Inspired By: Rainer Cherries

There is no cherry prettier and sweeter than the Rainer!  It is said that: "growing these cherries is like playing poker with God."  I guess that explains why they are kind of expensive ;-) 

Rainers make a brief appearance in June and July, and are definitely something I look forward to every Summer.  However, once you've had Rainers it's hard to have anything else.  To me, they are definitely inspiring!  Have a look-see at the lovely Rainers...

Pretty, no?  And the blue plate below adds just the perfect amount of contrast, to make the prettiest palette!  Wonder if this dessert table was inspired by them...

Again, it's not just the color, but the feel here - summery, light, pretty and sweet - both the Rainer cherries and the dessert table!  Don't you just love how inspiration can come from anywhere - a chevron floor, chippy pink paint, an embroidered book cover and Rainer cherries are all perfect examples of just that!

~ Ciao

...images via cannelle et vanille & cake ink events

On the Table: Fabulous Fruit

I think it's been ages since my last 'On the Table' post - I will definitely have to get better about posting them more often...starting with today!

And with yesterday being the first day of Summer and all - I thought this fabulous fruit centerpiece would be the perfect pic to post today, as it has Summer written all of it... 

Gorgeous, no?  I adore the pop of color from the tablecloth, and the simple white compote.  I would love to see these centerpieces on long tables, placed here and there on the table.  Plus, with just a couple of other details - like fruit and leaves on the table, a handful of vintage bottle of leaves and blossoms, and some candles I think it would make for some stunning decor! 

Of course you could always bring in a fun or cute element at each place setting too.  I can think of a handful of things to do - like each guests name written in white ink on a leaf at each place, the napkin wrapped with simple twine and with a blossom stuck in the knot, of course a cute flag on a stick with a name on it, stuck in a piece of fruit at each setting would be darling and fun...  But tell me loves, what would you do?

~ Ciao

...photography sang an

Tuesday Thought: Simple Centerpiece Ideas

Happy Tuesday my dears!  Goodness, I just realized that my Flowers of the Week post never posted yesterday - so sorry about that...well I will just have to save the pretty for next week I guess.  Anyhoo, I do have some pretty for you today. 

I have been thinking about centerpieces a lot lately for some reason.  On Thursday's Homemade post last week, I showed you tin cans spray painted and used as centerpieces...so my thought after last week was - what are some other ways one can create simple centerpieces that still have an impact? 

Well, as I was digging through my storage unit, on a quest to find one particular item, I ran across a couple of different tins and wooden boxes that I had and thought they would make fabulous centerpieces.   I know most of us have seen pictures of vintage tins filled with flowers, however have a look-see at the wooden box, small compote, and the vintage tin with a hinged lid below...

Eeks - so pretty filled with fruit, no?  I adore the single branch of kumquats in the wooden box, the plums on the compote, and the pears in the hinged lidded tin!  And continuing on with the simple details here - the single rose in the teacup, and the kumquats decorating the table are all fabulous as well.  The wonderful thing about fruit, as long as you use what is in season, is that it is easy on the budget!  So if you are looking for a simple, but still stunning centerpiece idea...I think this one is pretty fabulous.  And if you don't have tins and such you can either buy, borrow or rent them for the day.

However, you are probably wondering - what is my thought for today, no?  Well my thought for today is simple - use the same containers as above, but fill them with different items depending on your theme!  Easy peasy ;-)

I think moss and mushrooms would look lovely in the hinged lidded tin, a handful of acorns would look fabulous on the small compote with a leaf, the wooden box is perfect for a feather or two or even a mossy branch, and I would place a fern frond in that teacup for a rustic, woodland theme.  For a beach theme, I would use elements such as sand, beach grass, spanish moss, rope, shells, and driftwood.  And this would work with lots of other themes too.

Most elements are found within the setting...so cost to decorate is nothing or pretty minimal, you just have to spend the time collecting some things.  But what fun expeditions those would be ;-)  Grab your friends, take a picnic and have some fun while searching...almost like a scavenger hunt...cause don't we all love a scavenger hunt!  You could even have a prize for the winner.  So just a couple of thoughts for you today!  Hope you have a lovely day, and I will see you back here tomorrow with more pretty.

~ Ciao

...photography by kate weber via her blog

Goodness Grapeness

How fabulous are these simple favors...

I love the natural, easy, good for me feeling of them.  I actually said outloud:  "I want one."  Yum, fresh fruit in a cute little bag...all for me.  However, if you wanted some I would most certainly share with you.

A pefectly simple DIY favor that I am adoring right now.  And while you mainly see grapes; the bags are filled with other fruits as well.  What I really love about this idea is that it really would work with any wedding style!  Just change the bag and how it's presented and viloa!

P.S. - And you know I love that they are lined up on a vintage bookcase.  Hmmm, I think I need to get me one of those soon...simply over the moon! 

~ Ciao

...image via ruffled

~ details: clothespins and slices ~

I just had a conversation with my sissy yesterday that it is the details that make the difference between good and great.  And that details don't have to be expensive or over the top...just something a little extra that shows you paid attention and you care.  Here are two perfect examples of simple homemade details that everyone can do...

The simple detail of ribbon, a clothespin and small card take this arrangement up a notch!  Don't get me wrong, the arrangement is gorgeous on it's own, but it's the detail that was added that really grab your attention.  Same goes for these drinks below...

Rows of drinks at the ready are pretty.  But rows of drinks at the ready with orange and lime slices...very pretty!  Plus, I am a L-O-V-E-R of some type of garnishment in drinks! 

I have decided that since LCW is all about the details that I would start a details series...to be posted randomly...that hopefully inspires you to add some very pretty little details to your event!!!

~ Ciao

...images via decor8 & style me pretty

~ with berries on top ~

I can't tell you how much I am absolutely ADORING this cake...

It's just simply perfect!  The setting, the flower colors, the fruit, the cutting board...are all just so sweet don't you think? Oh, I think the colors would be fabulous at an early Fall wedding!  And all of a sudden, in the blink of an eye...I am kind of looking forward to Fall!

~ Ciao

...image via snippet and ink

~ the cocktail hour: boozy fruit ~

Now this would be a fun, different and great refreshing treat for the cocktail hour at a Summer wedding.  Just cut up some fruit...

Pour on the liqueur...

Let stand for an hour, and serve!  Get the recipe here.


~ Ciao

...images via sunday suppers & photography karen mordechai

~ fruit + cake ~

Makes one heck of a spectacular creation...

Wouldn't you agree?  Oh I just love this one!

~ Ciao

...image via going to the chapel

~ color inspiration: apricot ~

I am swooning over the colors in this pretty photo...

And I just knew they would make a lovely color palette!  I think they would be goregous at a late summer or early fall wedding...don't you?

~ Ciao

...image via my tartelette