All Right - It's here Y'all!!!!! The Porthault Sale!

It has arrived! It is my second favorite time of the year after Christmas - time for the D. Porthault sale!!!!

If you live in New York, run, don't walk, to the store to stock up your gift closet or add a little more color to your linens!  The sale runs from today until the 28th of June from 10am-6pm Monday through Saturday.

If you are like me and you are not in New York, the on-line selection will have to do!  

Click here to see the on-line sale offerings.

Here is a little taste of the items that are are being slashed up to 80%!

Photos from D. Porthault

Get in line for Bernard Maisner and Julia B's collaborative collection!

I can hardly wait for the beautiful collaboration between two of my favorite artists to be available starting in September.  Bernard Maisner has been my go-to calligrapher for special projects since I got married eight years ago.   Julia B. is the creator of a gorgeous line of linens that impresses even the most discerning eye.  They have now joined forces to create a magnificent line of linens featuring Bernard's intricate designs.

Above is a selection of Bernard Maisner's beautiful Tree Cards.  Below is the gorgeous embroidery on linen created by Julia B for the new Bernard Maisner for Julia B. collection.  Isn't it beautiful?

Porthault

I've been wanting to put a post together about my favorite linens for so long now but it seemed so overwhelming!  There are so many great examples of amazing Porthault used in such wonderful ways out there but here are a few of my favorite: 

The linen closet of Alexandra Stoddard is filled with Porthault!  I wish my linen closet looked like this!

From Martha Stewart Weddings.

I love this watercolor of Jacqueline Kennedy sleeping in her D. Porthault bedroom by Jacqueline Duheme.  There was a copy of this hanging in the Dallas boutique while it was here.  

Oscar de la Renta's table featured in Vogue.

This design by Anna Burke was featured in Lonny March/April 2012.

Dina Merrill set her table with Porthault Lily of the Valley Linens and Dodie Thayer china.

DeDeBlair's Bedroom

I am a big fan of Joan Carl, the owner of Porthault.  She is gracious and kind and is carrying the torch forward!  I love this introduction to her on the Maze blog.

If you can't get to any of the beautiful Porthault boutiques, check out Sue Fisher King's selection on line.

You need to know about this:

I am constantly looking for ways to save my precious four year old son's masterpieces of art.  He brings a new one home from school almost every day so I have to get creative!

When the amazing Sharyn Blond launched her new linen featuring your child's artwork appliquéd on to one of her fine linens, I about fainted because I adore her linens and I adore my son's art! This is the perfect gift for my mom, who is impossible to buy for, for Mother's Day!

Here's the deal:

There are three simples steps to make it happen but you must do it quickly!  The deadline for Mother's Day orders is Friday, Feb. 10th.

Three simple steps:

1. Email, Fax or Mail your child's artwork to
Sharyn Blond Linens
2718 W. 53rd Street
Fairway, Kansas  66205
913-362-4420
courtney@sharynblondlinens.com

2. Specify the product you want:
-cocktail napkins
-fingertip or guest towels
-bedding

3. Pick from your favorite linen color.  There are 40 colors to choose from!

Q by Equinox

I loved being a part of the Q by Equinox blog with my holiday wish list.  It was a fun opportunity to share some of my favorite things:  Jewels by Cindy Chao, Linens by GAIA, and the North Texas Food Bank Food 4 Kids Campaign that I am co-chairing for the second year.

Tablescape Tuesday: Haunted Mansion Halloween

I set a fun Haunted Victorian Mansion table for my demonstration at Taste of Charleston last weekend.  It was such a blast and I wanted to share some of my fun ideas with you!

You can see all of the holiday tables I set in this image but it also shows the layers of lace and crochet that were torn and ripped that we used for this table.  Halloween is a great opportunity to use an old lace tablecloth that might have a tear or a stain on it.

I used beat up pewter plates and added red fabric paint to an old napkin.  The napkin already had a small tear so I added more tears and wrapped it up with a piece of chain that I bought at the hardware store.

I made this mummy glass by wrapping it in medical tape.  You could do the same for kids by wrapping up a juice box and adding some googly eyes!

The gorgeous flatware is from World Market.  I would use it any time but it worked for this haunted mansion table because of the pretty black lace design.

Silver candle sticks were placed around the table with black and grey candles in them and spider web around them.   I also covered a dollar store black crow on a bed of moss under a cloche for a creepy touch.  The pumpkins in the background were cut off flat at the top and we placed two trays of moon pies on them.  It is a great trick for adding height to a buffet table.

The place card was made by the Left Handed Calligrapher with white ink on black paper.  I burned the edges and nailed it to a small white pumpkin.

The sham is over!

When we go shopping for linens the stress and confusion can overpower the excitement of it all. I know what a dust ruffle, sham, and duvet are, but thread count, ply, matelasse, percale..those terms can persuade me to break out my acting skills. Not knowing the terminology that backs the world of bed linens can be embarrassing at times, but more importantly, it can cause you to purchase something without knowing if it’s what you want or need. SFERRA has come to our rescue and will allow us to hold our heads high while we shop for our new 500 thread count (that’s 500 threads per square inch), Egyptian cotton (A variety of cotton, grown in the Nile region, known for its extra long staples, and is the finest quality in the world) pillow cases.

SFERRA educates us on the “anatomy of a bed” and gives video tips for learning how to care for your linens properly. They tell the importance of changing your bed with the seasons, how we can improve our bedroom comfort, and they even discuss hints for folding a fitted sheet. My friend, Ronda Carmen, creator of www.AllTheBestBlog.com first told me about SFERRA's thread count tips.    It's always so difficult to pick out new sheets while getting lost in the labels of linen language.  Thank you Ronda because the SFERRA site's section on bed anatomy taught me to add a blanket between my sheets and duvet for warmth and color, and we should welcome accents like a cashmere throws (or any soft blanket) to our clean, monochromatic bedding.

Here is what I learned from SFERRA's Loose Count Video:

Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch.  The higher the count, the better right?  Well, not exactly!  There are really four more important elements to take into consideration: wieght, fiber, finish and feel.

Weight - Weight preferences can vary from season to season.  I like a light sheet almost year round in Texas but if you live in a cooler climate, you might want to select something heavier in the winter.

Fiber - The finer the fiber, the finer the sheet.  Egyptian cotton is the best!  Look for that label when buying new linens.

Finish - A linen's texture, color and softness are all developed during the finishing process.  Most luxury linen companies keep their finishing techniques top secret and it is really considered an art form!

Feel - Everyone's taste is different so put some thought into the feel that you are longing for.  I love sheets that are "angel soft" but I have friends who prefer real linen for it's crispness!  What do you like?


If you still need more clarification on your bedding vocabulary, check out SFERRA's bedding glossary.

Lee Jofa and de la Renta together at last...

Oscar de la Renta’s collections are filled with timeless pieces and the structure of each garment is simply unparalleled by most high fashion designers’. When you wear his creations, from his sunglasses and accessories to his ball gowns and outerwear, de la Renta allows his clients, followers, and admirers to feel powerful and luxurious. With that said, when I heard that Oscar was partnering with Lee Jofa to launch Oscar de la Renta Home, my heart rate must have jumped to dangerous levels. On top of that exciting news came something truly thrilling! The skirts, which were designed exclusively for Lee Jofa’s announcement regarding the release of the new Home collection, are going to be auctioned off for charity until November 30, 2010. The proceeds from the auction will go to Casa del Nino, a wonderful charity completely benefiting children of the Dominican Republic.
The skirts are all handmade by Oscar, himself, and the make- up of each designer size 4 skirt is a combination of linen and silk fabrics, accented with intricate beading and embroidery, accompanied by velvet and linen stripes. Extraordinary creations complimented by a philanthropic twist. What could be more beautiful?

Tailgating Time! Five Star Tailgate Recipe Included!

Tailgating Time has arrived!  Our weather has been gorgeous and the football has been fantastic!  

Here are few tips for a tailgate with tailored style:

I am obsessed with this Vintage Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler from Orvis.  It is $149 but well worth it for the size and the charm!  It is a timeless way to keep your drinks cool!  I found it while searching for an alternative to our cooler which Justin claims isn't deep enough to hold the "things he needs" inside.

Instead of napkins, pack up a few inexpensive Dish Towels! Some of them are simple and charming and will be perfect for wiping rib-stained hands and faces!  Many are so inexpensive that you can throw them away at the end of your party!

Cover your table or the ground in this classic white check tablecloth from Sur La Table.  Using a cloth will add charm and style to your tailgate!  

Provide seating for your guests.  I love to use bamboo folding chairs when I need more seating.  They are comfy and they look terrific with any style of decor!  Check out POSH Event Rentals for a selection to suit your event.  

Don't forget the music!  Add a radio to your list of supplies so that you can play your favorite tunes or catch the pre-game talk.  

Set up a trash can in plain sight so that your guests will be able to keep your space tidy.  You can add some decals in your teams colors!  

Dress the part:  Don't forget to wear your team's colors and celebrate in style!  This doesn't mean that you need to wear a jersey!  You can look just as spirited dressed in grey jeans and a navy sweater (Go Cowboys!)

We are super duper lucky to have a recipe for "The Best Baby Back Ribs" from master chef Ben Ackland.  Ben is a family friend of mine with an amazing resume that spans the globe.  The amazing thing about Ben is that this true gentleman grew up in the UK and works in five star spots but still has a passion for Tailgating!  Pretty cool to have a five-star Tailgate recipe!

The Best Baby Back Ribs

Serves 4 people

Ingredients:

2 racks pork baby back ribs

For the Rub:

1tbsp kosher salt

1tbsp course ground black pepper

2tbsp soft brown sugar

1tbsp smoked paprika

½ tbsp cayenne pepper

1tsp onion powder

For the Sauce:

½ quart tomato ketchup

½ cup soy sauce

1 cup honey

1 small tin chipotle peppers

1 tbsp Worcester sauce

½ cup pineapple juice

Method:

Pre heat the oven to 250f

The first part of this dish is to prepare the ribs. I usually give them a rinse when I take them out of the packet, to wash off any unwanted debris or blood that accumulates in the bags. I then pat the ribs dry with some paper towel. Turn over the ribs and check to see if the membrane has been removed from the back of the ribs.  If not score the membrane with a sharp knife and peel of the it off.

Mix together all of the dry ingredients and rub into both sides of the ribs

Next the ribs must be wrapped in parchment paper and then aluminum foil.

Pinch the edges of the ribs to create an airtight envelope.

Place the ribs in the oven and set the timer for 2¾ hrs

For the Sauce:

Reduce the pineapple juice in a saucepan and add the other sauce ingredients. Cook for 10 mins on a medium heat so all of the flavours mingle.

Next blend the sauce with a hand blender. Be careful not to splatter any of the sauce on yourself. It will burn!

When to ribs are out of the oven let them cool down in the aluminum foil packets.

Preheat the BBQ.

When you are ready to eat, take the ribs out of the packets and and place them on the grill face down.

Using a brush, apply the BBQ sauce to the ribs liberally.

Turn the ribs every 3 mins and keep brushing on the sauce to form a glaze.

When the ribs are piping hot all the way through they are ready to serve.  

Bridal Buzz!

I hope you will join me on Saturday the 25th of September for a Bridal Open House at The Linen Boutique on Lovers Lane.  There are some amazing vendors participating in the great Bridal Show and the first 25 guests will receive a gift bag valued at $700!  Amazing!
I will be signing copies of The Wedding Workbook while you are registering to win an amazing Bridal package!  See you there!