Ringing in 2019 with a New Year’s Eve Dinner

by Helen Kain | Dec 31, 2018 | Antique china, Antique glassware, Ballgown, Blue, New Year, White

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed a festive celebration on New Year’s Eve, whether you were out on the town or quietly at home. We hosted a small dinner party with close friends, and I took the opportunity to pull out some “ballgown”...

“Come and Dine” at Highclere Castle – The Dinner!

by Helen Kain | Feb 25, 2018 | Antiques, Ballgown, Cobalt, White, Winter Tablescapes

First of all, thanks everyone for your interest in the event! Your comments were so heartening; I felt like you were right there with me from preparation through to clean up.   Update: Here is the video of the event We had a fabulous time, and judging from the...

Come and Dine at Highclere – Update on Preparations

by Helen Kain | Feb 20, 2018 | Ballgown, Organization

Thank you, everyone, for weighing in with your choices for the Come and Dine at Highclere dinner party. You were all most eloquent in expressing your choices, and I very much appreciate the input.  The most popular choice by far was Cobalt #2.   It’s...

Come at Dine at Highclere Castle

by Helen Kain | Feb 17, 2018 | Ballgown, Blue, Cobalt, Green, Pink and Red, White, Winter Tablescapes

That’s the headline to the email that appeared in my inbox on Valentine’s Day. Well – that got my attention! A contest involving a dinner party? Tell me more! So I did click HERE. The prize is to be awarded to the host and seven of their chosen...

Hand Painted Garden Plates with Amethyst Venetian

by Helen Kain | Jan 7, 2017 | Accessories, Antiques, Ballgown, Blue, Green, Pink and Red, Purple, Spring Tablescapes, White, Yellow

As we settle in for a major winter blast in New England, it’s heartening to review some pictures I took last spring of a garden-themed table setting. The plates have multiple colours, but it was the amethyst that really jumped out – perfect for lilacs and...

Spring Green Dessert Set with Venetian Basket Glasses

by Helen Kain | Jan 4, 2017 | Antiques, Ballgown, Green, Spring Tablescapes

Yes, it is the beginning of January. No, it is not yet spring. But it doesn’t mean I can’t start thinking about it. Last January, we set out to find a drop leaf table on which to assemble jigsaw puzzles. Living with our mad cat Moxie, who...