A Very Berry Centerpiece

Here is a scrumptious looking centerpiece that was just sent to me by Tish Boyle, who is editor in chief of Chocolatier and Pastry Art & Design magazines.

Driscoll’s Very Berry Holiday Tree

Makes one table centerpiece

Special equipment:
1 green styrofoam cone (measuring 4-5 inches in diameter at the base and 12 inches high)
1 box of toothpicks

Supplies:
4 one pound containers of fresh Driscoll strawberries
1 bunch fresh mint
1 slice from a carambola fruit (also known as star fruit)*

*Note: If you can’t find a carambola, you can use a 1-inch star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a star shape from a mango slice instead.

Directions:
1. Wash the strawberries and blot them dry with paper towels. Pull off the green stem from each strawberry. Reserve a perfect strawberry for the top of the ‘tree’.

2. Push a toothpick halfway into the side of the cone, about 1/2 inch from the bottom edge. Secure a strawberry to the toothpick, piercing it through the stem end. Secure another strawberry right next to the first one. Continue securing strawberries to the cone in circular rows up to its top, covering the cone completely. Secure the reserved strawberry to the top of the tree.

3. Remove some mint leaves from the bunch of mint and tuck them between the berries, placing them at about 3-inch intervals.

4. Secure the star-shaped carambola or mango slice to the top of the cone using a toothpick.  For more centerpiece ideas you might like some of the ideas on my web site.  New England Fine Living under the entertaining section. 

Halloween Theme Decorating Ideas

 

I love Halloween!  Maybe it is due to the fact that I was born at the end of October and I always planned Halloween Costume parties, or it is just a fun time to get dressed up and play a different character for the night.  No matter the reason, it I have always enjoyed any reason to host a fun party.  When I was a child, I lived in a 300 year old home that had one of the spookiest basements you can imagine, and guess what... that basement used to make the best haunted house.  I dreaded having to clean up all of the decor I brought down there, but it was well worth it.  

Today, I enjoy Halloween just as much.  Just to prove it, above is a photo from my own Halloween party last year.  Squishing about thirty of my friends into my humble abode was a blast.  

I am involved with the Ipswich Rotary Masquerade Ball for the third year in a row as original creator and head of decor and styling.

Here is a photo of the main ball room last year.  Spooking, black glitter candelabras are placed on each table with black glass stones scattered about and 10 candles at each table.  The lighting, by Boston Uplights changed throughout the night. The first year I had the lights placed in each window of the mansion, so that when guests arrived, the mansion glowed with an eerie purple glow. 

Photo Inspiration Board by Wed Share

Today, I created a new page on my web site that highlights many inspirational boards from fellow business owners that I found on the world wide web.  It is amazing how many Halloween wedding ideas there are or Halloween cocktail party drinks come up when Googled.  It is almost Hair Raising! :-)  If you want to check out the page of photos and inspiration boards, click here to visit that page.

Black and White Masquerade Ball! How Divine!

It's here!  The third annual Ipswich Rotary Masquerade Ball.  On October 22nd, The Turner Hill Mansion in Ipswich will be filled with 200 area residents from Ipswich and surrounding towns.    Come dance to the tunes of Boston Commons,  Enjoy A Fantastic Dinner, Enter A Raffle, and Dance, Dance, Dance.Oh and you will see a bit of my event styling work.   For more information about the event and to order tickets, click here

Beach and garden themed party

Today I finished styling a clients beach house for a luncheon for 8 of her friends.    This decor would also be fun for a birthday party or a ocean themed bridal shower.

For this floral ocean themed centerpiece... I cut hydrangea and sea grass from my garden (I have poison ivy on my calves to prove it :-(  )  .  Then I circled the sea grass into the container, cut the hydrangea to the height of the glass, filled with water, then tucked some sea shells into the grass.

For decorating each place setting, I took some faux tea roses, a star fish, and raffia to represent dried beach grass.

After cutting some of the roses off the stem, I tied them to the starfish with white thread to secure, then with the raffia for a finishing touch and to hide the thread.

For a little touch of whimsey, I folded some napkins and tucked sunglasses and set at each place setting.

For the bar, I used one of the star fish creations, with shells glued around white lights and more shells and glass gems were scattered on the bar leaving space for mixing the drinks.

For the dessert station, we put some joke napkins into each coffee mug.

A bubbly refreshing drink for the summer

Gather with friends and treat them to a celebration with the Barefoot Beach Cup, a refreshing bubbly treat. This refreshing blend of summer fruit and bubbly wine adds the perfect spark to your summer entertaining.

BAREFOOT BEACH CUP


Description: A light and refreshing blend of seasonal fruit, lemon & lime and Barefoot Bubbly.

Glassware: Pint glass

Garnish: Mint leaf

Ingredients:
1 strawberry, hulled and sliced
4 grapes, cut in half
3 orange slices
4-5 mint leaves
3 oz sour mix
3 oz Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvee

Directions:
Combine fruit and sour mix in a pint glass with ice.  Shake well and top off with Barefoot Bubbly. Serve with straw.  Serves