While we love to create lavish, detailed and stunning affairs, there is another side to perfect hospitality.   Sometimes, creating something extraordinary can be really simple.

Case in point:  Last winter, Sara and I spent hours on fabric row playing with all sorts of beautiful material and notions as we were styling some of our upcoming celebrations.  After all the creating was complete, we had some fabric left over.  We decided to  very easy napkins out of our extra fabric to show you how simple it is to make a table extraordinary.  All the placesettings and accessories are pieces that came straight out of our kitchen cabinets.  The flowers came from my yard.   But the looks are truly special.

Geek Chic (As Maggie likes to call it!)

This napkin was super-simple to make. Just a simple swiss dot, cotton fabric, cut into squares and sewn back-to-back.

An easy summer picnic

We just tied together some flowers cut from my yard and threw them in a wood salad bowl. The effect was lovely!

Again, creating the napkin couldn't have been easier!

Breakfast at the Piazza

We thought it would be fun to just bring some things from the kitchen and set them up at the market tables under yellow umbrellas at the Piazza.   Nothing unusual going on here — except the homemade napkins.   But it really looks really special! What a lovely way to start a Sunday morning, eh?

Here, we simply used a contrasting fabric for the reverse side.

As many of you know, we have an amazing studio on Liberties Walk in the uber-chic section of Philadelphia known as Northern Liberties.  People just love it here — and so do we!!

Often, people stopped by to ask if we rent any of our space out for parties.  As the photos below show you, the answer is a resounding yes!   We’ve gotten enough requests now that I thought it was time to send a message to the world that if anyone would like to rent our studio out, we would be more than happy to make that happen.

If you need more space for a larger party, we can combine our space with the teaching studio at Beautiful Blooms Boutique as a kind of bundle where you could have both spaces and the Walk in between for an amazing party on the Walk.   Take a look at all the photos below to see how cool each possibility is.   The space rental fee includes the use of our incredible screens, too, where you can play a video of your own or watch a cool season finale or the World Series! Depending upon what configuration of space you choose to rent, your party could go anywhere from intimate (25 people) to 125 people.   The rental fee begins at $500 for a five hour event.

Give us a buzz if you’d like to talk about renting our little oasis.   We’ve had some incredible parties here!

We seriously <heart> Jackie Bayne of Love Shack Photos and the really cool stuff she does when photographing couples.   Case in point:  Jackie and this really great couple, Houn and Jon, decided to get their engagement photos taken around our beloved Northern Liberties.   Then to end the incredible day they were having, landed here at the Eclatante studio for the final shots.   It was a blast — as you can see.   Feel free to take a look on Love Shack’s blog site to see all the photos – I just put the teasers up here.

Sometimes Dads don’t get the attention or credit they deserve — even though they are so worthy of their own holiday. New Dad, Dads who have it down pat, Grandfathers and “like a Dad to me” Dads deserve the best or a least a little something special to make them feel that way.

At Eclatante Boutique, we’ve got the best idea for all Dads.   It is something they would never think of —  something only a loving mother, wife, sister, or daughter could ever conjure up —  something that will make all those Dads shine all day (and well into the future!) — something that let them know that they are so special, handsome, celebrated and most of all, loved.

Its just a little something..but it makes a big impact…..let us introduce you to EmersonMade Tiny Poppers. Little splashes of color and style that can be pinned to a tie, a suit jacket or right on to a shirt. The Dads may not get it but I know they will love all the attention they will get by wearing one. So pick one up for you Pops and make his day.

Beautifully packaged (as only Eclatante would do!) and extraordinarily well-priced at $35 for a set of six.

You know where we are!   We have a few sets left.   Or, of course, you can call and we’ll get them out to you in time for his day!

Click here for directions

I’ve made you all wait FAR too long (sorry about that — it’s been a truly hectic couple of weeks!!) to enjoy Part 2 of the fabulous Red Dress Fashion Show that the American Heart Association put on on Eclatante’s and Beautiful Blooms’ our little piece of the planet as part of AHA’s 2010 Go Red for Women Campaign.

In Part 1, we introduced you to the event and the cast of amazing characters we had milling around here that day. Along with the gorgeous weather, more than 200 people were treated to a fantastic array of absolutely beautiful dresses designed and created by the extraordinarily talented women of the Philadelphia University’s fashion design program.   We were really blown away by their designs and their stories.

Thanks again to Heather Fowler for taking these great photos!

When we left off in Part 1, you saw the beautiful models lining up for the Fashion Show.   Bill Henley (of NBC10’s “the 10! Show”) was a great Master of Ceremonies.

From the very first dress, we were in love!

After the final walk, the judges deliberated on their choice for the runner up and the winner.

Heather took a great photo of all the models and the designers in the green room (a/k/a Heather's Studio) waiting for the judges' decisions

It was great anticipation, that the winners were announced

Third place went to this gorgeous dress:

Second place was awarded to this incredibly fun dress that I fell totally in love with:

And the winner is (drumroll, please)….

We had an absolutely wonderful time that night.   From the looks of it, so did everyone else.   I hope you enjoyed our first fashion show on our Walk (the first of many, I hope).

The Ladies of Eclatante and the Beautiful Blooms’ girls had WAY too much fun on this one.   I’m not sure we could really call it work!!!

L to R: Jeannie, Maggie, Sara, Kendall, Claire and Chrissy

L to R: Donna, Alicia, Lisa and Maggie

And be sure to check out The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign.  NOTHING is more important than a woman’s heart.

Eclatante and Beautiful Blooms were honored and excited to be asked by the American Heart Association to host their annual Go Red for Women Preview Party.

Heather Fowler agreed, not only to let her studio be turned into a dressing room, but to shoot this wonderful event.

The event showcased some of the most talented young women I have ever met.   Young fashion designers from Philadelphia University’s fashion design program competing at a drop-dead amazing fashion show on our Walk.   All the dresses were, of course, red.   But even more incredible, each designer was inspired by the story of a person close to them who had experienced heart disease in a very real way.   The stories were beautiful — just like the dresses that were exhibited that evening.

In attendance were about 200 women (well, mostly women) who have a heart for this incredible campaign.    As they arrived, they were treated to delicious treats from Max & Me Catering and served wonderful beverages.  And All Around Entertainment created the perfect musical atmosphere for the evening.

Of course, we added our own special touches everywhere!

Donna and I were thriled to introduce the participants

The emcees were Biil Henley and Lori Wilson, hosts of the daily NBC10 10! show.  The judges were Jenice Armstrong of the Philadelphia Daily News, Kristin Munro of Philadelphia Style Magazine and Tiffany Hill, B101 Radio.

While all that was going on, the models were getting ready on the next block in Heather Fowler’s studio.  Their hair and makeup was expertly accomplished by Phoenix Salon & Spa and Salon 201.

until it was time to line up for the fashion show

In Part 2, you’ll see the parade of these beautiful dresses and the winners of the 2010 Go Red For Women Red Dress Fashion Show.

We’re very happy to share this post on the ultimate wedding blog –  Style Me Pretty – of one of our very favorite weddings in 2009.   We invite you to explore this very very pretty wedding (Part 1 and Part 2) and our favorite Maid of Honor toasts of all time,  Beautiful Blooms did an outrageous job with the florals. Gorgeous.   Marie Labbancz was thir photographer.

Assuming your mother is extraordinary, we thought you would appreciate it if we brought a few amazing gifts that would suit your mom perfectly.

From Emersonmade, we are selling some of the most amazing gifts that will likely thrill your mom no end.  The hand-dyed and hand-stitched blooms and accessories are simply beautiful — like nothing she’s ever seen.  And everything comes so beautifully packaged.   You won’t want to wrap it!

Who wouldn't love these wonderful shoe flowers? They are amazing. We fell in love with them at first sight and have already placed our first reorder so we'll be sure to keep up with the demand for Mother's Day! And they're only $36 for the pair.

Next up, this wonderful little fabric clutch adorned with one absolutely beautiful dahlia.   LOVE!    For only $58 (and they won’t die in week!)

We absolute ADORE these tiny floral “poppers.”   We’ve thought of several ways your mom could use them.   As a super-cute lapel pin or even as a napkin adornment.   (They also make unbelievable tie pins — perfect for Father’s Day — hint, hint).

These wonderful fabric handmade flowers are $9 each or a beautifully boxed set of six for $56

Finally, we just fell totally in love with these linens.   The table runners are amazing, as are the napkins.

We have “E A T” linens and napkins in the Boutique now, but we can order whatever you want!

The table runner is $58 and the napkins are $42 for a set of six.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

This Sunday, our little piece of the planet is going to be host to one of the most exciting events in Philadelphia.  The region’s largest GLBT street festival is taking place  at Philadelphia’s chic new open-air plaza in Northern Liberties and down the wonderful Walk where we live!

Sure, there are parties.  And there are dances.  But there is culture and education as well.

The International Equality Forum is bringing it’s own amazing art of celebration to us and we are proud to be able to play a part.   Come down and enjoy the party!

Free round-trip shuttle available every 15 minutes from Knock, corner of 12th & Locust Streets.

Admission: $10 Adults, $5 Students

For more information visit, http://equalityforum.com/2010/event.cfm?id=107

The word is out all around the country that Sunday OUT! at the Piazza and Out for a Walk is the day and the event not to miss.  So I urge you to go to their website and pick the events that appeal most to you and by all means participate.

SundayOUT! at The Piazza

OUT for a Walk

Sunday, May 2, 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Piazza & Liberties Walk
North 2nd Street & Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA

Our love of spring continues with our favorite candles of all time.   People adore these candles – and we couldn’t agree more.  They smell absolutely, but subtly, delicious.   We have to reorder and restock these candles more often than almost anything else in the Boutique, just to keep up.   But we don’t mind.   We’re happy to share our discovery.

Voluspa was founded in 1999 by Troy and Traci Arntsen, both of whom have a great passion for the art of fragrance.

Heather Fowler took this great photos the of the Voluspa candles in the Boutique so we could share them with you.   Thank you so much, Heather!!

Soleil – 3 wick tin $18
Dahlia Orange Bloom – 3 wick tin $18
Panjore Lychee – 3 wick tin $18

Hawaiian maile vine – 4oz tin $8
Sake lemon flower – 4oz tin $8

Santiago Huckleberry – 4.5oz $8  and ceramic pedestal $16
French Cade & Lavender – 4.5oz $8  and ceramic pedestal $16

The rest of the photos were taken by our own Maggie Ruder — who just seems to have a wealth of hidden talents!

Laguna 2-Wick Tin $15

Lemon Lily Boxed Mini Ceramic Candle $12

Truffle White Cocoa Mini Tin $6.50

Pagoda Boxed 3-Wick Opulence Bowl $36

Theses candles are perfect housewarming or hostess gifts — even if they’re warming your own home.   Come visit us and pick up a few.   Don’t worry about us running out — we can get more!

Click here for directions

Sometimes people create things that I love and just have to share.   My latest obsession are these great letterpress neighborhood cards created by the girl wonders at Two Paper Dolls.   I LOVE THESE.   But I need them to do one of Northern Liberties, yes?

You can get these from Two Paper Dolls at the place in Wayne or Pressed55 right here in the Piazza.   Or from their cool Etsy shop.

Last weekend, Eclatante was honored to play a role in planning one of the sweetest proposals we have ever heard of.

The story goes like this:   We were contacted by Tamar, the sister of Tali, the unsuspecting bride-to-be to help pull off an incredibly romantic surprise proposal.   Yoni, the ever-so-handsome young man doing the proposing was far away, in Israel, where he had been for quite some time.   Yani, the beautiful bride-to-be, didn’t expect to see him until next month.

But Yoni had gone to great lengths to surprise the love of his life.   Unbeknownst to Tali, Yoni created a wonderful photo montage to be shown on the Piazza’s 30′ screen. sent it here, then boarded a plane to Philadelphia.

Yoni arrived from Israel just in time to build a wonderful snowman on the Piazza stage then make himself scarce for the big reveal.   Under a great pretext, Tamar brought her sister to the Piazza where Tali saw the montage and believed that her amazingly romantic boyfriend had arranged for the best Valentine’s Day gift ever – the display of that montage.    Here it is:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJFXvo8L6iA

Man!  Tali was stunned beyond words when her Yoni stepped before her and got down on one knee   Honestly, I don’t think there has ever been anyone so surprised in the history of proposals!   Of course, she said YES!

We arranged to have the wonderful Heather Fowler on board to shoot the scene as it unfolded.   It really doesn’t get any more romantic than this!

The Philadelphia Inquirer picked right up on this story, as did 6ABC.

I can’t wait to see this wedding happen!

Eclatante Boutique and some of the other very cool shops here on Liberties Walk have joined up to give you a Valentine’s Day shopping experience like none other. Every day from February 8th through Valentine’s Day (which is Sunday, February 14th), each of our friends is offering you something a little different.

This postcard and poster will give you the details about what we’re all doing!

For our part, Eclatante Boutique will be offering free, beautiful Valentine’s Day cards and wrapping paper with every $15 purchase made every day during the Romancing The Walk event.  Plus, we’ll be offering fun chocolate stuff and yummy bubbly all along the way.

And a really great part of this is that every participating shop will offering you the opportunity to enter a great raffle to benefit the American Heart Association’s GO RED FOR WOMEN CAMPAIGN.  (it is HEART month y, know!)

Your raffle ticket only costs $5 (which you can get that back when you shop at Eclatante Boutique or at any of our friend’s shops).   You will not only be contributing to the American Heart Association – a great organization that has done so much to educate women about taking care of themselves and protecting their hearts – you will have a chance to win a grand prize which includes some pretty incredible gifts from our friends’ shops AND a romantic night’s stay at the very very chic new boutique hotel,  the Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia. All for $5 which you can get back!   How amazing is that?

If you haven’t made it down to Liberties Walk yet, this is the perfect reason to come down.   Talk about falling in love!!!!

Even a nor’easter can’t quiet the spirits of a great party, when Eclatante and Beautiful Blooms put their hearts and minds to creating the first holiday party of the season.

Holday Party photo Collage by Mike Kehr Photography

Donna and I decided long ago to create a “fire & ice” themed holiday party — and use red & white as our colors.  And it totally worked.    Take a look at these amazing photos from the the cream of Philadelphia photographers who came with their cameras to help us celebrate — Marie Labbancz and Mike Kehr.   We love them both very much  – they are incredibly talented people who always make us look our very best.

Even though the weather forecasters were predicting heavy rains and 35 mph winds, our friends, families and colleagues were not deterred.  Over 200 people came to our little piece of the planet on Liberties Walk and celebrated the kickoff of the 2009 Holiday Season. And, as if on cue, just before the party started, the winds died down and the rain, for the most part, went away.

My favorite  comment came from a friend the next day:  “It rained at your party?  Wow, I didn’t notice!”

We were prepared, though — We had patio heaters and fireplaces and, at the last minute, installed large market umbrellas into the center of our round banquettes that we had placed outside.  And we had to put a couple of the bars and food stations inside that were originally going outside.   That’s it — by 6:00 pm, we were ready to great our guests.

See the little fleece blankets on the banquets.   They were so cozy — kept everyone warm.   After the party, we donated them to a homeless shelter.

Leila came up with the absolutely brilliant idea of having a “hot santa” as part of the photobooth and it tuned out great.

There’s Sandy — from Creative Juice Group — painting the shirt and suspenders on our Santa

Santa and the ladies from Eclatante (from L to R): Taylor, Kendall, Leila, Lorraine, Alyssa and Sarah

The food was to die for. Truly. Feast Your Eyes Catering totally brought their A Game with a hot, Brazilian spread in our office and a phenomenal cold raw bar, expertly displayed on a gorgeous ice creation in our Boutique.

Plus, a scruptious hot chocolate bar, red velvet cupcakes and WONDERFUL s’mores we toasted over patio fireplaces on the Walk.

Our guests ADORED the bars.

Especially the one with the “adult” milkshakes – they were laced with yummy liquors that warmed us from the inside out.

Since we have  six individual spaces (including Tu Belleza Studio) and we couldn’t have a sound system outside (because of the weather) Elan Artists brought us two of amazing bands that kept everyone delighted.  People were dancing and enjoying those great musicians all evening long.  They were incredible!

Last, but NOT LEAST, Claudia Seyler of Claudia Seyler Hair and Makeup and Tu Belleza Studio created a fun “fashion show” down the Walk featuring her  fabulous new makeup line called “Tu” (which we absolutely LOVE, by the way!)

So, we had a little bit of everything for everyone.

And we have so many people to thank

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

Everyone here at Eclatante has a thing for entertaining.  That passion is what brought each and every one of us here!

And Thanksgiving is the mother of all entertaining days. Those of you who are fortunate enough to be hosting friends and family in your home for this great American feast, allow us to to provide you with just a few lovely ideas to add some unexpected charm to your table (without eating up to much room (or money))!

First up, our beautiful Eclatante table runners.   These are new additions to our shop and we just love them.   They come in a multitude of colors and patterns, but we thought these worked well for this particular Thanksgiving Day table. They’re $35 each.

I’m in love with these bronze rose tea light holders. We have them in white, too, but the bronze candle holders worked perfectly here.  And they’re only $16.00 — they are really beautiful!!

These oak leaf napkin rings created by Michael Michaud are absolutely perfect. We also have other gorgeous napkins rings that would work beautifully.   These napkin rings are $50 for a set of four.  Our other napkin rings are at different prices.

Salt cellars are making a comeback.  Our glass salt cellar with a  seashell spoon (they’re prettier than the silver plated spoons pictured below) are among my favorite things in the Eclatante Boutique.  I just LOVE them.   They are so easy, inexpensive and people just love them – a great conversation starter at your dinner table.    It’s a great little gift to give your guests — if you’re so inclined.  The price for both the salt cellar and the seashell spoon is only $6.50.

The  dripless single pique candles are so beautiful and unusual — they are flying out the door at  $11.50 each (or a pair for $20.00).   Again, they make your table really unique and are extremely well-priced.

You can call the Eclatante Boutique any time to find out how you can order over the phone. Our phone number is 215.925.9911.  Or, of course, we’d love it if you came by our shop and took a look at all the really amazing entertaining items we have.   We’re at 1031 North 3rd Street in Northern Liberties.  We’re open from 11:00 until 6:00 from Sunday – Thursday and on Saturday; on Fridays we’re open until 8:00 pm.