party tips

Country Living Magazine called recently to ask me for my holiday entertaining tips ...here  are a few of them which are in their December issue:

1. Prosecco is a perfect party drink...an Italian sparkling white wine, it is light, fizzy and affordable, and  comes in beautiful bottles that I fill a big silver punch bowl with
2. White crudite: a platter or low glass cylinder of fennel slices, cauliflower florets, blanched white asparagus, endive leaves, and celery are perfect with an herbed yogurt/sour cream dip
3. Candlelight: soft lighting and lots of white candles create a wonderful ambience
4. Real glasses: I always stock up on inexpensive wine glasses at Ikea that I keep stored for parties...
so much nicer than plastic, and less costly than renting them.
5. I always welcome my guests with a drink and then tell them to make themselves at home and show them the bar where they can help themselves for the next drink
6. White flowers: I love simple big loose arrangements of amaryllis, paperwhites and tulips in glass cylinders or growing  in terra cotta pots with moss as they will last the whole holiday season

Photograph by Jeff McNamara from At Home with Wedgwood by Tricia Foley

a christmas tablesetting by the sea

a soft palette inspired by the sea includes shells, snips of cedar and blue berries, and white flowering bulbs... wedgwood cream china, handblown glass,  knotted rope napkin rings, and names or a message in a bottle set the scene for this holiday luncheon by the sea...scallop shells become salt cellars, a conch shell becomes the cachepot for a little cypress tree and even the cream flannel stocking has mother of pearl button trim....  
photographed by jeff mcnamara

I love lots of glass + candlelight for holiday tablesettings...potted bulbs, natural wood, and votives, too
 from White Christmas by Tricia Foley, photograph by Wm P Steele