More Joys of Gingerbread: Mini Gingerbread Houses!

Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity decorator blog festival celebration seasons nature blog Winter Christmas Yule yuletide Winter Solstice December yule mini gingerbread houses gingerbread house handcrafted gumdrops peppermint candy sprinkles toppings royal icing homemade template

  “The Sugarplum Fairy herself could have made no grander gesture.”~Shana Alexander …More for the love of gingerbread! A month or so ago I had a vision regarding my holiday table… tiny, decorated, edible gingerbread houses elevated on Victorian cupcake pedestals adorning each place setting. This was a challenging endeavor, but I was so pleased with [...]

Yule Place Cards

Group of Yule Place Cards Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity decorator blog festival celebration seasons nature blog Winter Christmas Yule yuletide Winter Solstice December personalized place cards placards placecards holly cones ivy berries gold names handcrafted

Yule place cards offer a lovely opportunity to accent your table as well as a functional way to arrange your guest seating. Below are the instructions for mine. Feel free to experiment and add your own embellishments!

Summer Tablescape Bohemian Style!!

Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity vintage roses blog festival celebration seasons nature blog summer midsummer summer solstice tablescape table decor gypsy Bohemian colors fairies fairy vibrant salt water taffy playful colorful

 ”You have your brush, you have your colors, you paint paradise, then in you go.” ~ Nikos Kazantzakis Summer is sunshine!! Therefore creating a celebratory seasonal tablescape for this joyous time of year becomes about interpreting your concept of the beauty of the sun!!

Summer Main Dining Table Décor

Lisa Anne Novelline Holiday and Hearth Holiday & Hearth Summer Solstice Litha table decor place setting craft blog decorating blog

Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.  ~Henry James The warm and whimsical energy of summer almost seems to be celebrating with or without our help, so why not join in!! The possibilities for creating a fanciful and fun table setting for [...]

Magical Fairy Side Table!

Fairy Side Table Overview marble Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity vintage roses blog festival celebration seasons nature blog spring equinox easter ostara oestre beltane may day tablescape table decor beads milk glass chic shabby cottage french victorian romantic pearls china decorated eggs fairies milk jar recycled Cicely Mary Barker Wild Thyme Fairy Sycamore Fairy Honeysuckle Fairy cameo summer solstice fair

“Faeries, come take me out of this dull world, For I would ride with you upon the wind, Run on the top of the dishevelled tide, And dance upon the mountains like a flame.” ~William Butler Yeats  What could be more fun or better add a touch of magic to any season’s decor than a [...]

Seasonally Inspired 5 Course Yule Menu!

Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity decorator blog festival celebration seasons nature blog Winter Christmas Yule yuletide Winter Solstice December yule menu 5 course wine pairing gluten-free soup bread salad main dessert winter solstice soup gluten-free ricotta pound cake ambrosia salad roast prime rib gluten-free yule log pinot noir soava veneto chardonnay prosecco petite sirah

 Winter Solstice is the day with the least amount of sunlight. It is a day we huddle close to friends and family and rely on hearth, home, laughter, and good company to provide light and cheer. It is with these inspirations in mind that I have created a delicious celebratory menu with selections designed to [...]

Summer Blossoms: A Brief Photo Essay of the Season

Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity decorator blog festival celebration Summer Solstice Litha Midsummer summer seasons nature blog berries menu meal strawberry soup hosta blossoms summer

Happy Summer!! Enjoy every moment!!

Celebrating Summer! Sample Agenda

Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity decorator blog festival celebration Summer Solstice Litha Midsummer summer seasons nature blog berries menu meal full table set just before eating

Balancing a five-course meal and family bonding activities can be tricky. On the one hand, our family likes to relax and enjoy one another’s company. On the other hand, we frequently have activities planned and don’t want to miss out on them, nor do we want them to feel forced and/or unnatural.

Midsummer Festival Sample Menu

Holiday & Hearth Holiday and Hearth Lisa Novelline Lisa Anne Novelline author writer The Dance of Spring craft blog creative blog creativity decorator blog festival celebration Summer Solstice Litha Midsummer summer seasons nature blog berries menu meal strawberries blueberries watermelon fruit plate

Summer is an amazing time of year, and creating a seasonally appropriate feast to celebrate it is a lot of fun. Many herbs can be cultivated throughout this season, so as far as the menu goes, herbs are in. Summer is also the time of the most sunlight (peaking with summer solstice), and consequently, it [...]

Summer Party Crackers!

Lisa Anne Novelline Holiday and Hearth Holiday & Hearth craft blog decorating blog creative creativity summer party crackers seasonal celebrations

Holiday crackers are so fun and festive! In my family, they have become a highly anticipated tradition. I make these by hand with each season in mind. Here are my suggestions for a fabulous summer festival favor…