DECOR: Throw a dinner party and mix all of your favorite decor elements onto your tablescape. It is a-ok to mix batik napkins with Morroccan plates and Italian wine goblets. Soften the mixture of prints and patterns by adding  giant, lush peonies and ruffly sweet peas in various shades of pink.

ON THE MENU: Serve a menu of French farmhouse vegetarian dinner with light colorful dishes including chilled zucchini soup and pan seared apricots and figs alongisde refreshing Italian spritz punch and African wines. Oh and don’t forget your collection of Russian nesting dolls! But instead of stacking them onto your tablescape decor, turn them into dessert cupcake pops!!

DRESS THE PART: Wear a romantic mexican maxi party dress skirt with embroidery.

Sources:

• - Russian Doll Pops
• - Miles Redd
• - Romantic mexican maxi party dress; $280
• - Vintage batik fabric; $5.00
• - Bouquet

Pretty in Purple: Perfect for the couple who want a feeling of Springtime and romance. Lace service plates set on a background of Topaz fabric accented by a delicate carafe and plates with unexpected Asian patterns. Pastels purple flowers with a touch of glamour, perfect for the Spring.

Go Globally Gold: For the couple who loves travel. Chevrons gold presentation plates accented by gold flatware set on a background of cherry satin fabrics in an ikat print. Tumblers with glowing gold rims and plates layered in ethnic patterns all fuse together to create worldly elegance.

Rustic Yet Elegant: Green, shades of copper, bronzes, and Metallics. Malachite dishes and vermeil spoons antique metal chargers, set upon an antique Spanish table. Goblets and glasses in four different shades of greens and bronzes mixed together. This table shows that sticking with two main colors, but using multiple shades of each color creates a gorgeous table with depth and glam.

Perfect Patterns: How many patterns make an appearance on this tabletop? We counted five! Striped water glasses alongside bubble double old-fashioned glasses in shades of blue. Blue and white striped napkins set atop Malabar fabric in shades of red and blue. This is a perfect example that mixing and matching creates a designer savvy look.

Source: Elle Decor

SET THE SCENE: Throw a soiree filled with metallics, mirrors shades of lavender and aqua (via The Society), hang glitzy pinatas and throw glittering confetti.

DIY: Make ornaments out of newspaper (there is no better way to celebrate entering 2010 than to leave a green footprint by recycling the news from 2009 into chic ornaments! Be green and celebrate the happy headlines of 2009!)

TO WEAR: Leave 2009 behind in a soft beige leather lavish blossom clutch and sparkling Mui Mui heels that look like they have been covered in confetti. Don an elegantly chic tie dye blouse or a whimsical, eco-friendly ivory hemp dress accented by a bib necklace constructed from vintage jewelry (as seen on Haarpers Baazar).

Gowns via Fashion Rouge & Ada and Darcy

Don’t forget about your bridesmaids… Keep the dark palette of black layered with shades of oranges, peaches and grays. The layers and ruffles of the dresses are reminiscent of falling leaves and will flawlessly compliment your Fall inspired wedding gown. We love the unexpected accent of mustard colored shoes!

Willow dresses via Eat Drink Chic

FOOD BUFFET: Use a garden plant stand as your centerpiece and fill it with potted flowers, silverware, and holiday pies! Simple and sensational. (via Country Living)

DIY PRESTON BAILEY FALL TABLES: Set tables with simply stunning and easy to create placemats using silk Fall leaves and floral arrangements set in glass vases covered and layered in leaves (either silk or right from your backyard.) Lastly, opt for bouquet of berries and autumn leaves instead of conventional flowers. All the DIY instructions can be found via Preston Bailey!

KIDS TABLE: Set a large giving tree in the middle of your mini table and have the children write down what they are thankful for! Fill favor bags with stamps, pens and markers and let the kids draw on parchment table set on the table as they munch on fun Turkey shaped treats! (via Country Living)

How are you incorporating Fall into your Holiday tables? 

Even formal wear can be transformed into a sculptural masterpiece. All dressed up and nowhere to go? This tuxedo sculpture is the work of Greg Lauren, the nephew of Ralp Lauren. It is a meticulously hand-crafted garment made of painted paper!

Give guests artistic favors that they will re-use, “Kensington high street water bottle”, a printed image of an old London transport poster designed by Arthur Watts and seat them on reclaimed chairs with original picturesque oil paintings or hand covered in vintage maps! Create your own works of art by personalizing throws and lampshades with photos and illustrations. Serve food on bone china plates with nostalgic illustrations or illustrated melamine dinner plates.

Throw flowers into a bowl hand decoupaged with vintage stamps or prop mini bud vases on top of a cubes covered in vintage stamps! Drink from custom ceramic mugs with custom graphics and set them upon coasters that feature original artwork. Last, mix fun vintage mannequins and couches covered in playful, whimsical fabrics around the event. The best part is that all of the art from your event will transform into masterpieces for your home afterwards!

To really bring art into your affair hire a muralist to encase your space into a large life size drawing or hire a highly skilled artist to come to your party and  do live painting and drawing on the spot! Not only can your guests watch the artist turn the event into a piece of art, but it will make a great colorful keepsake afterwards! Artist Marta is based in France and has painted everyone from Prince Albert II to Sir Elton John!

As we were perusing her portfolio (jaws on the floor of course) we couldn’t help but think how beautiful one of these murals would be at an event! What a statement this life size work would make, while also showcasing a true art masterpiece. When we reached the bottom of her portfolio we saw that Charlotte did in fact create a piece for an event!

“I was commissioned to decorate a space for a party and wanted to make it a drawing that you got inside of. A section of the drawing rolled up for the entrance and when I rolled it down everyone was enclosed in the drawing, which was of the views from all around the clients house”

The large party mural was done in marker pen, oil paint, gold in and glitter on white Colorama paper. How magical would this be to enclose a cocktail area in? Especially for us art lovers out there! It could even be put up in your home after the event, truly capturing the memories of the night! 

Artist: Charlotte Mann

Recently we found a great excuse to have all of our best friends over to enjoy wine, amazing food, and each other. Vanessa, the youngin’ of the bunch, rounded the corner out of her 20’s and gave us another great reason to throw a party! As an avid foodie, getting a local chef to come and cook for us was a perfect way to celebrate her birthday.

We also used the party as a guinea pig for some great design ideas we had brewing for an recent wedding we had. The tic-tac-toe mirror design on the table, the gorgeous centerpiece (yes, we do a bit of floral design as well!) with white and blood red dahlias, and the use of vintage glassware lit up with soft candle light all passed the test! We can’t wait to show you how they transformed into the Great Gatsby/Hampton inspired wedding we just finished up.

Simple gold twine was tied around the napkins wrapped around the menus.

We made this vintage cake stand out of a lead cut crystal candy dish and glass platter! We have made quite a few of these this past year, but also have a great resource if you would like to buy them. We will be posting her products very soon! A perfect base for a gorgeous floral design.

The birthday girl herself with good friend (and possible model for our upcoming Jessica Claire workshop shoot!) Renn.

We know that in these tough times, going out to dinner can definitely be pricey. We discovered that having a private chef come to your home and cook a six course gourmet dinner was actually less expensive then going out, and SO much more fun! If you love wine like we do, we really saved on purchasing retail wine. Restaurants typically mark wine up 200-300%!

Let Lollipop into your home to plan your next dinner party! Turn any birthday, anniversary or holiday party into a gorgeous gourmet affair!

It seems like Fall just finally crept up on us and with blustery winds and gorgeous falling leaves. Sweaters get to come out of the back of the closet, you finally have to shut your windows at night and cozy socks sound like a welcomed treat. With the brisk temperatures and changing lights, brings memories and cravings of warm cups of chai tea, pumpkin scones, hearty stews and plenty of reasons to stay home with the ones you love. Being an avid foodie, relating food with memories, places and seasons always go hand in hand.

Why not embrace the flavors of the season and celebrate it in deliciously memorable ways?  From a cozy dinner party to a Fall wedding, bringing in some of these seasonal classic and new comfort foods will be surefire ways to impress your guests! Here are a few of our favorite recipes and catering ideas.

Top Row: Crab and Scallop Soup Second Row: Prosciutto Wrapped Grissini Third Row: Fresh Figs with Bacon and Goat Cheese Fourth Row: Roast Chicken with Vegetables Fifth Row: Seckel Pear Tart with Poire William Cream Sixth Row: Warm Bishop Cocktail, Palmyra Cocktail

PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN & PUMPKIN!!!!!

Waste not want not with this years Jack-o-Lanterns. Not only for desserts, pumpkin can be a delicious and nutritious fall dinner solution!

Carmel Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Ginger Rice Pudding

Spiced Pumpkin Souffles with Bourbon Molasses Sauce

Pumpkin Stuffed with Vegetable Stew

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage and Shaved Chestnuts

Top Row: Pumpkin Cupcakes & other sweets via Sweet & Saucy Second Row: Cappuccino’s make for a perfectly frothy canvas! Use a toothpick to make your own custom designs! Here are some tips how. Third Row: Pumpkin Cupcakes via Sweet & Saucy Fourth Row: Brandied Hot Chocolate &  Red Date Sticky Toffee Pudding Fifth Row: Crisp Chocolate Marshmallow Squares

Rich Chocolate Mousse

Snickerdoodle Duo

Red Wind Carmel Apples

Maple Pecan Popcorn

These were just too cute for a spooky supper side dish!  Potato Ghosts

Carl Bengtsson via Ada & Darcy

You don’t need to spend a fortune to attain these ‘costume couture’ statements. Wear a simple black dress with gothic vamp makeup and top it with vintage velvet hats, feathered masks and leather cuffs. Men can dress in simple suits accented by vampire makeup to attain a creepy ‘I just traveled from Transylvania look’. 

TO WEAR: Gothic vamp vintage top hat; $17.00  

Feather mask; Urban Outfitters, $18.00

Leather love wrist cuff by Love at First Blush; $75.00

Ostrich feather & vintage fabric headband by Estelle Annabelle; $285.00

Fallen angel mini top hat by Rag Dollies Madhouse; $74.00

Cream white tulle Elizabethan ruff by Rag Dollies Madhouse; $45.00

Silver venetian style mask by Lady in the Tower; $39.00

TO DECORATE: Vintage china shoe with anatomical illustrations; $22.00

Anatomical print on vintage book; $9.00

Anatomical mortar and pestle; $22.00

Midnight black candle holders; Grandin Road $6.00

Black lace window swag; Grandin Road $9.00

Black baroque wall clock and cakestand; dotcom gift shop

Venetian gold mask ornament by Lady in the Tower; $12.00

DIY! Gothic plates via Design Mom and nail head decorative studded pumpkins!!!!

TO SERVE: Wicked wines & Spirits with labels that SCREAM Halloween! Halloween can be glammed up with a variety of creep wine served in gothic goblets!

“The wine to die for”, Poizin wine by Armida winery. a reserve Zinfandel that even comes in a screen printed coffin!

Gnarly Head Wines with orange and dark labels of twisted trees. There is something for everyone from Cabernets, Chards, Merlots and Zins. 

Orin Swift 2007 Prisoner and Orin Swifts cult wine Bordeaux-style blend ‘Papillion’, Dracula Syrah by Vampire Vineyards, Drink the inky black and blue wine of Napa Valley’s True Blood Syrah, Vampire Merlot by Vampire Vineyards, 

For guests that prefer liquor serve ‘Black Devil Martinis’ in a midnight hue and pour basic vodka cocktails from a Crystal skull,  a delightfully eery shape; $54.00

Serve all your varietals in black gothic goblets!

Harper’s Baazar just featured a hauntingly beautiful spread of Tim Burton mixed with magical fashion. “In anticipation of his retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, filmaker Tim Burton reimagines the season’s dark delights.” Tim Burton took high-fashion designs such as Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Nina  Ricci and other couture looks to a whole new eerily captivating level.

Here is our take on infusing a bit of Tim Burton’s photo shoot into your own Halloween and festive fall functions. Tim Burton is known for his gothic expressionism and sharp contrasts between dark and bizarre visual styling.

Tim Burton inspired DIY decor: Hang gothic vellum lanterns, arrange spooky Halloween bouquets, design Pumpkin baskets with overflowing flowers, add sparkle and twinkle to your October night with Celestial Pumpkin Lanterns, seat your guests at a Poetic pumpkin tablescape, and top tables with Gothic pumpkin centerpieces. Finally, add vintage halloween decor touches with masks and round pumpkin faces.

DIY Pumpkin Carving: Channel Tim Burton’s love of dark and light with black and white painted pumpkins (instructions here), and replicate old china patterns onto your pumpkin for hauntingly glam effect (bottom right).

Recipes: Don’t stop at the decor. These visually delightful and delectable treats are sure to impress. Along Came a Spider Cake Recipe, Spiderweb Cupcakes, Caramel Apples