Product Description

From the authors of Wedding Showers and Baby Showers, this stylish book of ideas takes a truly modern approach to planning and hosting celebrations in the home. Illustrated throughout with gorgeous full-colour photography and filled with practical planning advice, simple recipes, quick and easy decorating ideas, and sidebars offering "shortcuts" and "splurges," Spontaneous Celebrations is an indispensable guide for the busy host. In contrast to the spare arrangements of high-fashion floral designers, Flowers for the Table is a lavishly illustrated guide to creating lush table arrangements. Organized by season, author Ariella Chezar shows how to use readily available materials to fashion eclectic centerpieces out of branches, fruits, flowers, and flea market treasures. Full-colour photographs, an introduction to each season and the flowers and greenery available, a glossary for each section, and countless tips make this the ultimate guide to making gorgeous table arrangements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #499182 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 120 pages

From Amazon.com
These are not your mother's flower arrangements. Ariella Chezar throws out old rules about greenery and focus points and presents us with a wealth of new gifts to decorate our homes. Her ideas incorporate a few classics like roses and peonies, but also make use of grapes, persimmons, olive branches, and Asian eggplants; what they all have in common is a lush beauty and sense of ripeness that add a feeling of real bounty to the rooms they adorn.

After a short introduction covering general techniques and container recommendations, Flowers for the Table takes you through the seasons. Spring is surprisingly sophisticated, rather than more traditionally pastel, featuring unusual checkered lilies and vibrant ranunculus. Summer brings a stunning "tomato feast," with tomatoes of all sorts twining their vines with tiny red roses. Fall lights up with golden calla lilies and orange peppers, while winter charms with succulents and kumquats. Each section comes to a close with a short glossary of the materials used, helpful if you're unfamiliar with such items as Chinese lanterns or euphorbia.

Containing a mellow mix of stunning photography and straightforward suggestion, Flowers for the Table will give you both inspiration and specific direction whether you're planning a wedding or just looking to dazzle your dinner guests. --Jill Lightner

About the Author
Ariella Chezar is a Bay Area-based floral designer. She has worked as a stylist for weddings, restaurants, and on numerous books, including Tra Vigne Cookbook: Seasons in the California Wine Country (0-8118-1986-8).

Shaun Sullivan’s photographs have appeared in magazines such as House Beautiful and several books, including Garden House (0-8118-1910-8) and Garden Home: City (0-8118-3247-3). He lives in the Bay Area.

Customer Reviews

Stunning!
Such a beautiful book--I bought this book less for practical instruction and more for inspiration, and I was not disappointed. The arrangements are lush, elegant, classic with a twist. This is truly floral art. There are practical suggestions, and information about each of the flowers used is listed at the end of each section.

I'm not sure how useful this book is for the novice (such as myself) but it offers beauty and inspiration, regardless of skill level.