"TableWare" news and stories

Last week, in preparation for my first houseguest since moving back home to Atlanta, I took myself on a mini shopping spree at a local housewares boutique called Heliotrope. First thing, I found what I came for. Diffuser of fragrance reminiscent of Tuscan herbs? Check. White ceramic pitcher to use as vase in guest bathroom? Check. Set of silicone coasters? Check. Thrilled to find what I wanted, I nevertheless couldn't yet leave the adorable and treasure-rich shop. So I browsed.

And browsed. And coveted. The apple of my eye? All things Charley Harper. A Modernist and self-proclaimed "minimal realist," Harper is a favorite of design aficionados, beloved especially for his streamlined wildlife prints. At Heliotrope, his images appear not only on puzzles and calendars, but also on all manner of tableware: cocktail napkins, plates, dishtowels, and some particularly precious salt and pepper shakers.

My favorite motif in the collection is the red cardinal, with its fans of wings against a white background, pictured here on the appetizer plates. The colors would work for Christmas table settings, but the look would work any other time of year, too.

For those of us who live the luxe life, we can afford to buy separate sets of dishes for different occasions, not to mention afford the space to store them all. Howeve, most of us are resigned to one set of dishes that has to work for everything from every day dine and dash to an occasional fancy fall feast. If we're lucky, maybe we have two sets.

However, with Nora Fleming's collection of dishware, you can have dishes that will match every occasion, whether it's a Spring brunch or a Holiday dinner. The dishes are all a basic white with a simple dotted pattern around the rim. The beauty, however, comes with "Minis," which are tiny colorful, ceramic adornments that attach to each plate. These accessories are what take a special Valetine's Dinner with an "XOXO" imprinted heart to a fun birthday fete with wrapped gifts. The plates and bowl range in price from $12.50 to $60 each, and the Minis are $12.50 per piece.

As the holidays approach, we'll certainly be doing our fair share of entertaining, whether it's a casual get together of friends on a Saturday afternoon watching football, a simple cocktail party, or a full-blown sit down dinner. In any case, you're going to need the right stuff to set your table (and I don't mean a tablescape) -- linens, plates, cups, and flatware.

We'll cover your indoor tailgating another day, but if you are throwing a luxurious sit-down dinner party, Neiman Marcus has some fabulous ideas for setting your table. They've gotten together with four top designers who have picked things to set tables in their particular style. There's master of knits and resort-wear St. John, Valentino, Jay Strongwater, and my personal favorite, Nanette Lepore, who sets the table with rich crumpled linens and Baroque-inspired dinnerware.

Is your maid on vacation this week? Well, don't worry about dirty dishes, especially if they're these "Dirty Dishes," a set of tableware that are just too cute not to mention.

Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley designed the Dirty Dishes line exclusively for New York dish boutique, Fishs Eddy. The dinnerware features whimsical lingerie-clad ladies lounging around the edges of white dinner plates, bowls, saucers, and cups. But even with the name Cynthia Rowley attached to them, the dishes are reasonbly priced, with dinner plates and bowls only $22 each.

Durthy Dishes are available online from Cynthia Rowley or Fishs Eddy.

Hey, we don't doubt that you are the consummate host or hostess at your party - greeting guests at the door with a cocktail, cooking, serving, clearing plates, chatting, and all done with utter grace. However, there might be times when you want to kick back for one second (just one, mind you), and let someone else do the work. Or some thing, that is.

These Rolling Serving Dishes from Fines' Makers (out of Israel) might help for that one second you have to retreat to the powder room. Sure, they don't serve themselves, but they sure will keep your guests entertained as they "take on and pass ti on." Besides, they're so adorably sleek and chic.