Monthly Archives: August 2024

…………………….This STERLING SILVER HAMMERED HOOP…..J435498…..Is a graduated hoop with a snap and bar closure……It is available in both the Sterling Silver, and Sterling with 18 KATAT GOLD PLATE….The “hammering” has a true artisan hand done look….It’s the perfect size, and will work with anything you are wearing…..They are made in ITALY in the “electroform” process [hollow], so they are very light in weight….All of my Linea jewelry can be found on my Linea Jewelry site at QVC…..The…..GOOD NEWS…..as of now the hoop is ON SALE, but I have no idea how long the sale is going to last………..The Hoops are wonderfully updated classics…….with a TWIST!

……………..HOT PINK & RED is a beautiful color combination when done correctly……..Choosing the RIGHT RED and the RIGHT PINK makes all of the difference…..The balance and brightness of the two colors must be equal or one will overpower the other…..There are so many choices to choose from. I have always found a true lipstick red and a bubblegum/shocking pink work best…..Starting at the left….Nadege is wearing a Cashmere and Wool window pane coat with red jewel cabochon buttons rimmed in gold, and Elaine is wearing a two piece double breasted suit in a slightly lighter weigh cashmere and wool blend…again with the red cabochon buttons that were made for me by my jewelry licensee. There were also matching earrings……Nadege, in the middle, is wearing a red double knit A -Line tunic with slightly flared sleeves and a jewel neckline. Under it is a Hot Pink wool crepe pencil skirt….To the far right Yasmeen and Christy are wearing wool crepe zip front suits with custom hammered gold zipper pulls. I accessorized each of them with contrast turtle necks to match the skirts keeping the color block look……Hot Pink and Red jersey knit gloves and tights were worn by all……..This combination of Hot Pink and Red is not for the light hearted, but when it is done well, it looks terrific.

……………..A diner party at dusk or later in the evening takes on a whole different aura with the right lighting…..The right lighting can make it MAGICAL…..As soon as fall came and the evening got darker, Jac and I always ate by candle light. It wasn’t just for special occasions…..it was just something we liked…..When I have a dinner party I still use lots of candles…..but……I have now added some special lights to add some magic….I have two glass cylinders framed in brushed chrome that when you touch the base a white light comes on….touch it again and the light turns to a warm yellow [photo at upper right]. For this table setting I like the warm yellow light. It enhances all of the colors. When I did a black and white table I used the white light….In addition to these I have a group of lights that look like the Dandelion flowers. They are on stands, and at the top are a spray of fine wires with tiny LED lights. This group of lights I got from a company called NEST……NEST has an incredible array  of all different lights for indoor and outdoor……It’s well worth taking a look at. Right now they are featuring all kinds of autumn lights, and soon their Christmas lights will be making an appearance……….Lighting is often overlooked, but I learned long ago it makes all the difference in every room of the house!…………..even a dining table!!

I don’t only use my “magical lights” on the dinner table…..I also have them scattered around the room….photos at upper and lower left….They really do add a fantastical touch……and when we leave the table and sit on the couches looking at the view….the lights are there with us……the AURA continues……..Soothing background music is just as important when creating a lovely mood.

……………..Anne Klein always said……”A GOOD DESIGNER CAN DESIGN ANYTHING”……..Those are words I have lived by………..For me creating a table setting is like creating a collection of clothing……..You start PIECE BY PIECE…..STEP BY STEP….It’s about the COLORS….the TEXTURES and FABRICS….the ACCENTS……I always start with the PLATES…..In this case each plate is a different color, and each place setting are different combination of colors…..Then I decide on the color of the table cloth…the type , texture and color of the place mats and then the  chargers…in this case gold charges on straw……Then I chose the table ware….I chose knives, forks and spoons that are all different colors, and each place setting is different…..Next the napkins and napkin rings. The napkins I chose are 100% cotton oblong multi color stripes that pick up the colors of the plates……Next I chose the glass wear…..The wine glasses, water glasses and additional glasses are all in different multi color CONFETTI patterns……The water jug and the wine jug were added in the confetti patterns…..Salt and pepper shakers are chosen that compliment with the rest of the things….For this table I used multi color striped shakers….Next I chose the flower holders, a variety of bud vases and larger vases….some are patterned colorful vases in different sizes…..always coordinating with the setting….Lighting becomes a very important part of creating the mood for dinners at dusk and after…A variety of candles that coordinate with the established colors are chosen. I also like special novelty table lights……Two of my favorites are glass cylinders that with a touch change from white light to a warm yellow light. When I had my black and white table I used the white light, but for this multi color table I used the warm yellow light……Some of my newest lights I call my “wishing lights”. They remind me of the dandelion flowers that looked like balls of fine feathers. After you make a wish you blew on them all of the “feathers” flew. Of course they were seeds that would only spread more dandelion weeds!….This did not make my Dad happy!….Lastly, I choose the flowers. This is actually one of the hardest parts because you are up to the mercy of what’s available….Right now I have flowers still growing in my garden and the stores still have a descent selection…..Somehow I always make it work…I often will add some trinket or a conversation piece that just looks good……accents…….PIECE BY PIECE…..STEP BY STEP.