Buried Treasure

Has anyone out there heard of Nagel candelabra systems from West Germany?

I searched Google and eBay, and saw a few of them in other styles, but not in this one - it's called 'Variante' and was supposedly designed by Caesar Stoffi in the late sixties or early seventies. If anyone knows anything about them, I'd love to hear! The photo above shows how the individual silver-finish elements (candle holders, vases, and small platters) can be stacked, screwed together, and combined to create fantastic leveraged & balanced creations.

I scored more than a dozen boxes of the components at an estate sale this past weekend. Brand new, never opened before.



The box even included the taper candles!
I plan to use these at the Winemaker Dinner in August...probably on the bar in the reception area, since there are not enough of these to make an impact on the very large banquet tables. They will fit in nicely with our Art Deco-inspired 'Roaring Twenties' theme, and coordinate perfectly with the tall silver champagne stands that I use as flower & candle stands on the tables.

Just goes to show you - you never know where the perfect prop will be found. It often pays to make a slight detour to follow an estate sale sign, and dig thru dirty boxes in basements!!!!

Dinner Without Reservations

I'm busy planning and prepping for this year's big Auction of Washington Wines Winemaker Dinner event at Columbia Winery, coming up FAST in August. With the theme of the Grand Auction being 'Roaring Twenties' to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the AWW, our decor will reflect the swanky 1920's. You can see a few of my Inspiration Board images here... this dinner's decor will be all black & white, elegant with just a hint of a steamy side.

To read a killer description of what we have planned, check out Winemaker Dinners on the Auction of Washington Wines official site. The page also includes two photos from our dinner last year - the ones with walls of barrels.

The sad thing is that alongside our photos and description, the other dinners - all very lovely - just seem a bit.......um.......boring?! Tho at a few, the sparkling guests (like Bob & Cathy Betz of Betz Family Cellars) will more than make up for less than theatrical surroundings!

This dinner and all of the Auction events raise money for Children's Hospital here in Seattle. It is an absolute pleasure to participate in such a worthwhile cause. I get to listen to lots of great old Hollywood standards to get me in the swingin' 20's mood, too!

Image Credits: event poster/Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery creative department

Extreme Makeover: Winery Edition, Part Three

I went over to Prosser, Washington to Hogue Cellars yesterday (man, that sunshine was blinding!) and got my final photos of the VIP Event Room that has been a project since early spring. The custom furniture arrived from California, was placed, and I am just pleased as punch with the results. Let me show you...
BEFORE



(Would you call this 'the Cafeteria look'? I would!)

And AFTER

This shot was taken with only the wall wash lighting on.....when you add candlelight to this, some music, marvelous wines, and a group of laughing talking people, the room TRULY comes to life. An elegant, warm, welcoming area for the winery to promote its wines.

My work here is done....... click click click click click (that's me, walking out of the room)......