occasions! by design

Not Your Mother’s Dinnerware

emily — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:05:40 +0000

To avoid the dull and lifeless everyday table settings try mixing up dinnerware patterns, colors and styles! Spruce up your dinnerware table by mixing fine china with your everyday dishes to create a bold and unique table setting!

Rosanna Desert Plate, Vietri Dinner Plate and Iittala Cup Unique Table Setting

If you already own a collection of fine china or everyday dinnerware and want to jazz up your look without breaking the bank, why not buy a set of fun salad/dessert plates. Rosanna has salad/dessert plates in a wide variety of colors with beautiful motifs in unique shapes that when paired with the simple elegance of a solid Vietri plate or the sophistication of a Versace patterned colleciton will transofrm an ordinary table setting to an extraordiantry table display.

Casafina and Vietri Table Setting

Mixing plate shapes adds an element of interest to your table setting. To create a one-of-a-kind look just takes a little bit of effort and trial and error to get the cobination just right. Come into occasions! and let our knowledgable assciates help you find your perfect mix of dinnerware for any occasion!

Combination of Casafina, Rosanna and Waterford Unique Table Setting

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Exquisite Unrivaled Woven Copper

emily — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:33:13 +0000

After Five by Suzanne Donazetti Woven Copper 18" x 18"

Suzanne Donazetti’s rich copper weavings are hand painted and reflect movement of water and voyages. Her artwork and technique is transfixing and intriguing. Ranging from small woven copper wall pieces to large dimensional wall hangings -her work is sure to impress! Suzanne’s artwork is being showcased at occasions! by design on Main Street in the heart of the Scottsdale Arts District.

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Handcrafted Jewelry with a Contemporary Flair

emily — Mon, 17 May 2010 22:18:35 +0000

Captivating, raw, eye catching stones, in elaborate sterling silver and gold settings, Lilly Barrack’s jewelry is artistic in form combining geometric shapes. Her extensive travel and art background resulted in cross-cultural influences with Africa playing a major role.

Lilly Barrack Herkimer and 24k Gold Ring

Herkimer diamonds, luscious green peridots, lavender amethysts and perfect pearls, find them at occasions! by design.

Lilly Barrack_Citrine, Herkimer Diamond and Sterling Silver Earrings

Lilly Barrack Herkimer Diamond, 14K Gold, Sterling Silver Earrings

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Colorful Geometric Metal Jewelry

emily — Thu, 13 May 2010 21:20:16 +0000

Occasions! welcomes exciting new jewelry artist Diana Christiansen from Florida. Her bracelets, pendants and earrings are hand made with anodized aluminum. Anodized aluminum is very light weight, maintenance free and will not tarnish.

Diana Christiansen's hand dyed and texutred metal pendant

Diana’s career spans decades and includes everything from painting and printmaking to sculpting and fabric design. Her contemporary jewelry collection owes its inspiration to the shapes, patterns, and colors of modern art and architecture.

An electrochemical process is employed to dye the metal and achieve the many different colors seen in her designs. Once the aluminum is dyed and sealed, the color becomes permanent and is part of the metal itself. Diana then uses a photo-etch process to remove some of the surface color leaving behind a pattern. Anodized aluminum cannot be soldered. Individual pieces of aluminum are combined by riviting, drilling tiny holes

Diana Christiansen's hand dyed and textured metal earrings

and making use of miniature nuts and bolts!

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Occasions! Showcases Iittala

emily — Fri, 07 May 2010 23:56:54 +0000

Adding a little punch of color to your existing dinnerware can add sophistication and fun to the table. Iittala’s new glassware line from Finland will do just that. These tumblers are sleek, sophisticated and fun. They will liven any table. And for just $20 a set you can change your dining and entertaining experience this summer!

Occasions! by design

Iittala's Aino Aalto Tumblers 7 oz.

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Artist Spotlight on Carol Estes

emily — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:32:01 +0000

Peacock Spiral by Carol Estes - Acrylic on Canvas

Movement, depth and intensity mark popular Southwest artist, Carol Estes’s, modern paintings. Each of her pieces has a beautiful story told with vivid colors, textures and weight. They are all one-of-a-kind. They are thought-provoking and dynamic. Her collection is being showcased at occasions! by design located on Main ST., in the heart of Scottsdale Arts District.

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Caring for Your China and Crystal

emily — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:16:52 +0000

Having china requires the responsibility to care for it. Earthenware and stoneware are dishwasher safe and you may stack them without worry. However, china requires a bit more consideration. The following are some tips for caring and maintaining your treasured pieces.

Waterford Crossroads 5 pc place setting

1. Avoid stacking plates together as they may scratch. Dish stacking pads and rubber racks are available for safe storage or use a piece of cloth between each dish.

2. Rinse vinegar, lemon or salt leftovers at once from dishes that are decorated with gold or silver leaf. Wash china in warm water. Avoid scouring pads as they scratch intricate decorations.

3. Store china cups on hooks or side by side, avoid stacking.

4. Fine china, even with gold and platinum decorations, may be washed in the dishwasher – provided that a mild detergent is used.

5. Avoid using dish detergent with lemon scent – it has acidic elements which may be harmful not only to your china and crystal but other dishes as well.

The most important thing is to be aware of how you are storing, serving and cleaning your china. Guaranteed with a little effort and preventative care you will be able to serve and display your treasured china for many years.

Occasions! by design

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Occasions! Welcomes Edith Robertson

emily — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:34:47 +0000

Edith Robertson Beads

Edith lives in Chicago IL and hand makes beautiful beads with the finest metals such as nickel, sterling silver and gold. She combines these metals by soldering making them into married metals. Her inspirations range from many sources like nature, sculpture, fabric, stones and found objects. She does not plan a piece but plays with the metal and stone until she arrives at what seems to be a satisfactory solution.

All of her pieces are hand made and one-of-a-kind. We showcase a large variety of her jewelry. Her sterling silver beads work well as a solitaire or joined with two or even five. These elegant necklaces make beautiful gifts for others or to add to your own art jewelry collection. We are now located on Main Street in the heart of the Scottsdale Arts District, open seven days a week.

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Differences in Dinnerware

emily — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:14:00 +0000

To begin there are three basic categories in dinnerware: china, stoneware and earthenware. Depending on your lifestyle and how often you entertain will help you decide which type is best for you.

Vietri Earthenware Dinnerware

Earthenware – is the least expensive option. Earthenware is heavy and opaque. Fired at a much lower temperature than china, all earthenware is thick, porous and covered by a bright glaze. Earthenware is the oldest form of dinnerware and has a very natural look to it.

Stoneware – Stoneware bridges the gap between earthenware and china. Like china, it’s fired at higher temperatures so it’s hard, smooth and non-porous. It has an earthly appearance, but lacks the delicacy and translucency of fine china.

Fine china – Fine china is ceramic ware made from super refined clays and powder. Fine china is beautiful and sophisticated; it can come in basically any style with many embellishments such as silver and gold leaf patterns.

The two different types of China:

Wedgewood Bone China Dinnerware

Bone China is fine china with bone ash added to the clay. Bone ash makes the final product whiter than other china and porcelain. Bone China is the most durable. It is an upscale choice for everyday dinnerware. It does perform well in the dishwasher and microwave as long as there aren’t any metallic detailing to it.

Porcelain is also made from refined clays and minerals. The main difference between porcelain and china is the temperature of firing. Both porcelain and china are equally durable. Porcelain has a unmistakable sophistication and elegance.

Occasions! by design

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Goldenflow Glass Pendants have Arrived

emily — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:32:16 +0000

Black and Red Glass Pendant

We are pleased to introduce Goldenflow glass lighting pendants. Each lighting pendant is hand crafted, mouth blown, unique, and the perfect fusion of functionality and art.

The swirling pattern created by the fusion of color gives the pendants a unique depth and dimension that will make them a beautiful focal piece even when not lit.

You can choose between the lighting pendants we have in-store or they can be custom ordered to match the color scheme of your home or office.

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