A Burnless Flame

Candles add an extremely elegant touch to your evening event. In low light, the gentle flicker of candles sets the stage for a blissful evening. But, unfortunately, due to safety concerns, many event facilities do not allow candles to be used on site. So what are you to do if you had your heart set on a hundred flickering lights?

Meet Ashley Danae Designs. Ashley Danae Designs creates flameless candles that are made of wax and have a deliciously light vanilla scent. The candle’s "flame" flickers like a real candle, but instead of burning down to the wick, you need only a fresh pair of batteries to recharge their light. Unless you walk right up to the candle and pick it up, you have no idea the candle is not real and the best part is you'll never have to replace it.

Ashley Danae's candles also come in a wide variety of colors, patterns and styles. Just check out some of the samples below.

Brand Yourself

As advertisers, we are always attracted to really incredible branding and pieces. We found some recent incredible and futuristic marketing pieces from a company called Blutsbruder. Blutsbruder Design is an acclaimed design studio with a roster of international clients. Specializing in art and advertising print productions with a focus on visual effects, Blutsbruder Design provides both the creative direction and the final implementation of the image. You'll often see them create incredible 3D artwork using digital retouching and photo enhancing. Check out some of our favorites from their portfolio. We love the way they think outside the box to create truly eye-catching branding pieces. Bravo!

Nature Lights The Way

We'd like to introduce you to some everyday home decor items with a twist. Below we'll post some images of these items. See if you can guess what they are made of. Find the answers below the image.

Item #1: The Placemat

You may not believe it, but this intricately woven placemat is made of recycled candy wrappers. That's right, if you look closely you'll see the familiar logos of the tasty treats you've been eating for years. This placemat is fun, playful, totally recycled, and calorie-free, to boot! Pick yours up for $26 at VivaTerra.com.

Item#2: Decorative Bowls


You'll never guess what these handcrafted decorative bowls are formed from. Inventive natural sculptor Margaret Dorfman brilliantly transforms edibles into luminescent vessels. Building her bowls slice by slice from fresh produce, Dorfman presses each one into durable parchment, which she hand-shapes to resemble large, bright undulating flowers with vivid repeating patterns. Invisibly coated to maintain their vibrant translucent colors, the bowls comfortably hold a votive candle in a cup. The bowls above are made from Zucchini, Papaya and Beets. Retails for $42 and available at VivaTerra.com

Item #3: Lamps


This is one of our favorite works of “nature."

Founded in 1995 by Frank Lefebvre, Bleu Nature is a craft-based business located near Lille, in Northern France. Their principal material is driftwood, but they also use pebbles, lacquered wood, lacquered metal, leather, skins and petrified wood to create incredible home decor items. These pieces may be made in France, but they fit perfectly into the Northwest style.

Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure NEWS FOR YOU

From Deloitte & Touche comes the latest trends for 2008 for tourism, hospitality and leisure industries. In a report formed by Deloitte & Touche based on an online travel survey, greater emphasis on globalization, the changing customer, safety, privacy and security, technology's new role, and environmental and social responsibility is being integrated into the daily practices of the industry's businesses. This comes as the result of more vocal and conscientious consumers demanding change and more eco-friendly and convenient experiences during travel.

Click below to download and read the full report from Deloitte & Touche.

Share your thoughts with us.

Industry_Trends08.pdf

A Whole New Flavor

This Cinco de Mayo, trade in your margaritas for a delicious new soda made in Seattle. You may have seen this new soda company popping up in places you've visited as of late. We had the pleasure of tasting samples offered at a local Nordstrom, and were pleasantly surprised at just how delicious and refreshing these flavored sodas were. We think they would make an excellent addition to your spring event. The sodas come from DRY Soda Co. a Seattle based bottling company. According to DRY Soda Co., they "offer today’s consumer a modern alternative in refreshment — a line of all-natural, lightly sweet sodas, flavored with fruit or herb extracts, and sweetened with a small amount of pure cane sugar."

And you won't believe the flavors they come in: kumquat, lavender, lemongrass and rhubarb. Our favorite is the lavendar, but they are all delicious with just the right amount of flavor and sweetness. Order some for your next event. They are great alone or as part of a mixer.

Visit their tasting room and see for yourself. The Company Store and Tasting Room is located in DRY Soda’s headquarters at 410 1st Ave South in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. Much like a winery tasting room, the DRY Tasting Room offers samples of DRY’s four cuisine-inspired flavors and the opportunity for customers to purchase in single 12-ounce bottles, four-pack carriers, 12-pack mixed and single flavor shipping boxes, as well as DRY Goods such as t-shirts, onesies and gift baskets.

It's Coming! Start Planning for Cinco de Mayo

Everyone loves a good Cinco de Mayo party. Cinco de Mayo is all about color, and the brighter and more bold, the better. We've gone on the hunt to find the perfect solutions to your Cinco de Mayo event decor. Check out our super finds.

Accent your Cinco de Mayo table decor with colorful lanterns and candles. The below samples are great because they are battery operated so you don't have to worry about finding an outlet. These colorful and affordable lanterns can go just about anywhere.


Top left: Set of 3 Battery Operated Lanterns from Cost Plus World Market, $14.99
Top right: Set of 4 Battery Operated Lanterns in green, orange, red and blue from Cost Plus World Market, $14.99
Bottom left: Set of 4 Battery Operated Lanterns in red from Cost Plus World Market, $14.99
Bottom right: Red Lantern Cutout Candles from Cost Plus World Market, $9.99-$12.99

Every Cinco de Mayo party must have authentic and delicious regional foods and beverages. Be sure to set your table with colorful dining, serving and bar pieces to create the ambiance of the festive event.

Top left & right: Terra Cotta Ramekin and Tapas Plates available in turquoise and lime from Cost Plus World Market, $4.99-$5.99
Bottom left: Multi colored appetizer forks and canape knives from Pier 1 Imports, $14.98
Bottom right: Della Ceramiche Dinnerware from Pier 1 Imports, $9-35


Top left: Set of margarita glassware from Cost Plus World Market, $19.95
Top right: Colorful Coasters set of four from Cost Plus World Market, $27.96
Bottom left: Blue Rocco Barware from Cost Plus World Market, $15-$30
Bottom right: Cabo Aqua Glassware from Cost Plus World Market, $15-$30


Top left: Rattan and Crackle Ceramic Serveware from Cost Plus World Market, $12.99
Top right: Marrakesh Appetizer Plate or Chip and Dip from Cost Plus World Market, $19
Bottom left: Marrakesh Dip Bowl or Tray from Cost Plus World Market, $7.99-$11.99
Bottom right: Porto Serving Bowl or Platter from Cost Plus World Market, $19.99

Choose colorful textiles in tablecloths, runners, napkins and placemats and don't worry about matching. Just pick bold colors and the richness of the patterns and tones will coordinate perfectly with each other.


Top left: Java Ribbon Runner, Placemats or Napkins Sets of 4 from Cost Plus World Market, $11.96-$24.99
Top right: Aqua/Java Medallion Runner, Placemats or Napkins Set of 4 from Cost Plus World Market, $11.96-$19.99
Bottom left: Romano Checker Runner or Set of 4 Placemats from Cost Plus World Market, $11.96-$14.99
Bottom right: Striped Rib Placemat Sets of 6 from Cost Plus World Market, $17.94

Finalize your table design with a colorful umbrella. Even if you have to hold your party indoors, the brightly colored umbrella will be enough to make your guests fantasize about the warm summer sun.


Left: Outdoor Umbrella with Bag from Cost Plus World Market, $39.99
Right: Hand-Painted Umbrella - Blue & Turquoise from Pier 1 Imports, $50

Dress Up Your Work Space

Since all of us workaholics spend more hours at the office than we do in our own homes, its time we start dressing up our space and personalizing our work areas so we feel a little more "at home." After all, we're all pretty tired of looking at white walls, right? But since your space is not technically your own, and your boss may not like it if you bring out a can of paint and start plastering it on the wall, we have some fun and bright ways to cheer up your work space without aggravating your boss. All of the below examples come from Anthropologie.

Start by replacing all the knobs or pulls on your desk. This is a simple way to dress up your desk without changing its surface. Just be sure to keep the original knobs if they ever need to be replaced.


Next, replace drab and plain swithplates with much more funky ones. You can either purchase pre-made switchplates like the ones below or get creative by making your own out of a favorite poster, photographs, wrapping paper, magazine art or other eye catching piece.


Once you've made those small touches, bring in a funky rug at your office entrance or under your chair. A brightly colored and patterned rug can create just as much drama and cheer as a painted wall. Don't be afraid to bring in a unique shape too.


Lastly, get rid of that plain lamp you've been using all these years and bring in one with much more flair. Don't be afraid to bring in a lamp with a unique color template or funky design. It will get people talking and lighten the air to make others feel comfortable enough to customize their own space.

These Cake Toppers Take The Cake

Cake toppers are not just for weddings anymore. We think you'll love this charming cake toppers by Toppers With Glitz. Toppers With Glitz offers traditional monogrammed cake toppers but also has the ability to customize designs according to your event theme. Even your company logo can be turned into a charming and sparkle-studded cake topper.

Each cake topper comes with a consultation with a designer, removable cake pegs, choice of font, up to 4-crystal colors, partial or full crystal coverage and 1/8" platinum colored aluminum letters. Customized designs are also available so if you have something unique in mind for a themed wedding just ask the designers.

Ordering is simple with their online form and various shipping options are also available according to your timeline.

Prices range from $50 for a cupcake topper to $225 for a 3-piece set. Additional costs for upgrades apply.

Real Event: ISES/ABC Tabletop Design Meeting

The best of the best in the Northwest event industry gathered on March 19 at the Hotel 1000, for a showcase of regional talent in tabletop designs presented by ISES-Seattle and the Washington Branch of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). The latest trends in themes, use of colors and design styles in original tablescapes were on display to fit any special occasion. In addition to being able to view each tabletop in detail, guests had the opportunity to dine at one of the tables during the evening. The designers each shared information about their designs and their vendors who participated in supplying various elements for the tablescapes.



The above photos from the event come courtesy of Camera Renter. Wondering about the services available through Camera Renter? Before your next special event, they deliver a set of easy-to-use digital cameras. You give the cameras to your guests because who better to capture all of the memories from your event then the people who will make those memories? After your event, you, your family, and your friends view, download, print, and share all of the once-in-a-lifetime memories—for free—from the Personalized Memory Sharing Website they create for you. Pretty great idea, no?

Interested in more information about the designers who participated and wondering how you can hire them for your next event? Contact ISES president, Geri Windecker of Lucky Lady directly.

Mark your calendar for the next ISES meeting: April 16 - featuring special guest, Maria Marsala from Elevating Your Business.

Tea Time

Yes, yes coffee is a wonderful luxury we Seattleites know how to enjoy. But did you know that tea is actually the most consumed beverage in the world, second only to water? Whether it is black, green or red tea, they all contain polyphenols which give tea its antioxidant properties. Plus, besides the health benefits, tea is simply delicious. Have you visited a teahouse recently and seen the variety of flavors and combinations? If you haven't, here are some local teahouses you just have to visit.


Black Pearl Teahouse
3000 184th St SW Suite 946
Lynnwood, WA 98037
Phone: (425) 673-7264 Fax: (425) 673-7269

Abbie's Lighthouse & Tea By The Sea
102 Fifth Ave. S.
Edmonds, WA 98020
Phone: (425) 771-2601

Miro Tea
5405 Ballard Ave. N.W.
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: (206) 782-6832

Floating Leaves Teahouse
2213 N.W. Market St., Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: (206) 529-4268

The Perennial Tea Room
1910 Post Alley
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 448-4054

B&E's Hot Pick! Queen Mary Tea Room & Restaurant
2912 N.E. 55th St.
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: (206) 527-2770
B&E Tip: On a side note, order Queen Mary's Hot Chocolate Pudding. If you are a chocolate lover, you'll be in heaven.

Teacup
2207 Queen Anne Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 283-5931

Teavana
234 Bellevue Square
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: (425) 451-1880

Pictured: Queen Mary Tea Room & Restaurant

Do You Feel Lucky, Well Do You?

The nationwide day of luck is fast approaching and we have some "charming" ideas and gifts for all you lucky Irish celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

Could anything be more lucky than a ladybug? We don't think so. And how adorable are these little ladybug staplers available at Patina. The ladybug stapler is 1.5" x 2.5" and retails for $7.95. It may be small, but it gets the work done.


Grow a good luck garden in a bag! Gardens-in-a-Bag offer a living reminder of your good wishes that will last for a very long time. The best part is that they are so easy to grow -- right in the leak-proof bag! Simply mix the enclosed seeds and soil, add water and watch it grow. That's it! They do great sitting on a windowsill or under a desk lamp. Give them and grow them any time of year! The Good Luck Garden-In-A-Bag retails for $8.00.

Make a Wish with this charming Wish Bone Necklace available at Dogeared. Simply make a wish when you put on the necklace, and when the necklace wears off, your wish is ready to come true! Retails for $32.00.




Burn a little good luck with a clover scented candle from Paddy Wax. Candle comes in a glass holder with the signature Journey of the Bee logo on the side. The fragrant candle will burn for 80 hours. Retails for $36.00 for a 14 oz size.

Decor Item of the Month: March

We love to theme event designs around holidays, but at the same time, it's important never to go overboard with cliche holiday items. That's why we love this simple floral centerpiece for Easter. Note the subtle Easter eggs hanging simply from the branches, accentuating, not overpowering, its modern design.