Showing posts with label Queens Rooster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Queens Rooster. Show all posts

Monday, December 25, 2017

The Gift of Friendship



I had the privilege of hosting the Christmas dinner
for my group of girlfriends who have been 
in a dinner group for over thirty years.

The table was set with festive cranberry colored dishes
and sprinkled with golden glitter. 

The cranberry chargers are Italian by Bitossi.
Dinner plates are Queen's Rooster for Neiman Marcus.
Comfort cups are Winter Frolic by Juliska.
Sterling flatware is Sir Christopher by Wallace.
Antique napkin rings are French.

Kate Spade ornaments dangled from above
to set the mood of Fa ~ la ~ la ~la ~ la.


Fragrant winter greens mixed with winter berries, lilies, peonies,  hydrangeas, and an exotic bloom filled my cherished 
MacKenzie-Childs Piece de Resistance tureen.

Festive glass Christmas balls served as party favors
and place name holders for each guest.


Some with golden polka dots, 
some with golden stripes.

Others with golden words of Fl La La or Merry.
All echoed the Kate Spade ornaments from above.

Dinner was prepared by "The Chef".

We served Beef Bourguignon 
and a side salad.

 Dessert was served from the buffet with a choice of
home baked pound cake and a variety of Tiny Pies
cherry, apple, pecan, or chocolate.
The delicious pound cake was a gift from my cousin.
The recipe, Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake
is found on page 208 in Ina Garten's Cooking for Jeffrey.

The cute Jingle mug with its golden antler 
reindeer stirrer is new this year, 
but the Winter Frolic party plates have served 
us well for the past several years.

Dapper Santa figures dressed in tuxedos
are by folk artist, Nancy Thomas.
The "sleigh" of Santa figures are vintage from the 1950s.
All the Courtly Check is available at MacKenzie-Childs.

It was a Merry Christmas evening!
Sadie and I wish each of you a very festive 
Merry Christmas!
Joining

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Made With Love





Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!




The week of Valentine's I had a 

group of girlfriends over for a casual dinner.




These little crowned birdies were my table inspiration 

and the take home party favors for my girlfriends.




Red tea towels in a crown motif,  

purchased at World Market several years ago, 

made the perfect choice for napkins.




But it was these new bowls 

that were the crowning touch.




I spied these Queens Made With Love bowls on 

an email blast from Tuesday Morning.

I promptly ordered them, 

only to find my order canceled the following day.



Not to be deterred, 

I enlisted the help of a friend 

(she's known to be my personal shopper) 

to track them down in Dallas.

I knew they would coordinate perfectly with

the Queens Rooster plates we've had for several years.




They are called Queens Made With Love.

Do you see the crown at the top of the heart?


~ MADE IN ENGLAND ~ 

They remind me of Emma Bridgwater's work.





An ivy heart topiary nestled into one of my 

white tureens was the centerpiece.




Twisted heart garland gave a nod to 

Valentine's Day.




While glitter crowns at the base gave 

a nod to the sweet crowned birdies.




I found the glitter crowns last fall 

while shopping Rachel Ashwell's shop at

The Prairie in Round Top.




I knew they would be the 

perfect touch for something.





I floated a garland of 

pink and red hearts around the base.




~ Dinner for Six ~




Cheese and Fruit to Start




With Valley Lahvosh Heart Crackers




Heart Healthy Meal

~ Salmon on a Salad ~




~ Sweet Ending ~




I've a reputation for serving heart 

shaped decorated cookies for Valentine's Day.




But I've been out of town and had limited time.

So I opted to make brownies and cut them into hearts.





~ Fresh Berries and Cream ~

With a Side of Heart Brownie!

~ Made With Love ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chargers ~ Ambiance Vintage Garden
Dinner Plates ~ Queens Rooster
Bowls ~ Queens Made With Love
Heart Plates ~ Mesa International
Heart On The Side Cutter ~ World Market

Joining

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Let's Dish ~ Christmas in July



Christmas in July

with the 

Cowgirl UP Group.




Just take a look at this list of talented ladies.  


These Texas girls are hosting this event all week.   

Each day is a new idea to get us ready for Christmas.  





 I reached into the archives @ 

HFTS and pulled out some Christmas table settings, 

some here at HFTS and others from friends' tables.

Hope they inspire.



A bowl of fresh fruit and magnolia leaves 

makes a stunning centerpiece.



A beautiful table set with Spode Christmas Tree,

a pattern that was first introduced in 1938.

No doubt it is one of the most recognized of any Christmas china.







Though the borders may differ on Spode's Christmas china, 


the central motif has remained true to the original 1938 design.





Vietri's Rosso Vecchio Dot charger is a perfect pairing,

especially when used with these cheerful winter bird placemats.





Hand painted napkins ringed with 

tiny sleigh bells add a festive touch.




Individual holiday treats to take 

home make each guest feel special.



This holiday table is set with Fitz and Floyd's 

St. Nicholas pattern which was introduced in 1987.




An old world Santa in his sleigh among 

a forest of mercury glass trees and candle holders 

decorates the center of this elegantly set table.




Shiny red glass ornaments hang 

from the brass chandelier above.



Individual small bouquets of red carnations 

studded with rhinestones are party favors for each guest.



Antique figural silver napkin rings from the 

hostess' collection hold Christmas plaid napkins.




Though we don't have Christmas themed china 

here at HFTS, we pull in other elements 

to make our holiday tables festive.   




Here we paired our wedding china, 

Richard Ginori's Palermo Brown, 

with MacKenzie-Childs' Courtly Check 

chargers atop beaded green placemats.




Party favors for this meal were green 

Christmas tree balls ringed with gold glitter garlands.




With place cards attached they also

directed each guest to their place at the table.




Red plaid swags rim these plates by Queen's China.  

To add more Christmas color, I used a stack of chargers:

Zrike chargers in forest green and 

white Ambiance Vintage Garden.




Christmas red tassels ring the linen napkins and 

echo the tassels on the swag borders of the plates.




Petite boxes of spiced pecans do double duty 

as both place cards and individual gifts for guests.




This hostess likes to end a dinner party 

with coffee and dessert in her living room.




Ole St. Nicholas in his sleigh . . .




Delivers sweet treats for all.





Who could resist these late night snacks 

served up on cheerful Mary Engelbreit pottery?



My tip for this week's 


Add whipped cream with bits of peppermint candy

to those holiday cups of hot chocolate.


To view my other Christmas in July post click here.


Party List