Archive for October, 2009

Our next step in redecorating Patrick’s room is to look for bedding and fabric.  He is a typical guy who really doesn’t like to shop, but it’s his room, so I insisted he choose the chair and bedspread.  I know I won’t have time to make a bedspread, but I can manage valances for the window and a bedskirt.

We headed for the bedding section at the local department store.  Red is just not a hot color now, so our choices were limited.  I pulled out 5 bedspreads that would go with his chair:  denim, a black/red bold stripe, a navy matelasse, a grey/red hip and trendy print and black graphic print.  He chose (drum roll, please…) the navy matelasse!  A matelasse is two pieces of fabric that have been quilted together by hand or machine with matching thread.  It’s beautiful coverlet, but it doesn’t offer any other colors to use in the room.

Pat chose a navy matelasse for his bedspread

Next, I went to area fabric stores to look for a coordinating fabrics for the drapery and bedskirt.  That was a challenge too since we didn’t want a patriotic red, white and blue room.  I also didn’t want to show him too many choices.   Like most clients, too many options are simply overwhelming.  A good designer knows her client and can narrow down the choices before making a presentation.

This stripe fabric would have been perfect had it not been sold out!

Pat liked the navy, green, red and beige stripe, but it was already sold out by the time I returned.  He also liked a solid red quilted fabric and I talked him into a dark, navy, red, green paisley.

I think we will use this for window valances

This paisley fabric is very grown-up and a little sophisticated!

• The bedspread was regularly priced at $150.00, but on sale and with a coupon, I got it for half price!
  
• The red quilted fabric was also on sale, marked down from $14.00 a yard to $11.19.  Unfortunately, the store had less than 2 1/2 yards.   There won’t be enough for the bedskirt, but I can make a simple drapery valance out of the piece.
• I also had a 50% off coupon for the paisley fabric (see a trend here?).  I paid $12.50 a yard instead of $25.00.  I bought the end of the bolt so I’m hoping 5 yards of fabric will be sufficient.

At least we have some colors to choose from when we pick paint.  Fortunately, I have lots of paint chips at my office and we can pick one out before we head out the store again.

Stuffed Pumpkin                                                                                         Serves 8

This recipe is a little time consuming and takes lots of pots and pans, but the results are worth it!  All you need is a green salad and bread sticks and you have a hearty Halloween meal.  The presentation is wonderful.

1 small whole pie pumpkin, about 10” diameter
Boiling salted water
2 T salad oil
2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 medium green pepper, finely chopped
2 tsp salt
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp vinegar
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, mashed
¾ cup seedless raisins
1/3 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed green olives
2 tsp capers
1 – 8 oz can tomato sauce
½ cup red wine
3 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   With a sharp knife, cut a circular top about 5 inched in diameter out of the pumpkin.  Save the top to use as a lid.   Scoop out pumpkin seeds and scrape inside of pumpkin clean.  Place it in a large kettle and cover with boiling salted water; cover kettle.  Bring water to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes until pumpkin meat is almost tender.  The pumpkin should still be firm enough to hold its shape well.  (The recipe did not say this, but you should boil the lid too, otherwise it will not fit).  Dry the outside and sprinkle a little salt on the inside.  Set aside.

In a heavy skillet with a cover heat salad oil.  Add ground beef, onion and green pepper, cook over medium high heat until beef is browned and crumbly.  Remove from heat and add salt, oregano, vinegar, pepper and red wine.  Cover skillet, return to heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cool slightly and add beaten eggs, mixing thoroughly.  Fill cooled pumpkin with meat stuffing, pressings to pack firmly.  Cover loosely with pumpkin lid and place in a greased shallow baking pan.  Bake for 1 hour.  Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

To serve, carefully lift the stuffed pumpkin onto a serving plate.  Slice from top to bottom in flat wedges, spooning more meat filling onto each slice.

This Halloween table setting is so easy to do with things you probably already have around your house.   If you don’t own an orange table cloth (and how many of us do?), look for an alternate.  This zigzag stitched cloth is actually a shower curtain I found at Goodwill for $3.00.

Put together is Halloween table setting in no time!

While I was shopping, I found a black rug pad.  The rubber mat that you put under area rugs so they don’t slip.  I love the texture and how it contrasts with the fabric.  All I had to do was cut it to placemat size!  No sewing required.

The napkins are dish towels I bought last winter and cut in half and hemmed.  But you can always find paper napkins in any color in a pinch.  I just folded them in thirds and placed a little witch’s broom my sister found in her craft box.

No need for a napkin ring, set a little witch's broom on the side

Everyone has white plates.  If you don’t, start looking for a set.  White dinner plates can be used over and over and depending on how you set the table and never look the same twice.

Black is the new color in dinner ware, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding black salad plates.  You probably already own  a set of clear  plates.  I am not a big fan of translucent dishes.   I’m not sure why I don’t like them.  Not a pet peeve, just a quirk!

You really don’t need two salad plates, unless you only eat greens, I just love what you can do with the duo.  I sandwiched a jack-o-lantern cut-out between the two and voila, instant Halloween dishes.  I can’t wait to use this idea for other dinners.

You don't have to invest in special dishes for Halloween, make your own with paper cut-outs

I always use some sort of place card when entertaining.  Maybe it’s the power of telling people where to sit!  Anyway, this idea takes minutes to do.  Cut a little strip of paper and make ribbon ends.  Write your guest’s name and weave between the tines of the fork.  So simple.

Tell your guests where to sit with a bit of paper and pen!

The centerpiece is a stack of mini pumpkins and gourds, black garland, a white cake stand and decorative dish.  Or you can display the jack-o-lantern your kids carved out.

The centerpiece is so easy when you use lots of pumpkins and gourds

You can put together this holiday table with very little effort and expense just in time for October 31!

Halloween isn’t just for kids anymore or at least it shouldn’t be.  I presented several Halloween table setting ideas at the grand opening of a new Goodwill store last week.  It’s amazing what you can ‘throw’ together on a budget!

No tricks at this table!

I started with a bright orange sheet.  You can us anything for a table cloth.  The white plates with the lovely black floral border would be perfect for any event, but are extra special for October 31.  I paired them with 8-sided soup bowls, white cups and black saucers.  Nothing is from the same set, but all look great together.  Even the little juice glasses with black stripes were meant to be!

Isn't Halloween all about the candy? Use the pumpkin dishes filled with treats as party favors.

Napkins are black (what else?) and tied with a bit of raffia.  Un-twist it so you can write your guest’s name.

Make an easy napkin ring with a twist of rafia.

The contrast of the black garland across the table with white votive candles sets the right mood.

Use lots of contrast for a dramatic table

Instead of a traditional pumpkin, I chose an orange paper lantern,and topped it with a not-so-scary witch’s hat.  The whole table cost less than $30.00 and looks like a million bucks!

A jack-o-lantern would be expected, a paper lantern is unique!

Patrick and I went shopping for a red chair.  What you should know about us is I like to shop and he doesn’t (unless of course it’s for movies and electronics). The other thing is Patrick figures when you say you are going to do something you mean right now.  I have a little more patience (meaning I can wait a long time for just the right thing, however when I make up my mind I want it right now too).  As a designer, thousands of fabrics are available to me so are hundreds of chair frames.  Custom furniture can take 12- 16 weeks.  Neither one of us wanted to wait that long to complete his room so we checked out the local retail furniture stores.

Doc Brown has a great red arm chair in Back to the Future.

Our mission was to find a similar chair to the one Doc Brown had in Back to the Future.  We found a couple red chairs in micro fiber (not a big fan of micro fiber).  Although they were quite inexpensive, they were also too big.

Doc's chair is in red moire fabric, has a loose back cusion and rolled arms. Looks comfy.

Two mistakes people make when shopping:
1.    You get what you pay for!  Cheap never lasts as long as a good quality     piece.  Buy the best you can afford.
2.    Measure your doorways and stair ways before buying.  No sense in hauling something home if you can’t get it in the house.  Custom furniture is not returnable!

The stariway in our old farm house is narrow. Be sure to measure before you buy!

There isn’t a 36” wide opening on any door in my house interior or exterior.  Pat’s room is on the second floor.  Not only did we have to get it into the house, we had to get it up stairs.

Pat watched as his dad and brother Tyler delivered the chair.

We bought a very nice recliner in red leather!  The size was perfect (it did take a little maneuvering, but we were successful).  It was on sale for under $800.00.  Not a bad price for leather.  Knowing Pat, he will take very good care of it.  He will want to change color schemes before it shows any wear!

It's not an exact copy, but pretty close and maybe better than the Doc Brown chair!

Our next step will be finding fabric for bedding and window treatments so we can choose paint colors.  Paint can be mixed in an endless number of colors, shades or hues.  A good paint company can match anything.  So even though picking a color is difficult for most people, select your fabrics first, then mix a paint to coordinate with your soft goods.

Doesn't Patrick look comfortable and relaxed in his new recliner?