Easter Tablescape

 

I like to layer old and new when creating a seasonal tablescape. It let's me use some of my

collections and fun new things. I started with a newer pink tablecloth and

 layered on a vintage one in spring colors. The vintage tablecloths can

 be smaller,  so I use it on top at a diagonal for interest.

 

At each place setting, I used vintage milk glass serving trays as chargers with pink depression glass plates and pink French goblets. The beautifully simple silver was inherited from a dear old

 friend. It is fun to blend up collections. The napkins are Ikea and I love the birdies!

To add some fun, I made paper sack bunny favors (idea from Pinterest).

I even added a "cotton tail" on the back of each.

 

 

I put a few carrot chocolates here and there (I love cute treats). These were only a dollar for

 a netted bag of several at Target. Some fun decorations on the tree and voilà!

 

 

Oh, and you just have to have a few beautiful bunnies join the party!

Wishing you a fun time decorating your home and table

for Easter, Passover and springtime.

Melin

 

Last minute Valentine Decorating

Valentine decorating can easily be pulled together at the last minute with a few fun things

 you probably have around the house or can pick up with a quick stop at a big box store. 

 

Set out red candies of any sort in a clear mason jar tied with a ribbon.

Other romantic colors work, as well, and are bound to bring a smile.

New towels for your kitchen and bath add a fun holiday touch.

Put a tablecloth on in the colors or lace for a romantic table.

 

 

Pull sweet romantic bits from anywhere in your home (dig through those cupboards)

and create little vignettes that speak of love. Think of dishes in holiday colors,

the more scallops and "lace" the better. Old love letters, valentines, small

faux flowers or heart anything can be gleaned from storage.

 

 

For those who like a modern touch, fill a red metal basket

 with a cozy throw and an eyelet or lace pillow.  

 

 

You can add some heart shaped lights to any basket. These are a soft pink and add

the most romantic glow to a dark hearth. I bought them at Target for $3!

I picked up green shamrocks too. 

 

 

No matter how you spend your Valentine's Day, take a few moments to make your home

just a bit more romantic and loving, for yourself and your family.

Melin

xoxo

Christmas Tree Ideas!

WE are in full preparation for our big Open House, the first weekend in October, at Wren Elizabeth Gifts and I thought I would share more of our decorated trees. See my last post for one more.

This tree is full of beautifully crafted vintage look ornaments.

 



 

A soft shell theme mini tree with mercury glass ornaments and real shells.

 

 

This fun retro tree takes me back to a time of the mid century innocence.

 

A sweet pastel tree that is perfect in a bedroom or bath!

 

 

This one is a bough that I decorated in a nature theme.

These trees are like children, each is unique, and I can't pick a favorite.

Hope you will be inspired for your holiday decorating!

Melin



Baby Shower Buffet Idea

I am busy getting ready for our Soroptimist Baby Shower and I thought I would share

 this quick tip. I must have seen it somewhere before but have never tried it.

A basket of eating utensil babies make the buffet fun and easy!

 

 

You start with a napkin, utensils, a plastic twist tie or ribbon and a Sharpie.

 

 

Stack the knife, fork and spoon upside down.

 

 

   Gather the napkin "blanket" around the "baby" and secure with

 the twist tie, like a swaddled baby.

 

 

Draw a curl, eyes and a mouth on your baby. Don't worry about your artistic skills.

Make some smile, coo and cry. Each baby is unique, just like real babies.

The most important part is to have fun!

Melin



Easter Table

 

I love a festive table for Easter that will delight the kids and the kid in all of us.

 I found the light pink metallic tree at Michael's for 75% off at the end

of last spring. I just knew it would come in handy. It even  has a few

 clear flowers on some of the ends of the branches.

 

 

First, I set the base of the tree into the spring bead wreath,

then I added Easter ornaments, all from WE.

 

 

 I sprinkled small malted milk eggs in matching colors around the base.

 I like to mix in a few edible treats into the centerpiece. 

 

 



I set a few fillable paper mache bunnies around the tree and a favor at each place setting. Who

doesn't love a favor? You can add a slip of paper with their name on it to personalize.

 

 

A retro ornament decorates the vintage napkins that were a lucky find at an antique store in Paradise, CA. Most of my pink dishes were found in a set in Folsom, CA. I love them for Easter and showers!

Occasionally, I find pinks at thrift stores but it is getting more rare in my neck of the woods.

 

 

See what you have collected to pull together for your Easter table. Make a list of what to

look for in the future that will take your table to the next level of fun for you family and YOU!

Melin

Wedding Details

I had the honor of helping my daughter with the planning  of her wedding. I love party planning and a wedding is the ultimate!

Her family nickname is Birdie (it's a long story) and she agreed we could use that as the wedding theme. The wedding was held in April at the Flower Farm www.flowerfarm.com. It was a perfect setting and even has chickens to carry the theme further. She grew up in a rural setting, as a young girl, and loves it. 

I will share some of the details with you here. Maybe you will take an idea or two with you for your next party or special occasion.

A small chalk sign in the entry welcomes guests.

The welcome and gift table on the patio of the entrance to the reception.

And they lived happily ever-after...a fun way to share pictures of the bride & groom growing up and their courtship. The birdcage is a perfect place for the guests to put cards.

This print of a tree with two birdies lets guests put their fingerprints and add their names.

We bought this one at www.michaels.com.

Cut out birds in different shades and patterns of blue, the color theme, were placed in a nest for the guests to write a message and hang them on a wire tree. They will be great keepsakes.

The centerpieces on the tables were all different tablescapes made up of moss, birdhouses (from www.joann.com), my milk glass vases from my collection (see my collection Blog), nests, moss, flowers, birdies and more. The salt & pepper shakers were even little white birdies.You can find them at www.partypail.com. Many of the items can be purchased at our store at www.wrenelizabethgifts.com.

This is another tablescape using a real nest we found.

The bride and groom's sweetheart table.

The bride's sister and matron-of-honor painted and his this little thrift store gnome as a surprise.

  

The cake topper was a gift from the bride's sister-in-law and brother. The bride hand painted it to match her wedding color. The cake was a delicious as it is gorgeous! It was made and designed by the talented Brita Geiger from www.britasconfections.com. She added fresh flowers with a perfect designer touch. Could it be any more perfect? You will die for Brit's chocolate cake!

I glued faux moss to a ready made cardboard N to honor the groom's, and now the bride's, last name. The arbor was decorated with faux flowers and bows.    

The ring bearer carried the rings in a nest that is actually two nests together with a few faux flowers added and ribbons to tie on the rings. The flower girls carried our hydrangea baskets. What cute kids!

A great photo of the rings in a tablescape nest.

I love making bouquets, especially for my daughter's weddings! I added the butterfly brooch as a keepsake for the bride. It's the small details that make it so special.

The favors were our bird card/photo holders. The bride and groom selected a special thank you message for their guests. We used the same nest stamp on the back that was on the invitation.

I hope these ideas will inspire you. Party decor is such fun, especially when there is a running theme throughout.

Melin



Anniversary

This is a shelf in one of our guest rooms. The cake topper is not ours. I picked this one up when I was antiquing years ago. I bought it because I love weddings and marriage.

We had a beautiful one on our cake that had two cherubs reaching for one another and flowers on it. I couldn't find a bride and groom topper that looked like us in 1976. I loved that topper!

It met it's demise when, after about two years of marriage, our naughty dog, Anna Banana broke into the house while we were gone. She chewed up our baby daughter's toys, including her first Madame Alexander doll, and our beloved wedding cake topper was destroyed in the frenzy.

Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary. We celebrated at a wedding brunch the morning after our niece's wedding on Saturday.

Sometimes we do a special trip like we did five years ago when we went to Africa. Most years, we just do regular things and it is special either way.

One tradition that we always keep is the exchanging of mushy anniversary cards. My husband is the best at picking out the most loving cards for me for special occasions. This year the sentiments we wrote inside matched one another's almost word for word...so sweet.

I wish everyone could be as blessed in marriage as Mike and I feel we have been.

Melin