Volume 76, Issue 1 May, 2010

Newsletter

Tablescapes For Special Days to Special Bridal Showers

Your table will be the talk of the town and anyone who has chosen your dinning area will be delighted with your trendy touches that are the height of high style. Set the stage (and table) with décor galore featuring fanciful flowers, chic centerpieces and decorative desserts that turn any tabletop into a mood-making masterpiece. A party becomes memorable and meaningful when a creative tablescape captures the flavor of a special region and season. Glossy greenery, sparkly glass, textured ceramics, homespun cottons or elegant brocades embellish your table(s) .

Here are some ideas of things to use in your spring tablescapes:
-nests made of wire, grapevine, bent twigs, feathers, wire, or other material.
-birds made of mushroom, ceramic, glass, carved wood, metal, etc.
-interesting branches-for added interest these can even be spray painted in gold, silver, or pastels
-birdhouses of varying heights, colors, sizes, and styles
-candles and candlesticks of various heights
-glass vases or hurricanes filled with colored eggs, fresh flowers or greenery, or candles
-fresh spring flowers or greenery
-clay pots embellished with paint, faux techniques, decoupage, mosaic, mirrored, aged, gilded.
-baskets, which are a great way to display a collection, can be filled with everything from florals and plant to cookie bouquets
-straw hats on hat stands of varying heights, just make sure to remove them if need be for a conversational flow during dining
-garden statuary including figurines and gazing balls
-topiaries covered in moss, flower heads, beads, dried rose petals, etc.
-small to medium decorative boxes, such as hat boxes
-birdcages
-gardening tools (antique, sprayed pretty colors, or miniature)
-miniature cart or wheel barrow
-planters filled with faux grass and the occasional daisy, crocus or other small flower
-miniature picket fence to surround a display or as a lining for the exterior of boxes
-butterflies, dragonflies, or bees

Once you have decided on the items, or combination of items, to use in your tablescape, be sure to elevate your scape here and there for a random horizontal line. This provides visual interest to the eye. Elevations can be created above or below a runner, scarf or cloth and include items readily found such as upside down bowls, mini plaster columns, boxes, books, or blocks.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – Charming Gifts for Guest and “Mothers”
These can be placed on your table as part of the “tablescape” or in the guest room

These items are all custom made and are not found on the BB Amenities' web site. Please call us at 281-693-5046 to discuss and place your order. Each gift will come packed in its own gift box or can be placed in a clear “basket bag” with a pretty bow, or both if you like.

INNKEEPER'S TIDBIT – Spring Fresh Flowers

Maintaining a supply of guest towels can be a challenge. Residing near a beach presents the problem of controlling the number of towels used for each room and where they may have been left. Providing beach towels to be delivered as the guests leave for the beach and retrieved when they return will help with inventory and controlling the “shifting sands” from getting into your house. This can be time consuming, however, if you make known when and where these towels can be obtained time can be saved.

For everyone, the problem of “makeup” on the towels is a costly. A few ideas shared by other innkeepers:
Provide a jar of “makeup removal pads” in each guest room with a sign asking they be used for removing makeup before using face cloths and hand towels.
Provide a set of gray or charcoal gray towels for the sole purpose of makeup removal when washing your face or removing any type of body makeup, tanning and self-tanning products. (These are commonly carried on vacation particularly during summer months – they also stain towels.) I hope no one would plan to color their hair will traveling, but you never know so include this on your in-room sign about the towels

RECIPES – Ranger Cookies

Makes approx. 6 dozen

1. Cream butter with sugars, beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients
2. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees

Customizing Bath Amenities with Your Logo

Personalize your bath amenities with a customized label just for your own Inn or Country Club. BB Amenities will put your name and logo on all amenities with a minimum order of only 200 pieces (20 units). We can do color or black and white. Send us your logo and we will send you a custom sample label before you order. This is the ultimate in personalization and communication to your guests. BB Amenities looks forward to serving you for all your bath and guest room amenities. If there is something we do not presently offer, we will be happy to try and source it for you.

BB AMENITIES NEWSLETTER

BB Amenities supplies that special touch your guest love so much! Each month BB Amenities will publish a new Newsletter with ideas and shared ideas from other B and B and small inn proprietors. If you have ideas to share please send them to bbamenities@entouch.net. Thank you.

BB Amenities (281)-693-6046

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