HOSTESS gifts
ideas for original hostess gifts
I felt in love with the work of Fernanda Bourlot, an artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina who now lived in Boston, Massachusetts. She likes simple things that feel luxurious. As suggested by the name, everything at Simplemente Blanco is from the white palette.
The Design Philosophy
Her collection carries a modern rustic charm. Simplemente Blanco believes in balance, symmetry, calmness and pureness. Fernanda Boulot design brings us peace via the simplicity of the forms and the serenity of the spaces. Simplemente Blanco loves fresh interiors and I would add: comfort.
I compiled two lists of outstanding gift ideas. You bring on any of them as a housewarming gift or as a hostess gift that you are staying over for a few days.
For the Kitchen
The Oval Wooden Tray is perfect for the upcoming summer cottage season. From the Eating section, check out the Special China section and the dandelion table linens.
Gardeners Knee Pad is a must for anyone who enjoys gardening. It can be practical and decorative. You may question the wisdom of a white textile if you wish to use the object. But if you can wash in the machine, this knee pad will stay clean. Unfortunately, the Web site contains no product details.
The flower carrier is wonderful. You can also use it as a shopping bag when you buy bunches of flowers at the flower market. A message to my friends and family: this flower carrier is on my wish list for my upcoming birthday.
For the Bathroom
Fernanda Bourlot thinks that a home must contains just what they need and nothing else. You do not need to forgo style and beauty to live by this philosophy. Her bathroom collection is a proof of that.
You can decorate your bathroom with pleasing bathroom products. The irresistible Assorted Soap Boxes certainly qualify.
The Golf Ball Soap is a set that any hostess can provide to her stay over guests. Mark the Golf Ball Soap Bag on your Father’s Day gift ideas. The linen farmer bag is a wonderful packaging. I think it looks more precious this way.
Where to shop
These were my favorites but there are more to see of their Web site. The showroom is a by-appointment only. Consumers can visit Simplemente Blanco retail place called On the Side located at 40 Waltham Street in South End, Boston. On my next trip to Boston, I will schedule a visit for sure.
Sourcing:
Learn more: Simplemente Blanco
Via: What To Do... Fernanda Bourlot on decor8
Categories:
HOME decor
GIFT ideas
TABLEWARE
LINENS
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Saturday, April 19, 2008 1:19 PM | Feedback (0)
I intensify my coverage of eco-friendly solutions until Earth Day. I will write an eco-friendly story every weekday until April 22nd.
I am starting the week with cool ultra compact shopping bags. The key is to carry your reusable shopping bags with you all the time. Since I live in the city, I do most of my shopping by foot. Therefore, I need bags that will fit into my purse.
I also prefer shoulder bags because they leave your hands free if you carry a small load. These are my favorites lately.
Flip & Tumble | First place
Flip & Tumble seduced me with their new summer colors and this catchy phrase:
A bag that’s designed for those of us who only seem to remember our reusable bags the moment we need them.
The 24-7 bag fits my lifestyle. The vibrant summer colors look amazing. Flip & Tumble will start shipping tomorrow, April 15th, 2008. Their Web site has a cool visual Add to my Shopping Card applet too. I just ordered three bags like in the picture: a raspberry, an aqua and a lime. I will tell more after a few shopping trips.
Flip & Tumble won because their bags look great and the handle is wide. It seems more comfortable for my shoulder. Hold the stretch pouch and roll the bag like rolling your socks into a ball. This translates in no need for attachment hardware.
Baggu | Runner Up
I like the fact that the Baggu bag has two handles to comfortably sit on your forearms. From the pictures, the Baggu bag does not feel as stylish as the Flip & Tumble. Baggu comes with a 5-inch square flat pouch. Depending on the shape of your purse, you may find the Baggu pouch format more useful.
Baggu target men too. Guys can fit the pouches in their jean back pockets. At last, something he can carry for me. Since the company highlights than men are also shoppers, Baggu won extra points. A cute fact: Baggu was designed in California by a mom and daughter team.
Reisenthel Mini Maxi Shopper | Third Place
This model has been around for a while. I own a few Reisenthel products that I adore. So I know the quality is excellent. Why I did not choose that Mini Maxi Shopper as my first place? I am under the impression that the pouch is bulky. The consumer reviews I read say otherwise.
One thing that I really like about the Reisenthel's Mini Maxi Shopper is that you can securely close it. None of the others have that feature. For that reason alone, I will probably try a Mini Maxi Shopper bag soon. I am leaning towards the solid orange or the aqua. The neutral like gray is another option.
Envirosax | Four Place
There Envirosax bags are well known and appreciated by many. The new patterns of the Mikado set are adorable. They are several other pattern series to choose from. The individual rolled up bag size is 4" x 1.5" diameter. Pretty small! It is probably the smallest of the four reusable bags I introduced.
I met a woman the other day that was carrying a heavy look with the Envirosax. I asked her how she liked her Envirosax bag. She was delighted but she felt the need to reinforce the handle for heavier loads. I do not know if her concern was justified or not. Tell us what is your experience with Envirosax?
Do you have a favorite ultra compact reusable shopping bag? As a matter of fact, giving 2 or 3 reusable bags will make a great impression on the hostess. Select a bag that suits his or her style.
Sourcing:
Buy online: 24-7 Bag by Flip & Tumble – price: $12 USD
Buy online: Baggu Bag and Pouch – price: $8 each, $22 for 3, $38 for 5
Buy online: Reisenthel - Mini Maxi Shopper, Long Handle at Reusable Bags – price: $9.95 each, $7.95 each if buy 4 or more
Buy online: Envirosax - Set of 5 Mikado Pouch, Reusable Shopping Bags – price: $37.95 per set, $34.95 if buy 2 sets or more
Via: Flip and Tumble | New Colors on swissmiss
Categories:
TRENDS
FAMILY style
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Monday, April 14, 2008 11:31 AM | Feedback (6)
My theory is that you should keep at home a reserve of hostess gifts. This way, you are always ready for an impromptu dinner party invitation and you save time by minimizing your shopping trips.
A lot of people from newlyweds to single men are searching for clues on how to entertain properly. The best books for them pass on tips for simple entertaining. Easy to follow instructions and gorgeous photography are essentials. Otherwise, people do not put into practice what is in the book.
That is what I like about the books by Ryland Peters & Small. To make it easier for you, stash any of these 4 new releases until you need a hostess gift:
The beauty within a book
Ryland Peters & Small are renowned for their books devoted to: food and drinks, home and garden, health and well-being. Their books provide practical information about planning, staging and organizing an event at home.
This British editor has a distinctive look. Once you know the brand, you can instantly identity that you are holding on your hand a Ryland Peters & Small book. I am a fan obviously of their fresh modern visual.
What is your favorite book about entertaining?
Categories:
EVERYDAY
FOOD + drinks
PARTY ideas
GIFT ideas
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Monday, March 24, 2008 7:33 PM | Feedback (1)
I have been a fan of Sagaform for many years now. Sagaform produces innovative kitchen accessories with beautiful simple lines at an affordable price. And did I mention that Sagaform is Scandinavian?
I particularly appreciate Sagaform for their amazing serving ware. They are designed with casual entertaining in mind. Here are my picks from the 2008 Sagaform catalogue.
Bamboo by Peter and Eva Moritz
This entertaining collection is made of farmed bamboo. The line is quite complete with serving bowls, serving / cutting boards, sandwich plates, butter knifes, serving spoons, and salad utensils.
A fun feature is the spoon fitting sleekly over the edge of the bowl. This way, there is less stuff on the buffet table. The cutting board has an unusual, two-circle shape with a handle placed on the middle.
Herb Pot Trio by Pascal Charmolu
Sagaform's herb pot is one of their most popular items. Now, this acclaimed design can fit three pots. The popularity of the herb pot is not slowing if you base your assessment on the coverage on the blogosphere lately.
Made of stoneware, Herb Pot Trio is the coolest manufactured watering pot for fresh herbs on the market. You water the herbs through the corner hole. Nothing beats the taste freshly harvested herbs. Bring this excellent housewarming gift filled with your favorite herbs.
Café by Lovisa Wattman
I really like the ingenious mug with saucer / lid made by Lovisa. The handle of the saucer / lid makes it easy to carry the mug when it is hot. A scone or a small muffin fits into the hole .
People do not receive often breakfast dinnerware as a gift. For that reason, they can be more appreciated. Beautiful and handy, this set is a wonderful way to start your day or to serve tea in the afternoon.
Bar I Club and Caviar Bowl by Matz Borgström
The colorful base of the Bar I Club glassware featured the hot colors of Spring 2008. Your guests can identify these glasses instantly through colored base.
For a punch of class, get the stainless steel Caviar Bowl Set. They would be perfect next to your Club Champagne glasses, Martini glasses and Schnapps glasses.
Bar I Wine by Pascal Charmolu
If you are looking for hip and fresh design for wine accessories, do not look further than Bar I Wine. The The Wine carafe comes with a silicone holder, stainless steel cork and a drying rack. The wine cooler is wide enough to hold the Wine carafe, which is a rare thing.
The Wine carafe set and the Wine cooler are two more creations by Pascal Charmolu, a French citizen who has lived in Stockholm since 1984.
Sourcing:
Learn more: Web site of Sagaform
Buy online: Bamboo Small Serving Bowl with Spoon at Relish Design – price: $34 USD
Buy online: Bamboo Salad Utensils at Relish Design – price: $22 USD
Buy online: Bamboo Serving/Cutting Board at Relish Design – price: $34 USD
Buy online: Sagaform's Trio Herb Pot at A+R store – price: $36 USD
Buy online: Club Caviar Bowl Set at Scandinavian Details – price: $30 USD
Buy online: Club shot glasses at Scandinavian Details – price: $30 USD for a set of 4
Categories:
EVERYDAY
GIFT ideas
TABLEWARE
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Monday, March 17, 2008 1:45 PM | Feedback (0)
While I was in New York shopping in SoHo, I stopped by Dean and DeLuca. We just finished eating in the Korean neighborhood so I feel sad because I was not hungry.
With so many delicacies, gourmet foods, cakes and pastries, wines plus a dishware section, Dean & DeLuca is THE one-stop shopping for epicurean cooking, eating and entertaining.
Take the cake section. Save time and buy a cake instead of making your own. Their cupcakes and their mini cakes are stylish. I remembered the Busy Bees and the Coconut Layer Cakes.
Your can serve several mini cakes for dessert instead of a normal size cake. The stylish hostess will present the mini cakes in dome stands, which you can buy there. That is what I called the ultimate one-stop shopping experience.
Gift store
If you need to pick up a wonderful hostess gift in a hurry this is the place to go. I am showing some products that I like. In fact, I spotted a few things for baking and food presentation while I was in Manhattan that I will grab on my next visit. Remark that not all their products are shown online.
The leather suede pot holder is available in rust, light brown and grey. Matching suede cooking mitts are available; they are sold per hand at the store. The Biscotti jar is filled with the Italian cookies. The artful black-and-white drawing is their SoHo NYC store.
For the wine connoisseur, get a hand-blown glass Tastevin made in Spain. The perfectly size and shape enable you to fully evaluate the wine. You can see, smell and taste the wine before serving it to your guests.
The Perfect Risotto Gift Basket makes an outstanding housewarming gift. Packed inside is:
- a box of carnaroli rice, preferred for its creamy, yet firm texture;
- a Ligurian extra-virgin olive oil bottle;
- a bag of pungent and woodsy dried porcini mushrooms;
- fragrant Spanish saffron;
- a classic risotto stainless steel pan made by Paderno and a cherrywood stirring spoon.
The only things missing are a bottle of white Vermouth, fresh onions and celery. If you go camping, bring this risotto gift set and you are sure to not forget anything.
I want the Round Cutter Set because its contains 11 graduated sizes so it covers all the cutting bases for cookies, rolls, puff pastry, biscuits and tea sandwiches. And the stainless steel construction is top notch.
About Dean & DeLuca
Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca traipsed around the world to find artisan-produced foods and the best local produces. The St. Helena store in the Napa Valley is unique in many ways. They take extra steps to more promote produces by local farmers, local artisan cheeses plus 1400 Californian wines. I plan a visit during my trip to the Californian Wine Country.
Dean & DeLuca has 9 retail stores and cafés around New York City. People from the Napa Valley, Kansas, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. can enjoy their Dean & DeLuca. Their concept was exported to Japan and Taiwan.
While I was in New York, a girl friend texted me to ask me if I went to Dean & DeLuca because it is her favorite NY store. It was on my schedule that day. Now, I comprehend her love affairs with this store.
Sourcing:
Buy online: Dean & DeLuca Brown Suede Pot Holder – price: $10 USD
Buy online: Dean & DeLuca Suede Cooking Mitts – price: $55 a pair, $27 one hand
Buy online: Biscotti Pottery Jar at Dean & DeLuca – price: $60 USD on sale
Buy online: Tastevin – price: $28 USD
Buy online: Perfect Risotto at Dean & DeLuca – price: $185 USD
Buy online: Round Cutter Set – price: $16 USD
Learn more: Dean & DeLuca’s Store Locations
Categories:
EVERYDAY
FOOD + drinks
GIFT ideas
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Thursday, February 21, 2008 12:32 PM | Feedback (1)
This post is about an innovative product that makes an affordable hostess gift or housewarming gift. This does not mean that you cannot just bring a couple to your home.
Update August 22, 2007:
Stop by the florist to get fresh flowers and your hostess or housewarming gift is set. I appreciate the fact that I can bring the vase with a bunch of flowers without having to carry a heavy lift. And there is no chance to break the vase either. (Thanks to Eden - see comments).
A one of a king flower vase design
Vazu is a flower vase like you have never seen before. What is so special about Vazu is that it is thin as a paper sheet when it is flat. And do not be fool by how little it weights, this flower vase is strong and durable.
Once you filled it with water, the transparency and glossiness of Vazu resembles a glass vase. The first collection of Vazu contains 16 models in three different shapes. The arrays of patterns mix modern and classic designs. Vazu is the design of T.H.+E. Design Group located in Israel.
Sold for $12 CAD at The Water Shoppe in Toronto, this expandable plastic vase enables you to carry around flowers without a leak. At this price, you can afford to use them as the vase centerpieces for a large family affair event.
My dose of Sweet Nothing
I discovered Vazu via the Sweet Nothing newsletters. Since Joanna Track launched it in June 2004, subscribers to Sweetspot.ca have received a daily fix of trend spotting lifestyle and shopping guide in their inboxes Monday through Friday. There are five editions: Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Sweetmama.
Sourcing:
Learn more: Web site for the Vazu flower vase designed by T.H.+E. Design Group
Learn more: Web site of Sweetspot.ca
RELATED POSTS:
+ Montreal-based TOMA expandable flower vases
+ Expandable flower vase at Plastica of Los Angeles
+ Christmas Vazu Collection at Vases by Vazu
Categories:
GIFT ideas
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Tuesday, August 21, 2007 11:43 PM | Feedback (15)
Everybody knows that conversation pieces are icebreakers at parties. This morning, I discovered via roadside scholar the fabulous catalogue of Philippi which is filled with distinctive pieces for entertaining.
A little bit of classy fairytale
I really fell in love with the Cinderella stainless steel items. I never saw a pair of espresso spoons and a cake serving knife so remarkable. The heel of the cake server is detachable. It stays in place through a magnet. You put the heel on when you want the cake server to rest. Otherwise you remove the heel to cut the cake.
The futuristic Jetson look infused in the Cocoon collection
A fruit bowl, a candy bowl, a set of salt + pepper shakers, a sugar pill dispenser and an astray compose the Cocoon collection. The line is sleek, fun and cute.
On the home front, the shiny silver plated Flying Tea lights nicely complement the Cocoon collection. For a formal dinner party, select either the Club Place or the Al Cube card holder sets to add style on a table.
Modern ethnic kitchen accessories
Serving hors d’oeuvres in the plywood curved veneer of the Zebrano Tray Set will certainly make a statement. You can use the trays to present the utensils wrapped in a linen napkins at a buffet table. Zebrano coasters are also available.
For an Asian tabletop, there are several unique items. I showed you the Kuala chopsticks as an example of the fine products available. Carved in polished wood, everyone can get a firm grip from these even if they are not accustomed to eat with chopsticks. Design wise, the nickel stand adds interest and modernizes these ancient eating utensils.
Lots of flower vases
The large Floating glassware vase is one of several flower vases. They all exhibit an interesting look. One quality of the Floating vase is the fact that it does not take a lot of space on the table. Perfect for narrow and long dining table. When using a design vase I suggest you keep the flower arrangement simple to not turn the eyes away from the vase.
If you are looking for a design product to punch up your tabletop explore the Philippi product lines for cool ideas. Bring one of these as an outstanding hostess gift or a trendy wedding gift. The only sad thing is that you will probably not be able to find these treasures at a store nearby if you live in North America.
Sourcing:
Learn more: Web site of Philippi
Buy online: Cocoon fruit bowl at Pid.se
Buy online: Zebrano tray set at Pid.se
Buy online: Floating, Large flower vase at Pid.se
Buy online: Kuala chopsticks at Pid.se
Via: stainless cocoon collection from philippi published on roadside scholar
Categories:
GIFT ideas
TABLEWARE
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Tuesday, August 07, 2007 12:11 AM | Feedback (0)
Beautiful tea towels are a little indulgence. If you let them hang around your kitchen, even your everyday dish cloths must look good.
Make sure to keep a few special ones in your entertaining supply kit. Typically, friends end up washing the dishes. The stylish hostess proudly reveals her exceptional tea towels when she has company over.
So why not get a set of tea towels as a housewarming or a hostess gift? To make it simple for you, I compiled by top 3 dish cloth sellers on etsy.
PataPri from Chicago: Designed and Hand printed by Yuko Uemua
Make your kitchen happy by adding colorful and pretty kitchen tea towels is the mantra of PataPri. I bought several tea toweIs from PataPri last June. I adore them. The color palettes, the hand printed patterns and the strong sewed hanging hook. Their tea towels are made of 100% white linen.
The look is modern, the color combination looks fresh and the pattern themes are diversified. This is my favorite kitchen teat towels seller. Every towel arrived nicely folded and tied with a string in a clear protective envelop.
This is one thing that is so amazing when you buy on etsy. The packaging is much an excitement to see than the products you buy. This fact simplifies your gift wrapping.
PataPri tea towels cost $14 each; money well spent if you ask me. There is a set of three for $40 USD.
Skinny laMinx from Cape Town
I really like the chic innocence vibe that you get from the Eep Tea towel available in olive, tomato and slate. It is called Eep because that's the noise these kinds of birds make.
This cotton hopsack tea towel has been screen printed with her bird of a feather drawing.
These towels are the cheapest at $10 USD each. By looking at the pictures, they appear to be of similar quality than the PataPri. Except that PataPri kitchen towels are made of linen and they have a better made hanging hook.
Run by a talented woman that is an illustrator, writer and designer, Skinny laMinx has a broad production. Take a look at her cushions and her magnets for the fridge.
Tea towels for the cottage with Artgoodies
In summer time, we are often invited to the lake cabin of a friend. For nature lovers and summer houses with a rustic charm design, I found the perfect tea towels from artgoodies.
There is a lot of drawings to choose from. You can opt for a squirrel, an owl, a quail, a deer, a rooster, a bunny, birds, butterflies and even a sailboat.
What is great is that you can save by buying a six pack or a set of 2 themed towels. Take a look at the barnyard buddies towel set or the woodland friends towel set.
These 100% cotton kitchen towels have been hand printed with linocut block prints. Each towel measures 20x28 inches and comes wrapped in a green satin ribbon.
July 25th, 2007 update:
PataPri and SkinnylaMink have each their own blog. See below for the links.
Sourcing:
Buy online: PataPri etsy seller
Learn more: Blog of PataPri
Buy online: SkinnylaMinx etsy seller
Learn more: Blog of Skinny laMinx
Buy online: Artgoodies etsy seller
Categories:
GIFT ideas
LINENS
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Tuesday, July 24, 2007 12:41 PM | Feedback (4)
While you are shopping at LU Prints, take advantage of the reduced prices through July 15th, or while supplies last!
I suggest you take a look at the set of 4 Leafy Placemats on sale at $16, the Leafy Apron on sale at $25 and my favorite, the Geese Apron. The Leafy is slighty shorter than the Geese Apron.
LU Prints creates beautifully crafted waist aprons and kitchen linens. All their textiles are hand screen-printed patterns.
The characteristics of a good entertaining apron
I suggest you wear a waist apron instead of a full size apron when you are throwing a party.
First of all, waist aprons look more fashionable because we can see your top outfit. Secondly, your apron will not appear on lots of photos. So, you will get the impression that you spend more time hanging out with for your guests.
The simple design of LU Prints aprons do not take away anything from your outfit. That is something to consider when you wear an apron at a party.
Why every hostess needs several entertaining aprons?
It is best to not wear your entertaining aprons everyday. Your apron should look fresh and new for your guests. The best hostess keeps a few entertaining aprons on her closet. Aprons are not an expansive item, so you can afford to get several.
You want to get different styles and patterns so you can complement what you wear. After a while, you recycle your entertaining aprons for everyday usage.
Made it easy for you: stock up a few hostess gifts
If you want to be invited to lots of parties, keep on reserve a few hostess gifts for unexpected invitations. You can wrap them in advance. This way you look like the perfect guests and you did not have to run.
LU Prints kitchen collection includes artsy napkins and tea towels with patterns as lovely as the shown placemats and aprons.
Any host will be delighted if you show up at their party with LU Prints artsy placemats, napkins or an attractive apron. But this does not exclude the idea of keeping one for you.
About LU Prints
LU is the first name initial of its two founders. Graphic designer Lisa Komuro and screen printer Ulla Clark come from Pemberton, British Columbia.
Founded in 2006, LU Prints strives to create fun and fresh linens and clothing for modern everyday living. Their 2007 Spring/Summer Collection is inspired by nature.
Link: Web site of LU Prints
Buy online: Kitchen collection at LU Prints online shop
Categories:
GIFT ideas
LINENS
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Thursday, June 28, 2007 2:05 PM | Feedback (3)
New more efficient food preparation tools pop up constantly. If you are invited by someone that like to cook and you do not know what to bring as a hostess gift, why not take a look at the best of the crop in specialized kitchen tools. My hostess gift ideas are all under 30 dollars.
I select Sur La Table online store because they got a nice selection. You can also stop at a local shop that specialized in fine cooking. I like to support my local independent retailers because these small shop owners are often passionate and they bring us more innovative and well designed products.
Vegetable brushes are often awkward to hold. This one called Chef'n Palm Vegetable Brush let you slip your middle finger so that the head rests in your palm. At $4.95 USD each, you can stock up a few Chef'n Palm Vegetable brushes and get helpers at the food preparation station.
Invented by a surgeon, Van Vacter Avocado Knife is neat. You can do it all with this avocado multiple blades knife. The serrated stainless steel blade cuts through tough peel, the sharp spikes quickly remove pit, the rounded tip quickly slices and dices while the flat side of blade removes the peel. The Van Vacter Avocado Knife is sold for $19.95 USD.
The Avocado Slicer by Progressive is another great tool. It is a must to nicely plate your avocado for a salad. If you make your own guacamole, the avocado speeds up the process because it slices and removes the peel in one movement. This product is widely available in stores for $14.95 USD.
I took the Avocado Slicer picture from Cooking.com, an online store that I recommend because I always got a great service from them. Customers of Cooking.com wrote lots of product reviews to help you make your choice. Sur La Table carries the same Avocado Slicer but their picture was not as nice.
These colorful die cast aluminum squeezers let you neatly press out pure juice and leave behind seeds and pulp out of citrus halves. I do not know about this particular brand but I know that this technique is appreciated by many cooks. There is one for lime, one for lemon and one for orange. These citrus squeezers start at $12.95 USD. Because you need three, I will give these to someone with a large kitchen.
If you are looking for a high-end hostess gift, take a look at David Rocco’s Dolce Vitae Olive wood collection. The Lemon Reamer got my vote of appreciation. There are many wood lemon reamers out there, many that are a lot cheaper but the Dolce Vitae Lemon Reamer has an authentic look and feel that makes it a first-class hostess gift.
The David Rocco’s Dolce Vitae Olive wood Lemon Reamer retail price is $29 CAD. This collection is only available in Canada for the moment. The products are imported from Italy. I located two shops in Montreal and Toronto where you can find the DRDV olive wood collection:
Cuisine Gourmet – 2 locations in Montreal:
- 2005 rue Drummond 514.845.0372
- Centre Rockland 514.344.6190
Junors at Bayview Village Shopping Center , Toronto 416.223.0910
Buy online: Chef'n Palm Vegetable Brushes at Sur La Table
Buy online: Van Vacter Avocado Knife at Sur La Table
Buy online: Citrus Juicers at Sur La Table
Buy online: Avocado Slicer by Progressive at Cooking.com
Get info on: David Rocco’s Dolce Vitae Olive wood Lemon Reamer on David Rocco’s Web site
RELATED POSTS:
+ Blown Glass Kitchen Tools
+ Comfort Food Christmas Gift Ideas
Categories:
KITCHEN tools
GIFT ideas
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:59 AM | Feedback (5)
I just read about this cute recipe box on Oh Joy! blog. It is so pretty that I want one. The cupcake deck is a set of 25 cupcake card recipes on a cute box. The recipes are by cook author Elinor Klivans. It is fairly new, the deck hit the store last February.
The book description on Amazon.ca:
Drawn from the best-selling book, Cupcakes, this deck includes such inviting recipes as Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes, Vanilla Cheesecake Crunch-Top Cupcakes and the deliriously delicious Lemon Angel Cupcakes. Here are 25 scrumptious ways to bring smiles faster than a kid can lick the batter off a beater.
To simplify your life, take the habit to stock up a few hostess gifts. I recommend the cupcake deck because it will please a lot of people, especially the ones with kids.
And the best thing for Canadians is that it is cheaper on Amazon.ca than Amazon.com for once. This is before we convert the money (the current rate is 0.95 USD = 1 CAD).
Buying online: Cupcakes! Deck: 25 Sweet & Delightful Recipes (Cards) on Amazon.ca
Via: the cupcake deck on Oh Joy! blog
RELATED POSTS:
+ Be the queen of cupcakes
+ Sprinkles' Clean designed cupcakes
+ Special Occasion Cakes in 4 books
Categories:
GIFT ideas
CAKES
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Friday, June 15, 2007 11:18 PM | Feedback (0)
Some party events call for special dinnerware, something out of the ordinary. Most of the time they are not milestone events but they are something important to do something special. It can be having over your girlfriends for a tea party or a periodic gathering. Creating the right mood often call for a whimsical touch.
That is where the dishware from a little shop in Seattle called Rosanna comes to the rescue. Over the past twenty years, Rosanna manages to stay on top of fashion, translating popular trends into whimsical accessories for the home with her independent shop. I see eye to eye with her on that topic. Whether it's a birthday party for the kids or the grown ups, a glamorous soirée or simply dining at home, fashionable dishes turn any day into a special occasion.
Her dish collections are made of whimsical patterns that are sophisticated. Her tableware is fun but classy. This year, Rosanna suggests layering the dishes the same way as we will dress ourselves. If you read some magazines lately, you saw that graphical, bold designs are all over the place.
She tells us how to achieve her layering approach in these words:
Begin with a dinner plate (like chocolate brown or pale blue from our new Dinner Service collection), then add a patterned salad plate stacked with a solid soup bowl, topped off with a napkin tied with a satin ribbon and a single blossom. The effect is eclectic, interesting and thoroughly modern.
La Fleur collection, that depicts four Victorian floral species, is wonderful for a tea party event. The green background looks crisp with the black and white Victorian style drawing. The Marie Antoinette dessert plates popped up when they are placed over the brown solid color scalloped-edged dinner plates.
The pastel hues of the Playing House collection, one of my favorites, look gorgeous at Easter and any day of the year. The Little Black Dress or Les femmes are adorable to celebrate a female birthday, a bridal shower, motherhood or any woman get-together. Little girls will be amused by the Play Date collection. I wish I got it when I was young. There is so much to choose for that I invite you to take a look at their entire collection on their Web site.
All the plates come in a fabulous gift box. These plates make a lovely hostess gift. You can shop online on Rosanna Web site with shipping limited to the USA. Many retailers sell the Rosanna collections. Unfortunately, there is no store listing on the Rosanna Web site.
Link: Web site of Rosanna dishware
Categories:
EVERYDAY
TABLEWARE
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Tuesday, March 20, 2007 12:17 AM | Feedback (2)
I have a love affair with aprons since I started to cook in my teens. But finding a good looking one is a hard task. My love affair with aprons is well known fact. My brother gave me one or two aprons over the years for Christmas or my birthday. He even got me a practical gardening apron that I use when I planting my flower boxes.
I discover domistyle long time ago in a Sweetspot.ca newsletter. I fall in love with their funky aprons right away. Two young women started domistyle out of unfulfilled desires. Like me, Jessica and Vanessa did not find in stores aprons that were cool enough for a stylish hostess. They create two lines for women in 2003. Since them, they add a fun collection for kids.
Called Fresh and Funky, their two collections are best described with the words sleek, sophisticated, feminine and fun. Canadian and US retailers are listed on their web site. The aprons are sold for $39 CAD, the mini-aprons are at $32 and the kid aprons at $30.
You can add a free embroidered message by shopping at some of the online stores listed on the home page. The happy modernist in me selected the funky dots pattern just like it is. I played the Gourmet Goddess with an organic flair by wearing the clean flower design of my Baby Blue Mocha apron.
Aprons for Kids
The mini apron collection brings even more of your feminine side to the table. Perfect for when you entertaining intimate dinners. Some are a shorter version of the Fresh and Funky collections. For a girlie girl, I suggest the Meshy Mini. It is a delicate see-through mesh bib with dainty pink bows and a pink ribbon binding.
These funky aprons have been featured by Style at Home, Elle, House & Home, Lucky and Wish Magazines, Designer Guys, Metro, National Post, Now, Toronto Star, Sweetspot.ca, and the Toronto Sun.
Link: domistyle web site
Categories:
FAMILY style
LINENS
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Wednesday, March 07, 2007 3:07 PM | Feedback (0)
Dish towels are a necessity but we indulge ourselves by getting groovy ones. If you put them on display in your kitchen, the typical brands from Wal-Mart or the supermarkets won’t do.
Household linens can set the mood of a table and a kitchen. If you dinnerware are monochromatic without patterns, you can use geometric, organic, bold graphic textiles for your tablecloths and napkins. This is part of the new wave to set up a table.
Finding cool dish towels that are part of larger household linen collections is a dream comes true. That is what you got with Simrin. Introduced last year, we did not know yet of any stores that carry the brands. Hostess with the Mostess blog, a fan, discovers that you can get the surya collection at Plum Party. Tablecloths, table runners, napkins and kitchen towels are available in chartreuse, aqua, brown and orange.
The catalogue of Simrin speaks in these terms about their design
Inspired by vintage fabrics, organic forms in nature and algorithmic patterns, these three distinct collections create standout prints in complimentary colors perfect for mixing or matching. A combination of metallic inks, embroidery and hand screen-printing make each one unique.
On the entertaining front, luxurious household linen items make great hostess gifts or housewarming gifts. As long as your choice shows consideration for her taste and the style of her kitchen ware, the hostess will feel pampered by your gift.
Link: Surya collection by Simrin available at Plum Party online store
Via: hooray! Simrin at Plum Party! on Hostess with the Mostess blog
Categories:
GIFT ideas
LINENS
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Saturday, March 03, 2007 4:14 PM | Feedback (0)