While setting the dining table in the middle of a field may have been an obvious choice for this farm party, Julia surprised guests with her cleverly landscaped tabletop. She relied on potted lavender plants, moss, rocks, and other natural
Even the place settings at this lavender-themed party were in sync with the green theme. Grapevine wreaths stood in for traditional chargers, while torn burlap was fashioned into an inexpensive table runner. Little lavender bundles were bound in ribbon and
No china chargers at this party! Julia made sure every detail fit the farm theme, down to the rustic grapevine wreath underliners and the herb-infused green salad sitting on top.
Because the natural landscape surrounding this party provided a lot of built-in décor, Julia kept the flower arrangements understated. Loosely-tied bundles of lavender, picked fresh from the farm, were scattered in old pewter vases throughout the barn and on tables
Julia made sure that this party’s menu took a cue from the surrounding lavender fields. After all, Julia tends to go all-out with her party themes! To ease the heat on this summer day, guests started out with sips of
The meal at this lavender fête concluded with a luscious white chocolate-lavender panna cotta, handmade by Julia herself. Served in tiny lidded jars (before desserts-in-a-jar were a thing), it was perfectly in tune with the pastoral lavender farm theme. For
The sign of a good dinner party is when it starts early in the evening and lingers long into the night. Julia had a strong suspicion that the latter might happen at this farm party styled for St. Louis AT
For a sweet surprise, Julia often works cookies into her party décor. She hung this gingerbread welcome plaque in the hallway leading into the very cookie swap that started her cookie journey back in 2005. At that time, she and
Once guests got past the cookie welcome sign at the front door of this party, they were greeted with more cookies – literally everywhere! For this over-the-top cookie swap, styled for St. Louis AT HOME magazine in 2005, Julia started
Here’s a better view of the ginormous cookie trees at Julia’s cookie party styled for St. Louis AT HOME magazine in 2005. Towering above the tabletop, they were one of Julia’s first forays into 3-D cookies. Not only that –
Here, at Julia’s over-the-top cookie swap styled for St. Louis AT HOME in 2005, gingerbread stars sparkle and angels descend – as if from heaven – from a chandelier overhead. This presentation was one of Julia’s very first experiments with
If a mirror is part of your home décor, be sure to place it strategically so that it reflects the fairest of all your party elements. At her over-the-top cookie swap in 2005, Julia did just that, allowing guests to
Out-of-the-box party details will quickly elevate a party from ordinary to extraordinary. At Julia’s over-the-top cookie swap staged for St. Louis AT HOME magazine, she eschewed traditional paper plates for handcrafted gingerbread boxes. And what guests didn’t eat at the
Traditional mac ‘n cheese is often good enough left alone – but Julia isn’t one to stop short of perfection. She’s constantly trying new recipe twists. Here, smoked gouda, sundried tomatoes, crispy pancetta bits, and fresh sage give her favorite
Julia loves detail – usually the more, the better – especially around the holiday season. This Christmas cookie collection benefits from the marriage of many different techniques: stenciling on the bodies of the mittens and in the center of the snowflakes; then outlining and beadwork,
No artistic ability? No problem. Simply stamp food coloring on cookies this holiday season! These Christmas lovelies were also colored with a paint made of petal dust extended with clear (colorless) extract. For more details about rubber-stamping, painting, and many other decorating
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