vignette design

What's On My Nightstand

2012-01-29T08:31:00.000-08:00

The R.E.A.D. book club has chosen "The Space Between Us" for the next book to read.

It looks to be a good one!

Here is what Amazon says:

"The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar's poignant novel about a wealthy woman and her downtrodden servant, offers a revealing look at class and gender roles in modern day Bombay. Alternatively told through the eyes of Sera, a Parsi widow whose pregnant daughter and son-in-law share her elegant home, and Bhima, the elderly housekeeper who must support her orphaned granddaughter, Umrigar does an admirable job of creating two sympathetic characters whose bond goes far deeper than that of employer and employee."

Sounds intriguing, right? I would love to have you join me in reading this novel.

The book club meets again on March 1st to discuss.

Send me your thoughts about the book and I'll share them at our next meeting, and visa versa with a follow-up post.

Think of it as a virtual book club!

It's a Dog's Life

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Houzz

Recently, my friend and fellow dog mom sent me a few photos of ways to integrate the family dog into the decor.

While I'm not going to give up precious real estate in my kitchen to carve out a dog bed for Dexter and Bear, these are great ideas!

Houzz

Of course, this is the favorite photo, but not because of the feeding station.

You guessed it! Check out that gorgeous glass door Sub-zero.

But I digress!

Houzz

Having a pet shower in the laundry room would be so convenient!

bhg

If you've ever bathed a rather large dog at home, you know what I mean.

Pinterest

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist!

I mean, how cute is this Airstream dog house?

Beginning Monday, I'm pet sitting my daughter and her husband's dog, Bear for three and a half months while they go off on an adventure.

He is still a puppy and is super anxious when left alone. If I go to the store, he ransacks the house.

I bought a kennel yesterday, and I think he actually likes the security of the small space, so I'm experimenting leaving for short periods of time.

I welcome any suggestions....

In the meantime, Dexter is not amused by the young one!

The Welsh Dresser

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

Antiques Atlas

What is it about the Welsh dresser that appeals to us?

Hermitage On The Web

Helen Meserve of Running Battle Antiques answers that question perfectly:

"Why do we respond so emotionally to this one item? For starters, the Welsh dresser conjures up a romantic image of a simpler life more than two hundred years ago.... "

"a farmer’s cottage in Wales with a peat fire burning in the open hearth, a baby asleep in the cradle nearby, the husband sitting on a stool by a table finishing his gruel for breakfast while the wife stands before her high oak cupboard polishing every bit of pewter until it shines like silver, then rubbing the wood with beeswax to a fine patina."

Cote de Texas

Carol Glasser's Welsh dresser (above) has inspired me for years. I'll never forget the first time I saw it in a magazine years ago. It spoke to me and I realized that it was precisely the kind of display that I wanted for my dish collection. I did not want my dishes behind glass!

I can't remember if I already had my pine Welsh dresser, or if seeing hers inspired me to find one of my own.

I have had this dresser for 20 years. It is a married piece, which contributes to the rusticness of it.

It is fun to change up the dishes on display, depending on the season or holiday.

I like to think about the history of this piece. Where did it come from?

England? Wales?

I hope Wales, where our son-in-law is from.

Secret: there is a pipe carved into the top of the hutch, signifying who the cabinet maker was.

Kind of like his trademark.

The Welsh dresser at home was a birthday gift from Mr. A.

It is a little finer that the pine one, but still quite rustic, due to the painted back.

There are carved acorns on it. I was told it came from Wales.

But maybe not. "Welsh" dresser is a misnomer as these were made in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Welsh pieces were more elaborate, while the English pieces were more simple.

Perhaps my pine dresser is English and my oak one is Welsh.

Either way, they most certainly conjure up images of a simpler, romantic time.

Wales was a poor country, so these cupboards were made to hold everything from food preparation to storage in the kitchen/diningroom/livingroom.

The top of the dresser displayed the family's prized pewter or china, while underneath, the mixing bowls and serving pieces were stored.

The Welsh dresser was made with whatever wood was available.

Pine, elm, but most were oak. No two were ever alike.

I look forward to visiting Wales someday.

Top on the list of places to visit will be the Museum of Welsh Life, just outside of Cardiff.

It's a living museum with cottages scattered amongst the gardens, each with Welsh dressers and other antiques from the 17th century.

Birdhouse Love

2012-01-24T06:15:00.000-08:00

My Dad's hobby was making birdhouses. He used to surprise me with his little creations, like the one above. In fact, one day in the spring of 2001, he visited me and gave me his entire collection of birdhouses that he had been making in his workshop.

I think he knew he didn't have much time left and he wanted me to have them.

For twelve years, the entire birdhouse collection has been stored in the garage.

Except for one, a bird feeder that he mounted on a pole in my backyard that day.

A few weeks later, he passed away.

I haven't touched it since.

After nearly 12 years of weathering the elements, there is not much left of it.

Still, I can't take it down.

But somebody did.

Little did I know that our new son-in-law took it down and completely rebuilt it!

On Saturday, he surprised me with the same bird feeder that my Dad made, completely reconstructed and preserved for hopefully another 12 years.

I feel like my Dad is "up there" with a big grin on his face!

He would have loved our son-in-law.

I know I sure do!

The Butler's Pantry

2012-01-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

This post is for all you dishaholics who came out last week.

Admitting we have a problem is Step One, so this post is about the art of display and storage of our "problem."

If you don't have a butler's pantry to store your dishes, then you are probably dreaming of one.

A separate room to store it all would be my idea of heaven!

I would even be happy with a full length cabinet like the one above in my garage!

Just having a little niche or room! Many readers wrote that they were thinking of turning a spare bedroom into a storage area.

Storage is definitely a problem for us dishaholics!

Reading everyone's comments about their dish obsession and lack of storage space made me realize that I might have a solution right under my nose.

My laundry room!

A butler's pantry/laundry room!

All that needs to be done is to clear out the junk behind those cabinet doors!

Craft stuff, vases, old candles, pots, etc. and organize the cupboards with dishes.

I'm tempted to remove the doors though so that the dishes can be seen and appreciated.

That, or maybe put glass in them.

What do you think? Is it weird to have a washer and dryer in your butler's pantry?

A Woodland Style Tablescape for January

2012-01-19T05:36:00.000-08:00

January seems the perfect month for a "woodland style" tablescape.

I've been thinking about this table setting for a long time now, so it was really fun to finally create it.

The inspiration for this tablescape is from the book, Woodland Style by Marlene Hurley Marshall. It is a wonderful book full of ideas for bringing nature into your home, using foraged and found objects from outside.

Right up my alley!

I gathered my bird's nests, moss and tree slices to create the centerpiece.

The wedding hydrangeas look perfect in faux bois pots.

Deer horn candle holders add to the theme.

Also left over from the wedding are these log slices that are serving as chargers for the table setting.

Two majolica leaf plates sit on top.

The salad plate is the latest Ebay find that I wrote about yesterday.

Real wood napkin rings were an Etsy find.

The Ralph Lauren floral napkins pull together all the woodsy colors of the majolica plates.

A birch candle casts a warm glow on the tiny precious hummingbird nest that my Mother found.

A small wood slice is the foundation.

Real beeswax candles with faux bees tie in with the white hydrangeas.

Looking down the table at the centerpiece...

...and the place settings.

I envisioned a meal of foraged wild edibles, like risotto topped with sautéed morel mushrooms.

Or ramp bread pudding--all recipes found in the book!

My daughter suggested braised lamb shanks, quinoa risotto and wild mushroom ravioli.

For this tablescape in January, any kind of comfort food would work!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Dishaholics Anonymous

2012-01-18T06:16:00.000-08:00

Is there was such a thing as Dishaholics Anonymous? Well there should be for people like me!

I need another plate like I need a hole in the head and vowed to not buy any more in 2012.

So what do I do? I buy more plates!

When I found these cute little majolica salad plates on Ebay, I didn't even think about where I am going to store them.

Geez, it's only mid-January and that resolution is out the window!

Readers email me a lot, asking, "where do you keep it all?"

Well, here are a few places....

As you can see, I'm running out of room!

Storage is a big problem.

Here is my wedding china and some Belleek passed down from Mr. A's family.

Now I'm storing them to be passed down someday to our children.

There are drawers underneath the banquette bench in the breakfast room.

Perfect for chargers, place mats and tablecloths.

The glassware.

Red, purple and green wine hocks and water glasses.

More of the same....

I'm really only showing the tip of the iceberg. These are just the organized cupboards.

There are dishes stashed in drawers and cupboards, in the garage and the laundry room.

Wouldn't it be great to have one big china closet to store it all like Bunny Williams has?

That way, it can all be seen at once, making it easy to plan how you're going to set the table.

She has everything at the ready on these shelves to create her table centerpieces.

My idea of heaven!

Somehow I think having this kind of storage would be dangerous for a dishaholic like me.

My name is Delores and I'm a dishaholic!

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Blah Blah Blah

2012-01-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

I've been a little "under the weather" lately.

It seems that I have a bad case of the January Blahs!

I always get a bad case of the blahs in January, but this year it's worse because it's been two months since we have had any real rain! Day after day of beautiful sunny weather!

The birds haven't even flown south yet!

It needs to rain. Then my January Blahs will match the weather!

This is the time of year when a rip roaring fire is appreciated...

...along with candles. Lots of candles.

My battery operated candles have been a real blah fighter too, automatically coming on at 5:00 pm. It's fun that they're everywhere, up the stairs, on the window sills and mantels.

The January Blahs will eventually be replaced by February and the hope of Spring.

In the meantime, I'm also fighting the blahs with flowers. Lots of flowers.

The weather report says a major storm is arriving on Thursday.

I can't wait!

The Scullery Kitchen

2012-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

I've always been drawn to rustic, old world scullery kitchens from France and Italy.

However, it would be a pain to actually work in one.

Can you imagine doing dishes in this sink?

There is a fine line between a kitchen with patina and one that has all the modern conveniences.

Joanne Hudson

Campagne Decoration

Materials like stone floors, beamed ceilings, plaster walls and old copper pots lend the look and feel of a scullery kitchen. It's possible to have those elements and have a functional kitchen too.

Open shelving is another element that says "scullery!"

Old French tiles and a designated alcove just for the range.

That's what I'm obsessing about today.

Three months ago, we ordered a new Wolfe range. It's now ready to be delivered, so I'm in the process of preparing for its new home. It will be freestanding, just like the stove above, except the wall will be tiled in white subway tile.

Cote de Texas

In keeping with the scullery kitchen look, I would love to hang copper pots on the wall, like above. Love how the hooks are mounted on an old wood plaque.

It's stage 2 of the kitchen facelift that began in October.

It's going to be a little trickier because the floor will need to be patched and possibly reinforced to hold this behemoth!

Stay tuned.....

On This Harvest Moon

2012-01-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

I never tire of seeing a full moon!

I mean, how beautiful was that full moon last night?

It reminded me of a night in Asti last fall when I captured the moon rising above the Mayacama Mountains.

When the full moon is out in Asti, I'm like a kid, running around trying to capture the moon and the evening light.

I call it "night vision!"

If you've been following my blog for a while, you might already know that I love experimenting with night time photography.

I captured the pool house here, using a tripod.

I just love how the camera captures the evening colors....

...and it's fun to peek through the windows into the world inside at night.

There is also something called the "blue hour" that I'm obsessed with too.

See the little corner of blue sky in this photo? That's the blue hour!

The blue hour and the vegetable garden.

Then, there are the sunsets!

I made Mr. A pull over so I could photograph the sunset and fog over the vineyard a mile or two down the road.

But, it's really the moon that intrigues me the most.

A Harvest Moon!

Is there anything more romantic?

Speaking of romantic. For our daughter's wedding a few weeks ago, her brother played this song by Neil Young.

Harvest Moon.

She was raised on it!

Here it is for your viewing pleasure....

A New Look For The Sunroom Urns

2012-01-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

The four urns on the sunroom ledge were left over from our oldest daughter's wedding ten years ago. It's always a challenge what to put in them that is maintenance free.

The moss balls seemed like a good solution. For a while...

At Christmas, I put poinsettias in them for a seasonal change.

Then I remembered the succulent rings left over from our youngest daughter's wedding this last December.

I put a small plate over the top of the urn to hold the ring, then added a flameless candle, also left over from the wedding.

The candles are from Costco and are the coolest flameless candles ever. They actually are on a timer, so every night at dusk they turn on. I'm not really into flameless candles but they were perfect for the wedding.

The candles are quite realistic. They're real wax, scented with vanilla and actually flicker too!

By combining the leftovers from both daughter's weddings, I think I've finally come up with a maintenance free, beautiful solution for the sunroom ledge.

The Flora and Fauna Tour

2012-01-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

The best part of spending time in Asti is being outside, enjoying nature--the "flora and fauna" if you will.

Asti engages all the senses, from the peaceful quiet, to the scent of lavender and roses, or the beauty of the surrounding vineyards and oaks. Wherever you are, there is always something to experience.

There are many places to just sit and enjoy, like the table under the Mulberry tree above...

...or by the poolside.

Perhaps an old iron bench is where you want to sit and reflect.

This grass knoll in front of the house is another place to sit and observe.

At night, we build a big fire and watch for shooting stars!

An occasional deer sighting is always a treat.

Even the pesky turkeys are amusing to watch.

You just never know what creature might turn up here.

After all, it is completely surrounded by wild, untamed land.

I'm always on the look-out for coyotes or mountain lions!

And yes, snakes! This one is a harmless garter snake, but there are rattlesnakes to watch out for too.

There are so many birds! I could sit for hours and just watch them...

...especially at dusk when they perform their dances and swoop down for a drink.

The bees love the lavender!

There is an arbor that runs along the front of the house...

...where a European table grape called Black Monukka happily grow.

They are the sweetest grapes ever!

Olive trees grow happily here too. In the late fall, we pick them and make our own olive oil.

No matter where you look, there is a view.

But my favorite view is looking east...

...toward Rodney Strong's "Wild Oak" vineyard.

It's like one big giant flat screen television! Except for the change of seasons, the scene stays the same. A huge patchwork quilt of cabernet grapes!

It is such a pleasure to be outdoors in Asti.

We usually end up taking our meals al fresco and staying out late, watching the stars and the moon.

We don't do that in town. The light from the city dulls the night sky, not to mention all the sounds from airplanes to sirens.

But in Asti, when the weather is nice, being outside is the point! Especially at night!

Please join me for an evening in Asti, coming up.

The Nooks and Crannies Tour

2012-01-04T12:37:00.000-08:00

The "nooks and crannies" tour begins with details of the bedrooms and their bathrooms, then the main living areas. I've tried to include close-up details in each room.

Some of these photos I've never before featured, and some you may recognize.

Above, is the pool house bedroom. It's a cozy little room, perched atop the pool house and subsequently has some fantastic views.

The bed is from Restoration Hardware and the accessories, including the bedside tables are either from the flea market or antique stores.

Downstairs, the bathroom also serves as a changing room for the pool and spa.

A pair of terry robes and spa slippers are at the ready.

There are two en suite bedrooms in the main house.

This one is upholstered in a lively linen stripe, giving it the atmosphere of a circus tent.

The linen headboard is from Pottery Barn, the bedside tables, alabaster lamps and accessories are vintage.

The tiny bathroom that services this bedroom packs a lot of punch in the small space.

It definitely qualifies as a nook and cranny!

Right next door is the "master" bedroom, only because it has a king bed and a larger bathroom.

The bed is from a local consignment store. The walls are also upholstered, this time in a taupe linen.

Both bathrooms have black granite countertops and black slate floors.

The shower and tub surrounds are tiled with extra large white subway tile.

Walls are a golden Venetian plaster.

Linen hand towels are from an estate sale.

Just outside both bedrooms is this odd little room. It could be an office, but I use it as a "reading room." Walls are also upholstered in taupe linen. The leather chair is from the local consignment store too. Faux bamboo table is vintage.

There is a powder room between the kitchen and mudroom.

This little zinc topped console from Wisteria fits perfectly in here, providing storage and staging opportunities. Right now, it holds lavender from the property.

We consider the bedroom in the guest cottage our master bedroom.

I love waking up here with the views from three French doors.

The dresser, lamp, floral print, books and bookends are all flea market finds.

The bathroom has a walk-in shower and a marble topped vanity from Restoration Hardware.

The shower curtain is made out of terry cloth, and the floors are raw concrete.

The sitting room in the front of the cottage can also serve as a bedroom.

The sofa is a hide-a-bed and came with the house. A brown floral kilim rug ties all the colors together.

A series of framed prints of Tuscany and Umbria hang above the sofa bed.

My favorite nook is in the kitchen!

The room is an octagon, so there are lots of angles to deal with.

The previous owners had a breakfast table here, but I decided this nook would be better enjoyed with two club chairs instead.

The table is an antique wine table which is large enough for the two of us to share dinner.

A pair of grape tole sconces found at the Hillsborough Antique Faire hang above the chairs.

The mudroom as staged for the photo shoot, qualifies as an entry of sort.

The antique settle came from Jimtown in Sonoma County.

Grape botanical prints are flea market finds.

I also framed a vintage feed sack that I found at Round Top.

In the dining room, an open door shows the view towards the olive trees.

A pair of sconces found at an antique store in Healdsburg hang on the wall.

A vintage oil painting hangs above the door, doing double duty, as it's hiding a little door to the furnace.

The dining room table, staged for the Tuscan Style photo shoot.

Hands down though, the pine hutch is my favorite nook and cranny in the dining room.

I love how Bonnie staged it....

...but I also love it the way I had it staged before.

Our favorite nook and cranny in the living room is by the fireplace.

We found a pair of distressed leather chairs with mohair cushions at Crate and Barrel, and they soon became our favorite chair--at least in this room!

This is where we sit in the winter, sipping a glass of wine and enjoying the warmth of the fire.

Another pair of chairs, rescued from Goodwill, sit in the living room.

Originally, they were mauve leather, all ripped and torn. I had them reupholstered in Ralph Lauren leopard linen with nail heads. The drapes behind are green and cream stripe linen.

Without question though, the best part of Asti is outside.

Not only are there little nooks and crannies outside, but expansive views too.

Not to mention the plants and flowers and wildlife.

Coming up: "The Flora and Fauna Tour!"

I'm joining Sherry's Open House Party at No Minimalist Here.

I'm also joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays.

Before and After

2012-01-02T09:05:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves a good before and after story, so I thought it might be fun to look at our home before the photoshoot, before Bonnie worked her magic and before John captured it with his lens.

BEFORE

The living room before.

This is what it usually looks like.

Bonnie removed the leather chairs and I removed the hooked rug just before she got there.

AFTER

Bonnie brought in my French chairs, opening up the room.

She staged the mantel and coffee table simply.

I love this look, but couldn't wait to put back the leather chairs.

It's where we sit, by the fire and drink our coffee in the morning.

BEFORE

The dining room before didn't change much. The hutch was restaged and my confit pots came in handy to hold olive branches from the property.

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

This is a terrible shot, but it shows what we had to work with.

AFTER

John got up very early in the morning to take this moody shot. The fog was still out and the light was exactly as you see it here.

I've received a lot of emails about the magazine feature, but one in particular stood out to me.

Marlis Bennett from Creative Journeys said, "I truly wish the article had not ended and we could have peeked into all the nooks and crannies."

Great idea Marlis! Stay tuned for a more detailed tour, nooks and crannies style!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May 2012 be the best year ever!

Tuscan Style is Finally Here!

2011-12-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you Sherry at No Minimalist Here for telling me that Tuscan Style was out, otherwise I would have never known! Well, eventually. But you know what I mean--right?

So, even though I was sick with the flu, I downed 3 Advil and we drove to Barnes and Noble and bought 6 copies!

No one prepared me for the excitement of seeing our home in a magazine. Although, Bonnie Broten, who was the stylist for the shoot did try!

With all the styling and rearranging of furniture, plus John Granan's amazing photography,

they captured the essence of the house and location.

I took these photos during the shoot just in case the article didn't get published! I still can't believe that it actually was!

Taking a look behind the scenes, I love how Bonnie used roses and grapes from the property to make simple arrangements. She taught me that less is more. Something I'm working on!

She staged the top of the hutch in the dining room using old books and my favorite vintage oil painting of grapes.

I haven't touched it since!

She gave the Welsh cupboard a new look too with my roe deer antlers, vintage plates and a collection of local wines.

She used figs, grapes and grape leaves from the garden to create this tabletop vignette in the pool house.

It didn't make the final cut, but just look at the light captured here!

And this is just from my camera--not John's.

They were quite a team, those two!

It was such a fun time with Bonnie and John, truly an experience of a lifetime.

Something we will never forget. And now it has all come full circle.

We're still pinching ourselves.....!

For more on the photo shoot, read the post I wrote back in September here.

2011 Tablescapes in Review

2011-12-29T11:06:00.000-08:00

I'm looking back at the tablescapes I did in 2011.

Come take a walk with me down memory lane.

Just click on the link to visit the post.

A Luncheon at Bluxome Street Winery

A Wild Game Birds Tablescape

A Valentine's Day Dessert Table

A Dinner at Bluxome Street Winery

St. Patrick's Day Tablescape with Belleek

An Al Fresco Easter Tablescape

Memorial Day Moveable Feast

A Tablescape for Father's Day

A Succulent Tablescape

A Rainy Day in June Tablescape

A Bridal Shower Luncheon

A Simple Table for a Wine Dinner in Asti

A Thanksgiving Retrospect

A San Francisco Wedding!

Christmas Tablescape 2011

Looking back at the tablescapes I did in 2011, I realize that many of them were actual "working" tablescapes, as opposed to "staged." I had fun creating table settings for Ashley's company, Tourshi for her catering jobs. We were quite a team!

Then she met a man and ran off to New Mexico! And the rest is history....

At least it has a happy ending!

I look forward to creating more tablescapes in 2012!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for the very last Tablescape Thursday of 2011.

Be sure and visit!

Christmas Tablescape 2011

2011-12-26T09:14:00.000-08:00

Using the same Spode plates from last year, I created a new look, simply by using new plaid napkins.

My vintage red and green glasses are a constant, especially at Christmas.

They're like jewels on the table!

More sparkle came from Grandma's sterling silver which I am honored to have received and pass down.

It only made sense to recycle the wedding centerpieces into the Christmas table centerpieces.

I used three white hydrangeas in their bark covered containers and the succulent candle wreaths on the end.

After dinner, I gave the centerpieces to Grandma and Auntie Ann.

They should have taken more! I have 24 of the hydrangeas left over and 7 succulents!

It was a lovely dinner with traditional Armenian faire of lamb shish kebob, rice pilaf, grape leaf dolma, and root vegetables.

It was extra special this year with the newlyweds at the table!

Our family is definitely growing.

So far, I have enough plates for everyone!

A Candlelight Christmas Eve

2011-12-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve is always the "quiet before the storm."

A time to just relax after all the preparations for Christmas Day.

I like to play Christmas music and light every candle in the house!

Just sit back and enjoy all the decorations. Reflect....

Smell the scented candles and pies baking...

And enjoy a glass of wine...

While creating the tablescape, last minute with flowers and decor left over from the wedding!

Stay tuned for the final reveal!

Merry Christmas from the Arabian Family!

Wishing you a wonderful, happy day with your family!

A San Francisco Wedding!

2011-12-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to share these photos!

My friend Sue photographed Ashley's wedding...

...and I'm amazed how she captured the evening perfectly!

I made the white hydrangea bouquet that morning and wrapped it in burlap and twine.

The couple got matching tattoos the day before of an oak leaf garland, representing the groom's beloved Wales instead of an exchange of rings.

The bride wore her Frye boots!

The venue was at the Log Cabin in the San Francisco Presidio. Perched above the Golden Gate Bridge, it was built in 1937 originally as an officer's club.

It was perfect for our daughter's wedding, not too fancy--just funky enough!

With a view of our beloved City by the Bay....

....it was a magical night for a wedding in San Francisco.

As they stood in front of the massive stone fireplace....

....we listened as they said their own vows.

It was so romantic!

After the ceremony, many friends from Wales, including the groom's father roasted the groom and toasted the couple!

Even Ashley's friends from high school had a few words to say!

After many toasts to the couple...

...dinner was served.

The food was incredible, thanks to the couple's friend, Christian of Jersey Tomatoes!

The party was just getting started!

The Brothers Comatose, a very talented, local bluegrass band rocked the house!

It was the kind of music you just had to dance to!

The "cast of characters!"

At the end of the evening, a San Francisco cable car whisked everyone away to the after party.

Ashley's friend Lauren summed up the night perfectly:

"What a beautiful night -- my brother Jeff brewed the beer, Ashley's mom did all of the decorating (it was so charming and warm and beautiful!!) And there was so much love and happiness in that damn log cabin, it could have burst!"

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

2011-12-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

hgtv

Brown paper packages tied up with string.

These are a few of my favorite things!

etsy

If I actually had a gift to wrap, I would definitely wrap it with kraft paper!

December 21st, and I still need to Christmas shop!

etsy

This year, our family decided that presence instead of presents is what we are giving each other.

And of course, the wedding was one great big present for our family. So....

elle decor

....except for the grandchildren, no gifts will be exchanged.

Sunset

Which is kind of sad, because I love to wrap gifts.

The haystack Needle

I'm looking forward to wrapping the packages for granddaughters, Reese and Zoe though.

etsy

The whole time, I'll be humming "brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things....."

etsy

Is your Christmas shopping done, and all your gifts wrapped and under the tree?

There are only four more days until Christmas!

I'm hitting the streets to "commando shop" today!

Wish me luck!

The Cake

2011-12-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

Our new son-in-law is Welsh!

So for the wedding cake, Ashley surprised him with a Welsh flag on top of the cake.

I found the Welsh National Tartan ribbon online and had it wrapped around all three layers, which sat angled on top of each other. Maria the baker did a fabulous job with the Welsh flag, which wasn't an easy task.

The cake itself was the groom's favorite. White cake with strawberry filling and marzipan frosting!

Look how happy it made him, and his father, who came all the way from Wales when they saw it for the first time.

The top layer ended up in my refrigerator. No one had the heart to cut into it!

Traditionally, it is frozen anyway and eaten by the newlyweds on their one year anniversary.

Leather and Lace

2011-12-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my friend Teresa, Ashley has personalized her wedding dress with the most amazing hand tooled leather and turquoise belt.

"Something borrowed, something blue!"

Add a new pair of matching brown leather Frye boots and there you have it, the perfect wedding attire for her.

Leather and Lace!

Wearing Many Hats

2011-12-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

I'm wearing so many hats lately.

M.O.B./florist/wedding planner/stylist...the list is getting longer! Today, I am the florist!

I started the day with a trip to the nursery to pick up 22 white hydrangeas.

In the flower shop/garage, I set up an example of the centerpiece that will go on the 60 inch round tables. I added moss surrounding the wood log slices to embellish.

Remember, the succulent wreaths will go on the taller kiosk tables.

Nothing to do here except insert the candle jar.

I clipped a few succulents from various arrangements around the house to experiment with adding them to the bridal bouquet.

First, I washed off the soil and clipped the stem about two inches from the plant.

I then inserted a wire into the stem and wrapped it with floral tape.

After wrapping three plants, I put them with the white hydrangeas to see if they actually will enhance the bouquet.

I think I'll keep it simple with just white hydrangeas for the bouquet.

It will have to be made the morning of the wedding....

Meanwhile, this is my first attempt at a boutonniere.

The two white Iceburg rosebuds, lavender sprig and succulent rosette came from my garden.

I tied it with twine to give it the rustic look that I'm going for.

Now, if it will keep in the refrigerator until Saturday. And, hopefully, the groom will think it's cool to wear. We'll see...Maybe this is the beginning of a new career!

Rustic Wedding Inspirations from Etsy

2011-12-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

While everyone else is out shopping for Christmas gifts, I've been shopping online at Etsy for our daughter's wedding! Which is in 4 days, but who's counting?

Etsy has been my number one source for special, one of a kind, rustic decorations, like this moss covered ring pillow. If the bride and groom were actually exchanging rings instead of getting matching tattoos, I would definitely buy this from BraggingBags!

I did, however buy 100 of these little wooden tags to tie onto the canning jars from NHWoodscreations.

Even the invitations came from Etsy. Brian at MyBigDayDesigns worked with me to custom design an invitation similar to the one above.

We aren't having a sit down dinner, so there is no need for numbered tables, but I would have bought these clever burlap numbers if we were! From SophiasSignBoutique!

For chilling the champagne, this burlap covered bucket is fabulous!

From asouthernbucket.

I ended up with two sources for the log slices. One of them was Rustic Woodworking, and the other was from Etsy shop, DreamWithPassion. These will be placed under the centerpieces and can be re-used as rustic chargers later.

I just love this rustic cake stand from RoxyHeartVintage!

I thought this was a great idea for party favors, but we are giving our Arabian Family olive oil instead. Still, this would be perfect for "spreading the love!" From DaSweetZpot.

I love the idea of a wedding banner, but I know there is no way I would get Ashley and her fiance to pose like this! Plus, I could make it in my spare time!

From PurplePeonyCouture.

Spare time? What spare time?

Actually, I'm "enjoying the process" as Kathysue from Good Life of Design always says.

It's her motto, and I'm sticking with it.

Also, "keep calm and carry on" works too!

Pre-wedding Sneak Peek

2011-12-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak peek at the wedding decor I'm designing for our daughter's wedding next Saturday. This is a mock-up of the centerpiece for the kiosk tables. I started with a log slice, added a succulent ring, a canning jar with pebbles and a candle, then tied little wooden tags with the initials A + C carved on them.

Terrain

For the 90 inch round tables, I am using potted white hydrangeas in bark covered containers.

Etsy

They will sit atop log slices with small pint canning jars holding candles around them.

All the linens are burlap colored linen.

Presidio Trust

Because the upcoming wedding and reception will be held in a log cabin, I'm keeping with a rustic theme, which includes canning jars.

Canning jars as candle votives are apropos, but also necessary as the venue requires candles to be set in glass, two inches below the surface.

I'm just glad we are allowed candles!

Canning jars also proved to be the perfect bottle for the homemade beer!

For more canning jar inspiration, read Ashley's latest post here.

Stay tuned for more wedding sneak peeks coming up!