entertaining ideas at hodgepodge

The new merchandise has been rolling into Hodgepodge and it seems I was developing a subconscious theme—entertaining!

Many of our new inventory items will help you pull-together a picture perfect event.  From appetizers to aperitifs—we’ve got you covered.  So, when I started thinking about how to incorporate these items into our displays, I decided to arrange and entire display around the entertaining theme.

Here is the the whole shebang:

 

This porcelain handled service set elevates an iceberg and shredded cheddar salad to  mixed baby greens with goat cheese.

 

Cheese platters are almost always a part of our offerings for our guests.  I love these cheese knives from Comptoir de Famillie; along with the cheese marker tiles (you can write on them with dry erase markers) on one of these bamboo cutting boards would make a great presentation.

 

The low profile of this sugar mold votive holder makes it ideal for a buffet table.  The three tier server also helps make the most out of limited space on a table.  Try elevating items on cake pedestals—such as the willow dome at the rear.

 

Arrive at a party with this jute tote filled with wine and you’ll be at the top of the invitation list every time! 

 

These monogrammed bottle stoppers make a great gift, but they’re wonderful to have on hand to re-cork your wines, balsamic vinegars and oils!

 

The perfect cocktail napkin for a wine and cheese party . . .

 

This corkscrew is a piece of art!  You won’t want to put it in a drawer.

 

These 6-inch square, linen blend coasters are only made better with a monogram!

 

The Derby provides the perfect opportunity to have a few friends over for a celebration.  These footed mint julep cups are silver plated, adding authenticity to your celebration.  The willow dome  and tray are great for outdoor entertaining—helping to keep the bugs off of your food.

 

If you prefer your mint in a mojito, perhaps we can interest you in this beautiful wooden muddler.  It comes in a muslin bag with the recipe printed on it.

 

This wonderful peasant boy statue is ideal for serving nuts, candies or olives, but for now he’ll just hold the extra corks.

 

These easy-mix dips from Gourmet du Village blend into tasty appetizers with the addition of only a couple ingredients.  I keep them in my pantry—just in case.

The only thing better than brie . . . brie with apricot & jalapeno topper!  The cheese ball mixes come in sweet or savory flavors.

 

Use the brie baker for serving, as well.  The dip chiller has been a favorite of ours for years!  Mix-up your dip and keep it chilled with the addition of ice in the base.

 

I hope this gives you a few ideas for your next get-together.  If you’re interested in any of the items you see here, please visit the Hodgepodge Boutique.

Thanks for your indulgence.

Paige

Seaside Dining

Okay, so the way I saw it, I could set a table with paper plates and a peanut butter sandwich and this would be the most beautiful table I’ve ever set!

We were visiting our dear friends, Ruta and George, as their gorgeous home in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. It was our last day . . .Ruta and I were enjoying yet another beautiful sunrise when I had this thought!

I explained to Ruta about Tablescape Thursdays—how she had missed it, I don’t know—and asked if I could set her table and take pics for this Thursday’s offering. She was game and we immediately started digging through her beautiful dishes, linens, crystal and silverware.

Here’s what we decided on:

This was one centerpiece that didn’t make the cut.

Another attempt at a center serving piece, but we didn’t like the three inverted hi-ball glasses.

Then we tried the shell plate, but it was too predictable and not stable enough to actually serve food. (I try to be practical with my table settings—even if they’re just for show!)

Then it came to me—invert the casserole dish from pic one, set the Deruta Pottery platter on top of IT! Viola!

We filled the platter with cheeses, sausages and fruit; added a couple bottles of wine and lamented that is was only 9 A.M. ( I doubt even Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett could justify that one! Okay, maybe Jimmy Buffett . . .)

Being a beach house, there was plenty of palm tree plates and dishes made of shells (which Ruta has purchased at Hodgepodge—should have thought of the self-promoting opportunity), but I wanted the set a fall table.

Ruta had those great leaf-shaped sandwich plates, the maize yellow quilted placemats and the gorgeous amber stemware—so it was easy to pull together.

But really, how wrong could I go with this view?!?

I’ll give the details of the setting below. One last beautiful shot . . .

Woven Placemats (the very first layer on the table) are from Pottery Barn.

The quilted placemats were purchased at Williams-Sonoma.

The napkins were purchased at the big box store which shall remain nameless. (Don’t worry, Ruta and I can work through this breach of friendship.)

The beautiful silverplate flatware once belonged to George’s mother.

The white dinner plates are from a discount store—she couldn’t remember which one.

The leaf plates were also found at the big box store which shall remain nameless.

The platter is from Deruta Pottery—a gift from our mutual friend, Trish.

The casserole is from Skyros Designs—Pure Imagination.

The tumblers (which I loved) were ALSO found at the big box store which shall remain nameless.

And finally—my favorite things on the table (aside from the bleu cheese brie) were the wine glasses which Ruta was fortunate to claim from George’s Mom.

There you have it—the “can’t fail” table setting.

Be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch for all of this week’s offerings--

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for your indulgence,

Autumn at Hodgepodge

The colors, the textures, the temperature (well, soon . . .) I’m loving this change!  It’s my forever favorite season.  We’ve transformed the shop and I wanted to share our new look with you.

You can’t beat these stylized-floral plates from the Mary Carol Collection for a great impact! 

Brown transferware pitchers and a fabulous new bird vase.

   

A leaf shaped appetizer plate layered on your favorite dinnerware is all you need to set the scene.   (Be sure to pick-up some of our mixed pattern, silverplate flatware to complete your setting.)

Some festively fall buffet napkins with dried hops.

Couldn’t agree more!

 

 

 

Find a basic pattern you can mix-and-match with seasonal favorites.  I love this brasserie collection from Comptoir de Famille.

One of my favorite cabinets in the shop—a blend of an old paneled door, barnwood and a screen door—serves as a display for items to coordinate with the dinnerware.

The full scene.

An outdoor urn with and oversized pumpkin make a dramatic impact here—imagine it in your home!

 

 

This beautiful santos-style fairie stands watch over our new collection of write-on, wipe-off placecards, bottle corks and cheese markers.  The blues of this billow teapot and matching tea cups and saucers set a stunning table for tea and scones—paired with the season’s browns—it’s a can’t miss combination.

A new bookcase from our custom furniture line is the perfect display for our favorite bubble glass, handcrafted barware.

Been looking for this for years—a quality lavender at a reasonable price! 

Another favorite scent, our “fall gatherings” potpourri—instant fall!

A buffet table updated from summer to fall with a few simple changes.  Let us help you do this for your home.

Our favorite sideboard—which I understand serves as a great plasma screen tv “under cabinet,” too.

A vintage metal bed (with a great floral accent) is outfitted in this brick red matelasse, mixed with some linen blend porch pillows and striped euro shams.

A bucolic scene of these figures bringing in the harvest transitions our mantel for fall.  LOVE this burlap-backed clock!

  

We’ve pulled all of our fragrances and ambient lighting together along this wall.  Great scents for fall have arrived—to include our best selling Archipelago Botanicals Bergamot Tobacco, Burl Wood and Pomegranate Citrus.

A screen door backdrop displays this incredible feather wreath—another sure fire bet for your fall decor.

Our Caldrea stocks are full, as are our mini journals.

More candles in an array of colors ad scents

Another display of the quintessential autumn colors, mixed with a variety of gift items.

I hope this photo montage inspires you to make some changes to your home; I hope you start at Hodgepodge!

And for those of you who live at a distance—we ship! 

Thanks for your indulgence!

Paige