 

I decided to set up my hotel serving cart for the dessert course and covered the salted caramel chocolate macaroons with the French patisserie cloche.

 

 



My friend Gail gave me this old hotel serving cart about 5 years ago and I love serving dessert on it!

 



 

Simply decadent taste- just look at the filling! These little babies are about 3 inched wide and 1 inch thick and have a gooey yummy filling.

 

 

Of course Mariterese sent enough for an army, so everyone got to take a couple home.

 

 

 

Next it was time for some lovely wrapped presents.

 

 

 

Several of the girls gave Julie flowers from Twigs in special containers.

 I love this blue opaline vase that Katha found.

 

Vintage flower bows- I just love ....

 

Absolutely exquisite Venetian dish - I realllllly did want to steal this !

 

And look at the divine Venetian perfume bottle.

Julie has this awesome blue and crème toile paper in her powder room.  I can just see these in there.

 

Another exquisite floral with the little  bee pin on the quince stem- can you see it?

Such a clever idea from Jill.

 

 

A pretty Strawberry Crème cocktail  for " after  the gifts"!

 

 

We spent the afternoon on a virtual tour to Paris- lots of photo-shopped pictures with our faces super imposed  on great bodies ( not ours!) - found ourselves as fashion models, super wealthy shoppers and jet setters in the City of Lights- Paris- with all the fantasy  pictures synced to the big flat screen in my family room. We sat back on the sofas and drank Champagne and laughed and sometimes wondered- could I really look like this if I lost weight????? Or maybe if I was 10 inches taller????

 Nope- no way ever!  Can I have another croissant please??!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a lot of laughs and memories between friends.

 

Happy Birthday Julie- I love you!