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Introducing: Bob Ellison Woodwork

By Lydia Ellison Howerton | January 26, 2012

Most of you have heard me brag about the creativity of my brothers. Wyatt’s incredible metal work at Wyatt Studio and Buck of the famed Deck Towel, the original linen beach towel. I have one more talented brother to introduce, Bob Ellison. Wood is his medium and he sculpts decorative bowls and planters, builds wood panels and frames and makes table tops and benches from reclaimed wood.

Drew received this hand carved bowl for a Christmas gift and I was delighted to find this plant box under the tree with my name on it. So impressed by our gifts we set up a family workshop between Christmas brunch and Hanukkah dinner to launch Bob’s career. Mom styled the shots, Buck photographed the pieces and Drew built Bob a website.

Now you can follow his career over at BobEllisonWoodwork.com. If you live in the Bay Area and are looking for custom wood or metal pieces for your home or garden then contact Bob or Wyatt. They also collaborate, like on this blond walnut table top and metal base they made for my mom.

xo,
Lydia

Topics: Library, Table | 2 Comments

Baby Shower Pictures

By Sarah | January 20, 2012

Last week my sister and I hosted a baby shower for our sister-in-law. The “guestbook” was a thumbprint tree from Bleu de Toi. There’s even a baby bird snuggled in between the mama and the papa where the parents can stamp the baby’s thumb. Adorable!

We set the bar with striped straws, snapdragons and baby pictures of the parents-to-be and their mothers.

Fresh tangerine and ruby-red grapefruit juice plus prosecco for making your own mimosas. We also had iced bottles of French lemonade, sparkling fruit sodas, homemade peach iced tea and sparkling water. The bar tablecloth was pink and blue because we don’t know yet if the baby will be a boy or a girl.

Recognize those nuts?

My mom made her now-famous crab dip which we served with homemade potato chips. For lunch we had 4 kinds of quiche: a classic Lorraine, spinach and cheddar, broccoli and cheddar and sweet potato with Swiss chard and goat cheese.

Goodies for the mom-to-be.

Goodies for the guests: mini English toffees my mom smuggled in her suitcase from FoodStuffs, our favorite gourmet foodshop back in Chicago.

Next week, the games and prizes. Hint, the theme was the word “baby.”

Tell us, do you have any experience throwing baby showers? What worked well and what didn’t? More importantly, are you an aunt? I’m getting very excited about that!

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo Sarah

xoxo

Topics: Library, Table | 6 Comments

Mattie Luxe

By Lydia Ellison Howerton | January 17, 2012

Ok, even if you are not a “place mat” person these Mattie Luxe custom creations might change your mind.

Sarah and I had SUPER cute custom place mats made by Mattie Luxe last year as a wedding gift for a dear couple. We designed the mats to match the palette and architecture of their home and they turned out so well. You choose the color, theme, monogram/name and all the details of your design online and then they print and mail you the place mats within a week. Nice quality thick paper place mats with the design on both sides and laminated to stand many, many years of casual meals. You can also have your design made into a lucite tray!

Here are some fun deigns from the Inspiration page…

I think they’re a great gift for a housewarming party or a baby shower. Or as a thank you gift when staying with friends for a weekend. Or for the person you know who has everything…

xo,
Lydia

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Ball Jar Light Fixture

By Lydia Ellison Howerton | January 5, 2012

I have an ambitious line up of cleaning a organizing projects this weekend. This time of year makes me feel extra motivated to rearrange my furniture, clean out the garage and finally re-pot those plants I’ve been neglecting. A clean home to launch a healthy and productive new year.

I have some aqua blue ball jars with vintage zinc lids left over from our wedding and I want to make this light fixture to have over the table in our dining area. This is not my original idea, I found this picture on Pinterest last year from Re-Nest.com. Let’s hope I can figure this one out.

Happy clean start friends.

xo,

LEH

Topics: Library, Table | 1 Comment

Modern Holiday Home

By Lydia Ellison Howerton | December 8, 2011

Last year my Mom did a stark, modern take on Holiday decor for her home. Growing up our house looked more like this during December but my mom is the QUEEN of mixing it up. I love that about her. For her Christmas “tree” she wrapped a garden sculpture made by my brother Wyatt in white LED lights that glow an eerie blue shade of the future.

Gifts took on a preppy uniformity by using 2 complimentary wrapping papers (plaid and stripes) and an assortment of bows and ribbons.

Plaid Gift Wrap

Wyatt Ellison Fireplace

Wyatt had just made this metal fireplace front for her home.

Crystal Mirrors

Across the room the fire was captured by a trio of Thai crystal mirrors. Those stools are from my Grandparent’s house in the 70′s, such a timeless style.

French Bulldog Santa

Only one pup is willing to wear the Santa costume, sad.

Metal tree aglow

Happy California Christmas! Next week I’ll have snaps from my mother-in-law’s traditional Southern Holiday house, not to be missed.

xo,
LEH

Topics: Table | 5 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

By applesandonions | November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!!

We are so thankful for you all for joining us on A & O and sharing in our passion for food, fashion and entertaining. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday weekend.

xo,

Lydia & Sarah

Topics: Table | 1 Comment

Nature Gloss Table

By Lydia Ellison Howerton | November 22, 2011

Personally I like a Thanksgiving table with a natural vibe. Save the glitz and sparkle for next month. Flickering candles and fall foliage are all you need to set a cozy, festive and elegant mood for dinner. Grab some nature to gloss up your table this time of year. Any old nature will do…

colorful garden vegetables

dried wheat bundled in a satin ribbon

a large vase of local greenery

fresh satsuma oranges or clementines

coppery gold pumpkins (ok a little shine is nice)

feathers and twigs

pears + berry branches

All images from MarthaStewart.com and Pinterest.

xo,

LEH

Topics: Table | 2 Comments

Élan’s Top 5 (highly debatable) Entertaining Rules

By applesandonions | November 16, 2011

The last installment in our Entertaining Rules series comes just in time for your Thanksgiving prep! Élan is our resident baking guru, she is especially gifted with gluten-free and vegan delights in the most creative flavor combinations. Horchata cupcakes, almond cake with Thai iced tea frosting, strawberry margarita cupcakes, all GF and vegan too. A talented cook with a gift for organization. xo, LEH

Élan’s Top 5 (highly debatable) Entertaining Rules

1. Make dessert something to look forward to. I’m a sucker for a good dessert, but I’ll pass it up if it’s not worth the indulgence.

2. Make an organized to-do-list. A step-by-step shopping and prep list will give you a better sense of what you have to do (and how much you can prep beforehand!).

3. Make your expectations clear. As a partygoer I’m always happy to bring something, but I hate the idea of bringing something totally superfluous or something the host already has. If you’re throwing a party and guests ask/offer to bring something, point them in the right direction.

4. Let your iPod rip. Create a playlist beforehand worthy of the atmosphere you want to create. That way you can hit play as you finish getting ready and not worry about that recording of you playing Dorothy in high school spoiling the mood.

5. Enjoy yourself! No one’s judging you on the fold of your napkins or if the wine is served a degree or two in the wrong direction. If you’re having fun, your guests will, too.

Topics: Table | 1 Comment

Thanksgiving Table

By applesandonions | November 11, 2011

Remember our Halloween table? We’re using the same elements for our Thanksgiving decor. Run a similar arrangement down the center of your Turkey Day table or along your mantle for a natural, elegant and understated display.

We started with our faithful workhorses: the burlap strips. Then, inspired by the darling mini pumpkins, we clustered orb-like clear and white bud vases and filled them with Chinese mums. The repetition of almost round, squash-like shapes is what makes this look work. Lydia had the great idea to toss in some cipolline onions I had in the kitchen- it’s a cucurbita and allium table for those taxonomes out there!

Off-white pillar candles stand ready to bring the glow. My Juliska gourd carafe does double duty as an elegant vase, adding height to a side table or mantle.

For a dinner table centerpiece, you want something low enough to see over. So we removed the tall flower arrangement and swapped in a medium-sized white spray-painted pumpkin, adding in a few silver for sparkle.