Tuesday, February 23, was a blessing for some and a darn-it for others. For those suffering from allergies, the dipping temperatures spelled possible relief. As for the blooming Arboretum flowers, it was a chilly warning that winter wasn’t totally over.
But for the 250 ladies…and they were all gals at Bent Tree… who gathered for the Northwood Woman’s Club’s Dine by Design, the falling rain and matching temps were so much better than last year’s fundraiser. That one became a victim of the infamous freeze of 2015.
Still, Northwood Woman’s Club President Debor Cassen rallied the troops including Cathy Camalier and Sherry O’Hara to produce a marvelous event with tables decorated by both talented locals and professionals.
Recycling last year’s theme of “Ooh La La” to “Ooh La La Deaux,” the pieces of last year were incorporated. Even the two Standard Poodles that had been slated to have been on last year’s “catwalk” showed true fundraising spirit and showed up to greet the guests for the “Ooh La La Deux” fundraiser luncheon.
Benefiting New Friends New Life, Austin Street Center, New Beginning Center, St. Simon’s After-School, Rainbow Days, Nexus and UT Dallas, the place was filled with guests holding flutes filled with champagne and strawberries checking out the designer tables throughout the club. Just beyond the poodles was a standout display of Paris complete with doves in a cage thanks to Junior Villanueva.
One guest asked another, “Have you seen the leg in the other room?” No need to wonder. Everyone within hearing slipped over to the other room to check out the limb pointing to the ceiling from a champagne bucket in the middle of the Moulin Rouge-theme table created by ReDux Sherry Draper.
Speaking of legs, there were a couple of ‘em lying out from under Gaylan Sapps and Mary Pinac’s table for the “I Haven’t Got a Clue” theme. Relax. It wasn’t a real body. Think mannequin.
But some were a little more serious. Like Sac la Faim by Judi Hamby and Barbara Kutz that was a mountain of canned foods and cereals promoting support of the Club’s Sack Hunger Drive. Just a table or two over was Susan Loveless’ table promoting wellness with Doterra Essential Oils. No champagne, bodies or fatty foods here. Instead it was glasses of water with lemon slices floating and platters of oranges, lemons and limes.
In the meantime, author Kimberly Schlegel Whitman was signing her books including the latest one, “Monograms,” just before addressing the seated luncheon. (Kim had a secret that she wasn’t sharing, but it was announced on Tuesday, March 1, that she was NorthPark’s new Fashion and Lifestyle Ambassador.)
Bettye Stripling filed the following report on Kimberly’s talk:
The talented and charming Kimberly Schlegel Whitman presented a fun and informative program to the 250 members present for the NWC annual Dine by Design event. After beginning her own party rental business in 1998, this very creative young woman went on to author six books on entertaining, appear on television, on radio, and co-host a local live daily television show entitled “Texas Living”. Her latest experiences as editor-at large of Southern Living Magazine and early “Mom exposure” has led to her latest publication, “Monograms for the Home: The Art of Making Your Mark,” published in September, 2015.
Her slide-rich presentation included the history of monogramming which got some of its early beginnings in the simple need to separate laundry in the village wash day confusion. This, of course, was adopted by the upper social gentry and became the elaborate form of monogramming that we have grown up with and still see in many forms today. The beautiful slides included lamps, chairs, linens, desk accessories, toys, and, of course the fabulous silver monogrammed pieces we all love.
One of Kimberly’s inspirations came from a statement made to her “if it is not breathing, monogram it.”
The art of monogramming is a beautiful and personal way to honor your family name, your history, and also have a fabulous home according to the lovely speaker, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman.