Falling Leaves....






As the air is beginning to become a little cooler with the soft shift in the wind to help the trees release their leaves in magical dance to the ground, I found myself recently inspired to create an Autumn theme for my dinning table~entitled "Falling Leaves...

To keep the table looking fresh for a few months, I often replenish the centerpiece with real or silk flower arrangements...

An Autumn theme for a table can carry you through the Thanksgiving season...creating a warm and inviting table with the wash of the soft colors season --brown, gold, red and yellow bringing one's soul an inward inner peace....

The Abundance of the Summer Garden Inspired a Recent Gathering...

Graceful Moments

At the end of summer is approaching the garden's last burst of flowers and treasured gifts recently influenced a lunch-time gathering...

Treasured Surprises

Layers and layers of fabrics, plates and table accessories were used to give more depth to table inviting one to truly experience the richness of a summer garden...









Bouquets of silk flowers wrapped in a ray of ribbons were presented as gifts to the guests, while adding accents of colors to enhance the over-all garden theme...

Enjoy the Moments....

Create a Secret Garden Theme for a Special Dining Occasion...


As I recently began to prepare for a gathering I was having for a group of friends, I started to dance through some cookbooks and magazines for menu ideas and began to think about the type of theme I would like create for this special occasion.

I enjoy creating menus with themes that inspire table settings to spawn conversations to enhance the overall dinning the experience.

I often find that ideas for entertaining themes may come from many resources such as: cookbooks, magazines, conversations with friends,  on a walk or while running daily errands.

On a recent shopping excursion at one of my favorite arts and crafts store I discovered a set of unique antique-looking keys with inspirational words engravings.

As I held up the keys to look at them more closely my creative door sprang open painting in my mind a full picture of a Secret Garden theme for the upcoming gathering...Adding colorful ribbons to the keys, using them as centerpiece of the theme design, creating a picnic style lunch menu dressing the table with layers of miniature floral bouquets complimented with layers and layers of garden style place settings, glassware and napkins to enhance the Secret Garden experience for my guests--in hope to lift the souls and spirits of my guests they shared in conversations about the key planted upon our place setting that unlocked the doors to our secret gardens of friendships and treasured moments....

I also  add a little soft music to your recipe to add to the ambience for the gathering--and  for evening gatherings the soft touch of candlelight accents always creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Creative Summer Tips....

Take time to enjoy the gifts of the summer season...Some of things I enjoy to do to ease into to the summer season is to create gifted moments that refills one's soul...

A walk through a local park, meet a family member or friend at a 

museum for a cup of coffee and conversation.

 Extend your weekend by taking a half day off on a Friday or Monday...

the extended hours are a wonderful way to change the day-to-day routines. 

 Avoid the lines at the airports and plan a trip to a neighboring town or state 

that is an easy drive from your home.  The ease of the drive and change of scenery will be another great way to refresh to your spirit...

And one can always sit back read a good book, paint, draw or try a new recipe to allow the creative heart to be refilled... Take the moments to enjoy the simple gifts and treasures that are around you...

Summer Fashion Tips

Summer Fashion Tips...

Though summer fashions are not always at the top of my favorite wardrobe choices.  I do find I have fun with the seasonal choices by adding easy flowing fabrics in vibrant colors to my fashion menu...

With longer and warmer days I like to create outfits that carry me from work to evening or on a little weekend get-away....

This year the center of my summer wardrobe is a red silk/cotton dress that I love to accent with a blazer or cute jacket for daytime to stay warm in those air cooled rooms and for evening, I can throw on a wrap with pearls or a beaded necklace, heals and a cute purse to dash off to a concert in the park, dinner with friends or to slow down and watch the sunset...

                        

Summer Fashion Essentials:

Vibrant Dresses and Tops- to be used as the center pieces of your wardrobe.

Bright Scarves and Wraps will change the whole look of your outfit. 

Colorful Beaded Necklaces, Bangle Bracelets-can inspire the look of your outfit from day to evening.

Handbags and Purses in Various Shapes, Sizes and Colors-will take you any where.

Shoes colors and comfort-go a long way.

Have Fun this Season and Enjoy the Colors of the Seasons and Be Inspired....

Decorating Themes-Ladies Tea

I find that decorating tables for gatherings with a theme is a nice way to entice

 one's soul to enjoy the essence of the meal...

Decorating a table often lifts the imagination of your guests to explore the story being shared in the theme~while also creating conversational themes for the gathering...

At a recent Art Salon Luncheon for a group a women, I had fun creating a "Ladies Spring Inspired" theme with costume jewelry, pearl necklaces and beaded bracelets, spring hats placed on chairs with individual  miniature bouquets of scented flowers at each place setting, complimented by seasonal plants for the centerpiece...

The lightly and fresh Spring theme was a joyful inspiration 

for the Ladies throughout the day....

Morning Glory

Morning Glory...Gifted Scents from Morning Garden...

 The essence of the morning garden scents gives one's soul a peace to begin the day renewed and refresh....