Unexpected Objects

Caroline Graham Swann

Using an unexpected object for serving or display is an art and can be so charming.    Punch bowls are so beautiful and can be used for so many other things than punch.  A punch bowl filled with ice and bottles of white wine or Champagne, snuggled down in the ice, makes a beautiful display.  Fill the bottom of the bowl with a layer of ice, arrange the bottles and fill the rest of the punch bowl with ice up the three inches below the neck of the bottles.  Arrange more bottles of the beverage in the large tray in which the bowl sets, and place them flat on the tray.  This is not only interesting and pretty, but is a quick way to replace the empty bottles with full ones.  Beer, especially different types of beer, soft drinks or any bottled beverage, such as juice or water, looks so charming served with ice in a beautiful punch bowl.  Juice served in this manner is just perfect for a brunch.

Roses are so exquisite arranged in a punch bowl.  Red roses for a unique Christmas decoration, yellow or the umber colored roses for Thanksgiving, mixed with wheat, is stunning.  Roses of the chosen color for weddings are breath taking arranged in a cut glass punch bowl.

A cake plate captures the attention with small vases of flowers for a centerpiece, combined with ribbons hanging down, tied with bows at the end, is sweet and romantic for a shower or wedding.  Small crystal bowls, on a cake plate, is also a great way to serve jams and jellies for a brunch, or special sauces or dips for any occasion.  Hollowed out green and red peppers look especially festive filled with sauces or dips and served on a cake plate.

Antique spoon holders are beautiful setting on a vanity, holding make up brushes or other cosmetics.  Beautiful glasses of any type are so feminine and charming when used in the bath room as containers for soaps or bathe salts. Pretty vases are so useful for cotton balls. A. huge container for flowers can be used for hand towels.  Sea shells make awesome dishes for soap, or if big enough, a great way to hold toilet paper. I use sea shells brought back from beaches, around the world, for soap and toilet paper holders.

Darlings, use your imagination!!