Entertaining Inspiration: Stylish Ice Cubes

The time for outdoor entertaining is upon us and with the heat soaring in many parts of the country, spending time putting up lots of decorations for a party doesn’t sound too enticing.  If you want to your party to have style there are lots of quick and easy ways to do that.  One of the ways to add a little punch to your outdoor soirees is by using “decorative” ice cubes.  You can use an inexpensive designer ice tray or make your own fruit or flower infused cubes.  Either way, the result is pretty cool!

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Now that I’ve got you wanting to use cute cubes at your next party, here are a few of my favorite ice cube trays.

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Ice Cube Sticks$3.99  Bed, Bath and Beyond
Rubber Duckie —$6.99  Bed, Bath and Beyond
Stars, Fish and Flowers  $0.99 Ikea
Kitty Cat  $9.99  Bed, Bath and Beyond
 
Let the party begin!
 
XO Shelly
images can be found on my Party Ideas Pinterest board
 

Tabletop Inspiration: Vintage Style

One of the best parts of entertaining is pulling together a unique party decor.  Right now I’m all about vintage looks and the charm that goes with it so I thought I’d share a few style tips and design ideas on how to pull a vintage look together.

Entertaining Vintage Style

Style Tip:  A foundation to any vintage table setting is a mix of vintage china and dinnerware.  Collecting pieces with different colors, patterns and styles will give your table true vintage personality and layering from larger to smaller pieces will create dimension at each place setting.  Shop thrift stores, flea markets and estate sales to score your best deals.

Vintage Place Setting

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Style Tip:  A really simple and inexpensive way to add a vintage touch to your table is with vintage dinner napkins.  While vintage napkins can be found at flea markets you can also shop for vintage sheets and pillowcase, cut them into napkin squares, pick the edges and use them as napkins!  I love this idea not only for its ease but also because the napkins are wash and go.

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Style Tip:  Use vintage dinnerware in unexpected ways.  As a teacup collector, I love the idea of using teacups for things other than tea.  Teacups as mini flower vases will add an elegant touch to your table and I also like the idea of using teacups to serve dessert in.

Teacup Flower Vase

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Style Tip:  Lace=Vintage.  The addition of a lace tablecloth or topper will add instant vintage charm as well as make your table pretty.  If you want an even more eclectic look, try dying your lace in a fun color.

blue white vintage wedding ideas reception tables china

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Style Tip:  What fun it is to mix and match your silverware?  Start collecting pieces you like and before you know it you’ll be able to create a fun look at your next party.  And, don’t be afraid to mix gold and silver pieces together.

  Mixed silverware

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Style Tip:  Sometimes a more casual dinner party does not need a tablecloth.  Instead, bring vintage style to the table by creating a runner using vintage tiles.  When it’s time for another party, use the tiles as placemats to change things up a bit.

If you’re really crafty, try decopauging vintage fabric pieces on to plain tiles to create a custom look.

Fabric Tile

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Design Idea:  I love a good vintage inspired DIY project like this bandana tablecloth.  This look is great for an outdoor party or old-fashioned BBQ.

Michael’s or Hobby Lobby carry a vast range of bandana colors so the color possibilities are endless.

Bandana Tablecloth

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Design Idea:  If you’re looking for an inexpensive and versatile centerpiece, try grouping a collection of vintage vases and glassware together and adding a flowers all in the same color family.

For a quick DIY project, try painting thrift store glassware in soft, vintage pastel colors.

Glass Bottle Centerpiece

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Style Tip:  Layering is a key part of vintage charm and this table setting is a great example of how to get the look.  Layer from the bottom up, using different textures and materials.

Larger Vintage Dollies make great placemats and smaller sizes are great to wrap around a plain napkin.

Dollie Placemat

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Design Idea:  Silverware Caddies are a look that has been used for years with more antique and vintage inspired table decor.  Simple pockets like this one made of burlap can be dressed up with vintage looking flowers, pearls and lace ribbon.

Burlap silverware pocket

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Style Tip:  Another great idea of using something for what it’s not meant for….curtain rings as napkin rings!

Vintage curtain rings are another thing to add to your thrift store shopping list.  Look for rings in antique gold or brass with clasp the resemble claw foots.

Curtain Ring Napkin Ring

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 Entertaining in vintage style is all about the combination of items you use..mixing, matching and layering.  The beauty is not in repetition but in the randomness of things. 

Vintage Table

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Vintage Table2

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Thanks for stopping by today!

Entertaining Inspiration

Happy Monday! 

To start the week off, I thought I’d share some Gorgeous tabletop images from one of my design idols, Manvi of the fabulous blog Mochatini

If you haven’t come across her blog before, you’ve been missing out.  Manvi has an incredible eye and styles some of the more stunning tablescapes I’ve even seen.  Oh, how I’d love to spend a day just watching her work.

Table runner made created from a lenght of wallpaper.  Brilliant!

So many uses for ribbon.

  Paper Dots scattered across the table to add a festive touch.  Such an easy and stylish idea.

Manvi used some decorative wallpaper to line the envelopes for this event.

Images from the most recent Matchbook Magazine

Some of her work that’s appeared on HGTV.   Love the flowers set deep into the vase.

 

 Manvi makes decorating for a party look so easy!  I’m inspired.

Have a great week!

Written With Love

One of my New Years resolves is to spend more time connecting with my friends and family.  While picking up the phone or emailing is always an option, it is my goal to spend a little time each month handwriting a special note or letter to someone in my life.

I’ve always loved writing and can whole-heartedly admit that I am a paper and stationery junkie, so taking time each month to pen a special note will bring joy to my heart.

Etsy

When it comes to stationery and notecards, I am a bit of a snob.  The paper products I buy have to be special in design, graphics, colors, style or paper quality, to appeal to my design sense.

Here are five of my absolute favorite paper/stationery lines and what I love most about them.

 

Smock

Based in New York, this letterpress company is the fist and only print shop offering printing on bamboo paper.  I love the contemporary designs they develop and their embossed cards and stunning. 

images above via Smock

  

Dempsey and Carroll

Specializing in engraved social stationery, D&C offers some of the most beautiful lined envelopes.  For me the envelope is just as important as the stationery itself.

images via Dempsey & Carroll

  

Snow & Graham

With contemporary and modern designs, Snow & Graham prints all their designs on exquisite papers, using letterpress printing.  Since I love bold colors, their images really speak to me.  The photos below are from their coordinates group, where you get two coordinating card in one set.  Double the fun.

images via Snow & Graham

  

bell’Invito

What makes the cards and stationery produced by Bellinvito so special is that all their papers are imported from Italy.  Their pieces really look like works of art.


images via bell’Invito

 

William Arthur

Believe it or not, but this stationery company is owned by the mammoth greeting card company, Hallmark.  

The William Arthur line of cards and invitations is one of Hallmarks luxury line of paper goods, with the Vera Wang brand under its label.  I adore their eyelet designed notecards and their botanical images. 

images via William Arthur

  

Do you have a favorite paper products line?

 

THE DRINKS ARE ON ME

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend.  I took 4 days off and spent the weekend with by husband, at his family reunion in Alabama.  It was a jam-packed weekend full of socializing, eating, singing, talent shows and drinking. 

  After spending 4 days shuffling through ice chunks, in a plastic cooler,  to find a “cold one”, I returned to Atlanta thinking about the beauty of a classic bar cart and how they can elevate the style of any drink…bottled or canned. 

via Camille Styles

Bar Carts are a very popular furniture piece being used in homes today, not only because of their function but also because of their beauty.  Bar Carts come in all shapes, sizes, material and colors.  Here are a few of my favorite designs…

via erin valencich

via everything fabulous

I adore the classic, modern feel of this black and white bar table.  Not only does it make a stylish bar, but I’d love to use a pair in the bedroom as night stands.

via restoration hardware

via everything fabulous

The majority of bar carts available now have wheels, which makes it easy to move the party from one room to another.

via 1st Dibs

 I love the industrial feel of this bar cart.  What a great look for a rustic lake house or beach front cottage.

eddie ross via domino magazine 

 Eddie Ross found this bar cart at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market and has set it up with vintage decanters and barware.

 via restoration hardware

via southern accents

via southern accents via 1st Dibs

The vintage bar cart above is so chic!.  I love the lines and the etched glass detail.

 So, the next time you’re planning a party, roll out your bar cart, dress it up with pretty decanters, liquor bottles and stemware and let the party begin!

Cheers!

 

 

Photo Source:  Erinn Valencich, Flickr, Everything Fabulous, Beau Gustafson, 1st Dibs, Eddie Ross, Restoration Hardware, Southern Accents

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