Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Some people make a mountain out of a mole hill .   .   . I on the other hand choose to make a mantel out of a table. Abracadabra .   .   . no fuss, just fun.

I know you all are very busy with one holiday or another .   .   . sooo in the interest of time and waning patience, I give you an updated no fireplace mantel of bits-n-pieces in the photo above as well as below. OMG! People calm yourselves this one is really a no-brainer. All that’s left are the stockings to be hung.

Can’t spare a table? How about a chair? Making something out of nothing is my forté. This is what I’m known for. I love, love, lovvvve mixing bits-n-pieces. What? You all don’t see it? Come on look again. Honestly .   .   .  it was always there. No, no joke. Where? Oh that’s easy. Everywhere. In your cupboards, closets, drawers .   .   . just take a look! I use whatever strikes my fancy, no holds barred, it’s all fair game .   .   .  scarves, remnants of vintage textile, feathers, even pieces of broken pottery. Most of the time it’s pieces that are right in front of your eyes but, were scattered here, there and everywhere. Sooo gather those bits-n-pieces from around the house, give them an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny fluffing. Take a little bit of this and a little bit of that and hokus-pokus alakazam .   .   . one fancy-schmancy no fireplace mantel!

Now on Amazon  http://amzn.to/2ehlCp4 “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER !

FOR THE KIDDIES in your life …It’s all about those adorable sisters! Listen to my children’s books live radio interview bit.ly/29QSJPd
I am sooo Lucky!!!  AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon http://amzn.to/1qh38Zf

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

       

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

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Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

“Chanukah, Oh Chanukah    Come light the Menorah     Let’s have a party .  .  .”. Um yes .   .   . I know, I know .   .  .  that the candle holder below is not your conventional Chanukah menorah! Oh pleeeease .   .   . read on…

Blue glass votive holders pictured above are filled with white t-lites in keeping with the colors of the Israeli flag. On the last day of Chanukah all the votives will be lit, casting a glow of warmth and joy. Look closely, and you will see that the upper left votive has been raised slightly above the rest just like on a traditional menorah.

“Gather around the table      I’ll give you a treat .  .  .” is another line from the  Chanukah lyrics. Now here is my line .   .   . so to speak. “Come sit with me for awhile . . . and see what I’m bringing to the table”.®  The table, pictured below, has been set, and will be covered with a sheet until Dec. 2nd. to keep this  tablescape looking pristine. Place settings of cobalt blue colored glass dinner plates, square lime salad dishes, and soup bowls done in a hand-painted pattern with a matching three footed mug to be used for dessert. Add one blue hand-thrown ceramic glazed glass, a tall stemmed lime glass and a short stemmed rose-tone glass. Someone just exclaimed, a square lime salad plate! Yup. How could I? Why not? People, people, let’s move on .   .   . thank you. The centerpiece is a very old wooden dough bowl filled with fallen branches, twigs, bright gold pears, highlighted with strands of twinkle lights for extra sparkle.

Now on Amazon  http://amzn.to/2ehlCp4 “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER !

FOR THE KIDDIES in your life …It’s all about those adorable sisters! Listen to my children’s books live radio interview bit.ly/29QSJPd
I am sooo Lucky!!!  AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon http://amzn.to/1qh38Zf

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

       

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

I know, I know, I know .   .   . It’s like being caught on an out of control train. There you were shopping, chopping, cutting, mixing, thawing, timing, basting, basting, and basting some more. Oh and let’s not forget all of your creative juices that you channeled toward a kick-ass Thanksgiving table setting. Dinner done, served and a huge success .   .   . natch! All done. What? Did someone say they are all done? Oh please .   .   . not by a long shot .   .   . mmmm-mm. STOP!!! CAUTION .   .   . busy days lay ahead. Making your lists, checking it twice. Shopping, wrapping, shopping some more, and of course wrapping some more. Wait, let me take a breath .   .   . o k I’m good. Did I mention somewhere in between the lists, and wrapping there will be decorating, decorating, and probably more decorating. Proceed with caution, and pace yourselves .   .   . because .   .   . you all are entering the busiest time of the year .   .   . December!

Now that I have pointed out what all of you are painfully aware of .   .   . I think I should quietly move on. Sooo what do I do? Great question. I take a breath, some leftover turkey and make a ‘come to the table pot of finger lickin body heat chili’. And the rest of the turkey/carcass I make a huge pot of turkey/veggie soup, and freeze for those, way to busy to cook nights coming up. The tureen and bowls seen below, make the perfect serving pieces for enjoying in front of the fireplace. PS… don’t forget a chunk of warm crusty bread.

Now on Amazon  http://amzn.to/2ehlCp4 “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER !

FOR THE KIDDIES in your life …It’s all about those adorable sisters! Listen to my children’s books live radio interview bit.ly/29QSJPd
I am sooo Lucky!!!  AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon http://amzn.to/1qh38Zf

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

       

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Fluffing, fluffing, fluffing. It should not come as any great surprise, that I am always fluffing my table settings to the very last second. Fluffing? Thank you. That’s a great question. I believe a tablescape should be a feast for every ones eyes, no matter where they are seated. Yes, yes I’m getting to the fluffing part. Geeze! Patience please. Below, are two additional photos of focal points that I have added to my Thanksgiving table featured last week (https://wp.me/p3E2rZ-5vJ). This wonderful hand painted chalice-like decorative piece sporting playful handles has been filled with pine cones, and highlighted with the addition of heavily patinated copper candle holders.

The vignette below is the second eye-candy that I added to this up-coming Thanksgiving table. The vintage pewter and glass tray holding one pine cone and faux silk leaves play well with votive, and t-lite holders set in front of wonderful old   lanterns (seen in background). Someone just ask if this year’s table was now done. Oh pleeeease .   .   . my tables? Lol. My tables are never done until the very first ring of my doorbell.                     Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

 

Now on Amazon  http://amzn.to/2ehlCp4 “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER !

FOR THE KIDDIES in your life …It’s all about those adorable sisters! Listen to my children’s books live radio interview bit.ly/29QSJPd
I am sooo Lucky!!!  AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon http://amzn.to/1qh38Zf

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

       

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

After having hosted my annual ‘for those who can not make the main event’ on Thanksgiving Day dinner this past weekend, (see https://wp.me/p3E2rZ-5vz). I realized .   .   . only 13 days until the main event, Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd! Now I don’t know about all of you, but .   .   . setting the table in advance puts me in a state of holiday bliss. Why? Oh that’s simple. As you all know, tablescaping, designing, or just plain creating is my happy place.

Shown above is my tablescape for turkey day. Lol, very good people. Yup, the center piece is the same one that I used on ‘for those who can not make the main event’ dinner. Faux Autumn leaves, eucalyptus, pumpkins, fallen branches, are kissed by the shimmer cast by the lit candles nestled in vintage copper candle sticks. A basket made of hammered copper, finished off with heavy grape vines sits atop a very old footed wooden carving board. Whoa! Wait a second. Hang on. Did you see those    flashes bouncing off of the golden metal leaves intertwined throughout this landscape. Good. I call them my Fall dancing pixies. It’s amazing what a touch of copper, golden toned metal leaves and candlelight can create.

Below is a birds-eye view of one place setting. My absolute go-to harvest motif dinner plate, holds a leaf salad dish. To give this table even more shimmer, I topped it all off with a lime glass bowl holding a battery operated flickering t-lite nestled inside. White leaves on sage toned napkin, mixed with both tall and short goblets of lime green and  golden harvest. Stay tuned for more upcoming Thanksgiving highlights.

Now on Amazon  http://amzn.to/2ehlCp4 “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER !

FOR THE KIDDIES in your life …It’s all about those adorable sisters! Listen to my children’s books live radio interview bit.ly/29QSJPd
I am sooo Lucky!!!  AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon http://amzn.to/1qh38Zf

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

       

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. Thankful for all that we have, including family and friends. Sometimes logistics make a Thanksgiving gathering of everyone on our list an impossible feat. Over the years, my solution has been to do a dinner ‘for those who can not make the main event’. Below is a sampling of what my first Thanksgiving dinner table will look like this year. Rich taupe colored table linen  with white embroidered leaves, mixed with sage napkins highlighted in a white leaf pattern, combined with ceramic leaf shaped dinner and salad dishes punctuating the vivid colors of the season, each holding a freshly harvested persimmon. Hand-thrown cups are the perfect companion to this place setting.

This years ‘can’t make the main event’ holiday-dinner will be hosting a full house of ten of our nearest and dearest. Lol! Noooo .   .   . I will not be making turkey for this first Thanksgiving celebration. Think orange glazed Cornish hens, stuffed with mushroom, rice, and slivered almonds, plus yummy sides. Ooooooops sorry .   .   . I  seem to be getting off point! The table above and below gives you all a birds-eye view of what this years ‘for those who can not make the main event’ will ultimately look and feel like. A table that holds warm patinated wood, clusters of antique copper candle holders, hand-worked thick grape vines attached to a well burnished copper base basket will ultimately welcome our guest to this year’s feast. Please read on…

Why am I laughing? Beeeecause .   .    . I just heard tsk-tsking coming from the peanut gallery. My guess is that some of you find the word feel used in the paragraph above, a bit out of the ordinary .   .   .  or just plain silly! Sooo .   .   . without further ado, it’s time to address the word feel in reference to my tablescapes. Yes, it is true that some people come to the table for the sole purpose of satisfying their hunger.   .   . hmmm. If, and this is a big iffffff your into grab-n-go living then have at it! However .   .   . I ‘m sure most of you recognize my dining mentality that plays out in all of Tableofferings™ past and present have to do with a look but also .   .   . just as importantly .   .   . the ‘feeding of your soul. 

Now on Amazon  http://amzn.to/2ehlCp4 “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER !

FOR THE KIDDIES in your life …It’s all about those adorable sisters! Listen to my children’s books live radio interview bit.ly/29QSJPd
I am sooo Lucky!!!  AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon http://amzn.to/1qh38Zf

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

       

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Oh my. Did you all really believe Griszelda, aka ‘The Feisty Witch of the East’, was planning on playing nicely along side of Witch Happy aka ‘The Contented Witch of the West’? Ooooo .   .   . before you all get toooo comfy with that assumption, let me introduce you to Matilda, ‘The Wickedest Witch of the North’ as seen below. No you didn’t misread her title. Matilda is a force to be reckoned with, before the party gets started, during and even after the guest have safely made it thru Halloween night unscathed. Trust me when I tell you that Wicked Witch Matilda makes Griszelda look like an angel! Do you see that list in her hand? That’s her scary list of witches’ tricks that she brings with her all the way from the North. In order to keep her under control I let her greet the guest with a trick or two, followed by that crazy laugh of hers. That’s when I move  my guest over to Griszelda’s witch’s brew station. One of her special brews takes the scary right out of them! What can I say?

Here, there, and everywhere tasty treats abound. Now I can not close without a warm mention of ‘The Witch of Sweetness’, seen below, stationed at one of the many places set to grab a plate and enjoy some of my special edible morsels. Yes, yes .   .   . I only use black plates with a pop of lime green napkins, set on black linens and netting. I think the only question left is .   .   . will it be trick or treat .   .   . or Happy Halloween at my house?

Now on Amazon  http://amzn.to/2ehlCp4 “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER ! //////////

FOR THE KIDDIES in your life …It’s all about those adorable sisters! Listen to my children’s books live radio interview bit.ly/29QSJPd
I am sooo Lucky!!!  AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon http://amzn.to/1qh38Zf

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

       

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.