Does it make you feel all warm & fuzzy?

Back in January, I teamed up with Amanda Auer of In The Now and Cathy Olson of Love Invites to create a tablescape for UE’s design challenge. The “challenge” stipulated that our tablescape had to have either paper or an industrial material as a primary component of the design.

Brick placemats? Genius.

I have to say, Amanda is a genius. She came up with the brilliant concept of using bricks (um, industrial material? I think so!) as the place mats, to hold up a plexiglass fireplace centerpiece (can we say “industrial material” again?), and as a backdrop for plexiglass place cards and menus.

I had never seen anything like this ever before. Trend-setting much?

If you’re a wedding-blog reader, you may have already seen these photos in their feature on Junebug Weddings. It was a great feature and I was so pleased with the image choices. But I couldn’t resist sharing a few more.

The varying-sized bottles have a vintage milk-bottle silhouette. I filled them with different types of berries: unripe blackberries, seeded eucalyptus, berzillia berries and privet berries.

The concept for the table was “modern warmth.” We wanted to create modern silhouettes combined with a feeling of “cozy.” The faux bois plates and etched plexiglass fireplace did a good job of taking “cozy” elements and giving them a modern twist.

The flatwear cozies were hand-knit by Rachel, a member of Amanda’s team. They DEFINITELY give me the warm fuzzies!

At each place setting, a favor: a mini gravy boat filled with berries.

Wouldn’t you love to be the recipient of such a favor? I know I would!

I love this picture! The juxtaposition of the warm & cozy table in such a gritty urban setting equals perfection!!!

Shortbread with dried cranberries and orange flavoring.

If you were a faithful reader of this blog when it was hosted on blogspot, then this recipe might seem familiar. But in case you didn’t make this incredibly delicious shortbread the first time around, I’m offering you another chance! Do it!

Butter: that’s the secret. Lots of butter.

In a large bowl, combine
1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
1/2 cup granulated sugar, sifted
2 & 1/4 cups flour, sifted
pinch of salt

When the ingredients are well combined and crumbly, add 1 teaspoon of orange flavoring and 1 cup of dried cranberries. Pat the mixture into an ungreased jelly roll pan. Bake at 275 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges.

Cut into small squares and share with friends so you don’t eat them all yourself!

Enjoy!

A few weeks ago, my Mum came out to Los Angeles for a brief visit. While she was here, we decided to host a little picnic tea party. Mum works with a lot of SoCal wedding vendors, remotely, and she really wanted to meet some of those people in person.

You may have seen Bonnie Tsang’s ethereal photos from the picnic party over on Oh Joy!’s blog earlier today… here are a few more details from the day!

We settled on “Spring has Sprung” as our theme:
so the flowers were seasonal and color-saturated!

They were also incredibly fragrant. Hyacinth, tulips, ranunculus, spray roses, daffodils, paper whites, muscari, jasmine vine and maidenhair fern.

Mum calligraphed the invitations sitting at my desk in my living room. Simple and perfect.

Our favor baskets held floral-scented shower gels and mini spring flower nosegays, tagged (naturally) with more of Mum’s fab calligraphy.

Spring has Sprung!

This morning I went to my dance class as per usual… then I came home. And I didn’t leave my house for the rest of the day. I worked, naturally. I did some laundry and cleaned my kitchen. But I also read a good book and drank some coffee. It was just a “home” sort of day.

French press & milk frother. Happy me.

Nothing is more comforting than a mug of something warm and a novel.

Everyone needs a day at home every once in a while, wouldn’t you say?