holiday – Marie Durrett

December 5, 2012December 5, 2012

Dear Science

So, the third time’s the charm, right? Last Monday was my third attempt at Simple Elegance and my theme was “Science Lab!”

I can’t take full credit for the table, the concept came from Philip–when he first suggested it, I thought, “An elegant Science lab? Hmm…” Then he showed up with a water pump for the centerpiece, so we were well on our way!

I found the flasks on Amazon, as well as the test tubes (part of Martha Stewart’s line). I went to Central Market that morning in hopes for some crazy flowers and they did not disappoint!

The idea for the dessert was for everyone to decorate their own sugar cookies and my chemistry teacher friend lent me her science themed cookie cutters! Who knew such things existed? We all had fun letting out our inner decorating mad scientists.

The glowsticks were by far the most popular feature. I found them on Amazon as well (I went with a bulk order of 100). I had some left over, so I thought that I would offer some bracelets to my table guests who were thrilled to receive them and proceeded to make necklaces and headbands too! Again, inner child gone wild! I’m definitely getting them again for my next party!

Mostly, people asked if I was a science teacher…nope, just a weirdo.

December 4, 2012December 4, 2012

My Heart is an Apple

My second time around at Simple Elegance I had a few “Lessons Learned.” For instance, that table is small! Once you get 8 plates, 8 water glasses, 8 coffee mugs, and napkins on there, it’s pretty tight! Less can be more–SIMPLE Elegance…right, right.

I decided to do more color this year and I decided to use my grandmother’s floral print china as a starting point. It has pink, blue, green, and gold in the patterning. I wasn’t sure about the pink (too soft?), so I made the executive decision to go red!

Same burlap cloth as last year with two new teal felt runners, and I used fabric napkins given to me by a friend that had the same colors in the embroidery. (PS Fabric napkins require some ironing!)

The only mess up I had for this table was the original concept for the centerpiece was to have horse apples in the vase. My friend notified me that there were horse apple trees along University outside the BRIT. So like a maniac, I got my plastic bag and filled it with the least gross horse apples I could find on the ground (most had rotted or were sticky). Well a week later, the horse apples were no good, so green apples it is! Then I made a cobbler the next day.

I meant to post this sooner, but the planning for this year’s Simple Elegance got in the way! It was last night and so much fun–will post pics soon!

November 28, 2012

On The Table

For the past few years, my post-Thanksgiving-food-induced-bliss quickly turns into manic shopping and planning to get my table ready for Simple Elegance!

“Simple Elegance” is an event my church holds the first Monday of Advent (usually the first Monday after Thanksgiving, but I get an extra week this year!) where we decorate 8-top tables (not necessarily “simply” or “elegantly”) and invite our friends for an evening of coffee and desserts and oogling!

This is my third year to do a table. The first year, I borrowed a friends beautiful Wedgwood china and that set the tone–teal, burlap, neutral, and rustic.

I used a few yards of burlap for the tablecloth, scraps from an old lace tablecloth, and layered on lots of Mom’s Mom’s serving trays and silver bowls. I started saving (and cleaning) jars when I decided on a theme. There weren’t many purchases for this table! Yes!

Stay tuned for a post on my second attempt at Simple Elegance!