Two days before Color & Candlelight, a recent event we did at Gracious Home in Chelsea, sponsored by Creative Candles, we decided to cut off online registration at 100. Factor in any pop-up errands or late nights out, and we figured about 60 would show. But when 85 people came looking for inspiration—and food!—my tendency to overbuy (a result of my catering days) came in handy. After all, if it's a wow factor you want, abundance is key. Here's the spread we prepared and styled using celebration candles and tapers in petal pink.
For the tea sandwiches, we made herbed egg salad, classic cucumber, Comstock bacon and cream cheese, and sesame-crusted chicken salad. Pressed glass cake pedestals, stacked one upon the other, added height to the table while still keeping it light and airy.
After nibbling on sandwiches and sipping champagne, we started the show. First up: an inspirational slideshow, illustrating fast, easy, and inexpensive ways off adding color to your home with candles, From the foyer to the backyard, formal dinner parties to casual get-togethers, I'm a big believer in the power of colorful candles to add life to rooms and events alike.
Case in point: a spring-inspired table I designed just for the occasion, using handmade tapers in a cheery honeysuckle, paired with 10-hour votives in luscious lime green.
My color inspiration came from the tablecloth, one of my favorites at Gracious Home. Like the linen we used from Calico Corners for the Easter table at Halls, this, too, is a modern take on a traditional damask. The china is from Gracious Home, topped with etched crystal finger bowls of my own. Small arrangements of roses, orchids and tulips in brass mint julep cups complemented the palette without overpowering it.
For a bit of whimsy, I placed gilded frogs from Gracious Home at every setting, then made simple place cards out of paper, shaped like lily pads. The flatware combines vintage brass knives and forks, French Ivory fish knives and forks from our friend Meg's shop at Pigtown Design, and mid-century modern spoons we found antiquing with Terri from La Dolfina.
On to the demos! For a no-fail centerpiece, float candles in glass compotes, along with lush flowers like peonies. Experiment with scale by placing glass hurricanes from old oil lamps around votives, keeping runaway breezes at bay. My jadeite saucers never looked so good! And finally, even Oprah loves a good colored candle, choosing celebration candles in lime green for the cover of her 10th anniversary issue!
A huge thank you to everyone for making Color & Candlelight such a success, especially Jordan, Jim and Carla at Gracious Home, together with Pam and Ken at Creative Candles. Thanks also to fellow bloggers Tori with MyDeco, Caitlin with Caitlin Dentino and Nicole with So Haute for covering the event so beautifully. Now what are you waiting for, everyone? Pick your favorite color, invite a few friends over, and light up the night!
the tablescape is lovely! congratulations on the big turnout.
Oh I love GH;
What a wonderful time & great items to play with!
L.
Gracious Home & Eddie Ross = A real life fairy tale…
What a great event. Wish I was there…
Holly J
http://www.anobsessionwithstyle.blogspot.com
Honeysuckle candles? Those are gorgeous! Glow begets glow. I love it! xoox, P
E+J-the photos from the event are BETTER than my memories. The table and bill of fare were breathtaking AND delectable. LOVE the cherry blossoms. Thanks ever so much for sharing how a bit of candle color can add another layer of dimension to a room or table. I cannot wait until we can do an encore presentation of Color and Candlelight. This was truly a home-run. (IS there a design term for home-run?) Again, gratitude from the bottom of our hearts for going Above and Beyond. xoxo Pam
I just love the green and yellow table setting. That’s one of my favorite color combinations for the home. Something about it is just so peaceful yet cheerful! Looks like everyone had a wonderful time at the event. Can’t wait to get some really tall Creative Candles for my house too.
🙂
How darling and what a great turnout (not surprised on bit)! The little golden frog stole my heart…
Gorgeous as usual eddie! I cant find cherry blossoms anymore in the city, but I have switched over to peonies so all will be ok…
Also, Im rocking hot pink candles at my house and I LOVE it!
You are such an inspiration! Maybe I should try a color other than white.
Thanks for the nice shout! I am so glad my fun French Ivory silver is living with you all now! I still have a couple of place settings for sale… and a dozen place-settings that I am keeping for myself!
xoxo to E+J!
Eddie
Just wanted to let you know what a great job you have done. Yes is all about color and presentation.
Hope to see you in Atlanta
E & J, I love both tables. I think the green and yellow is stunning and the pink is inviting. You really know how to entertain with such grace and beauty. You are so talented, Eddie. I am never disappointed in anything you produce. You do inspire me, that is for sure, Hugs Kathysue
I love how you incorporated a touch of whimsy. The frogs on the table is so cute!
Eddie and Jaithan,
We couldn’t have been happier with the event. The energy, the color, the food and the drinks were truly amazing. Your styling of old with new and simple with elegant designs were an inspiration. We are so glad that Pam and Ken from Creative Candles sponsored this wonderful afternoon. Please come back and do it again, soon. Thanks so much.
Beautiful! I absolutely love that first image of the flowering branches!
Eddie & Jaithan,
What a gorgeous event! Wish I could have seen it in person!
XO,
Susan
This looks like so much fun…can’t wait for your Jun 17 event in Chicago. I’m sure Scentimental Gardens is already working hard to top last summer’s event.
love the “new” use of jadite saucers. they are the perfect base for a hurricane lamp. thanks for the idea.
Everything just looks so fabulous! How I would love to come to one of your events some day. The lily pad place cards with the frogs is so cute and I love that you made candle holders out of jadeite saucers – the pink candles with the green – perfect!
Fresh. Chic. Perfect. Look at you in your hottie preppy outfit. Love. It. And I really want to seriously take home that first tablecloth. Love this WHOLE post and its pics.
The event was the highlight of my weekend! What more could a girl want…food and Eddie! I even went home with a goodie bag and wonderful set of candles! It was awe inspiring and I also met a lot of wonderful people especially Jaithan, Tina and Ken! I hope you do another inspiring event!
As always, lovely and clever!
One question – who will dare tell Oprah she should NOT wear skin-tight pink?
Gorgeous, as usual!
Oh so lovely!
Once again your tablescape left me in awe.
Amazing how you make these older pieces look so fresh & modern. Want to purchase the green & yellow tablecloth but it’s not on the Gracious Home website.
Can you advise?
Your fan hw
Eddie and Jaithan – What a great event and terrific post. We at Creative Candles appreciate how beautifully you display our candles. Through your presentation at Gracious Home and your blog, you help others appreciate the simple elegance of our candles. We hope everyone follows your design ideas and remembers to include colorful candles from Creative Candles in their next event or table setting. Many, many thanks to both of you!
I just adore the tablecloth pattern, and the frogs are a perfect touch. Well done!!
P.S. I loved you on Top Design!!
Great color combination, really pops. I’m sure you all had a great time. Looking forward to the next event in KC – whenever that may be!
How beautiful! I am going to find an excuse to throw a party just so I can do this in my house!!! I loves it!!!
Your tablescapes are so inspiring! Maybe if I made my table look this nice, I’d be more apt to have guests over for dinner 🙂
Your attention to detail still astounds me. Every little thing is lovingly thought of and acknowledged. The lemon-lime table is scrumptious, the tea sammies divine!!
Thanks to you and Jaithan for being such huge inspirations to me! xo
Eddie & Jaithan-
Thanks for a fun outing! I used the candles that night and had dear friends for dinner – I always walk away inspired and so thrilled to know you both! I am posting on this friday as I have been burning the candles at both ends – take a look!
pve
Congratulations! The whole event is a success. The tablecloth is beautiful.
Eddie & Jaithan-
Just wanted to make sure you spotted my post last friday-
I have been burning the candles with a colorful bunch!
Enjoy this gorgeous day!
pve
Do you have the recipes for your tea sandwiches or could you recommend some? Your look lovely!
I am so crazy for this table! The green and yellow with gold! Dee-vine. So much so that I think I’ll take this table as inspiration and head over to Polyvore for some dress-up fun. (I deserve it, and this glass of wine; it’s been a long day!) I hadn’t even seen that colorway for the fabric. I have the red and the blue right in front of me. Love you, love your blog!
You mention two very favorite people ~ Meg and Terri. Those two are the best for unearthing treasures just like you and Jaithan. I adore the gilded frog and so clever to make lily pad place cards. The fabrics too are divine. Fabulous as always!
Great Wed. to you both ~ Deb