A Pretty Day of the Dead Halloween on Love Inc Magazine

Kristyn and I set out to create a beautifully unexpected Halloween tablescape this holiday. Using our inventory, some borrowed goods from Smith & Chang, some paint and a bit of creativity, we think we accomplished just that. Jennifer of Cyrience Creative Studios shot these photos at Smith & Chang last week and Love Inc. Magazine was sweet enough to share them with all of you! See the feature at Love Inc. for more information as to how we designed and styled this Halloween party!

Halloween How-To at Smith & Chang

This Thursday evening we will be hosting a free Halloween demo at our favorite store! As part of the demo, we will be creating a Day of the Dead tablescape and an Apothecary-style vignette. There will be cocktails and a hands-on take home project as well.  Stop by and say hello!


Here are the details....

 

Hosting Ghoulish Gatherings: A Halloween How-To 

Thursday, October 17 

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Hosting a spooky soirée this Halloween? 

Delight and terrify your guests with tips and tricks from expert event planner Trish Warrington of Karma Flowers. 

In this free hands-on demonstration, Trish will show you how to create frighteningly good party décor including tablescapes, a signature drink station, and takeaway party favors. 

Themed cocktails will be served. Guests will take home their own crepe paper pumpkins. 

Free. RSVP to events@smithchang.com.

Incorporating the Color Blue into your Fall Decor. by Karma Flowers.

Martha Stewart

I was recently in the company of the shop owner of Twine, a fabulously curated and crafted home, holiday and lifestyle shop in Hopewell, NJ {my new most favorite town}. We happened to be talking about the holidays and she declared, 

"Since when is purple a Halloween color? Someone just decided it was and so it is."

And it got be thinking. Being a lover of interior and event design, I take my holiday decorating very seriously. Part of my mission is to always step outside the realm of tradition when it comes to decorating for Halloween and Christmas...why not introduce new colors to the season? Dave and I joked as we picked pumpkins with our young son last weekend {as we tried to find a pumpkin in the perfect shade of peach} that Charlie will moan when he is older that we never had a traditional orange pumpkin growing up because it doesn't match the decor of the living room. In any case, I did a little research and discovered I am not the only one thinking this way.

One of the most satisfying departures from the ordinary I saw for the fall decor palette was the introduction  

of the color blue. For some reason, I am totally smitten with the idea of a blue pumpkin. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62183309/blue-pumpkin-photo-waiting-to-be-turned

It turns out there really are blue pumpkins, most often called Australian Blue Pumpkins and they are fairly easy to find on farms in New Jersey. Who would have thought? I adore the idea of bringing the color blue into this season's decor whether it be in the pumpkins themselves, your linens, or ribbons. Try it. You may love it as much as I do.

Etsy

In fact, you can even incorporate into your meal plans! I thought I would include a recipe for some Blue Pumpkin Soup...perfect for these crisp fall days.

Enjoy.

Recipe is from Happiness.Stuff and Nonsense.

blue pumpkin soup

Grab these:
I brown onion, chopped finely
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Half a medium Queensland Blue pumpkin, or a whole butternut pumpkin, skin removed, cut in chunks
1 large potato, peeled, cut in chunks
1 orange sweet potato, peeled, cut in chunks
1 cup chicken or veggie stock
water

Do this:
1. In a soup pot, gently fry the onion and garlic in some olive oil until soft. If you are adding any spices, throw them in at this point to release the flavour.
2. Throw in the veggies and swish in a fancy way with a spoon. Add the stock and cover the lot with water. Bring to to boil, then pop the lid on and reduce to simmer.
3. Grab a glass of wine and let that baby simmer until the pumpkin and its mates are nice and soft. Each time you refill your glass, check to see if the water needs topping up, too.
4. Whizz with a stick blender. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and lashings of black pepper. And crusty bread. Oh, and wine, if there is any left.