how to host a garden party

 

Let’s talk easy Garden Party vibes… 

Every garden party must have flowers and cake! My favorite way to dress up an alfresco soiree is to set the table with pretty floaty linens that can rustle gently in the breeze.

Stop and take a peek at this gorgeous new Garden Pink Tablecloth and Napkins from August Table. This is a super easy way to instantly set a beautiful table when you start with pretty table linens like this and then simply add your everyday tableware and a big bouquet of flowers.

 

A lovely bouquet of cottage garden flowers always helps to brighten the table. The theme of this bouquet is “what’s blooming today in the garden.” 

I’ve recently been watching Sarah Raven floral how-to videos on YouTube, and she inspired me for this floral creation!  

All of these flowers were all grown in our cottage garden and are just loosely arranged in an antique Majolica pitcher that belonged to my husband's great grandmother. 

 

The look of these table linens is so cozy thanks to the fact that these are all 100% linen. The darling little stylized floral pattern is a classic.

 

A store-bought apple bundt cake from Irvine Ranch Market is perfect for adding adorable garden flowers to the top.

Here’s what’s blooming in my garden right now and what is topping the cake:

💗Roses
💗Dahlias
💗Geranium
💗Yarrow
💗Mint

💗Sweet Williams
💗Verbena

💗Borage

  

Creating a cozy and welcoming ambiance is all about paying attention to the little details and making your guests feel comfortable.

 

This year I’m growing fewer vegetables in this garden, and I’ve been focusing more on cut flowers, especially dahlias, with a few zinnias and cosmos sprinkled in.

 

This delicate bloom is a "collarette dahlia", and the variety is Hartenaas. It's one of my favorites!!

Raspberry pie is such a perfect summer treat, especially when topped with fresh whipped cream and berries from the garden. I grow Boysenberries and Jewel Black Raspberries, and we also have a few strawberries and blueberries in pots near this garden. 

There's nothing quite like home-grown fruit for quality and taste!

 

June in the garden is the most magical time of the year, and I couldn't resist setting an impromptu little table to share with all of you and with my friends Cindy, Mary Ann, Annie, Juliet and Kim.

 

They also know a thing or two about styling beautiful outdoor tables and are queens of entertaining! Check out their newest posts here:

 

CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN 🌸 Cindy

CLASSIC CASUAL HOME 🌸 Mary Ann

MOST LOVELY THINGS 🌸 Annie

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER 🌸 Juliet

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE 🌸 Kim

In case you haven’t heard, I started a new Instagram page in October and named it Claudia Fabiana Home. My former page is still up, but after getting a new phone, I was no longer able to log into this account, so the new profile was born!

 

I hope you’ll follow along with me on Instagram for all the latest projects and décor I will be sharing in 2025.

 

 

 

ciao fabiana

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

5 sweet recipes for valentine's day

 

While browsing through a few of my favorite magazines this week, I could help but notice so many yummy and gorgeous Valentine’s Day recipes. From the pages of Modern Garden, Women’s World and Star magazines, I bring you a delicious collection of 5 desserts that are sure to please your favorite Valentine.

I couldn’t help sharing these 5 fun and easy Valentine’s Day recipes with you all. If you love chocolate like I do, three of these lovely desserts offer a bit of luscious chocolate goodness.

All of these recipes are perfect for the whole family too! 

 

I hope you’ll follow along with me on Instagram for all the latest projects, décor and more Valentine's Day fun. 

 

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

princess Kate's favorite Christmas treats

Kate Middleton is known for her elegant and stylish fashion choices, especially during the festive season. For Christmas, she often opts for classic colors like reds and greens and sometimes incorporates plaid patterns into her outfits.

 

Tartan has a rich history and various connotations in fashion. Tartan plaid is deeply rooted in Scottish culture, often associated with clans and families.

 

I love how Princess Catherine wears plaid, as it can be dressed up or down, making it a versatile pattern that has stood the test of time.

 

During the holiday season, the royal family wears the most beautiful and stylish plaid patterns, especially in red and green to evoke a sense of warmth and festivity at Christmastime.

 

Now here's something I love just as mush as Kate does... Sticky toffee pudding!! It's a Christmas classic, and it’s no surprise that Kate enjoys it during the festive season. Here’s her simple recipe for you to try.

If you've never had Sticky Toffee Pudding, you're in for a real treat!

 

And here’s another traditional Christmas dessert…

 

King Charles also has a fondness for traditional Christmas desserts, including plum pudding. This rich, steamed pudding is packed with dried fruits, spices, and often a splash of brandy or rum, making it a festive favorite.

 

Prince William and the Princess of Wales have several cherished holiday traditions that they enjoy with their family. 

They make sure to spend quality time together as a family, often baking and decorating Christmas cookies, and watching holiday movies like "Elf," which is a favorite of Prince William.

 

Like all of us, they also hang stockings by the fireplace and leave out very British mince pies and milk for Santa and the reindeer.

 

They continue the tradition of attending a Christmas church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, a long-standing Windsor family custom.

 

I love that Kate and William have started creating their own separate holiday traditions, including hosting their own holiday party with Kate's family. This allows them to have a more private and relaxed celebration away from the larger royal family.

Plaid always brings out the true spirit of the holidays, whether it's adding a plaid pillow on your sofa or brightening up an outfit with a bit of tartan. 

ciao fabiana

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 Do you add a little plaid to your Christmas traditions?

Photos and recipes courtesy of People Magazine

 

 

farmhouse style magazine winter 2024

4 of my projects featured this season

December is off to an inspiring start with the brand-new Winter issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style in stores stores now. And I have a little preview for you!

 

Here's a behind the scenes look of how new cover of Farmhouse Style came together with just a few simple ideas. I was truly caught by surprise when my picture was selected to be on the cover of this Winter 2024 issue!

 

Just a few festive touches and vintage finds help to create this simple but unique look that is featured on the cover. You can try this at home! It's as easy as it looks!! See the video here.

 

Lisa Sloan is the new editor of Farmhouse Style now taking over from Susan Wagner, and I love reading the Lisa’s notes from each and every issue. 

It’s the most helpful companion to this magazine and helps me to make sure I don’t miss a thing in this jam-packed holiday issue.

 

Cover photo

Here's the photo I submitted for an article called “Homes for the Holidays.” It’s a playful and pretty look at small-scale houses that can create imaginative and festive scenes in miniature. You can check out all the projects starting on page 6.

 

You can see some of the examples of tiny Christmas houses here.

Check out this video HERE as I explain and recreate the cover shot in my new “dish room”.

For this winter 2024 issue, I have 6 projects and 2 recipes featured and I can’t wait to show them to you! As a contributor to this magazine for the last 6 years or so, my projects and recipes are usually featured in the “Do-It-Yourself Farmhouse” section.

 

Isn’t this a fun project?! It’s so easy to make these Santa Sacks with a pretty but slightly damaged vintage tablecloth. Tablecloths are such a great source of fabric for so many projects!

 

A collection of festive vintage cans and tins are the perfect vessels for planting herbs during the holidays. 

They certainly do brighten up a sunny window and come in handy for using in all sorts of holiday recipes.  

 

Here are the two vintage inspired ornaments I made for Farmhouse Style magazine. The first are a set of real walnut shells filled with a bit of moss and festive little red toadstool, or mushroom. 

I finished them off with a little bakers twine in a fun red and white twisted pattern for easy an display from a Christmas tree branch. 

 

Secondly, I sewed little burlap hearts with a velvet needlepoint thread and then embellished them with a tiny jingle bell.

 

I think they add the old-fashioned farmhouse charm to any tree. Don't you just love handmade Christmas ornaments? They add something so special to the tree.

An advent calendar made from a set of mismatched (but very coordinated) handmade felt stockings is another one of my projects that’s featured in this winter issue. 

I chose a select color palette of felt pieces and stuck to those colors for every little stocking. I also used vintage rickrack, in dark red and white on a few of these guys!

 

Wouldn’t they also look cute as ornaments on the tree?

 

Two showstopping desserts I made are also featured in this issue starting on page 108. I had never made a Kransekake or a Pavlova before, but I’m always up for any challenge, and they proved to be worth every drop of sugar and egg whites to make these 2 beauties!

 

A Krasekake is a traditional Norwegian dessert translating to “wreath cake” and features 18 stacking rings of different sizes. It truly is breathtaking and soooo very delicious!

 

 

This Pavlova is a light meringue and fruit dessert that’s out of this world, and is even topped off with a yogurt and cream mixture for an even greater contrast in flavors and textures.

 

A variety of fresh berries and mint sprigs give this luscious dessert all its character and good looks… it’s a Christmas showstopper, for sure!!  

 

In case you haven’t heard, I started a new Instagram page in October and named it Claudia Fabiana Home. My former page is still up, but after getting a new phone, I was no longer able to log into this account, so the new profile was born!

 

I hope you’ll follow along with me on Instagram for all the latest projects and décor I will be sharing in 2025.

 

 

 

ciao fabiana

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.