Published in 2013 by Struik Lifestyle

(an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd)

Company Reg. No 1966/003153/07

Wembley Square, Solan Road, Cape Town 8001 South Africa

PO Box 1144 Cape Town 8000 South Africa

www.randomstruik.co.za

Copyright © in published edition: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd 2013

Copyright © in text: Clare Huisamen, Ingrid Loud, Noeleen Foster 2013

Copyright © in photographs: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and the copyright owner(s).

Publisher: Linda de Villiers
Managing editor: Cecilia Barfield
Designer: Beverley Dodd
Editor: Gill Gordon
Proofreader: Anja Grobler

Photography and styling: Noeleen Foster
Text and styling: Clare Huisamen
Styling: Ingrid Loud

Reproduction: Hirt & Carter Cape (Pty) Ltd
Printing and binding: Craft Print International Ltd, Singapore

ISBN 978-1-43230-084-5 (print)
ISBN 978-1-43230-215-3 (PDF)
ISBN 978-1-43230-214-6 (e-Pub)

Also available in Afrikaans as Maklike tafelversiering vir elke geleentheid

ISBN 978-1-43230-085-2

The authors would like to thank the following people for the use of their beautiful homes, and their help: Jimmy and Biddy Mould, James and Mabel Slabbert, Spiro and Vanessa Villiotti, Lindy Channing and Oumie Foster.

Introduction

‘To order and conduct a dinner is given only to fine gastronomes of delicate and cultivated tastes. An able host is as rare as a good cook.’ LUCIEN TENDRET

Many of the events of our lives are made more memorable because we gather together with those we love to enjoy a meal, conversation and laughter. Whatever the occasion, be it a holiday dinner, Sunday brunch or casual lunch, the table is the gathering point. When beautifully set, it provides an inviting environment where people can relax and enjoy each other’s company.

For the modern hostess, time pressure and budget constraints often get in the way of her desire to entertain, so this book has been written with just that in mind. It’s filled with ideas for simple table settings that will inspire you to make the most of every occasion and help you create wonderful memories of times shared with friends and family around your dining table.

We have suggested different occasions and ‘themes’, but we encourage you to generate ideas that will suit your own needs. We’ve suggested substitutes and alternatives that will help you stay within your budget, as well as adapt the themes to different occasions. Our desire is that these creative ideas will allow you to enjoy every moment as you prepare to warmly welcome guests to your home.

HOW TO BE A GREAT HOSTESS

You’ve decided who to invite and you’re working on the menu, but what else can you do to make sure the occasion is a success? There are a few simple tricks to being a good hostess, and they are not hard to learn.

Be prepared: The hostess sets the tone for any occasion. If you’re not well prepared you will feel stressed and anxious. If you’re stressed, your guests will be too, which means no one will have much fun. Be ready to greet your guests as they arrive. They have made the effort to get to your home at a stipulated time, so don’t keep them waiting. Factor into your planning the time you need to get yourself ready. Use our planning and shopping guides (see page 9 & 10) to make sure you are as prepared as possible before the first guests arrive.

Be present: If you’re running off to the kitchen every five minutes you won’t spend enough time with your guests, which negates the whole point of getting together. Plan well, so that you can spend time with your guests.

Enjoy yourself: Relax. Partake. If you want your guests to have a relaxed, fun evening, you have to be in that frame of mind too.

Be aware: At least at first... While people are mingling, keep an eye on their glasses and plates. When they’re empty, offer to replenish. Try to delegate the task of barman to your husband or partner or a trusted friend so that you have one less thing to think about and your guests are taken care of.

Don’t tidy up: Unless your guests have overstayed their welcome and it’s a desperate attempt to get them out of the door and on their way home, don’t tidy up around people; it is very unwelcoming and gives the impression you’d rather they weren’t there anymore. It’s fine to take plates off the table in preparation for the next course but whatever you do, don’t start washing the dishes and don’t allow your guests to wash dishes either.

GETTING ORGANISED

It’s vital that you organise your time efficiently so that you can relax and enjoy the occasion you’ve planned. The first thing you need to do is make a list of what needs to be done and when. A list will help to guide you on the day when things are a little more frantic and you may not be as focused as you should be.

Put it all down on paper

Decide what kind of party you’re having, who you want to invite, and a date and time to have it.

Plan the menu based on your theme and decide what courses you want to include:

Hors d’oeuvres

Cocktails and pre-dinner drinks

First (starter) course

Main course

Side dishes

Bread

Salads

Dessert

Cheese

Coffee/tea

After-dinner drinks

Once you have decided on a menu, make a copy of each recipe and use it to compile a list of all the ingredients you need for each dish. From there, make a shopping list (or two or three). Check ingredients you should already have, like herbs, spices, salt and pepper, to make sure you won’t run out before the party.

‘Every house where love abides and friendship is a guest, is surely home, and home sweet home, for there the heart can rest.’ HENRY VAN DYKE

More lists to make

List all the non-food items you need to buy, such as candles, oil for lamps, paper serviettes and whatever décor items you need to carry your theme through and enhance your table settings.

Make another list of everything you need to do, such as wash glasses and seldom-used crockery, locate items that you may have loaned out or left at a friend’s house, or have tablecloths laundered and pressed. You’ll need to refer to this list in the days leading up to your party.

Also take stock of any cutlery, crockery, glassware or cooking equipment you might need to borrow and add the items to the appropriate list.

The good news is that this is probably the hardest part of planning your event. Once your lists are made, then all you really need is some time.

PARTY PLANNING CHECKLIST GUIDE

Pre-dinner drinks and snacks: what you will need

Cocktail glasses (lowball and martini)

Wine glasses (1 for every guest)

Water glass (1 for every guest)

Serviettes (if using paper, allow for 2 for each guest)

Serving platters

Knives (depending on whether guests need to help themselves to pâtés, spreads, cheese etc.)

Flowers (for display)

Dinner: What you will need

Knives – starter, fish and/or main courses

Forks – starter forks, large forks for main meal

Spoons – soup and/or dessert

Plates – starter, dinner, side, dessert

Glasses – red wine, white wine, water

Salt and pepper shakers

Tablecloth

Serviettes and serviette rings

Place cards (optional)

Serving: What you will need

Serving platters and dishes

Serving spoons and forks

Water pitcher

Wine coasters

Trays

Breadboard or basket

Decanter/s for red wine

Drinks and bar supplies

Take stock of bar supplies and decide what you’re going to buy and what you may want to ask people to bring. Drinks include wine, spirits, liqueurs, beer, cider and mixers as well as bottled water and non-alcoholic soft drinks or juices. Bar supplies include water jugs, glasses, tot measures, cocktail shakers, knives and cutting boards, as well as ice and garnishes like olives, lemons or limes.

Consolidating your lists

Make separate shopping lists, or create a single list with the following headings:

Non-perishables – groceries and dry goods

Perishables and frozen foods – fresh produce, meat, poultry, fish, bakery, bread, dessert, dairy, cheese

Drinks – alcohol, soft drinks, water

Décor – flowers, vases, serviettes, tablecloth, place cards, candles, centrepiece or other decorative items that will suit the theme

Special orders (anything that may need to be pre-ordered from the butcher, baker or deli)

Items that need to be bought at the last minute (such as fresh flowers or ice)

Your final task is to prepare a schedule or timeline of what you need to do in the weeks, days and hours leading up to your party (see opposite page). This can also include a schedule of what to cook when (that is, the sequence in which you need to prepare and cook the different items in order to get everything on the table at the same time and still hot).

Planning the Party

Data: __________________

Guests: __________________

Theme: __________________

Menu

Hors d’oeuvres: __________________

Cocktails and pre-dinner drinks: __________________

First (starter) course: __________________

Second course: __________________

Main course: __________________

Side dishes: __________________

Bread: __________________

Salads: __________________

Dessert/Cheese: __________________

Coffee/Tea: __________________

After-dinner drinks: __________________

Americano

Cappuccino

Espresso

Shopping List

Fruit, vegetables: __________________

Dairy, cheeses: __________________

Groceries: __________________

Bakery, breads, desserts: __________________

Meat, poultry, fish: __________________

Wine and liquors: __________________

Flowers: __________________

Special orders (from the butcher, fishmonger, etc): __________________

YOUR PARTY SCHEDULE COULD LOOK LIKE THIS

3 Weeks before

Choose a date and time

Choose a theme

Invite guests

2 Weeks before

Check indoor and outdoor lighting and walkways

Check crockery, polish the silver and cutlery

Begin stockpiling ice

1 Week before

Review your menu and adjust shopping lists

Launder tablecloths and serviettes

Clean the house thoroughly

3 Days before

Prepare food you can freeze

In winter, clean the fireplace, if necessary

2 Days before

Make sure all plates and serving dishes are clean

Fill salt and pepper shakers

Depending on what will be visible, tidy up the garden and outside areas; pay attention to any entrances and doors that guests will use

Arrange furniture and lighting

Choose your background music

Start placing decorations

Make sure the house is clean and fresh

Clear space in your refrigerator, if necessary

1 Day before

Defrost frozen foods

Buy perishables

Buy flowers

Prepare sauces, soups and any food that is to be served cold

Set up the bar

Set the table

Set out coffee cups for after dinner

Make a written timeline of all last minute cooking and serving tasks

DAY OF PARTY

Morning

Prepare as much of the food as possible

Pre-cook whatever can be cooked ahead

Soften butter

Prepare spreads

Afternoon

Assemble cold hors d’oeuvres, store on baking sheet in refrigerator

Check table decorations

PREPARATION TIPS

Once the guest toilet or spare bathroom has been cleaned and stocked with soap, fresh hand towels and toilet paper, lock the door and ask the family to use another bathroom.

Remember to take food that needs to be served at room temperature out of the fridge in good time (depending on the weather, this could be up to 30–90 minutes beforehand).

Create a music playlist that enhances your theme and the atmosphere you’re trying to create.

INVITING YOUR GUESTS

When inviting guests to an event, provide enough detail to avoid any awkwardness or misunderstandings. For example, if it’s an informal outdoor event, guests won’t want to be overdressed, but if you’re putting special effort into a celebratory dinner, you’d probably like your guests to dress for the occasion.

Indicate a dress code if you think it’s necessary. If you’d like people to get into the mood of a specific theme, tell them what it is!

Your invitation should also convey things like whether or not children are welcome, whether you expect guests to bring their own drinks, or whether you’d like people to contribute part of the meal.

If you’re celebrating something, make sure you’re clear about this too, as friends may want to bring a gift or make a meaningful contribution to the occasion.

Years ago, written invitations were posted and replies came by mail or phone. Then it became acceptable to contact guests by phone. Now text messages or e-mails often suffice. Always follow phone calls with a written confirmation of the date, time and venue.

CHOOSING A THEME AND A SETTING FOR THE OCCASION

Not all parties have to be themed and your table setting certainly doesn’t have to ‘match’ an occasion. However it’s become quite popular to hold themed parties for special birthdays and other celebrations. Having a theme in mind also helps to guide the planning process.

Choose a theme that will set the mood. For example, if you’re celebrating a graduation or promotion, choose something festive and colourful that will encourage the guests to join in the fun. A lively Mexican Tequila party or a retro rock ‘n roll theme will have people kicking up their heels in no time.

But consider the age and personality of your guests before you decide. An over-the-top Vegas-themed party might be suitable for a singles crowd or a bachelor party but it probably wouldn’t suit a large family celebration. The rule of thumb is that you don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable or out of place, but you also don’t want your guests to be bored.

There is no shortage of ideas for themed parties (use the Internet for inspiration). Just remember that if you do choose to go with a theme, you could spend a lot more money on décor than you normally would, so try to improvise where possible,

For instance, for an inexpensive Halloween party, just inject hints of orange, yellow and black into the flowers and table décor. A baby shower doesn’t need miniature dummies and baby bottles scattered everywhere; soft whites and pastels will create the desired atmosphere without making your guests feel as if they’ve arrived on the set of a cartoon show.

Think about how much time, effort and money you want to put into your table settings and party décor. Often, simplicity is key. Understated elegance can be created just by picking a few roses from your garden and popping them into vases you already own.

Try looking at your living space a little differently. I sometimes move my furniture around when I entertain, to help create a specific mood. Consider moving your table closer to the fireplace in winter, or onto the patio to catch a cooling breeze on a hot summer night.

If you’ve planned a very festive occasion, find the place in your home that will lend itself to an energetic, even rowdy, event. Dare to be a bit different; you don’t always have to eat in the dining room!

Consider ‘forgotten spaces’. I know someone who has a lovely, but seldom appreciated, tree at the bottom of their garden and for a summer dinner party I encouraged them to carry their large dining table outside and set it beneath the tree. Their guests were pleasantly surprised by an alfresco evening that turned out to be as stylish and elegant as the hostess intended.

A QUICK GUIDE TO TABLEWARE

Cutlery

Whether you call it flatware or silverware, you should know how to use it, as table setting blunders can be embarrassing. Depending on the occasion, you may not need everything to match.

If you’re going for a very elegant or formal look and don’t have enough matching cutlery, borrow additional pieces from someone who has a lovely set. If you use two or more sets, just make sure the items at each place setting match.

If you bring the dessert cutlery to the table with the dessert plates, it need not match the dinner cutlery.

Whether you are sending invitations by SMS, e-mail or traditional letter, it is important to include as much relevant information as possible, without being too wordy. Here are a few examples you can adapt to your own needs.

Vanessa and I would love you to join us for her 30th birthday party on Saturday 25 June at our house. Cocktails at 7pm followed by dinner. We’ll provide a DVD and snacks for the children if you want to bring them along. Wear black or white. Love Duncan.

Please join us for a casual braai on Saturday. Bring your own drinks, we’ll provide the rest. We’ll light the fire at 6pm. Children welcome.

Please join us for Mark’s graduation celebration at 5 Vincent Street on Friday 3 March at 8pm. Snacks and cocktails will be served. A car guard will watch vehicles parked outside. Regret no children.

IT’S TIME TO PARTY!
Mark is graduating and we’d love you to celebrate with us on Friday 3 March at 5 Vincent Street. This cocktail evening promises to be super special so please let us know if you can make it. Regret adults only. A car guard will watch your vehicles. Love Katie.

Setting the table

Your place settings must be equal distance apart and you should allow enough elbow room for guests to eat comfortably. A good guideline is about 60cm from the centre of one plate to the centre of the next person’s plate. Place cutlery 2–3cm from the edge of the table and space it evenly. Centre the serviette on the dinner plate or place it to the left of the forks. Cutlery that is used first is placed on the outside and guests work their way towards the centre.

Forks: For informal place settings, place two forks to the left; a salad (starter) fork on the outside and dinner fork on the inside. No more than three forks should be put out at a time.

Knives: Set on the right-hand side. The outside knife is used first and no more than two knives are set out. Only provide a butter knife if you are serving bread. Bread plates go on the left, with the butter knife on top.

Spoons: If soup spoons are needed, set them to the right of the knives. If soup is not being served, you can place a teaspoon next to the knife. Dessert spoons are a different shape to soup spoons. Place the dessert spoon above the dinner plate (if you have a dessert fork, place it head to toe with the spoon).

Glasses: Arrange these according to size, so that small glasses are not hidden behind larger ones. Set glasses above the knives, in order of use. Usually this means the water glass to the left, with the red and white wine glasses to its right.

Helpful hints:

Make sure that salt and pepper shakers and butter dishes are accessible to everyone.

Only put out cutlery that will be needed.

Don’t let large flower arrangements overwhelm the table. Table decorations shouldn’t prevent anyone from seeing the person seated opposite them.

HINTS AND TIPS FOR HOSTESSES

To host a successful party you need to know how to be a good hostess. Always introduce people who don’t know each other. Don’t just rattle off a bunch of names, as people never remember names. Put individuals into some sort of context. For instance you can introduce Max and John to one another by saying “Max, this is my friend John, the engineer. He’s just started working at Freeshed Holdings. John, Max is married to Lucy over there and they’ve recently moved into a house they built themselves”. This gives strangers an immediate point of reference from which they can continue. John can then enquire about Max’s new house and how the building went and Max will be able to ask John about his new job and why he left his old one.

Before dinner, you must mingle and mix. Don’t get stuck in the kitchen or with just one guest. Chat to everyone and make sure they are having fun. If anyone seems to be standing on their own, introduce them to a group of people.

Offer to replenish people’s drinks or point them in the direction of the drinks table where they can help themselves. You can also take a bottle of wine over to a group of people and ask someone to take charge of topping up drinks.

Informal Dining

ancient ritual • time-honoured tradition • comfort of your home

Coming together to share a meal is an ancient ritual. But, too often, we let our busy lives prevent us from observing this time-honoured tradition and we lose our connection with family and close friends.

Sharing a meal with your nearest and dearest in the comfort of your home is a wonderful and meaningful way to reconnect and relax with the important people in your life. It doesn’t have to be a big event. Keeping things simple, modest and inexpensive means you’ll be inclined to entertain more often. Just add a few special touches that can be easily achieved without too much fuss.

Doily Days

Create a simple country setting for a casual lunch, brunch or family breakfast by using brown paper along the centre of the table instead of a runner. Add a vintage touch with the addition of small and large doilies.

Set the table with a minimum of crockery and cutlery and use painted cans, filled with loosely arranged flowers.

Providing each person with an individual flower posy is one way of showing your guests how special each of them is to you. The posies can also double up as place name settings.

Instead of vases, use recycled tins that have been painted to suit your setting. One coat of acrylic paint and about half an hour of drying time is all that’s needed to achieve this rustic container.

Place individual miniature flower arrangements next to each setting. Tuck place name cards into the arrangement and encourage your guests to take the posy home. Everyone will appreciate the care you’ve taken to make them feel welcome.

- tip -

Always bring cohesion to your settings. Here the same rustic ribbon was used around the flower cans and to tie the cards and pencil together.

- good idea -

Make a get together meaningful by providing each person with a pencil and a few small, blank cards (about the size of a business card) on which to write a gratitude message. You can ask guests to share their message with everyone around the table or simply allow guests some time to reflect, and encourage them to take their cards home and refer to them from time to time.

A Book Club Dinner

Make your book club dinner memorable by adding a few special touches to the table setting. While romance novels might not feature in your book selection, this playful adoption of romance novel imagery is a fun way to break the ice before dinner.

Keep floral arrangements to a minimum and allow books to take centre stage.

- how to -

To make themed serviette rings, thoroughly wash small tomato purée tins once you’ve emptied their contents (use a can opener to remove the bottom of the tin). Print a reduced version of the collage created for the place mats (see page 28), cut it into strips the width of the tin and wrap the strips around the tins, glueing the ends securely. A quick spray with clear varnish will finish them off beautifully.

Let your guests know where their contributions will be donated by printing out a card for each place setting.

Tie place name cards to pencils made from recycled materials – a gift your guests can take home.

- tip -

A wonderful conversation starter: these placemats were created from a collage of old romance novels and printed on a colour printer.

Time for Tea

Tea parties were popularised in the 1830s by the seventh Duchess of Bedford after she asked for tea and light refreshments to be served in her room one afternoon. The Duchess enjoyed the ‘taking of tea’ so much that she regularly invited friends to join her. Elegant tea parties soon became fashionable among the English aristocracy, whose wealth and leisurely lifestyle allowed for an extra daytime meal to be served. The association with aristocracy meant that ‘high tea’ became quite a formal, lavish affair. Nowadays, it is usually only prepared for special occasions.

Tea parties tend to be the prerogative of ladies, so the ideal table setting is very feminine, often with the inclusion of lavish flower arrangements.

Choose pretty crockery and delicate china, preferably with floral motifs, to create the perfect tea table.

The mix-and-match approach adds a vintage feel. Add an element of surprise by using everything from silver tea pots to bone china milk jugs to old biscuit tins used as vases and serving dishes.

Strings of faux pearls add a glamorous touch. Find interesting objects to hold place name cards. Both the card holder and the beautiful name card can become a quirky keepsake for your guests.

Special touches, like hand-made tea bag holders with personalised tags, make for an unforgettable occasion and will have your guests declare you a truly remarkable hostess.

There’s simply no end to the pretty touches you can introduce for a tea party. A whimsical floral tablecloth, an abundance of pretty roses, sparkly adornments ... too much is simply not enough and more is definitely more.

- tip -

Explore your local patisserie for pastel coloured macaroons, scrumptious butter biscuits and traditional iced buns to create a visual feast.

A Whisky and Wine Evening

Glamorous, sophisticated and a little more masculine, a whisky and wine evening need not involve a lavish table setting or even necessitate serving a full meal. As with the ever-popular cocktail party, it’s a wonderful way of getting people together where the emphasis is more on socialising than it is on food.

Candles, decanters, cigar boxes, poker chips and playing cards create impactful table décor. Use bottles of whisky and wine in different shapes and sizes to create height on the table.

Create a simple centerpiece by placing a votive glass candle holder inside a round or square glass vase and filling the space with corks.

Candles with a subtle masculine fragrance, such as sandalwood, coffee or cinnamon, will help to create the right ambience.

Use cut-glass tumblers, brandy snifters and wine glasses to add glamour. If you don’t have these, consider hiring them for the occasion.

Simple and Stylish

Coming together at the end of a busy day to share a meal and the day’s news was once a regular family tradition. However, as our lives become ever more frenetic, shared weekday meals are less of an occasion and more of a chore. Putting a bit of effort into your table settings from time to time can inject some fun back into family time.

These three settings will give you some ideas for quick and simple mid-week entertaining, even if it is just for your own pleasure.

Fishy feast

If you’re grabbing a take-away on your way home from work, try this fishy theme. Cover the table with newspaper topped with clean brown paper and serve sides like chips and salad in disposable containers, like these recycled pilchard tins. Not only do the tins add a burst of colour, they make a quirky change to the usual crockery and serving dishes – and there’s no washing up!

Yellow or red serviettes complement this setting, while a bright red bucket becomes a handy container for drinks or ice.

If you want to personalise place settings, use a black marker pen to scribble people’s names at the top of their piece of brown paper.

Life’s just rosy!

If you have a flourishing rose garden, adding a little pizzazz to your dining table can be as simple as picking a few buds or blooms and displaying them a little differently.

Create impact with single roses nestled in traditional Martini glasses that are placed in a row along the table.

While you wouldn’t use paper serviettes for a formal dinner or special occasion, using them for a family dinner makes for easy tidying up afterwards. Open them out, gather up the middle and push through a serviette ring. Tucking a rose into the ring adds a really special touch. Instead of serviette rings, use pretty ribbon to tie the serviettes in the middle and tuck a rose into the ribbon.

Mix and match crockery to add interest. When using all white crockery, play around with shapes and textures. Here we used a scalloped-edge bowl to contrast with the round under plates.

- tip -

Don’t be afraid to use colour accents, but keep most of the table décor white to accentuate the roses.

In the garden

Use a colourful tablecloth or piece of fabric to inspire you. Choose flowers that complement the colours in the linen. Bursts of pink and green will liven up your table and set the tone for a joyous affair. Large single flowers, bright ribbon and coloured glass add vibrance to this setting.

Giving a small surprise gift to family members is a wonderful way to say “I love you”. To save time, the children can decorate the boxes while you cook.

- how to make -

Buy plain boxes from gift shops or art stores and spruce them up using bits and bobs gathered from scrapbooking suppliers.

Dining Alfresco

outdoors • twinkling stars • soaking up the sun • sounds of nature

There are few things better than dining outdoors – whether at night under twinkling stars or soaking up the sun on a hot summer’s day. Alfresco dining is enhanced by the sights and sounds of nature. As a general rule, not much needs to be added to an outdoor dining experience to make it special.

The next few settings have been created with a few clever twists. But, as with most of the settings in this book, we’ve kept things simple, quick and easy to do.

The Perfect Picnic

Picnics are all about summer sun and fresh air, about relishing the freedom of being outdoors and spending time in nature (even if it is only your own garden). We tend to associate picnics with children but, with just a little effort, you can create a seductive picnic à deux, or a stylish alfresco event for adults. Bringing a touch of style to your picnic décor can turn a very casual affair into an unforgettably chic occasion.

One of the best things about a picnic is that you can hold it anywhere you want to. Choose an overgrown meadow, a local park, a forest glade or the bottom of your garden – just make sure that everything is well planned.

Simple touches, like specially labelled juice bottles, individual salad portions in glass jars, and pre-planned games for children to play, will help to create a truly memorable occasion for you and your guests.

Paper cones are easy to make and are great for serving handy portions of popcorn or nuts.

Love is in the air

In love, it’s the little things that count. Surprising your loved one with a special note or a rose picked from the garden and placed on a pillow can say so much about how you feel. This romantic dinner for two combines many of those little gestures and will be held in the heart of your beloved long after the sweet taste of strawberries and champagne has been forgotten.

Embroider a heart or short message onto your serviettes. Chain stitch is easy to do, and plain serviettes are inexpensive, so buy a few and experiment. Use fabric paint if your needlework skills are not up to the task!

Attention to detail, like selecting décor items that mean something to both of you, will help to make your loved one feel important.

Replace the label on a bottle of sparkling wine with a personalised one. You might need some design skills if you want to match the label to your theme, but even a simple message printed on plain paper will convey your feelings.

Choose a verse or short poem you like, print it in a stylish font and get a confectioner to copy it onto edible rice paper. Then present your ‘sweet words’ alongside a decadent dessert.

Celebrate Spring

When the first flush of spring persuades us that it’s time to get outdoors, it’s unlikely you’ll find too many flowers in your garden to adorn the table. At times when you don’t have a lot of flowers available, the trick is to use what you do have and choose complementary colours for the rest of your setting.

To create a table that’s as lively and fresh as a spring breeze, sprigs of bright scarlet bougainvillea pack a dazzling punch, while turquoise, lime and blue keep the setting crisp and fresh.

- tip -

Give a gift of a home-made heart with an embroidered message (if you don’t have the time or talent to add embroidery, leave the heart plain).

If you use a coloured or patterned tablecloth, match the candles, candle holders and glassware to the colours to bring your setting to life.

Fabulous table settings happen when you use bits and bobs to add extra touches to your table. Trinket boxes, feathers and ribbons can be bought from craft or hobby shops and are inexpensive. Use your imagination to create something special to place on each setting and carry through your chosen colour.

- how to make -

Shape butterflies or hearts from air-drying modelling clay. Before the clay dries, use a skewer to punch a hole through which to thread ribbon or embroidery silk. When the shapes are completely dry, paint them to match your colour scheme, and attach them to the stems of the wine glasses.

Under the Stars

When it comes to creative table settings there’s no limit to what you can incorporate into your décor to wow your guests. An evening under the stars could be just the occasion to bring out some of your favourite ornaments and quirky knick-knacks.

This setting doesn’t rely on loads of fresh flowers. It is a good example of how to use things you have in your garden and on hand to save both time and cost.

Keep the setting quite organic; any imperfections will just add to the charm, and your guests will be enchanted by the little details.

Use empty glass jam jars or coffee jars as vases and candle votives. If your table is too cluttered you can dot them around the garden or tie them to tree branches to make a playful backdrop.

Choose pretty scrapbooking paper and cut out a motif for the place name cards. Cut squares of muslin, place a few chocolates, Turkish delight or sweets in the centre and pull it into a little bundle. Tie your place name card around the muslin to secure it.

For your centrepiece, place a few smooth stones in the bottom of a large sturdy vase, to weigh it down, and arrange a bundle of long twigs in it. Thread twine through some crystal beads and hang them on the ‘tree’ to catch the light of the candles. Once you’re happy with the placement of the crystals, add some hearts or other decorations. If you have a length of lace, drape it on the tree, as you would tinsel on a Christmas tree.

- tip -

Let your favourite ornaments inspire ideas for a whimsical table setting.

Come celebrate with us

celebrate • memories • special moments • special occasions

Celebrating achievements and marking milestones with friends and family adds richness to life. Celebrations crystalise special moments, making them linger in everyone’s hearts and minds.

If you simply love being surrounded by family and friends, you’ll know how easy it is to find occasions to celebrate. Important birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, a baby’s arrival, or Mother’s and Father’s day are the perfect excuse to get out the best silver and china and make an impression.

Elegant Dinner

Combining black and white makes for an elegant, sophisticated décor scheme. This striking table setting is easy to create without the need for fresh flowers.

Silhouettes are an interesting décor trend. Gorgeous on their own or presented within a cameo, their solid outline adds definition to this table setting. They also hark back to a more nostalgic era, making this the perfect setting for celebrating an anniversary.

- tip -

Search the Internet for illustrations of cameos or silhouettes and print as many as you need. You can give each person a different silhouette or use the same one throughout. Glue them onto circles of stiff cardboard and punch a hole in either side. Thread lace or ribbon through the holes to form your serviette ring.

A hat box can be put to great use to make a striking centrepiece.

Wrap a small gift in white tissue paper and tie it with a black lace ribbon. Without elements like these, the black and white theme would feel stark and unwelcoming.

- how to -

To make a simple centrepiece using sheets of black tissue paper, shape each sheet into a loose cone, as if you were inserting tissue paper into a gift bag. Repeat until you have a bunch of paper cones in your hand. Then fasten them together around the ‘stem’ with an elastic band and place the arrangement inside the hat box. Curl 10cm lengths of white ribbon and scatter them among the paper cones. Push pearl-tipped pins into the tissue paper folds to help to keep the arrangement in place. Make sure the arrangement is balanced.

Engagement Dinner

Not everyone wants the expense of a large engagement party. For some couples, an intimate celebratory dinner may be all they need to affirm their decision to wed and know that they’re supported by family and friends.

The promise and potential of starting life together is symbolised in this all-white setting. The cardboard houses represent the ‘homemaking’ the couple will undertake in the future.

- tip -

Be inspired by quirky items you’ve collected and love. These little paper houses are as unexpected as they are original, and make a wonderful conversation starter.

White-on-white works best when you use a variety of textures to break up the monotony. Be more adventurous in your glassware choices, mixing sets of glassware together. Choose linens that are all white but have textural patterns, and combine different fabrics.

Although the table setting is simple, votive candles and fairy lights inside the paper houses provide a warm glow, while the lace serviettes and tissue paper pompoms soften the décor.

Place a few white marshmallows, truffles or sugar-coated almonds into a clear bag tied with lace to make a simple gift that complements the setting.

Graduation Dinner

A lottery ticket is symbolic of many things – to some it’s a reminder that we can never know what tomorrow may bring, to others it’s a statement that every step or decision we make is a gamble. For many, it may just be that if you’re not playing the game and getting in the race, there’s no way you can win. Drawing inspiration from this – and to avoid the cap, gown and scroll cliché so often associated with graduations – we created this quirky setting.

Chalkboard-painted place mats add a fun tone and provide a place for friends and family to write congratulatory messages and words of encouragement to the graduate.

Chalkboard place mats are easy to make and add an element of fun and playfulness to a setting. You may want to write messages to your guests, or encourage the guests to leave a message. Either way, it can be a great icebreaker. Use offcuts of trendy wallpaper for the table covering.

Vintage Mother’s Day Celebration

Inspired by the women who have given us everything – our mothers – this table setting is a celebration of femininity, grace and beauty.

If you haven’t been fortunate enough to inherit an array of antique knick-knacks from granny’s treasure chest, you’ll need to scout around bric-a-brac stores for inexpensive glasses and pretty china – mismatched is fine, and perhaps borrow a few elegant pieces, like a crystal decanter or silver vase.

Start by setting out the crockery and cutlery to ensure there’s enough space for everyone to eat comfortably. Then begin to layer items onto the table until you’ve created a balanced arrangement of gorgeous objet d’art.

Because this setting is rather busy and cluttered, choose a simple linen tablecloth as your base. Some items have been draped over the backs of chairs, which adds to the whimsical feel, but leaves space on the table for the mismatched crockery and cutlery.

Tell a story by using old watches, brooches, accessories (like gloves and hats), and framed photographs that celebrate the lives of our mothers and grandmothers. Heritage items make wonderful conversation pieces, so there will be no end to the curiosity and chatter around the table.

- tip -

Borrow glass decanters, vintage brooches, clothing, accessories, watches and other collectable items. Make a list of everything you borrow and who it comes from and return the items straight after the party.

Add a final feminine touch with posies of delicate blooms and soft roses. Keep arrangements small and low so they don’t compete for attention. Use silk flowers to fill in any gaps once you’ve laid out the main objects.

Brooches pinned to bits of lace make beautiful serviette rings. Place broad strips of lace down the centre of the table instead of a runner or overlay.

Don’t try to stick to one colour scheme, as your mismatched crockery will add a rainbow of colour. However, because there isn’t a single colour palette, make sure the tones you use are fairly muted.

A Simple Father’s Day Lunch

Fathers are celebrated for the rich inheritance of love and guidance they leave us. Our fathers are our pillars of strength and our guiding light.

A masculine table setting should be as unfussy as he is, yet the little touches to this table let him know he’s appreciated.

Texture plays an important role in this setting. The rough, natural texture of the rattan serviette ring and hessian runner is masculine, yet simple and stylish.

Welcome Baby

- tip -

Place a daisy beneath an overturned wine glass and place a pillar candle on the base of the glass.

We all have a tendency to restrict table décor to what’s expected. Christmas tables are commonly adorned with green and red, and ladies’ tea parties often feature pink. When it comes to baby celebrations, plastic dummies, miniature booties and pink and blue balloons are standard ...

Be inspired to do something different. Skip the rowdy stork party in favour of an intimate dinner with close friends and family and swop pink and blue for neutral toile and delicate butterflies.

The toile tablecloth is quite busy, so keep the rest of the setting simple. Pick a colour from your plates or glasses and use a similar shade for the butterflies.

- tip -

Find line drawings of butterflies on the internet and use them as a template.

The butterflies represent the metamorphosis of a family and celebration of life. This theme is simple and elegant, without the predictable ‘baby shower’ elements.

A Birthday Table

Birthdays are celebrations that mark our progress and achievements. They are also an expression of hope and faith in the future.

With this in mind, saturate a special birthday table in rich tones of purple. While not usually a celebratory colour, the mystical and royal qualities of purple lend an air of upliftment and create a décor that is both sophisticated and elegant.

Personalise small boxes with lettering used for scrapbooking and use them as place holders.

Place the cutlery and serviette in a pretty bag which guests can take home. If you can embroider, or know someone who has an embroidery machine, you could personalise the bags with each guest’s name. Alternatively, use fabric paint or a marker pen and write the names onto the fabric.

Transform a plain white pillar candle into a centrepiece by glueing sprigs of lavender around the sides. Cover the stems with pretty paper and secure the edges with double-sided tape. Place a row of candles along the centre of the table, interspersed with vases of lavender or other purple flowers. Small vases can also be placed next to each setting.

Formal Dining

elegant • stylish • sophisticated • chic • refined

The word ‘formal’ does not convey the same meaning that it used to and, unless you’re part of the social elite, it’s unlikely you’ll ever be expected to host a formal event. However, a really special occasion may require a more formal table than the traditional five-piece place setting.

BASIC RULES FOR A FORMAL DINNER ARRANGEMENT

Soup is served in a heated soup bowl placed on top of a dinner plate, and eaten with a soup spoon that has been placed to the right of the knives. The plate, bowl and spoon are removed after the soup course. The bread-and-butter plate and butter knife remain.

A fish course is served on a midsize plate. A short, broad fork is set on the outer left and a fish knife on the outer right hand side.

After the second course is cleared, the table is ready for the main course. The dinner plate will be brought back in, either empty or laden with food. The plate should be preheated. Guests eat with the dinner fork and knife that are in place.

Salad can be served before or after the main course or as part of it. If salad is served separately, it is eaten off a midsize plate with a fork that is broader than the other forks and can be used for cutting.

Once the main meal has been eaten, the bread-andbutter plate and butter knife are cleared, leaving the table set for dessert. Wine glasses may be removed if a different wine is being served with the dessert. The water glass is left on the table.

Dessert is served on a small plate or bowl. The dessert spoon and fork (sometimes just a cake fork) are laid across the top of the setting. When setting the table, the fork’s tines face to the right and the spoon’s bowl faces left. If coffee is being served at the table, this is the time to place a coffee cup or teacup and teaspoon at each setting.

Most formal table settings include flowers and this is probably one instance when flowers can’t be replaced by anything else. But arrangements need not be stiff; flowers can even be taken from your own garden and placed in cut glass vases.

Candles are another staple of the formal table. Tapered candles set in candelabras are an elegant option, while squat pillar candles may be more impactful and dramatic.

An underplate is more of a trend than a necessity; however, they do help to anchor the whole setting.

A formal setting provides an opportunity to use your best glasses, china and silver. If you don’t have suitable items, improvise with plain white crockery, or borrow what you need from a trusting friend.

LIGHT AND DARK

In the next two table settings you will see how different effects can be created by choosing a light colour palette or opting for a dark, dramatic theme.

White Night

- good idea -

A common sight in South African gardens is the faithful Iceberg rose. They grow prolifically and produce a delicate white or pink flower for most of the year. For a gorgeous centrepiece that won’t cost you anything, pick roses from your garden and arrange them in a pretty vase, allowing some petals to fall onto the table around the vase.

Silver and white play the lead role in this setting. A hand-made tablecloth sets an exquisite platform for crystal glasses and vases, while groups of tall candles in antique holders cast a soft, romantic light over the table.

- tip -

When choosing flowers for the table make sure they are not heavily scented, so as not to compete with the aroma of the food.

Tall candles are elegant and inexpensive. Place them in a selection of pretty candle holders to bring a soft glow to your table. Crystal and fine glassware add a touch of sophistication, especially when they are grouped together.

Salt and pepper shakers should not look like an afterthought. Choose ones that will go with many settings, themes and colours.

If your colour palette is subdued, try to add an item or element that makes a statement, like these blue and gold wine glasses.

A rose leaf tucked into the serviette ring adds a final touch while balancing the delicate white and silver colouring of this setting.

Dine like Royalty

Rich purple and gold make this table setting look as if it is fit for a royal dinner. The gold framed menu works beautifully to set the formal tone of the evening, while the choice of expensive champagne certainly won’t go unnoticed.

Purple and gold are associated with royalty. Adding dashes of these colours to your setting will take the occasion up a notch and your guests will feel as if they are being treated to a royal feast.

Small touches make the difference. Hand-made serviette rings and place card holders tied to a gift make this setting really special.

- tip -

If you’re serving several courses, your guests might like to know what’s coming next. An attractively framed menu can form part of the décor.

Just for Kids

celebrate • party • friends • festive occasion • fun • laughter

Whether you’re throwing a celebration party or having a modest get together with friends, children will enter the equation at some point – be they your own or other people’s.

While it’s wonderful to include children in your gatherings, it’s fair to say that the adults will want to be separated from the children at some stage or, at the very least, not have to entertain them while trying to have a ‘grown up’ conversation. To help you cope, we’ve offered a few handy tips and ideas for hosting a dinner party or event that includes children.

TOTS TO TEENS

Hosting a dinner can be quite stressful. Throw children into the mix and you’re adding a lot of unpredictability too. Whatever happens, stay calm and be gracious. If you show anger or annoyance towards other people’s children it will make everyone feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. Treat children who come with their parents as worthy of just as much attention and kindness as your adult guests. But, at the same time, it is a good idea to set boundaries for where children can play, and with what, and make sure that the parents know this.

CREATE A SEPARATE TABLE

A children’s table can match the adult’s table or be completely different, even in a separate room, if the children are old enough to be left to their own devices.

PROVIDE SIMPLE FOOD AND FEED CHILDREN FIRST

Be realistic about what you offer children to eat. Make sure it’s age appropriate and something they all like – pizza, burgers and hot dogs are always a hit. Prepare the food ahead of time and always feed young children early so they don’t get hungry and whiny.

Offer snacks or treats as the evening goes on and make sure there’s a pitcher of water or juice the children can help themselves to.

PLAN A FEW EASY ACTIVITIES

Organised activities will keep children busy for a few hours, but be prepared to come up with new ideas if they get bored. Prep your own children to share their toys, but put away anything your children would prefer not to share and make sure that precious items are out of sight or out of reach.

Ask older children to look after the younger ones.

Offer a movie that all the children will enjoy and can eventually settle down to watch.

Provide pillows and blankets and set aside a room where younger children can be put to bed.

ACTIVITIES TO CONSIDER

Set up an art table with crayons, plain and coloured paper, stickers and various art supplies. Encourage the children to make cards and pictures for their parents.

A ‘baking station’ is messy but loads of fun. Cover a small table with a plastic tablecloth. Provide packets of Marie biscuits, coloured icing in separate bowls, various sprinkles and sweets. Show the children how to decorate their biscuits then leave them to have fun.

Provide chalk and a chalkboard or let the children draw on the driveway or garage floor. Chalk is easy to wash away once the party guests have left.

If the children are old enough, ask them to prepare a concert for the adults. This will keep them busy for ages and you’ll have the added bonus of some sweet after-dinner entertainment.

Your own children may need to be reminded to be good hosts to your friends’ children. Incentivise good behaviour if it’s appropriate.

- tip -

Cover a low table with brown paper and provide interesting art supplies so your little guests can get creative.

If the children are aged between two and five, it is best to place the table close to the adults. Older children can be given a space in another room, but make sure someone keeps an eye on them, no matter what their age.

Going Dotty

A colourful polka dot tablecloth provides the inspiration for this theme. Paper plates, serviettes and cups are available in bright dots and spots so you’ll be spoilt for choice. If you don’t have a spotted tablecloth, use a plain one and add the colour and pattern by using décor items instead.

Make place cards that are a bit different. Here, lemon boats are given the honour of carrying everyone’s name emblazoned on their sails.

It is also super simple to make goodie bags to match this theme. Buy plain paper bags and paint coloured dots on them (or use coloured stickers), then fill them with Jelly Beans and Smarties. (If you use paint, prepare the bags a few days ahead and leave them to dry.)

Have fun with different colour combinations; the more colourful you can make the table the better! Food and beverage colours can also enhance this theme.

You’ll be surprised at the variety of round food you can find. Berries, cherries, carrot balls, melon balls and grapes are healthy options, although most children would probably prefer brightly wrapped chocolate balls! Providing healthy snacks will help to ensure that as the party progresses, the children won’t be totally hyped up on sugar.

- tip -

Use plastic bowls, cups and plates to eliminate any chance of breakages if things get a bit boisterous, as they invariably will.

Tween Delight

- tip -

If young children are included in the festivities, don’t use open candles as part of your décor.

- tip -

If children are given a ‘party’ room of their own, appoint someone to check up on them regularly (a bit like appointing a designated driver).

If you’re expecting your evening to be fairly festive, make sure youngsters and teenagers have an area of their own that’s equally exciting. If you provide a ‘chill space’ that’s just for them, with music or movies they’ll like, they won’t pester you all evening.

Between the ages of 5 and 15, life is pretty much a carnival, so go crazy with colour and have fun with coloured lights and zany table décor.

For a creative centrepiece that will impress your teenage guests, fill a glass bowl with water and add some lemons and colourful flowers. Add a few floating candles to light up the whole arrangement.

Buy coloured paper bags to use for party packs and as lanterns, or make your own from wrapping paper.

- how to -

To make paper bag lanterns, choose coloured wrapping paper that suits your theme. Using a rectangular box as a template (a one litre juice carton is the perfect size) ‘wrap’ the box as you would a gift. Fold and tape one end, to form a base, but leave the top open. Slip the ‘bag’ off the box and punch holes in it using a paper punch, or leave it plain.

These inexpensive colourful windmills can be found at stationery stores, gift shops and flea markets. Group them in glass bottles or vases for a fun table decoration.

Make paper cones from coloured paper (use the same paper the lanterns were made from). Twist a triangle of paper into a cone and seal the edge with double-sided tape. Insert some tissue paper in a contrasting colour. Fill the cones with sweets or savoury snacks, like popcorn, pretzels or nuts and raisins.

Mismatched cutlery adds a quirky touch. Cluster items together to keep the setting informal. Many hardware stores and discount home stores stock inexpensive paper lanterns and fairy lights. Buy several strings to create a festive feel. They’re versatile enough to use often, so pack them away carefully after each use.

Set out plates, serviettes and cutlery before your guests arrive so that the youngsters can start snacking before the adults. Make a stack of plates work with your décor by putting coordinating serviettes between them.

Just for Fun

This table setting is all about having fun. Find small elements that will keep children busy, like plastic animals, colouring pencils and paper and magnets that can be placed on tin mugs to compose quirky messages. The combination of activities, colours and textures will delight young guests.

Enamel (tin) plates and mugs are inexpensive. They won’t get broken and will also provide a surface on which to stick magnets.

Paint plastic jungle animals or dinosaurs to match your theme (spray them white for a retro feel) or leave them as is to be played with or simply admired.

A great idea for informal serviette rings is to thread a length of colourful ribbon through a large button, then wrap the ribbon around the serviette and tie it.

Kids love colour. Find your inspiration in items you already have instead of buying new things. Bright crockery, a boldly coloured tablecloth, colourful ribbons and tin mugs are items that can be used to great effect.

Eggceptional

- how to -

To lob the top off a raw egg without the shell cracking into pieces, start by scoring the section of the shell you want to take off. Using a very sharp serrated knife, run it gently around the egg several times, applying a little more pressure each time you go around, but being careful not to push too hard. Once you have a neat line scored into the shell, tap the section you want to remove at an angle until it begins to come away. Work over a bowl, just in case!

Whether you’re setting an Easter breakfast table or just having friends around for brunch, children love cracking into candy chocolate eggs.

If you’d rather they ate real eggs before tucking into chocolate ones, you can knock the tops off hen’s eggs and pour the contents into a bowl (perfect for making scrambled eggs). Carefully wash out the shell, place it in an eggcup and fill with a sprig of fresh herbs or a few small flowers.

A small jar of speckled chocolate eggs makes a perfect take-home treat.

Little Ideas, Big Impact

enjoy • little things • good company • less is more • good times

Setting a table for guests to enjoy need not be a chore. Frequently, it’s the little things that reward you by providing real impact. I have often planned an elaborate table setting only to realise when I start to put it together that less truly is more.

Here are several simple ideas that will create a stir with your guests, young and old, but will take you just a few minutes to prepare.

From simple embellishments to fancy flourishes, the most interesting table décor doesn’t need to be expensive; there are many budget-friendly options available. By using these ideas you’ll get your setting just right and on-budget every time:

THINK CREATIVELY

Replace large bunches of flowers and centerpiece arrangements with an elegant single stem picked from your garden or a few flowers floating in a large flat bowl filled with water.

Alternatively, ditch the idea of using flowers completely and use candles instead.

Not keen on candles? Place lemons, limes or apples inside a tall glass vase to add a dash of colour to your table.

Lay an interesting piece of driftwood along the table and arrange shells informally around it for a seaside feel. Use flat, light-coloured shells as place ‘cards’; write your guests’ names on the shells and place them above each plate.

Even a glass jug of water, lemon slices, mint and ice can be a stylish addition to your table. For a pretty alternative, place small edible flowers in an ice-cube tray, fill with water and freeze. If you don’t have suitable flowers in your garden, supermarkets often sell punnets of edible flowers in the salad section.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE

Recycle, upcycle and be clever. Often it’s those odd items you’ve kept but never thought you’d use that come in handy. Here, a delicate Chinese fan becomes a unique place card holder.

If buying serviette rings was never high on your priority list, it’s time to use some of the simple, quick and inexpensive ideas in this book. By delving into your treasure trove of fabric oddments and scrapbooking embellishments, there is no end to what you can do.

Acrylic paint, spray paint, glass jars and tins are all items you can use to create a one-off vase or container for flowers. A colour printer and a quick Internet search will help you create all manner of interesting bits and bobs (such as botanical prints placed into glass vases).

BE AN ORGANISED COLLECTOR

Storage space is at a premium in most homes, but it is a good idea to designate a place for those items you can use to create wonderful table settings. Keep this space neat and tidy so you can see at a glance what you’ve got and what you may need to get. The idea is to be able to put a setting together quickly and with ease. If it is a mission to find the items you’ve collected or you have to get a box down from the top shelf in the garage, you’re not going to do it very often.

Paint your cutlery

It’s simple to do, it’s unusual and it will get people talking. An inexpensive set of metal cutlery can be turned into something extraordinary with a coat or two of spray paint. And, what’s more, you can match your colour scheme perfectly.

Make edible serviette rings

Just about any kind of jelly sweet can be strung together to create colourful serviette rings that guests can take home with them to enjoy later. To thread the jelly beans, use a sterilised darning needle and some thin ‘hat elastic’ or fishing nylon. Wear disposable plastic or latex gloves to keep things clean and hygienic.

Individual arrangements

Many of the settings we create favour tiny, individual arrangements over larger ones in the centre of the table. There are several reasons for this:

you use fewer flowers, which saves money;

the flowers are spread around the table, giving maximum impact; and

small arrangements tend to be low and won’t obstruct your guests’ face-to-face contact.

Unlikely props

For budget-friendly décor, try to see ordinary things in a different way. For example, turn a recycled jam jar into an unusual table decoration by filling it with water and adding some lemon slices and a floating candle. Using sparkling water will create some bubbles, too.

Proteas in bottles

For unconventional vases, group together an assortment of clean, empty bottles with the labels removed. A bonus is that if you use slim-necked bottles, like beer, wine or chutney bottles, you won’t need many flowers. The shapes and colours will become the star attraction and the flowers will be secondary. But choose your bottles and flowers wisely as you don’t want the arrangement to look unbalanced.

Give a gift

It’s become quite common for adults to walk away from functions and parties with goodie bags. For a dinner party at home, a modest, meaningful gift is a special way to thank your friends for taking time to join you and make your evening memorable. A gift that forms part of your décor will leave a lasting impression.

When all else fails, be bold!

Primary colours, like this bright yellow placemat and matching place card, make a bold statement that will set the tone for a fun evening.

Little lanterns

These little lanterns will provide a warm glow of light to your table setting.
To make the lanterns, choose scrapbooking paper that matches your colour scheme. Make a cone, glue the edges together and add embellishments if you want to. Put a tea light inside a large wine glass and place the cone over the glass. Leave a wide enough opening at the top of the cone to let the candle’s heat escape.

Natural selection

Pebble mats make an unusual focal point for a table with an organic or rustic theme, especially when combined with architectural or sculptural shapes and natural textures.

A feminine touch

Scout your local scrapbooking store for beautiful paper to match different colour themes or décor schemes. Buy six sheets of each design and have them laminated so that you can use them as place mats again and again.

A simple way to take your table setting up a notch is to use linen serviettes, and make serviette rings from everyday objects. Think out of the box; here, we’ve used hair accessories to add a feminine touch.

Festive fancy

The festive season inevitably means extra entertaining, often just drinks, or a get-together with friends for an informal meal. This is the one time of the year when you can keep your table set, even if it’s not going to be used everyday, to add some festive cheer to your home.

Have little things on hand that can be used to spruce up your holiday table at a moment’s notice. Wrap red ribbon around plain candles and group them with Christmas baubles and other knick-knacks for a pretty centrepiece.

Share your memories

Personalised photo vases are a great idea for a family reunion, as you’ll be able to display pictures that are meaningful to everyone. They also work well for any milestone birthday, as everyone will want to see where they’ve featured in the guest of honour’s life.

If you are celebrating outdoors, you can string some twine in a tree and use pegs to hang a few special photos on it.

- How to make -

To make a photo vase, choose a plain glass vase that is wide enough to hold a smaller vase or glass jar. Fill the small vase with water and place it inside the larger one. Arrange your pictures between the two vases, then place flowers in the smaller vase.

Inspired by florals

To make pretty place mats, download beautiful botanical prints off the Internet and enlarge them before printing them out. Alternatively, create a collage by placing an assortment of prints on the table, overlapping them to create a tablecloth.

Use floral prints as wrapping paper for your party favour.

Easy gift ideas for guests

It has long been customary for a bride and groom to send their guests home with a small token or wedding favour as thanks for helping to make their nuptials a special occasion. But it’s becoming common for the hostess to place a small gift at each setting to convey her appreciation of the friendship. These gifts should be small and inexpensive, even hand-made; remember, it’s not about how much you spend, it’s about the thought you put into it.

Use your imagination to come up with interesting, but thoughtful gifts. Here are some clever ideas:

A packet of seeds with a message written directly onto the packaging.

Buy a box of luxury chocolates, nougat or Turkish delight and repackage a few pieces for each guest. Gift boxes can be purchased from stationery suppliers, or make muslin bags (see page 68).

A prettily wrapped soap with a hand-made label.

A plant in a small clay or terracotta pot (these can form part of your table décor and guests can take them home at the end of the evening).

A small scented candle.

A hand-made heart (see page 63).

An inexpensive brooch or delicate beaded bracelet.

A lottery ticket.

A photo frame (one per couple). Afterwards, send your guests a photograph of you and them together on the occasion.

A handbag-sized hand cream or hand sanitiser.

An item where the proceeds go to a good cause, like a beaded bracelet for the Save the Rhino campaign.

Index

The index that appeared in the print version of this title was intentionally removed from the eBook. Please use the search function on your eReading device to search for terms of interest. For your reference, the terms that appear in the print index are listed below.

A

A feminine touch

alfresco, see dining outdoors

B

baby celebrations

Big ideas, little impact

A feminine touch

Easy gift ideas for guests

Festive fancy

Give a gift

Individual arrangements

Inspired by florals

Little lanterns

Make edible serviette rings

Natural selection

Paint your cutlery

Proteas in bottles

Share your memories

Think creatively

Unlikely props

Use what you have

When all else fails, be bold!

birthday

butterflies

C

cameos

candles

pillar

casual brunch

casual lunch

Celebrate spring

celebrations

centrepiece

chalkboard placemats

children, entertaining

Christmas décor

Come celebrate with us

A birthday table

Elegant dinner

Engagement dinner

Graduation dinner

Simple Father’s Day lunch

Vintage Mother’s

Day celebration

Welcome baby

crockery

white

cutlery

mismatched

painted

D

Dining alfresco

Celebrate spring

Love is in the air

The perfect picnic

Under the stars

dining outdoors

Doily days

E

Easy gift ideas for guests

Eggceptional

eggs

Engagement dinner

entertaining children

F

family breakfast

Father’s Day

Festive fancy

Fishy feast

flatware, see cutlery

flowers

individual

posies

Formal dining

Dine like royalty

rules for formal dining

White night

G

gift ideas

Give a gift

glasses

Going dotty

good ideas

gratitude message

Iceberg roses

goodie bags

(see also personalised bags)

H

heritage items

hints and tips for hostesses

hostess tips

how to make: gift boxes

empty out an egg shell

paper bag lanterns

picture vase

shapes from modelling clay

themed serviette rings

tissue-paper centrepiece

I

Iceberg roses

In the garden

Individual arrangements

individual menus

Informal dining

Book club dinner

Doily days

Fishy feast

In the garden

Life’s just rosy

Simple and stylish

Time for tea

Whisky and wine evening

Inspired by florals

invitations

J

Just for fun

Just for kids

Eggceptional

entertaining children

Going dotty

Just for fun

Tween delight

L

Life’s just rosy

lists

Little lanterns

Love is in the air

M

Make edible serviette rings

menu planning

milestones

Mother’s Day

N

napkins, see serviettes

Natural selection

P

Paint your cutlery

paper bag lanterns

paper cones

houses

lanterns

party planning

schedule

personalised bags

(see also goodie bags)

photo vase

picnics

pillar candles

place cards

place mats

botanical prints

collage

pebble mats

scrapbooking paper

place settings

planning, lists

menu

party

schedule

shopping

Proteas in bottles

R

recycled tins

romantic dinner

roses

rules for formal dining

S

salt and pepper shakers

Share your memories

serviettes

rings

setting the table

silhouettes

silverware, see cutlery

Simple and stylish

special occasions

T

table napkins, see serviettes

tableware

(see also crockery)

tea parties

Tendret, Lucien

The perfect picnic

Think creatively

Time for tea

tips

Tween delight

U

Under the stars

Unlikely props

Use what you have

V

van Dyke, Henry

vintage table setting

W

When all else fails, be bold!

Whisky and wine evening

Suppliers list

BAKING & CONFECTIONARY

(chocolate moulds, shape cutters, printable rice paper)

The Chocolate Den – Glendower Shopping Centre, Linksfield Road, Edenvale. Tel: 011 453-8160. www.chocolateden.co.za

The Baking Tin

132 Durban Road, Bellville. Tel: 021 948-2274.

52 Belvedere Road, Claremont. Tel: 021 671-6434.

12 Harris Drive, Ottery Ext. Tel: 021 704-1710.

CAB Foods (Catering & Baking Suppliers)

34A Northumberland Rd, Bellville. Tel: 021 948-6644.

Cnr. Frans Conradie & Kenwill Drive, Brackenfell. Tel: 021 982-5095. www.cabfoods.co.za

Bake-a-Cake Cash & Carry (Hercules Baking Supplies) 516 Karel Trichardt Avenue, Mountain View, Pretoria. Tel: 012 377-2668. www.bakeacake.co.za

Online shopping:

www.yuppiechef.co.za
www.cakedirectory.co.za

SOAPS & CANDLES

The Soap Barn – Glendower Shopping Centre, Linksfield Road, Edenvale. Tel: 011 454–4573. www.soapbarn.co.za

Candle Maker’s Deli – 46 Marconi Rd, Montague Gardens, Cape Town. Tel: 021 552-4937. www.candledeli.co.za

HOMEWARE

(glassware, crockery, cutlery, tablecloths, serviettes, and general décor items)

Mr Price Home – Stores nationwide. www.mrpricehome.com

@home / @homelivingspace – Stores nationwide. www.home.co.za

BOTTLES, JARS & SPECIALITY GLASSWARE

Consol Glass – www.consol.co.za

Gauteng: 16 Waterval Crescent, Woodmead, Sandton. Tel: 011 603-2080; 0860 009 777.

Western Cape: Cnr Rand & Stoffel Smit Street, Plankenbrug, Stellenbosch. Tel: 021 888-4000.

PACKAGING, PAPER & PLASTICS

Westpack Lifestyle – Randpark Ridge, Gauteng. Tel: 011 791-1120 www.westpacklifestyle.co.za

Packaging Source (online gift packaging shop) www.packagingsource.co.za/onlineshop

Scrap-a-Doodles (online scrapbooking supplies) www.scrap-a-doodles.co.za

PNA – Stores nationwide. www.pna.co.za

FABRICS & WALLPAPERS

Scarlett Fine – 3 Kramer Road, Kramerville, Sandton. Tel: 011 262-3147. www.scarlettfine.co.za

Sasi Wallpaper – 3 Kramer Road, Kramerville, Sandton. Tel: 011 262-4202. www.sasiwallpaper.co.za

DIY PAINTS, TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Builders Warehouse/Builders Express – Stores nationwide. www.builders.co.za

Herbert Evans Paint & Hardware – Fourways Crossing, Gauteng. Tel: 011 465-8989.

FRESH FLOWERS

More Flowers – Linksfield Square, Linksfield, Gauteng. Tel: 011 485-4747.

Food Lover’s Market – Stores nationwide. www.fruitandvegcity.co.za