Memories of Christmas Past

   Vintage Christmas elements can bring a certain
   nostalgic comfort to your present holiday fun.

Above: a vintage deer with a bell

Left: old corks become new tree decorations  and serve as reminders of past  celebrations.

Right: the repurposed corks
mingle with white and gold satin-thread covered vintage ornaments. 

Antique cuckoo clock decoration

Happy Holidays!

A Botanical Bedroom

Living elements inject life to bedside tables.

Above: Stacked alarm clocks.  Placing an old clock atop of a newer one gives the sense of a collection.

A mid-century, blue task lamp helps illuminate found objects.  The room's dresser is a modern take on 18th century design.

Vintage botanical book pages.

Antique light bulbs and ceramic sockets add a masculine balance to the floral displays.

A Day in Wonderland

Say 'I do' with subtle inspirations from Lewis Carroll's classic.

Forgo the usual ring bearer pillow for something with more whimsy.  

This satin pillow is gently tucked into a bone china teacup.

 

Left:  Red roses fit for a Queen.  Butterflies liven up an 
otherwise ordinary rose bouquet.

Right:  Help guests find their place with playing card table numbers.  These can be tucked into creamers and given away later.

Teapots of course...

Send your loved ones off with a sweet treat wrapped up like a present.

 

"Curiouser and curiouser"

Shaken not Stirred

A Lychee Martini Recipe

2 oz Lychee Juice, reserved from can

1 1/2 oz Soju

1/2 oz St. Germain

Shake with ice, strain, and serve in a chilled martini glass.

Garnish with a pitted fresh lychee whenever possible.  If none are available, a canned lychee 

will work just fine.

This martini is garnished with a fresh lychee, jackfruit for color, and toddy palm pieces.
The jackfruit and toddy palm are mild and sweet and do not disrupt the soft flavors of the drink.

Above:  A hard red exterior covers the soft white inner flesh.  Lychees possess delicate
floral notes allowing them to pair well with St. Germain, a liqueur made from the essence of elderberry blossoms.

Right:  Soju, a Korean distilled beverage made from rice.  Clear, colorless and somewhat comparable to vodka, but sweeter and less harsh.

Cheers!

Swizzle Sticks

Vintage glass swizzle sticks make for whimsical cocktail stirrers

Above:  close up detail of a glass dachshund

Left:  a duck pick holds a cherry garnish

An old apothecary bottle gets new life as a whiskey decanter, just as an old medicine 

glass gets repurposed into a measuring jigger

Small air bubbles trapped inside this vintage bottle stopper create 'perfect' imperfections

 Vintage seltzer bottles are placed along side a pair of mid-century champagne coupes
on a wooden bar shelf

House on the Hill

A summer weekend trip in the Northern California hills...

A clear view from on top of the mountain

French doors welcome guests to their private quarters

A white piano adorns the living and dining area

Left and below:

A lighting fixture and assorted

crystal decanters add sparkle to

the neutral decor

 

Terra cotta tiles and large ceramic pots lend a relaxing mediterranean feel outside

Large wooden doors lead visitors into the garden area

 A fig tree grows on the edge of the property stopping short of the amazing views