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Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts

6.28.2020

diy fourth of july

beach style, coastal style, color, color palettes, DIY, diy decorating, entertaining, events, Fourth of July, outdoors, party, re-purposing, red white and blue, summer, Sweet Sweater Originals, up-cycling
Fourth of July weekend is coming up in just DAYS,
and no matter where or how you are celebrating
during this crazy quarantine you probably need some easy 'use what you have' ideas!

so i've pulled together all of the previous red, white & blue projects, ideas, & decor
that i've shared here at homewardFOUND since 2012
to inspire your patriotic celebrations!

continue reading to see them all...

4.27.2020

cinco de mayo mayhem!

Cinco de Mayo, color, decorating, DIY, entertaining, events, fast cheap and easy, outdoors, party, seasonal, tablescapes, color palettes, inspiration, just for fun, spring
I know, it's weird out there. All kinds of celebrations are cancelled.
We're allllll ready for this coronavirus quarantine to end. 

But hold on, my friends, there is a way to find the happy while we wait:
*This year, Cinco de Mayo is on a Tuesday. TACO Tuesday!* 
It's the perfect reason to celebrate, right in your own backyard!

SO, today I'm dipping back into my blog archives (about seven years back!)

to share three different ideas for fiesta-style tablescapes and bar setups.
With all of us staying home, these ideas will help you
to see 'what you have at home' in a fresh new way to create something fun!

continue reading for a peek at three different themes for Cinco de Mayo Celebrations:


11.19.2019

friendsgiving fun

i just found these photos from a fall event that i attended several years ago, 
where i spotted some pretty & easy ideas for a simple and rustic dessert table
perfect for a gathering of friends on Thanksgiving!

the setup was simple: wood crates provide levels,
and food is presented in bushel baskets and arranged on wood slabs.
a few large branches with fall leaves add scale in the background (without requiring any work at all),
and a handful of small pumpkins scattered along the table add color.

<<< click 'continue reading' to see more tasty details!

12.29.2016

Pop! Fizz! Clink!

It's almost here - are you ready for the toasts?!

With the help of my friend Scott Carlson, wine specialist for BevMo
I'd like to share some helpful info to make your night the BUBBLIEST!

Continue Reading for some sparkling tips...

12.05.2016

Winter Wonderland at The Vintage Marketplace Show

 
The Vintage Marketplace show in Temecula, CA this past weekend
was an inspiring gathering of vendors selling vintage, antique, and handcrafted goods.
The show is owned and produced by my friend, Rita Reade,
who founded it over 6 years ago with her sister in law, artist Christie Repasy.

When I'm lucky, I get to shop.
When I am REALLY lucky, I get to work with Rita to create visuals for the show!
At past shows, I've designed & styled her Mammabellarte booth displays
(and a few other vendors, too!)
but THIS time, along with styling her booth displays, 
Rita asked me to style a display at the entry of the show
to welcome guests, share the show theme, and provide a photo op.
 
We came up with a plan for a cozy scene that sparkles - 
and speaks more of the winter season than of holiday decor,
which is actually a pretty smart way to decorate - even in your home!

continue reading for more details...

12.01.2016

Elegant Holiday Inspiration

elegant holiday decor
I have the extreme good fortune to have some really remarkably talented friends
who inspire me on a regular basis...
one of them, Miss Sylvia, is a stylist and decorator extraordinaire.
She owns Madam Palooza Emporium
a vintage prop rental house and styling company in Southern California.

The weddings and event settings that she creates are so intricate and detailed, 
so personalized and delightful, that they appear in magazines every month!
(she's currently featured in the newly-revived Flea Market Style Magazine
which is run by two MORE of my incredible friends!!!)

Sylvia called me up last week and asked me to help her 
to create some simple but inspiring holiday decor in her studio/showroom,
as it was to be the setting for an event industry holiday party.
Of course I said yes! We've worked together before, and it's always fun!

continue reading to see the beautiful results...

11.22.2016

which wine???

Years ago, I had the pleasure of working in the wine industry in the Pacific Northwest, 
where I learned more than I ever thought possible about the fruit of the vine....
Still, when I am stymied on a food and wine pairing,
I call on one of my friends to help me out with advice I can trust:
Scott Carlson is an experienced, knowledgeable wine & beer specialist for BevMo Stores
and he's been sharing some great information about wine pairings for years.

  I've rounded up some of Scott's best points on the subject
of pairing wines with Thanksgiving Dinner,
and added in a few of my own comments and recommendations
to help you select several wines for your upcoming holiday meal... enjoy!

<< click on 'continue reading' for Scott's recommendations!

11.16.2016

4 NEW Thanksgiving Tablescapes

My friends, the Holiday season is HERE!
Let's get inspired to try new things, shall we?!

A year ago, I purchased a beautiful vintage tea set with a fall floral motif,
and had planned to create a new tablescape post with it. Well, that didn't happen!

THIS year, I hauled it out and got to work creating that long-overdue table setting,
and along the way, I came up with three MORE ideas to share with you.
Every last one of these ideas is SIMPLIFIED, because we're ALL busy enough right now!
I just used stuff I already had here at the house - 
I seriously didn't even buy flowers or real pumpkins or anything -
and let it play out in true 'homewardFOUNDdecor' style
'cause that's how I roll...

Click through for four inspiring new themes...

11.02.2015

15 Inspiring Thanksgiving Tablescapes

Affordable and Inspiring Ideas for your Thanksgiving table decor 
can be found in my roundup of
15 Thanksgiving Tablescapes
from the homewardFOUNDdecor archives...


( Click on the captions to access individual posts!)

 a vintage table in brown

 a vintage table in silver

 [which appeared in Creating Vintage Charm Magazine]

a spicy table

a spicy table revision!

 a vintage / contemporary table

a vintage white table

 an unusual color scheme!

  A Green Thanksgiving

 a contemporary urban table

[which appeared on the Broadway+Thresher Magazine blog]

 Fabulous Fall Fete
(ps: I didn't create this one, I just think it's FABULOUS!)

 Autumn Picnic



and in 2016, I added four NEW tablescapes!

visit my 'Pinterest Board of the Month' for even MORE ideas:  
November: Thankful Inspiration

shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d} 2015

Yesterday on Tuesday | Project Inspire{d} 2016


11.12.2014

A Green Thanksgiving


I love mixing it up for Holiday tables, using colors that most people don't.
Fall isn't really the time of year that we think of GREEN in the color scheme...
For Christmas? Sure. And definitely in Spring.
But Fall is usually the domain of brown and orange tones.

This green tablescape was inspired by the soft sage-y green tones
in some pumpkins I found.
The unusual hue led me on a path to a very natural green palette with warm tan accents:
It all played out easily,
because I simply walked around the yard
and gathered up greenery and other elements that coordinated with my palette.

Those nutt-y looking things in the centerpiece were found at a local park
( and I have NO idea what they are, but they sure look great! )
Fig and ivy leaves from the yard, green grapes from the local farm market,
simple white carnations and creamy, yellow-y mini pumpkins from the grocery store
join the green pumpkins for a bounty of natural beauty.

The table is swathed in a soft celery-green damask tablecloth, 
and the floral/leaf pattern on it repeats the natural theme. 
A darker sage green is seen in the napkins.

White dinnerware and cut glass are the simplest of elements,
but they allow the 'groceries' to sparkle.
( Which reminds me, I can NOT hear that word - groceries - without thinking of
Richard from Texas and Liz. Y'know what I mean???? )

The 'groceries' in the centerpiece are heaped onto and around a large white china pedestal.
It gives height to the center of the arrangement,
and the tiny bit of gold edging that shows adds more sparkle.

Creamy white candles in clear glass containers don't compete for attention,
but add their warm, welcoming light to the scene.

* TOP TIP*
Did you know that IKEA pillar candles are the best you can get on a budget?
They are a beautiful ivory color, and they burn a VERY long time.
They also burn clean (no smoke) and without scent,
which is important for a table. You don't want to smell roses and be eating green beans!
Their candles burn straight down into the center, with no edge curling & spillage...
 that means the light shines from within the candle,
so it really glows warm yellow. PERFECTION!

And for a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT look
at these natural elements in a tablescape,
check out this post!

May your Thanksgiving table be the setting for celebrating your blessings this year...

shared online:

Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed

10.01.2014

le Style du Jour....

On Saturday afternoon, I spent a lovely and relaxing few hours with friends
as we attended an event at a beautiful local vintage/antique shoppe...
Vignettes is located in Ocean Beach, Ca (near Point Loma in San Diego)
It is one of the prettiest antique shoppes around, 
and the events there are frequent, inspiring, and always CROWDED!

This event was the store's 19th anniversary celebration, 
and the decidedly French theme 'La Vie en Rose' was everywhere.
To my mind,  nothing was more stunning than the 'front room', 
which was all decked out as a boulangerie/patisserie.
 This color scheme is so perfect...
the deep charcoal chalkboards (made on bread boards, did you notice that?)
and blue-green pumpkins create contrast with the warm brown wicker, wood, and bread tones.
 Up close, the details are even more inspiring...
vintage labels made into patches on a burlap-covered bench, vintage signs, 
onions and pumpkins - and more gloriously rich wicker.

Even the simple addition of the word 'VIN' in black paint on a plain old wicker basket
adds incredible interest here.

...and can we talk about that SIGN???!
It's an old walnut and maple footboard,
with the simple addition of some painted lettering and varnish.
Tres Chic! (and tres eeeezeeeee, oui? )

I was looking everywhere, inspired, shooting tons of photos, 
and I kept thinking:
Why couldn't this stunning display inspire 
the color palette, theme, and accessories for a ROOM?
Why couldn't a kitchen look like this?
Why not? Inspiration is everywhere. 
And Francophiles would certainly feel right at home here!

This chair was NOT in this room. In fact, it was in another store altogether.
But if I were decorating, I'd PUT in in this room!

Then on Sunday, while I was decorating my office, I uncovered an old photo
torn long ago from a magazine (possibly 'La Vie Claire'.... but I'm not certain....)
To me, this is EXACTLY what the outside of that sweet boulangerie would look like:
See more from Vignettes on their facebook, website, and blog.

9.12.2014

Falling for the French

After spending nearly two days setting up and styling Rita's Mammabellarte booth
at The Vintage Marketplace at the Oaks show ( which you saw in my last post),
 I headed over to assist another vendor in the setup of her booth!

Sweet Liz Sandor, owner of 'My Little French Venue',
had been toiling in the hot sun to get all of her goods unloaded and into her space.
She just needed me to help her add the finishing touches to her displays,
and I was delighted with the beautiful things she had for me to work with!

While Rita brought a Farm Fresh mood to the show, Liz brought elegant French style...
Her display inside the tent was built around some truly stunning antiques....
The china vitrine, secretary desk, trumeau mirror, and refined armchairs set quite a stage.
So I took the small items and props she had brought along,
and grouped them into color themes so that all of her vignettes said 'Fall'
(with a French accent, of course!)

Here are some of the details of what we did:
 
The photo of the beautiful statue bust was the last one I snapped at the end of the day...
the sun was setting beyond the hilltops, and one shaft of glorious golden light
made its way into the front of the booth just as we were finishing up.
It didn't quite reach the statue
but a small mirror was placed to reflect it onto this lovely face,  and I got the shot!!!
Liz's fresh flower arrangements and high-end faux flowers added fall foliage to soften the scenes.

continue reading to see MORE beautiful photos of Liz's gorgeous booth...

9.10.2014

Farmhouse Fall

 Last week I had the honor of working with and for a very good friend, Rita Reade,
who is the proprietor of the creative vintage business Mammabellarte 
and co-founder, along with her sister-in-love, Christie Repasy, of The Vintage Marketplace at the Oaks.

Rita has her hands full organizing and assisting the 65 vendors at every show,
which is held every three months in a lovely park setting NorthEast of San Diego, CA,
so she hires me as her visual designer and stylist *
to style all of her beautiful creations into an inspiring booth setting...
and I love every minute of it!

Here's what I did with her booth for the fall show, 
to coordinate with the show theme 'Farmgirl Fancies' -
I hope it inspires you for fall decorating!
 Rustic elements and a focus on ivory, white, tan, and green set a Farmhouse mood.
Rita's signature pink is still in there, but it's taking a back seat in the color palette this time...
Those are vintage window screens that I turned into an 'awning' at the back of the booth! 
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea that became my favorite part ;)

continue reading for MORE gorgeous photos!