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.

KSW for GAIA!

I am thrilled to launch my KSW collection for GAIA at my book signing on Thursday, September 1st from 4-6 at Madison in Highland Park Village!  I love the concept behind GAIA:  Each of the items is made from vintage fabrics by ladies who are talented and in need of work.  You can read each of their stories on the hang tags attached and, I promise, you will be moved.  I am so proud to be a part of this amazing project and my friend, Paula Minnis, deserves a round of applause for her hard work and the gift she is giving these women.

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.