Are You Shopping small?

Today is National Small Business Saturday. I know you all have your favorite local stores, We are blessed in New Orleans with tons of great small local shops, and we love them and support them.
Yesterday I did a segment of WWL-TV to talk about SBS, I encouraged folks to get out and buy local, to get something to refresh the home for the holiday season.

The graphic that didn't make it - It shows things you can add to refresh your holiday decor - interior by Valorie Hart, photo by Sara Essex Bradley

Unfortunately time was way too short and the graphics I sent to show what I was talking about didn't get shown. Instead the director had me do live teasers. I don't mind, but it ate into my prep time, including a quiet moment to go over my notes. Live TV is fun, but it is not without challenges.

The refreshing color of  turquoise is introduced to refresh Christmas decor - interior by Valorie Hart, photo by Sara Essex Bradley

I am very appreciative of all the shop owners who allow me to pull merchandise for my various photo shoots and TV segments. So it bothers me when I think I didn't mention someone or something on air.

Thank you to the shops I pulled merchandise from are: AKA Stella Gray, Nadine Blake, Source, Spruce, Eclectic Home, Tommy's Flowers, Modern Market, Belladonna, Gallery Orange, The Shops at 2011, Caravan Finds,

So here's a round up of all the great things I brought to show on air, and where you can get them.
Get out today and "shop small".

Think outside the box sums up the attitude to take when decorating for the holidays -

Ginormous chandelier crystals are great ornaments, and I love the box -  all from AKA Stella Gray

I love this color to mix into holiday decor - A vintage silver dish filled with spools of turquoise velvet ribbon - A nice alternative to ornaments n a bowl - both from AKA Stella Gray

A trio of vintage brass reindeer are so fabulous that they could stay out after the holidays- from Caravan Finds at The shops at 2011 - Small preserved wreath from Source

Bejewelled picture frame and glass dish with vintage graphic from Source

New Orleans pillows are an exclusive at Eclectic Home - Tie them with a ribbon to make them "holiday" - the luscious Pappellina throw is from Modern Market

This vignette has it all! Vintage style mini tree, vintage style turquoise reindeer, and glitter balls from Belladonna - Jonathan Adler ornaments from Spruce - Small preserved topiary from Tommy's Flowers, fabulous oyster painting by Carlos Lopez from Galley Orange

I love these Jonathan Adler ornaments from Spruce - the come in white and silver in a pretty blue gift box

Adding a new piece of art will instantly refresh your decor - Painting by Carlos Lopez at Gallery Orange

Preserved topiary in French pots are good for the holidays and will last you all year long - from Tommy's Flowers - I festooned them with a single Jonathan Adler ornament from Spruce

I love this turquoise vintage style reindeer! Get it at Belladonna

This pouf is for the pets! From See Scout Sleep you just plop it on your furniture to keep pet hair at bay - See Scout Sleep is a line of pet accessories  designed and made in Louisiana using natural materials - The leashes and collars are so designer with gorgeous brass hardware - the Hermes of dogs! You can get the See Scout Sleep line at Nadine Blake

See Scout Sleep - the Hermes of pet collars - but affordable!

See Scout Sleep - The Billie Jean pet bed with a reverse denim cover in hemp and organic cotton filled with recycled fiber fill made from plastic bottles - Shown is the coordinating island (pouf) made to be placed on your pets favorite spot to protect your furniture - get then at Nadine Blake

And check out my segment on WWL-TV!

Add a little sparkle to you holiday decor - Valorie Hart on WWL-TV

Have fun shopping local today where you live!!! 

And don't miss Merriment on Magazine Street tonight 5 - 9. I will be stopping by to sign books at The Shops at 2011.

Cholo shops small and local

List of shops I pulled merchandise from:

Magazine Street
AKA Stella Gray - 2105 Magazine Street
Source - 2103 Magazine Street
Spruce - 2043 Magazine Street
The Shops at 2011 - 2011 Magazine Street
Caravan Finds - 2011 Magazine Street
Belladonna - 2900 Magazine Street
Modern Market - 3138 Magazine Street
French Quarter
Gallery Orange - 819 Royal Street
Tommy's Flowers - 533 St. Louis Street
Nadine Blake - 1036 Royal Street
Oak Street
Eclectic Home - 8211 Oak Street

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What Do You Think About Setting The Table?

A big week is upon us, as we are all getting ready for the first major dinner party of the holiday season. I set the table differently for every dinner party party I throw, and especially at holiday time. It makes all my high class hoarding collecting of plates, glasses, and accessories pay off.

Valorie Hart Thanksgiving table setting

I don't know what I will do this year. I'm going through my things now.

Valorie Hart table setting

Valorie Hart table setting

Valorie Hart table setting

I am thinking of using some Eva Zeisel vintage dinner ware I got this year.

Valorie Hart table setting

I would love this collection of Eva Zeisel candle sticks - Santa pleas email me and I will give you the info1

These were sent to me as a gift, and I am thinking of using them this holiday season

Howard Slatkin at One Kings Lane Pair of gold metal and glass photophores

Or maybe my green chargers and vintage Limoges with green borders...

Valorie Hart table setting

I've used white pumpkins and turkeys, and white dinnerware at Thanksgiving, and have also used pretty black and white transferware plates with animals on them,

Valorie Hart table setting

Valorie Hart table setting

Valorie Hart table setting

Valorie Hart table setting Wish Magazine

Valorie Hart table setting - paper plates!

What are you planning? How will you set the table? Do you use a special set of china only used on holidays? Do you mix and match?
Would you use paper plates?


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4:44

Autumn arrives at 4:44 PM today. Happy First Day of Fall. Hope you have a wonderful Autumn season. From WTF Pinterest

"Debbie loved decorating her home for Autumn. Loved it. LOVED IT!"

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Colin Cowie Easy Peasy Table Settings

Maybe some of you are throwing a dinner party or two for the holidays. I love to set the table, and create different table settings.

Colin Cowie was on the Today Show this morning and did three nice tables with tons of easy-peasy ideas. I like Colin, because he keeps it clean, interesting, and pretty, and he uses things we all have access to.

Colin uses the 2013 color of the year Emerald for this table - The trick with all his table ideas is to have a predominant color theme - You can spray paint wooden chargers (I also saw a Christmas green one at Wal Mart for 98 cents!), and he layered a plate from cb2 on top of the charger, and he uses simple supermarket Mums - The green glasses are nice, but if you don't have any, regular clear glasses will do

I love the centerpiece, a  topiary of macaroons - Colin made it using a Styrofoam cone and store bought macaroons

He shows us how to make the topiary, by just putting a toothpick in each macaroon and then poking it into the Styrofoams cone - He added large pearl head pins in between each cookie

Colin loves to use fruit or vegetables for place cards - He also used mirror tiles from Ikea as a base for the whole design

Another table he did has a woodland theme - He found this funky fabric to use as a tablecloth, but a white tablecloth would work too - white is the predominant color - You could find small white trees and white candles and holders anywhere, and who doesn't have white plates and white napkins

He cut slabs of tree trunks for chargers - that is not so easy ha ha, so any wooden charger would work - He wrapped votive candles holders with birch bark which I know you can get in the wholesale flower market in New York - You could also use sheet moss and tie it around a glass votive holder with raffia - Again, fruit is used, this time a pear for a place card

The red table is classic - Colin cut two runners out of plaid fabric and laid them in a cross pattern to make four place settings - He added plaid napkins on white square plates (these plates are everywhere -  I've seen them at Wal Mart ) - Red pillar candles at different heights is easy enough to do - The red rose flower ball might be tricky, but you can use supermarket roses, and you could just do a very full tip to tip (cut off all the leaves) arrangement in a simple container

Colin wrote on an apple for a place card, and he mixed a signature red cocktail, a Negroni

Hope this inspires you! You probably have all the elements around the house to set your own festive table in the manner of Colin Cowie. Watch the segment on the Today Show HERE.

And if you have any good ideas to share with us, please do tell!!!

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Tiffany Blue Festival Of Lights

This weekend starts Hanukkah. Over the years decorating mavens have made this holiday a stylish opportunity in their homes. The strong more trad royal blue used in Hanukkah decorations has softened to the on-trend soft Tiffany blue.

The whole room has a theme - Even the book shelves have touches of blue -  by Design Megillah

The tabletop - Mod Tiffany blue

Plastic dreidels as vase filler

The mantel is clean and simple and modern - I love the garland

It's a  DIY project made from plastic Hanukkah gelt, and it you go to Design Megillah she tells you how to do it

Happy Hanukkah y'all! 

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Seven Easy Things To Do For A Valentines Day Table (As Seen on WWL-TV)

There’s a recent poll out that says the number one favorite Valentines gift is a special meal. Don’t let being on a budget stop you from celebrating. An alternative to going out, is a dinner (or special breakfast or lunch) for two at home that can be as easy as putting your favorite take-out on pretty plates, or cooking something simple yourself. If you’re single, throw a party for friends. You can celebrate the designated day of love whether you are two people or twenty.

·      Gather up everything you have that is red or pink - Check out what you just put away for Christmas

I shopped my closet for everything pink and red to create a Valentines table

·      Use one or two yards of fabric for a tablecloth – You can set the table anywhere – the dining room, the kitchen, or maybe the coffee table in front of the TV where you can watch a movie you both love.

I used this Lipstick Red chevron fabric  HERE  from Fabric.com

·      Candle light is romantic– Spray paint a thrift store candle holder red and add red candles; add candy hearts to glass containers with pillar candles

Spray paint an thrift store candle holder red and add red candles for some glam romance

Use any glass container you have and add candy conversation heart and a pillar candle

 ·      Fun food – Cupcakes, red velvet pancakes, chocolate flavor wine, heart shape pasta – Get a heart shape cookie cutter to turn a grilled cheese sandwich into a Valentine – serve it with tomato soup

Cupcake bouquet from Cupcakes&Co. - You can still order for Valentines - Call 504 410-5898

Order a Cupcake-ogram from Cupcakes&Co. - Monogram plates from La Plates

Red Velvet Pancake Mix and Valentine Pasta from World Market - locally in New Orleans at Elmwood store - Heart shape cookie cutter from Wal Mart - locally at Tchoup store

Chocolate wine and wine glass with hearts on the stem form World Market

·      Write a note to the one you love. A card is nice, but a personal note is a keeper. 

Write a love note - No tweeting!

·      Add one or two new Valentine things to your décor collection – wine glasses with hearts, flowers, red napkins or placemats – Build on your collection of décor items that you can use from year to year – Shop the sales the days after any holiday to add bargains to your stash.

I added this cute heart plate only $1. at Wal Mart to my La Cadeaux plate I use at Christmas

·      If you’re single, throw a party for friends, and just use the same ideas, whether you are two people or twenty.

The perfect Valentine from Alberto and me, our book Gotta Tango!

Get our book Gotta Tango

Watch the segment with all these ideas on WWL-TV The Eyewtiness Morning Show

Sally Ann Roberts and Valorie Hart The Visual Vamp - Valentines Table - WWL-TV Eyewitness Morning Show

For some romantic Valentines music check out my friend Jerri Bokeno's latest tune!

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