Vintage Style, Modern Twist

What to do with family heirlooms, particularly jewelry, always seems to be a tricky topic. So often grandma's jewelry gets passed down to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that truly want to have a memento to remember their loved one, but they just don't know what to do with it. Sometimes grandma had a very different build or style and the pieces just don't look right on the recipient, sometimes they are so dated they don't fit with anyone in the family, and sometimes there's a beautiful piece that has some damage that makes it unwearable.

I was in this situation a few summers back, when I received a collection of jewelry from my grandmother's estate. There are some pieces I love, and wear as is. Many others I wanted but didn't know what to do with. They have been in a cedar chest through two years and a move- lately I've been really thinking through what to do with them... I want to create something that I will use regularly, and that will really showcase the pieces.  We (Christine and I) came up with some fun ideas that we're sharing with you! 

Some pieces are an easy DIY project, you can alter them yourself in a non-permanent way. I received a set of blue ceramic beads, to which I added a vintage enamel brooch - it made the perfect July 4th accessory.

Christine has a collection of vintage milk glass and metal necklaces that she has knotted off and wears for a modern, casual look.  Rather than buying "new" accessories, check out some local thrift and antique shops, or search around on e-bay, etsy, and poshmark for fun vintage finds. You never know what's out there just waiting to be found!

Vintage Jewelry - Out2LunchDesigns

Some pieces, on the other hand, require more work to make it into your wardrobe. For this you need professional assistance- which we have just added to our repertoire! We'd like to introduce the Out 2 Lunch custom line! (Not sure why it took so long to come up with this - probably because it's a little scary to work with other people's heirlooms, and we want to make sure we get it right). Our clients can be as involved, or not, in the design process as they choose to be. Some people just know that they want to use certain pieces- maybe to create a set of gifts for all the children and grandchildren, or maybe to enhance a special day with a sentimental or special heirloom piece.

Fabric Swatches - Out2LunchDesigns

Once we receive the jewelry we sort through our fabrics and come up with fabulous combinations that suit the pieces. Other folks have in mind a color scheme or a certain style they want to capture- in that case, we will work (in person and or via email) to find the perfect fabric to meet their vision. Once we have the design elements in place, we create one of our high quality, handmade clutches - seamlessly incorporating their family pieces. When we are done, everyone has a memory that they can incorporate into their life! 

This can also be a popular wedding option. For a few years, the "brooch bouquets" we're popular. Though beautiful, they were often very heavy and not useful for anything but decor afterwards. We are now offering the chance to create a wedding keepsake you will use for years!

Incorporate family jewelry as the "something old" on a clutch for the bride, create a set for the bride and her mother, or create a bridesmaids set - using your jewelry or ours. Our design style and attention to detail will help you to create a keepsake that will be treasured for years.

Check out our website www.out2lunchdesigns.com/home/custom-orders for more details, we'd love to help plan something special for you!  Plus, show us your pics of vintage jewelry used along with today's styles! (tag us on Instagram!)

Happy Creating and Styling!
Stacy and Christine

Hosting a Brunch?

Finally, Spring is truly here! I think.  Given the ups and downs of weather this year, I hope.  Along with spring, come Easter brunches, Sunday brunches, an excuse to enjoy friends and family brunches...you get the idea.  So for April, Stacy and I decided to put together some of our favorite southern foods in brunch form!  Between the two of us, we have lived from South Carolina to Maryland, and every state in-between, including cities such as Charleston and Baltimore.  As a result, we both have a strong love of seafood mixed with southern classics.

The concept of a spring or summer brunch or luncheon, a relaxed gathering of friends or family, is what founded the name and tone of our small business Out 2 Lunch.  So naturally, we love to host brunches and luncheons!  What are some of our favorite brunch bites?

Deviled Eggs

Mini Shrimp & Grits Bowls

Country Ham Biscuits

Fruit Cones

Beignets

Deviled Eggs: A classic at southern brunches throughout the south.  These bites of creamy, tangy, yumminess come with so many variations, recipes and opinions we wouldn't dare suggest just one!  Recipes abound, so pick your favorite.  At present, I tend to go with a recipe substituting greek yogurt for the mayo to lighten it up a bit, and therefore allowing me to eat more of these!  Helpful Hint:  Definitely use a pastry bag, and cake decorating tip to pipe the yolk mixture into the egg halves.  It looks pretty and is much faster to put together!  If you don't have a pastry bag, cut the bottom corner off a ziplock bag and pipe the mixture in that way.  History: Did you know deviled eggs trace their roots all the way back to Ancient Rome?  By the 13th century, seasoned/spiced eggs appeared commonly in Andalusia (modern day, Spain).  And by the 15th century, stuffed eggs were common across Europe.  It wasn't until the 19th century that the eggs reached the United States, gaining their greatest popularity in post WWII America.

Mini Shrimp & Grits Bowls: What could be a better combo than spicy seafood and creamy or cheesy grits?!  Comfort food at it's best!  As with the deviled eggs, regional recipes, opinions, and variations abound.  In this case, going for a brunch theme, and the idea of smaller, more mobile portions, we put our shrimp & grits in these cute little milk glass cups.  Originally designed as sherbet or champagne cups, they are the perfect size for small portions, (look around at estate sales and antique shops for these fun little gems).  History:  Grits, or the grinding of corn originated in the south with the Native American Muskogee tribes, who passed on their techniques and information to the early settlers.  While writings from the Gullah Geechee, (low country coastal descendants of slaves from West Africa), indicate early pairings of the locally available seafood (shrimp, fish) with the grits.

 
Country Ham Biscuits: Alright ya'll, this is as simple as it comes!  If you're a baker, by all means, use those old family biscuit recipes.  But if not, you can still acquire perfectly acceptable biscuits other ways, and then all you have to do is slice them and add that fabulously salty country ham. Done!

 


Fruit Cones: Fruit! Because something has to break up all that creamy, spicy, salty yumminess we've been gorging (ahem, delicately consuming) so far.  Sweet, tangy, and light, we love the concept of waffle cones for portable fruit cups!  So much fun, and you can eat the bowl! Win-win!  Use any variety of fresh fruit pieces you like.

Beignets: Sugary, sweet and fried!  These tasty bites of fried dough covered with powdered sugar have long been associated with breakfast in French New Orleans. There are, again, countless recipes, many calling for a standard 2"x 2" cut of raw pastry.  Stacy chose a brunch recipe that recommended a 1" x 1" cut, and this was the perfect size for a side dish or dessert! Helpful Hint: Having made these several times with different recipes, regardless of your recipe, you need to carefully follow the section about prepping the yeast and leave the dough to rise until it triples in size - possibly overnight! Beignets are perfect for a family brunch. The kids LOVED shaking the bag of powdered sugar almost as much as they did eating the hot, sweet treats.  History:  Fried dough can be traced all the way back to Rome.  French cooks brought their recipes with them to the Acadia region of Canada.  When the British took control of Canada, enacting a forced migration of the Acadians, many were re-located to Louisiana.  There they became known as Cajuns, and now, of course, the restaurants within the French Quarter in New Orleans are well known for their beignets.

We'd love to hear if you incorporate any of these ideas into your own events, or any other fun variations you have as well!  Plus, if you're looking for a lovely and tasty drink to serve, check out our April classic cocktail post for the Kir Royale - Brunch Perfect!

Happy Hosting and Cheers!

-Christine & Stacy

Sources for Further History Information:

History of Deviled Eggs

History of Shrimp and Grits 

History of Beignets 

Fresh New Year, Fresh New Color

We have had an abnormally COLD and snowy week here in the south.  After the first couple of days of playing in the snow and drinking cocoa, I tackled taking down our Christmas decorations.  After having the house so full of color and excitement for a month, it seemed so dreary to go back to our standard décor, so I decided to leave out some of the greenery that didn't seem specifically Christmas.  Shades of green just seem to brighten up both the space and my mood.

The 2017 Pantone Color of the year "greenery" will likewise be a bright spot in wardrobes and home décor throughout the year. It is a bright green, with some yellow undertones, that will mix well with a variety of palettes through the seasons. As a strong nature color, this green can function as a virtual neutral - complimenting a range of colors.   During the winter season, greenery will provide a great contrast to winter whites and greys - I really enjoy seeing those stark contrasts at this time of year, but in nature and fashion.  As we move into spring it will be in harmony with the blue and terra cotta shades that are featured in the Spring 2017 Pantone palette, bringing a breath of fresh spring air into homes and fashion. Further into the summer, I could see it mixed with sand tones and sea blues, giving a very spa like atmosphere.  Coming full circle to next fall, greenery will blend nicely into the more subdued fall shades. This is truly a color for all seasons.

Depending on your personal style, and your feelings about bright greens, you can treat the color of the year in a variety of ways.  If you are looking for a big statement, or this is the perfect color for you, go ahead and grab some large statement pieces in greenery - things that you can mix and match throughout the year as the seasonal palette changes.  If you are less of a "green person" look for some accent pieces - jewelry, or small vases, even some plants, for example - that you can add to your fashion or home decor look throughout the year.  Either way you go with it, this is such a versatile color that it can work for everyone! Share with us in the comments your favorite uses of greenery in your wardrobe or home décor!  

-Stacy

Out 2 Lunch Thanksgiving - A Tale of Two Tables

Thanksgiving is coming, and we here at Out 2 Lunch are prepping our tables for dinners and gatherings.  So, what are we decorating with?


Common Themes: Pumpkins, Berries, Acorns, other Natural Elements (leaves, seed pods).  But how we each use those elements?  And what tones/colors they are?....

milk glass, mercury glass, vintage glam table

Christine:  My table mixes my love of vintage elements with my love of glam.  One of my favorite decorating looks mixes white vintage milk glass with mercury glass for lots of sparkle and shine.  With all that shiny metallic, what better to soften the look and add more glam texture than this fabulous table runner edged in white feathers!  I just recently came across this shopping, and absolutely could not resist it!  Keep watch, this one will show up in various places throughout the holidays.  

My center bowl I filled with "natural" pieces, with a bit of a twist.  I have two small handmade fabric pumpkins, as well as a handful of handmade matching acorns.  The shiny and matte silver fabrics tie in with all the mercury glass.  Under the pumpkins and acorns are my gold magnolia seed pods.  These are a favorite decorating item for me, always located somewhere about my house.  Growing up in the south, I had a couple of huge, old magnolia trees in my yard as a child.  These were my climbing trees.  I could frequently be found 20+ feet up in the air, lounging on branches, reading or day dreaming.  Needless to say, magnolia's have always held a special place in my heart. 

hand made pumpkins, magnolia seed pods - c/o Out 2 Lunch

A couple years ago on a hike, I happened to find a number of fallen magnolia seed pods in good condition.  I brought them home, dried them and then spray painted them antique gold.  I absolutely love the shape and intriguing look of the pods, and rotate them around regularly between bowls and centerpieces.  The antique gold gives them a lovely shine and really brings out the spiky texture in them.  So my table incorporates a lot of sparkle and shine, glam textures, and vintage and handmade items which are special to me, allowing me to share those pieces with the special people in my life.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Stacy:  To me, fall, and Thanksgiving in particular, has a very warm and organic vibe. It is about the changing of the seasons, the colors of the leaves and the nip of cold in the air. I combat the chill (with which I have a love/hate relationship) by creating a tablescape filled with rich, warm colors.  I picked up these cornucopia years ago, when I was newly married, and they have been featured in various locations of our fall décor over time. This year, as we adjust to our move, they needed a new home. I chose to make them the focal point, and build my centerpiece around them. They are filled with fall fruits and vegetables, and provide a great opportunity to discuss early American life with my children (who are studying the complicated relationship between the Jamestown Settlers and the Powhatan Indians in Virginia Studies). 

Did you notice some of those small fabric pumpkins we made this fall managed to transition into both of our centerpiece designs? My pumpkins were a beach color scheme, but this one just happened to work - the fabric had a rustic organic feel, that was the perfect compliment to my design!  Completely unplanned, but talk about a versatile little decor piece!  Follow THIS TUTORIAL to make your own.  

Wishing a Wonderful, Joyful Thanksgiving for all! 

Cheers,
Christine & Stacy