DEAR READERS,

I am giving a FANTASY DINNER PARTY!

Guess who will be there in my FANTASY WORLD?

 

If you are following me on INSTAGRAM you may have missed this little comment.

I have been ennobled by a REAL COUNT without the HOPLA…………..

That said and done………..I now would like to take you on an EXPEDITION ……to a dinner party …….A FANTASY dinner of 10  people of my own choice.

This is in CONJUNCTION with MARSHA from the BLOG SPLENDEROSA and her BY INVITATION ONLY SERIES.You know where a few of us come together and share ONE TOPIC so you can sit at your computer and CRUISE from BLOG to BLOG.

YOUR WELCOME!

Lets start with the preparations…………

INVITATION LIST DARLING…….who shall WE invite?Since I have just finished reading THE WALK to ELSIE’s and THE WALK FROM ELSIE’S by HUTTON and FLYNN I would like to invite them to my dinner along with their main character

Elsie de WOLFE.

SO, we have CONDE de ALASTAYA better known here in the U.S. as  HUTTON WiLKINSON and his DELIGHTFUL wife RUTH.

FYLNN and his invited guest.

ELSIE and her husband…….. Sir CHARLES MENDL.

That makes  SIX and I need FOUR more BODIES!

I want FUN FESTIVE PEOPLE at my party……………….PEOPLE who know how to have a good time without being entertained!People who would DRESS for DINNER and compliment the COOK!

Let’s SEE who shall we invite……………….so many people from THE PAST I do think would make for a FESTIVE ensemble.

What about THAT WOMAN who’s HOUSE I went to in VENICE?The one who had Tigers chained to her garden walls…………and collected ART!

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM.Let’s include HER!

While I think of OTHERS………lets get EXCITED about the FETE!

We will need WAITERS ~ FOOD ~ and of course BELLO AMBIENCE.

Lets snatch these GUYS from the PIAZZA in VENICE!

SHALL WE?

How about THAT PRINCESS from LONDON……..NOT KATE the one that makes everyone up in arms.

PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT!She is an author as well…………I met HER once at The ANTIQUE SHOW where I met HUTTON and FYLNN.Since, they have just returned from LONDON for their book signing it may be a GOOD FIT!I bet HUTTON and FLYNN already  know HER!!!!

 

 

Then since I am OBSESSED with TONY DUQUETTE and his wife……..ELIZABETH better known as BEAGLE I would like them seated at my table also!Did you know BEAGLE worked for DISNEY and quit after a discussion about the making of the film BAMBI?She was an artist there at Disney Studios…………

Tony was a man after my own HEART.Loved to THRIFT loved to give parties, LOVED MEXICAN FOOD and loved to DRESS well.He also gave generous gifts.I have so much underlined in the book MORE IS MORE by HUTTON then NOT!Because it all resonates with me……………….

They even HONEYMOONED in CURENAVACA,MEXICO.I wonder if they knew my AUNT KATHERINE for she too had a house there.

I would like to ADD another MAN from SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA……..who could be TONY of the 21st CENTURY!He is a MAGICAL MAGICIAN when it comes to ART Work and Ideas……..and he TRUELY looks like TONY in this photo!

This man is the CREATIVE DIRECTOR of ROGER’s GARDEN’s in Corona del Mar.Have YOU been to ROGER’s GARDEN’s?I might suggest a trip for the HOLIDAYS as it is adorned for the festivities better then any other shop I have ever seen……..in my youth it was THE CITY OF PARIS that was a BEAUTIFUL store in downtown SAN FRANCISCO does anyone else remember it?Side note here……..the long RED opera coat I wore in the PHOTOS with CARLA COULSON in PARIS came from a shop who is owned by the PERSONAL SHOPPER from the CITY of PARIS!!!!!

Let me just say this……….TONY, HUTTON and ERIC would make quite a TEAM.So, at my little FANTASY dinner PARTY I would like to introduce the THREE of THEM.I think HUTTON Needs to meet ERIC……………..and that could possibly happen as they live just down the 405 FREEWAY from one another!This CONTESSA likes to put PEOPLE in touch with PEOPLE!A MatchMAKER of kindred souls…………..it makes me VERY HAPPY.

How are we doing so far…………I do believe I have TOO MANY GUESTS!

Who’s counting?

Time to SET THE TABLE……………..

Clear the way……….as I have TASKS to attend TOO!

Silver to polish, Knife Rests to lay…………….Candle Vessels to ignite and Champagne Buckets to fill……………………….You know the DRILL!

Spreading MY WINGS to clear the DUST and DOG HAIR!Well, lets pretend that will happen in all likelihood there has got to be some around!

Setting a TABLE worthy of my GUEST LIST is a PLEASURE.

Do you spy the CROWN in the CRYSTALS………Just in case someone feels the NEED I always have it on STAND BY.

As I get myself situated here at home here is a LOOK back in time.You see Hutton WILKINSON has written a few books.I just finished MORE is MORE which I enjoyed SO much.More intimate details of the LIFE he shared with TONY AND BEAGLE.The projects they worked on.The people they knew.Did you know TONY was the GODFATHER to LIZA MINNELLI?

In the 1980’s he moved to SAN FRANCISCO and bought an old church.He turned it into a PIECE of his ART where my BEST FRIEND from High School married 27 years ago and YES I was there in THE WEDDING at the TONY DUQUETTE PAVILION!!!!!!A PIECE OF HISTORY!

Isn’t she lovely……………….as I recall the dress was long for the ceremony then for the festivities it became short!Can you spy me?On the LEFT.

Original work in the TONY DUQUETTE PAVILION that was destroyed by a fire.

Where are those earrings NOW?I think those are BAROQUE Pearls on a colored jewel……..I find this SO fun as my latest obsession is with BAROQUE PEARLS!My stance is awful here…………….what happened to all that ballet training!

More DUQUETTE DESIGNS……….he was a MASTER of RECYCLING before it was even FASHIONABLE.

The OUTSIDE of the CHURCH…………..

One MORE then back to the dinner party!Thank YOU Lisa for finding these photos and popping them in my INBOX!What a walk down memory lane……………Hutton I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of your PAST in the Tony Duquette Pavillion as well.I am certain you could tell us MORE about what we see here…………

Here is LISA’s comment from two POST’s back  I did on the FALL ANTIQUE SHOW:

“Fun post! Thank you. I am wondering if you remember all those years ago my wedding you were in in San Francisco? Did you know that venue was The (Tony) Duquette Pavillion? He created that incredible space from an old church. It was so unusual and beautiful. A couple of weeks before the wedding I was invited to lunch with Tony and another gentleman( it my have been Hutton). So sad a year or so later the building burned down. Luckily they did create a book about it. Anyway I feel very lucky to have been in his beautiful creation.”

Lisa had lunch with TONY a few weeks before her wedding and she said there was another MAN with him!My guess it was our guest HUTTON!YOU looked STUNNING here LISA and from the few recent photos I have seen over the years YOU still are WE MUST  meet up!

Making MY LISTS………for the SOIREE!

PARTY PROPS!

Knife Rests for the multiple courses I shall serve.It will be an ITALIAN dinner of course.I collect old knife rests.Just thought I would TOSS that out there!

Baccarat Crystal for Water and Wine which were a wedding gift from my ITALIAN MOTHER IN LAW.She gave us the entire glass set red wine, white wine, water, champagne for our wedding 29 years ago.We will work our way to the small digestive glasses I have collected over the years for the home made LIMONCELLO and NOCINO that the ITALIAN HUSBAND has a talent of making each year.

The Sterling will be polished and at the READY!

Without further ADO……………..here is my list: The ITALIAN husband, Me, COUNT HUTTON his wife RUTH.Fylnn and his GUEST. ELSIE de WOLFE  plus Tony Duquette and Beagle.Peggy Gugenheim and Princess Michael of Kent and last but not least Eric!!

We have an ARTISTIC connection.

We have a ROYAL connection.

We have a LONDON connection……..I think FLYNN is from there?

Conversation should be GOOD………..YES?

Lets enjoy the HOLIDAYS people and do invite FRIENDS and FAMILY over at least once a month!IT’s a reason to use the GOOD STUFF which I do daily and I happen to know some of my GUESTS do TOO!(Because there is an article on them in C MAGAZINE this month!)There is nothing better then a home cooked meal and GOOD conversation around a TABLE.

BE GIVING…………….invite people to YOUR TABLE.Contessa does SO you should TOO!

YOU are ALL INVITED To MY TABLE if YOU pass through my neck of the woods.I have met some AMAZING people through this BLOG and INSTAGRAM.I look forward to meeting YOU!

TO SEE what the other BLOGGERS have written about and WHO please click HERE  and visit MARSHA and her SHOP HERE for the HOLIDAYS.This is something I look forward to each month as I sit with my coffee and jump from POST to POST.

I am THANKFUL for ALL of YOU who read me.

HAPPY HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

TO find HUTTON and FLYNN’s books GO HERE .They are Fascinating and FULL of wonderful photos!!!!

I have READ THEM ALL…………….XOXOXO