Gifts for the Deserving Hostess, Pt. 5

Welcome to the wonderful world of tea towels! Your hostess will appreciate the fact that these are anything but the plain jane variety found at your local superstore. And you can rest easy knowing that you didn't break the bank on a spiffy gift.

{ at left: $9.99 here, top right: $18 for 2 here, bottom right: $14 here. } 

{ at left: $18 here, top right: $16 here, bottom right: $9.95 here. } 

Gifts for the Deserving Hostess, Pt. 4

Lots of lovely picture frame options out there, folks. If you've got an embarrassing photo of the hostess, all the better. Just kidding. 

Keep it classy when someone is feeding you and providing you with intoxicating beverages. Here are six ways to do it:

{ at left: from $7.99 to $44.00 here, top right: $50 here, bottom right: $50 here. }

{ at left: $19.95 here, top right: from $15.95 here, bottom right: from $30 here. }

Gifts for the Deserving Hostess, Pt. 3

You can't go wrong with candle holders. Another great inexpensive gift that can easily be matched to your hostess' decor. And do her a favor -- bring the matching candles so she won't have to make a special trip to complete your gift. But avoid the smelly stuff. A vanilla factory may be heaven to you, but may make your hostess yack. I'm just saying. 

{ at left: $9.95 each here, top right: $3.99 each here, bottom right: $5.95 each here. }

{ at left: $32 a pair here, top right: $24 right here, bottom right: $49 a pair here. }

Gifts for the Deserving Hostess, Pt. 2

I've always considered aprons to be a tad on the dowdy side, but it tends to be a popular choice for hostess gifts. A quick web search has completely proven me wrong – there are so many cool aprons out there! I would even wear some of these out of doors if it were socially acceptable. Perhaps I can start a new trend. In the meantime, check out these cuties:

{ at left: $42 right here, top right: $40 right here, bottom right: $24 right here. }

{ at left: $39.95 right here, top right: $19.99 right here, bottom right: $19.99 right here. }

Gifts for the Deserving Hostess, Pt.1

I'm always on the lookout for a cool and unique gift idea, so this week I'm devoting my posts to gift ideas for the deserving hostess. Today I'm presenting some great finds from the world of salt and pepper shakers. Everyone needs them, they're cheap and, as I've found, they come in a wide variety of options to match the personality of your gracious host. 

{ at left: $3.95 each here, top right: $12 here, bottom right: $30 here. }

{ at left: $22.95 here, top right: $24 here, bottom right: $48 here. }

Gifts for the Wino

When I saw these, I totally did a Stacy London and said, "SHUT UP!"

And bear in mind, I hadn't even checked the price yet. I'm a huge fan of wine glasses, especially those that may fall in the "quirky" category. These are perfect, and prepare to faint when I tell you they are a mere TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS apiece. Drink your sorrows away in high style for less than a Value Meal! (Wine is better for you anyway. Even the cheap stuff.)

{Vino wine glass and carafe right here.}

The Wedding of the Century

Unfortunately, I was not the chosen stationer for the Martin/Bernard wedding, but I still felt it necessary to share their lovely save the date.  

The groom has also set up a great website where you can follow the couple as they make preparations for this most important day. I wonder if Jim and Pam will set one up, too?

Holiday Greetings Giveaway

Lovely Liene at Blue Orchid Designs is hosting a giveaway this week that ends next Tuesday. The prize? Why 50 free Kelly Ashworth Design Holiday Greetings, of course! And all you have to do is leave her a comment about the things you love most about the holiday season. What could be easier?

{see the full line here.}

Good luck!

Borgata Bridal Event

If you are planning a wedding and you live in the Valley, be sure to stop by The Borgata of Scottsdale this Friday for An Evening of Elegance – The Borgata & Hilton Village Bridal Affair.

From the flyer: "Brides to be will find bridal gowns and jewels, live music, food samplings, wine tasting and wedding accoutrements (hello, custom invitations from yours truly!). Stay for a chic fashion show featuring resort wear and bridal party attire. Enter-to-win prizes make your dream wedding come true."  

From 4-7 pm this Friday. Stop by and say hello!

Kate Spade, you evil genius

I have always been a big fan of Kate Spade and all of her wonderful accessories, but when I saw THIS...well. It was as though she instinctively knew that every stationery designer NEEDS a bag that looks like stationery. 

$175 for a PVC tote is a bit rich for my blood. Actually it's freaking ridiculous, current economic conditions notwithstanding. In the meantime, I'll just head into the bitter barn with this apropos Bah hum bug ski hat.

Oh, what's that you say? It's $115.00? For a ski hat? Maybe I can just Photoshop my face over the mannequin. In the meantime, you can find me hatless and bagless catching the first train to Bittersville.

Shameless plug for the holidays

The day after Halloween, one of the local radio stations began broadcasting Christmas music. So I suppose the holiday season is upon us! (Either that, or the holiday season has been prematurely forced upon us to boost ratings.)

I've lived in the Valley for almost 8 years, and I'm still not used to the blue skies and mild temperatures that accompany the holidays. In Detroit, the holiday season was all about dirty slushy streets, scraping the ice off my car everyday before work and shopping malls heated to a balmy 95°. It was glorious. And in all honesty, I miss it.

Whether you have embraced the arrival of the holiday season or you're scowling at all the tinsel, it's a great time to start thinking about sending out holiday cards! (Brace yourself for a shameless plug in 3...2...1...) Kelly Ashworth Design Holiday Greetings and now available in my Etsy shop! I have 13 designs available, and I also accept custom orders.

{ photos courtesy of EME Photography }

So visit Etsy! Place your orders! And to all a good night!

Getting Political

The Bright Girls came up with a clever idea for the October Display table at their lovely event gallery. In lieu of anything involving ghosts and goblins, they went for another theme sure to horrify many -- the 2008 Election.

I will admit, this was one of the most challenging table displays I've worked on yet. Not because the style was unusual or the technical aspects were particularly difficult. The true challenge was to provide a design that highlighted each candidate equally without infusing a lot of personal bias. You can make fun of each candidate and their respective running mates in a variety of different ways, but in doing so you risk alienating the other 50%.

So I tried to focus on the black and white of the parties. I incorporated donkeys and elephants where I could. I created "red state" and "blue state" place cards. And the menus mimicked a ballot, but instead of choosing a candidate based on his credentials, you got to choose based on his favorite meal. (Thanks to the Wall Street Journal for caring enough to dig up the candidates favorite restaurants!)

{ Neckties adorned the chivari chairs -- an idea inspired by Cicely! }

{ The country is divided. The tables are divided. }

{ With apologies to Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney. Donkeys and Elephants only. }

{ Place setting detail -- Barack Obama's seat complete with an "I heart Blue States" place card. }

{ McCain cookies from Tammie Coe. She has Obama, too. }

Special thanks to Keith Pitts for the images!