In case you miss my Fourth of July interview with Martha Stewart Living in the Morning on the Sirius Radio channel, I wanted to share my ideas on entertaining with my customers as well. As is always the case, the arrival of the fourth of July puts me in the mood to throw a summer soiree. In the past when I’ve thrown a party, I’ve been all about creating drama in my tabletop designs, building lots of layers in my place settings and centerpieces, based on color and the symmetry of the dishes. But this summer, I’m eating up the refreshing trend toward simplicity.

I’m taking inspiration from my friend Mary who loves to throw an annual Fourth of July party. Her home sits high on a bluff overlooking the large city where she lives. On Independence Day, she can see more that 20 municipal fireworks displays from the comfort of her lawn chair. One year, Mary and her next-door neighbor decided to have a Fourth of July party so friends could enjoy the spectacular view too. Since then, the intimate gathering has grown into a much-anticipated bash, complete with a huge barbecue and a live band.

Everyone brings a side dish and dinner is served buffet-style. They also keep this annual event fresh by changing their innovative but inexpensive table treatments each year. When it comes to place settings, simple doesn’t have to mean boring. Start with a gorgeous summer tea towel as a placemat. Or try my old favorite — wicker chargers — or my new favorite — zinc chargers — to give the setting texture and definition. Then add your basic white dishes, topped off with a colorful salad plate in an unusual shape.

I’m partial to apple green or pale blue, but I love any color that looks clean and fresh. This summer, Mary is covering the dining tables with red and blue tablecloths. Red and blue plastic sand pails filled with sand, shells and a pillar candle will serve as the centerpieces. The cutlery will be pre-wrapped in red bandanas, which will double as napkins.

Here are some ideas that I’ve gathered from recent events that I have attended or planned:

• For the fourth of July, a selection of various red and blue berries in a summer salad, presented on a white plate, provides a patriotic presentation.
• Wrap gourmet sandwiches (tuna, chicken salad, or salmon) in stylish red paper and tie the sandwiches with colorful ribbon.
• Use a kitchen caddy for your condiments and silverware. Insert glass canning jars with pickles, celery, carrots, and other munchables.
• Take a quilt off the bed to serve as a picnic blanket or as a tablecloth on the picnic table.
• I recently attended a dinner party where the meal consisted of several petite courses of flavorful foods presented in an innovative manner, like soup served in a shot glass. We went home feeling pleasantly full, but not stuffed.
• For summer, keep tabletop designs elegant but edited. Create the simplest of centerpieces, using a trio of mini rose bushes potted in complementary cachepots, marching down the center of the table.
• Try an over-scaled bowl filled with green apples for summer color.
• Put a pillar candle in a large hurricane, then fill in with sand and seashells or smooth, shiny river rocks.
• To set the mood at the front door, fill your mailboxes with colorful blooms from your yard, with a tag that says “Welcome.”

We’re bamboozled at Nell Hill’s with this new shipment of Willow Knit pjs from Pine Cone Hill that are made of 95% bamboo and 5% spandex. They are available in the yummiest colors and are super stylish. The designer Annie Selke likens them to wearing nothing at all they are just that comfortable! Bamboo—who knew? Come visit us and check them out.

I’ve also been making my final plans for the Nell Hill’s boutique that will be featured at the Kansas City Junior Women’s Symphony Alliance Showhouse at 5730 Ward Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri. The event runs from April 26 to May 18 and will offer you a taste of Nell Hill’s in the backyard of this beautiful home. Go to www.showhouse.org for more information.

That’s it for now, but more details to follow on potter Guy Wolff’s visit to the Nell Hill’s Briarcliff Village store on April 18. It will be a chance to pick out an original piece of pottery for Mother’s Day—or Father’s Day—signed by this world-renowned artist. It’s quite a show if you haven’t seen Guy in action with his potter’s wheel.

Happy Spring!
Mary Carol

I have a Valentine surprise for you—and a gift. I am so excited to tell you that the wildly popular designer Annie Selke will be in the Briarcliff Village store in Kansas City all day on Friday, February 29. She will be speaking about her product design process and showing her collection of the vintage fabrics that inspire her. Please come meet her in person—she’s a true celebrity in the design arena and so down-to-earth fun. You can’t open a national magazine these days without seeing her work.

Click photo to enlarge.

Annie owns Pine Cone Hill, Dash & Albert rugs, and Potluck Studios. She started designing and sewing her first order on an industrial sewing machine at her dining room table in 1993 and her influence on design has grown at record speed. I know you will love meeting Annie as much as I have and I think you’ll fall in love with the Pine Cone Hill products and the Dash & Albert rugs I feature at Nell Hill’s. I want you to take home a pair of pajamas or classic capri pants free, with every order of $400 or more of Pine Cone Hill products. It is a Valentine gift for you because I love you all!

Fondly,
Mary Carol

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Well, the dust has settled on the New Nell Hill’s at Briarcliff Village in Kansas City. It has been an incredibly busy and rewarding time for me and the staff at all three of my stores.

After arranging, rearranging, rethinking, and restocking, I have refined a few things that I want to share with all of you. First of all—and it’s pretty important—Nell Hill’s at Briarcliff Village has new store hours. The other big news: I have redesigned my website with many new features that I think will make more frequent communication between us much easier. Expect a letter from me next week in which I’ll tell you more about the details of Annie Selke’s visit. I don’t think you’ll want to miss out on the fun!

Feel free to share this email letter with friends who might want to add their names to the email list and get regular updates on what we’re up to at Nell Hill’s. Come in for a visit at any of my three store locations. I’d love to see you.

Fondly,
Mary Carol

Okay, I confess to you that I’m not sleeping much these days. I am dreaming about where to put everything in the new Nell Hill’s store at Briarcliff Village, which is scheduled for a sneak opening on Friday, November 30, at 10:00 a.m.

And during the month of November, I probably will not be seeing much of Atchison, as I scramble back and forth, out-of-pocket most of the month, out-of-van for my meals, an out-of-body experience, and out-of my-head with the dizzying speed of it all.

My husband Dan might be worried, too, that my inventory is out-of-control. I’ve scrambled back and forth to markets—High Point, Atlanta, and Dallas—to bring a fresh look to the Nell Hill’s family of stores. Having a brand new building offers a clean slate to begin with, including an expanded fabric area with yummy new headboards, footboards, and, of course, pillows; more case goods than I’ve ever carried (end tables, coffee tables, and occasional pieces); loads of sofas, in the latest fabrics, and all presented in realistic room settings.

I also have new employees and managers to introduce to you. I also can’t wait for you to meet the other store owners in the village. You will be just as excited as I am to shop their stores, eat the great food, and spend the day mingling with like-minded creative folks like you. Go to briarcliffvillagekc.com—and see what kind of shopping experience the whole village will offer the Nell Hill’s customers.

I am so excited to unveil to you what we’re up to at the new store. It seems so long ago that we broke ground. We never did strike oil, but I think I have struck a new formula that you will be crazy for like I am. And I can’t wait to show you personally what has me so fired up at the new store. Please come see me during these early weeks. I’m not planning a grand opening right away because I just want to spend time with my customers and show them around.

Then, the first weekend in January, Michael Nolte of Nolte’s Bridal, and I are teaming up for a Grand Opening Celebration, just in time for Michael’s bridal season. He will join with me to offer my latest book Nell Hill’s Stylish Weddings. See all the details here on my website, as well as some of the key dates for the coming season.

And please come see me. You’re the ones who make it all worthwhile for me.

Tired but happy,

Mary Carol Garrity