CasaSugar

Etsy Finds: Spooky Plates For Halloween and Beyond

Elka Karl — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:10:05 PDT

While I love adding some Halloween flair to my home this month, I also appreciate decor that has a year-round purpose. That's definitely the case with these plates from Etsy. Embrace a spooky, gothic look on a plate, platter, or serving dish by using them for the Halloween season and then for months beyond. Take a look and then let me know which plate ranks as your personal favorite.

Thoroughly Modern, Perfectly Patterned Pottery

Elka Karl — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:00:22 PDT

Does the word pottery conjure up images in your head of sandy-toned, roughly glazed pots lined up on a folding table at a crafts fair? Modern day pottery is largely exempt from such humdrum clay manifestations. Thanks to companies like Heath Ceramics, which has been creating clean, beautiful pottery designs for over half a century, and modern-day potters like Jonathan Adler, pottery's significance in the 21st century cannot be questioned.

Speaking of Adler, his Relief Drip Ceramic Pendant Lamp ($300, top row, left) is a wonderful way to introduce the beauty of pottery in an unexpected place in your home - the ceiling. Unglazed translucent porcelain that emits a warm (and surprisingly bright) glow. Inspired by seeds, barnacles, pebbles, and other natural wonders, each prototype pot is thrown by Jonathan Adler. The Relief Drip Ceramic Pendant emits a soft, warm glow.

I also can't forget the lovely Spun Vase ($175, bottom row, middle left) from Heath Ceramics. Made in a limited quantity of 150, the stripes on the single stem vase are created with an etching tool, which strips away the top layer of glaze. Hurry - this vase is only available until the first of October!

For more information on the plates, stools, cups, and other pottery objects showcased above, just click on each image.

Think Fabricate's Tableware Tribute to Brooklyn

Elka Karl — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:30:51 PDT

Since design studio Think Fabricate is based in Brooklyn, and all of its designs are created and manufactured in the borough, it makes sense that Think Fabricate should create at least a few pieces that pay homage to the borough. That's exactly what the company did when it created the Brooklyn Plates - the company's first foray into working with china.

Originally produced as a limited edition to coordinate with the company’s display at last year's BKLYN DESIGNS, Brooklyn Plates is a set of transfer-printed, coup-style dinner plates, featuring aerial views of Brooklyn from the late 1800s.

According to Jason Gorsline, cofounder of Think Fabricate, “Since our first collection of furniture included a wall-mounted display cabinet, it seemed fitting that we design a special group of plates to adorn the shelves and show our connection to Brooklyn, where we live and work.”

This new line will be launched during 7 W New York Tabletop Week, where they will be on display at Gallery on Six (Suite 604) from April 12-15. A set of plates have also been accepted into the Brooklyn Museum's permanent decorative arts collection.

Keep reading to see a closeup of one of the plates, and find out how to order a set for your home.

Sophisticated Dinnerware so Your Tot Can Play Grown-Up

Leta Shy — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:30:01 PST

Toy Story and Dora the Explorer dinnerware can make mealtime fun for your tot, but sometimes toddlers want to mimic the adults at the table. Whether it's a special dinner or if you're just teaching your lil ones how to behave in social situations, these options will help them feel all grown-up. From unbreakable "wine" glasses to trainer chopsticks, check out the options below!

Clockwise from left: Virtually Unbreakable Duralex Dinnerware Set ($15); Kids Cooking Shop Ice Cream and Dessert Cups ($18); Kitastick Linking Chopsticks ($19); Baby Chick White Animals in My Soup Bowl ($45); Pearl Stem Acrylic Plastic Wine Glasses ($7).

Sit Still! Tableware That Will Keep Kids Seated!

LilSugar — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:47:13 PDT

Before food fights even begin, parents need to figure out a way to keep their tots seated at the table. Most moms have a bag of tricks or an exhaustive lineup of distractions to keep their children glued to their chairs during meals, but the process is more about eliminating whining than dining. Why not integrate a few items into the table setting that will hold a youngster's attention and keep them engaged during dinner? Here our five of my favorite products that cater to kids.

Lil Exclusive: Sneak Peek of Avent's Tableware For Tots

babysugar — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:00:46 PDT

Grab a plate - it's meal time. Phillips Avent is making eating educational with a new line of tableware set to debut next month. The collection includes BPA-free plates, bowls, and silverware ($4 - $20) to take babies from the weaning stage through self-feeding and is designed to spark family conversations about numbers and food. Each piece from the colorful line comes with a nutritionist-created recipe, and the items for younger eaters are backed with non-slip silicone to prevent meals from ending up on the floor. The cute line will make its debut at Babies R Us stores next month. What do you think of the products?

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Trend Alert: Monogrammed Dinnerware

partysugar — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:00:17 PDT

There was a time when monogrammed dinnerware was reserved for Southern Belles and traditional homemakers. Today, everyone is getting in the game of having their everyday plates and fine china painted with their initials. As wedding season gears up, you may even find a few ambitious registries seeking out their own personalized tableware. Monogramming is pretty, but pairing personalization with porcelain does not come cheap - these lovely Birds on a Wire Dessert Plates are $75 for a set four ceramic dishes. In the end it's just a small price to pay for eating off your very own words.

Here are a few more of my favorites.

Toddler Table Time: Five Products That Keep Tots at the Table

babysugar — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:10:57 PDT

It's a mom's dream to have the entire family seated and eating! Keeping kiddos glued to their chairs while dining out can get tough as tots are interested in their surroundings and can get restless if the food takes a while so be prepared. Throw a few goodies in your purse to keep them occupied. Check out these options!

How-To: Build a Set of Mismatched Tableware

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:15:29 PST

When we're talking fine china and silver, we don't all have the luxury of having complete matching sets of dinner and serving pieces. Luckily, mixed sets can still look just as chic. Whether it's a tea set, antique silverware, or a mismatched set of dinner plates, there are a few things you can do to make building a mismatched set look purposeful, while still keeping your costs down.

First of all, in-store sales at home décor shops are a great place to find bargains on fine china and silver on pieces that don't make a full set. For instance, you might find two dinner plates at a great price, but you'll have to come up with four more to serve a party of six. You can also find great bargains at flea markets and thrift stores, but you'll have to do more sifting to find good quality pieces.

Read my essential tips for building your own set of mismatched tableware.

Open House: How Do You Dress Your Thanksgiving Table?

CasaSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:30:04 PST

When it comes to the Thanksgiving table, how you dress it is often as important to the hostess as what food sits upon it. Over the years, I've seen family members fuss over table settings, switching out placemats, rethinking china sets, and shifting floral arrangements.

I admit that I'm known to fuss over my Thanksgiving table as well. The first year that my hubby and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for friends and family, I stayed up late into the night sewing a dozen napkins, pressing tablecloths, and arranging flowers. In the end though, it was all worth it. Not only did the food turn out wonderfully, but the table looked spectacular as well. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, deciding on color schemes and flower arrangements is all part of the fun.

So tell me, how do you dress your Thanksgiving table? Do you keep things casual? Is your feast a buffet-style affair? Or do you get formal with placecards and calligraphied names? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Source: Flickr User thedabble