Growing up in St. Paul as part of a large family, I have many memories of gathering around our family table and celebrating with my parents, brothers and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Holidays were noisy and it was always hot in the kitchen, even in winter. My sister and I had the job of polishing the silverware and setting the table with our best, fancy dishes while our mother ironed a beautiful tablecloth. I can still hear my mother exclaim before our guests arrived: “Someone fill the water glasses!” These family gatherings are some of my happiest memories.

 
I would go on to make a career of setting tables through event planning. Having studied graphic design in college, I always gave my events' tables special attention. With a gorgeous table linen as a foundation, I loved the details--exploring unique napkin folds and selecting a beautiful font for the menu card. Best of all, I loved seeing the guests’ expressions when they entered the room and saw my tables!