Emily: Songs from the wood

I have been looking for a reasonable set of flatware, as I am planning a Holiday Brunch where I will use my Great Grandmother Marie's wedding china. It was given to me by my Grandma Isabel, who was my great conspirator and who carried on the tradition of French cuisine she had learned from her mother.

While I admit I do not have the talent to fill the plates that they had I at least want to do them justice. Everything that I have found (and can afford) is either too fancy to go with my everyday plates (plain white porcelain) or too plain to belong alongside china. That is, everything but cheap-o Naturewood from Pfaltzgraff, which I will rock this brunch, baby!

Emily: The most perfect cupcake wrappers in the world

Laser cut lovliness from Paper Orchid.

Emily: Jessica Rust

I am in love, and I mean in love with Jessica Rust's line of personalized dinnerware. The delicate patterning would be charming even if not eponymous , but in a world where Things Remembered dominates the "your name here" market her lovely items are a breath of (mine! all mine!) fresh air.

Emily: Friends over

Last night my dear friend came over to sup with his new fiance. She is a wonderful addition to both his and my life, and I am so happy that they have found one another.

So happy, in fact, that I got all excited and set the table with my very best linens, which were gifts from Mackenzie of Site Design and Alberto and Mercedes from Etos way back when we were all studying at NYSID and napkin rings made for me by my little sister, who is now an art student at Tyler.

Using the beautiful things we own not only connects us to the time and place when we acquired them, but creates a sense of meaningfulness for the present moment. Setting the table for much anticipated guests is not about displaying what you own but instead creating a space worth lingering in. These beautiful things tell them "you are special, enjoy yourself."

Emily: Winterthur

My dear friend Joyce sent me this postcard of the Queen Ann Dining Room at Winterthur. I have always dreamed of an entry with a large mirror, Folly Green walls and blue and white porcelains, so this room is pretty much heaven for me. She went with a class taught by Dick Pencek at Penn State, which I took ages ago while studying Art History there. I have always dreamed of a visit to Winterthur and hopefully someday soon will go. God Bless America (n interior design)!

Couleur Nature

It is no secret - table linens make me foam at the mouth. I enjoy the whole process of using them, from setting the table (not using paper napkins) to washing (always in cold water) and ironing them (I know, I am sick) for next time's use. These days I am using solid white porcelain plates which mix easily with just about any linen pattern or print.

The ones shown here are by "Couleur Nature", a company founded by Parisian designer Bruno Lamy after he traveled to Rajasthan, India and encountered their traditional block printed textiles.

These days, artisans in Jaipur hand block each cloth using carved teakwood blocks. I love that traditional French motifs are created using techniques passed down for generations.
To keep it fresh, two new prints are introduced to the collection each season.

For more information on Couleur Nature textiles, click here or visit their website www.couleurnature.com.

Andy Shaw Tableware

Poetic, modern and quiet are words that come to mind when I think of artist Andy Shaw's collection for the home and table. Much like water seems colorless unless en mass, his glazes pool into the textures of the pieces giving just a hint of cool, glassy hue. While his creations remind me somewhat of Jonathan Adler's, there is something Wabi-sabi and soulful in them that separates them from other "west-elm-white-texture" objects.

Like his work, Andy is calm and approachable. If memory serves, I pretty much picked up and admired every piece, marveling at their feel in my hands, all the while asking him questions about his process and mission.

For more information about Andy and his work, click here.