Candyland Centerpiece !

Candyland centerpieces are easy to make and enjoyed by all. I started making candy or gingerbread centerpieces for the afterparty held for the cast of our local nutcracker ballet group. I used lollipops, gingerbread men from the bakery that I glued on small dowel sticks,candy canes,small candy trees and any cookie or hand candy stick. I have made them in all types of large clear bowl shaped vases. Punch bowls work well too. Cotton batting layered in the bottom of the bowl looks like snow. Use floral foam on top of the batting and tape down with floral tape then arranage all your goodies even a few decorations ,ornaments, santas, small trees and snow or white branches can be added to your candyland scene. Top the candyland scene with the cotton batting to create the snow scene. I often sprinkle with a little irredescent glitter to finish. Red gerbers, daisies,star of bethlehem and roses can all be added for a special event. Raise the candy using small wooded floral picks or dowels.

Chocolate Christmas Cookie Towers

Chocolate and cookies, the children will be happy to help with this project. First take a styrofoam cone (available at most craft stores) and paint it with melted dipping chocolate that you can find in the baking aisle of the grocery store. It is the kind of chocolate you would use to dip pretzels or fruit.
I then place on wet floral foam in a small punch bowl ,but you can just place on a holiday plate if you do not want to use flowers at the bottom. I use wooded floral 6″ picks to hold the cone to the foam and arrange flowers and Christmas greenery in the bottom. Pin the cookies to the cone with colored toothpicks, using smaller cookies at the top. I often make Chocolate towers with the same technique and an assorted box of chocolates or homemade chocolates. White melted chocolate and pepppermints are also easy and clever. Have fun in the kitchen and happy holiday baking!

Holly!Holly!Holly!Underwater Holly!

Holly, Holly Holly! Nothing screams Christmas like holly and red berries. Simply place varigated holly in a tall clear vase , fill with water and place red flowers in the top of vase for a fabulous and quick party centerpiece. You can add under water battery lights for a cool effect and even food coloring in your favorite holiday color. Varigated holly is available from your local floirst. If you do not want to see the stems use a plastic or lomey dish on top of the vase with floral foam and make your arrangement in the foam and place on top of the holly filled vase.

Decorating with Santa

Collecting Santas has been a passion for Karen (one of my favorite customers)for quite sometime. She not only has exotic Santas, she has classics, playful,colorful, casual and international Santas. She has collected so many……that she now decorates with Santa throughout her house. Mixing Santa with gold cones and velvet cloths on the dining table, placing assortments on the mantles and under the tree. We even added a fairly Santa to the staircase. Collecting can make the Holidays special. Ornaments, jingle bells , trees , wreaths and nutcrackers can all be collectables and something you can look forward to unpacking and remembering every holiday season. Start your collection this year!

Snowy Decorating for the Holidays

Bundle paperwhites with rubber bands and place in an oval vase while adding a touch of varigated holly to hold the stems in an upright position and to add a holiday feel to this snow scene. You see… in the South, we long for snow during the holidays so we make our own snow scenes with gingerbread houses, potted pines and loads of fake snow. The paperwhites add a sweet fragrance too. I took this photo while working on a customer house that was also being shot for a magazine holiday story. You can always use this as a tablescape by making several smaller vases down a long table with a scattering of fake snow.

Poinsettia! Poinsettias! Perfect Plants for the Holidays

The poinsettia plant is the perfect holiday decoration! There truly is not an easier and more versatile plant than the poinsettia.
In the photo, I placed a white variety in an open weave basket to greet guest in a foyer. When using an open weave basket you must place a plastic liner underneath the plant to water the plant. Use spanish or green sheet moss to hide the plastic pot and liner.
The white and green varitey of poinsettia works great for this winter wonderland home. Poinsettias are available in a variety of colors, red, white, peach, pink and two toned are all natural . Blues and purples are usually artifically colored.
Keep the ponsettia plant in a temperature above 40 degrees. Remember they are a Mexican plant and love the temperature of that country. So…if you use them on your porch or shaded patio bring them in on cold nights. Water about twice a week. I often add cut Christmas greens in the soil to fill in as the mature plant will lose its botton leaves.
Poinsettias love temperature above 40 degrees so bring them inside on cool nights. Poinsettias come in all sizes from tiny self watering minature pots to large topiaries and hanging baskets. I have even hung them from chandliers , placed on top of chests, nestled in old luggage and tucked them in fireplaces that need a little color. They are so versatile, afforabe and come in a variety of colors. They are the perfect holiday plant.

Turkey Turnover Tip

Turkey turnover describes my tip on how to cook the turkey. For the first hour ,cook the turkey upside down and let the juices run down to keep the brest juicy. I stuff the turkey with quartered oranges lemons apples and onions for flavor and juice. Be sure to add plenty of seasoning and butter. Turn the turkey over after the first hour and finish cooking.Enjoy! [Read more]