You may have noticed by now that I’m a fan of cake stands.
Well, I happen to be in love with this particular beauty. Have been for quite some time, now. Maybe one day someone will buy it for me and we can live happily ever after, sharing cake, or brie, or grapes, or after dinner mints.
Le sigh.
Want to buy one for yourself? Try Beach Dwelling.
Two exciting new ventures announced yesterday:
From Weddingbee founder Bee Kim:
“Vendors have so much expertise and inspiration to share, as well as some of the most gorgeous blogs out there. We thought that maybe it was time to start a new blog with blog posts by weddding vendors. And so was born WeddingbeePRO.com! Now you’ll be able to read the the same sort of behind-the-scene insights that you’ve come to expect from our Weddingbee Bees… but from our Vendor Pros!”
Check it out here.
And from Jordan of Oh Happy Day and Karisa Winkel, graphic designer extraordinaire, Stuck Label Company.
My favorite is the small red square label – perfect for Christmas presents, which, coincidentally, is just how they’ve styled them. So smart, these ladies! They’ll be posting new designs all week, so be sure to check back.
It’s now officially December, which means you could conceivably start receiving holiday cards any day now. How exciting! I found a few ideas for corralling the chaos when I went in search of ideas to spruce up my displays this year.
First up: simple ribbon bands can easily be expanded to accommodate a growing collection.
Over-sized bows make a splash on a blank wall or door.
A clothesline-style display holds folded cards nicely. Flat cards can be punched and strung or hung with mini clothespins. Use yarn, ribbon, or twine to suit your decor.
Martha and Better Homes & Gardens both suggest a card tree, which is great for showcasing exceptionally beautiful cards (tuck the tacky ones in the back!).
{via Design Mom; instructions at Martha Stewart Living}
Instead of the usual lights, punch a hole in card corners and string them as garland decoration.
And my personal favorite:
{via Black*Eiffel}
One important (if not a bit obvious) detail to remember: the reason these displays look so great is because the homeowners (or stylists!) were judicious in their selection of cards for display, so if you’re concerned about such things, be sure to choose similarly colored designs for your groupings.
{Click to enlarge!}
For the next four Mondays before Christmas, I’ve decided to post holiday-themed boards (though some more explicitly themed than others). This one is for a sophisticated and chic soiree – the brown and white palette is perfect for a chilly night in December, while the cupcakes, truffle cake, and pine cone accents add just the right touch of whimsy. For a sweet finale at the end of the night, try a hot cocoa bar in place of the more standard candy or cookie display!
The Details
First row, left to right:
Lace patterns kick up the style a notch (Rebecca Thuss); delicate cupcakes look decadent topped with mocha frosting and coconut shavings (via Black*Eiffel); display sepia-toned photos of family and friends at the cocktail hour or reception to lend a vintage vibe (photo by Elizabeth Messina on Oh How Charming!);
Second row, left to right:
A chocolate truffle cake mimics the shape of a pine cone (April Reed); winter light makes the brown tones in this elegant room glow (via Martha Stewart Weddings); guests will take immediate notice of a thick brown envelope in the mail (Tara Jones); a dress with lace detailing is an updated classic (via Style Me Pretty)
Third row, left to right:
A silvery-brown suit can look as elegant as black (via Style Me Pretty); use pine cones to prop up place cards at the reception entry (The Knot); pine cones form an inexpensive monogram in a window (Martha Stewart Weddings)
And check out this pinecone bouquet!
Does this board convince you? Or do you still think brown is too drab?
This is where I share the marvelous people, places, and things I love.
