Lakeside Thanksgiving Table

Wes's family is getting together this weekend at my family's lake cabin to celebrate Thanksgiving. Which makes me kind of the hostess? Everyone's pitching in on the food, and though it will be very low-key, I'd still like to make it special. (Photo via Southern Exposure)


I haven't quite worked out the table yet, but it will be very rustic and simple. I'm taking my fairytale pumpkin, a couple of baby boos, and am going to gather pine cones, leaves, and acorns when we get there.


I originally hoped to carve the pumpkin and use it as a vase as Eddie did at an event in Philadelphia (photos via High Street Market), but that just isn't happening.


To add to the natural elements, I've got burlap, copper, pewter and linen. Now here's to hoping that the dishwasher will be working and we won't have to ruin the whole thing with paper plates!

And by the way, this holiday hostess business is no joke. Remind me to thank my aunts and grandmothers next time I see them ...

Day 920

In the fall, I attended an event at the Birmingham Museum of Art celebrating the 250th anniversary of Wedgwood and the BMA's recent acquisition of a very large collection of Wedgwood (it now holds the largest inventory outside the UK). The lecture was very informative and interesting, and the collection is absolutely stunning, if you're ever in town. All this to say, I also got my copy of Tricia Foley's At Home With Wedgwood and it is easily now my favorite inspirational book.


The book features the Wedgwood tablesettings of tastemakers from Charlotte Moss to Thomas O'Brien to Martha Stewart, and even Lord Wedgwood himself, but Tricia Foley's own collection of black basalt is my favorite.


Her Upper East Side apartment is set for a casual winter gathering featuring white flowers, a roaring fire, and her beautiful black basalt.


I really love Tricia's carefully edited style. Sometimes neutral spaces can be boring, but Tricia's illustrate that even a well-edited home can be warm and filled with the things you love. Personally, I don't have the discipline for such a strict palette, but I think it's lovely. Maybe one day.


And of course, I love black basalt. Wes surprised me with a little piece of black Jasperware for Christmas and I love it!


It has just enough modern sensibility (this one isn't mine, by the way).


But the classic white is pretty great, too.

Photos are by Jeff McNamara.

Day 837: loving copper cookware

When fall arrives, I start craving warm, intimate spaces and different textures. Summer begs for linen and cotton, but now I'm craving wool plaids and anything that resembles a sweater (even thought it's still 70 degrees in Birmingham). That goes for the kitchen, too. Copper seems just right for the season.


I'd die for Eddie Ross' ironstone collection, but his collection of copper pots and pans is also quite impressive. Here, he used them to give a Chateau Chic feeling to a Grange Showroom. Above, they are on display in Martha's stable kitchen in Bedford (his first decorating project at Living).


Just one or two pieces can warm things up, as seen in this kitchen by Nathan Egan Interiors.


Copper is great for fall entertaining, too. Joni spotted a few pieces at a recent party for Garden & Gun at Houston lighting showroom, Brown. I have one copper platter (see it here) that I would love to use to serve treats at a fall dinner party.


New copper cookware is on the pricey side -- especially since it's not a necessity for every-day cooking -- but vintage pieces are not hard to find. I spotted these at a local antiques shop. Each piece was in the $20 range (though I wouldn't cook with it until I had the interior re-tinned).

Day 730's party pictures

The shower on Friday night was a big success! Of course I stressed a little too much, but it went off without a single hitch, and I think everyone had a great time. Here's a little peek ...

Invitations printed with navy and "pool" blue ink set the tone for the party.


We used mis-matched cloth napkins in shades of blues.


I bought a half yard each of navy calico and blue-and-white striped ticking from Wal-Mart (the teal fabric came from my stash) and made string of flags to hang on the mantle.


Hydrangeas from the wholesale florist were the biggest and most beautiful I'd ever seen!


We opted to have the food catered from a local Mediterranean-style restaurant. Rice and chicken kabobs are an easy crowd-pleaser, and since the party was in the evening, serving dinner was a hospitable gesture.


I dressed my glass canisters (which I was waiting to use until after the party!) with fabric left over from the flags, and served lemonade and blueberry iced tea inside.

Day 724: more party inspiration

More blue and white party inspiration, this time courtesy of Carolyne Roehm (of course) and Veranda magazine.


What a dreamy porch!

Day 718's pretty party

Megan at Beach Bungalow 8 recently hosted the exact party I've been fantasizing about. Held in her front yard, the baby shower's blues and whites color scheme was sweet without being saccharine, with no cheese in sight. My kind of party.


Megan found an ebay seller that offered Blue Willow plates for $4 each, and bought the rattan chargers at Pottery Barn and World Market.


Burlap covered the table, and fresh limes served as placecards. Blue and purple hydrangeas, green PeeGee hydrangeas and white roses were arranged in silver bowls.


I've been wanting to throw a blue-and-white themed party since I stumbled on this idea board at Style Me Pretty. I love the crisp, summery look.


Blue and white can also take on a slightly vintage feel (as seen on this board from Snippet & Ink), which is the direction I'm hoping to go for a shower for my sister at the end of the month. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!

Day 626's aspiration

Yesterday (thanks to this story from Country Living), I stumbled into The Product Gallery, a beautiful e-commerce site with new and vintage items for the table, home and garden. The collection and the photography is just stunning -- I had to share (hint: mouse over the menu card on the photo to see the collection -- it took me a while to get that!).

The Product Gallery is the work of Lynn Butler Beling, a "freelance editorial consultant" whose work can be seen in Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, InStyle. She has personally edited and selected the collection and I think it is just lovely -- proof that the most everyday items can be beautiful. Have a look:

Photos by Sang An, Styling by Lynn Butler Beling

Day 520's thanksgiving wrap-up

We're back from a fun (but quick!) two days in Dallas, where we spent Thanksgiving with my dad's family. We ate lots of delicious food, watched some football, caught up with folks we don't see often enough (including my best friend from childhood who now lives in Dallas, hi Kirsti!), and admired my aunt and uncle's spiffy new kitchen, which they finished just before we descended upon their house.

Pictured here is the dining table, which is made of reclaimed wood. A custom banquette is one side, and on the other are upholstered dining chairs.


You can see that we were a little tight (there were 17 of us!), but the table was lovely.


The new dining area is in the first addition made to their 1940's cottage in Highland Park. They opened the back kitchen wall and created a family room on the back of the house.


Where there was once a TV, there is now an enviable butler's pantry.


During the 2008 remodel, they opened the kitchen to the front room to create a living and eating space that extends from the front door to the back door. Where there was a wall diving the kitchen and dining room, you now see the breakfast bar.

This made space for two seating areas in the living room. Here, a leather sofa faces a wall-mounted flat-screen television.


And at the very front of the house, this pretty sofa and chair are perfect for reading or catching up. Love your cow-skin rug, Aunt Cynthia!

Day 514: thanksgiving ideas

Martha Stewart

A little inspiration for your Thanksgiving tabletop ... or for your "one day" files, whatever.

Eddie Ross

Photo by Tria Giovan for Country Living

Better Homes and Gardens

Martha Stewart

Eddie Ross

Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner for MyHomeIdeas

Martha Stewart

We're headed to Dallas to celebrate with family, but of course will be back in time to (hopefully) cheer our Tigers to a 7th victory in a row against our cross-state rivals.

Happy Thanksgiving, and War Eagle!