Christmas Cranberry Centerpiece

Check out HGTV's Christmas Crafts Countdown to find some great Holiday crafting ideas. On the 5th, they posted a beautiful centerpiece with floating cranberries, Illuminations' dark red floating candles, as well as Illuminations' straight-sided bowl. Everyday they post a new inspirational idea for festive cards, gifts, decorations, centerpieces and so much more.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_53734,00.html

Illuminations' Sonoma Chardonnay and Mulled Wine jar candles are featured in Ocean Magazine's Winter 2007 Magazine, "where style comes in waves." West Coast inspiration mixed with a global sophistication. Each issue of Ocean is designed as the essential resource for the stylish and fashion-forward woman seeking the inside scoop on all of the latest trends from a fun, resourceful and accessible perspective. The Ocean reader is smart, sexy and stylish. She is always seeking actionable insight on the most current trends in fashion, style, beauty, travel and home. Beyond browsing, she wants access to the trends; where to find them and how to integrate them.

In the Winter issue's wINe-Spiration category, which lists vino-inspired must haves, Illuminations' Sonoma Chardonnay and Mulled Wine Candles are mentioned as intoxicatingly luxurious. Not mentioned by Ocean, but equally desirable are vino-inspired and enticing Napa Valley Harvest candles as well as the complex, impassioned Bordeaux candles.

Create the Perfect Holiday Table

Prepping for the holidays and looking for a little help setting that perfect table for your next dinner party or other social gathering? Try these tips:

KNOW THY SPACE
It’s important to have a vision of the scene you want to create; feelings you want to invoke among your guests. Whether your preference is over the top, wild colorful or simple and understated, both offer their own sense of drama and anticipation for your guests. The main thing to remember is to see the whole table and how you expect the sum of its parts—color, theme, etc.—to come together harmoniously.

START WITH THE CENTERPIECE
Whether your party is a more formal dinner or a casual gathering of friends for wine and good social, start with the center of the table and work outward. Here are some tips to help you make a statement with your centerpiece:

Candlelight makes a great foundation for any centerpiece

Create visual interests by utilizing a variety of candle sizes and height

Color is an important ingredient. Decide if you want your candles to blend with your existing décor in your home or if you want to create a little contrast with your centerpiec

Taper candles and pillar candles are classic design ingredients for any table

For a interesting twist, try using floating candles to build your centerpiece around, or create a harvest or winter scene down the center of your table. Our Cathedral Lantern set is an easy and creative way to set a winter scene for your guests. See our newest feature in our Bright Ideas decorating series.

Mix floral stems, garlands, branches, etc. among whichever candlelight solution you choose, but don’t be afraid to experiment with colored scatter, wax snow, dried flowers, etc.

Typically you want to avoid using scented candles in a dining table centerpiece as our highly fragrant candles could potentially conflict with the blend of aromas of the food. If you want to use scent as part of a centerpiece, consider using it for less formal events like a wine party or salon.

PERSONALIZE WITH PLACE SETTINGS
Don’t stop at the centerpiece! Finish rolling out the red carpet to your guests by personalizing their space at the dining table – whether your event is more formal or more casual. Try these suggestions:

Think outside the standard place setting. For a consistent and cohesive look, dress up each place setting with a votive cup or floating vessel

Use clear tealights for a classic look or our holiday-hued floating candles for a pop of color. Tie it into the style and color themes in your centerpiece

Try floating flowers at each place setting for a different spin!

Trying out a whimsical themed centerpiece? For an added touch of fun, dress up each place setting with our snowmen tapers, Christmas tree tapers, Mini Glitter Christmas Tree candles or Color Changing Snowmen – paired with a placecard for each guest.

Many of our novelty floating candles also make a great accent for any place setting, even without the water!

Personalize even more for smaller, intimate events! Add a unique keepsake to each place setting that represents something you love about each guest’s personality.

Illuminations on HGTV

Illuminations product will be featured on HGTV’s special “Decked for the Holidays”:

Decked for the Holidays
From door stoppers and tree toppers to outdoor décor and more, host Karen McAloon presents Santa's list of holiday makeover tips and party secrets to help fill your home with that festive feeling. Don't miss Karen's little helpers, designers Frank Fontana and Erinn Valencich as they show you how to turn those not-so-seasonal rooms into a holiday haven. Be there with bells on as HGTV takes you on a sleigh ride of fun that is sure to make your holidays more memorable than ever.

They are taking our straight sided bowl and dark red floaters and presenting a “how to” holiday display. The special will air four times on HGTV:

AIR TIMES:
• November 23, 2007 9:00 PM ET/PT
• November 24, 2007 1:00 AM ET/PT
• November 26, 2007 10:00 AM ET/PT
• December 09, 2007 5:00 PM ET/PT

Don’t miss it!

Welcome Back...

October 22, 2007

Hello,

I just want to say Thank You for opening your store back up at Twelve Oaks in Novi MI.

I first visited your store 5 years ago at Christmas time. After the first candles I purchased from you I have not bought another candle from anyone else. I was a Yankee Candle person, that was until I found Illuminations. I would make a visit to your Twelve Oaks store twice a year and literally stock up on your lovely candles. My all time favorite - Pineapple Cilantro!!!!!

Last year, just before the holidays, I traveled to Twelve Oaks for my candle shopping spree. I was also going to get some stocking stuffers as gifts, I was in shock when I could not find your store. No one in the Mall had any info about your store either. It looked like it was not going to be a very fragrant Christmas at my house last year. I was not going be a traitor and purchase candles from anyone else. I found your website. I was delighted but a little disappointed because I could not smell.........................

I already have a trip planned to Twelve Oaks......I have my list ready......Pineapple Cilantro, Christmas Tree, Coffee & Cream, Gingerbread -- and the list goes on and on.

Thank You for coming back!!

A VERY LOYAL customer,
Darlene Petty

Bright Ideas Design Series #2: Decorating In Multiples

Candlelight is the perfect accent when entertaining in your home or simply enjoying the comforts of your own personal space...

In the above photo, we have converted a simple sideboard by using multiples of our handblown glass cylinders. For color, we used small tree branches from our backyard as well as loose acorns. For a more refined, simple look, we recommend leaving a few of the cylinders empty except for the floating candle (and water). Stagger the sizes as well as the unfilled cylinders (as shown above).

To create the fill, simply rinse branches under running water. Insert into cylinder and fill with distilled water. Using distilled water helps to prevent calcium buildup on the materials and allows for a longer life of your floating solution. To finish, add Ivory Floating Candles (in the appropriate sizes, depending on cylinder width) as the final touch to this majestic setting. You have easily and effortlessly set the stage for an elegant evening!

Achieve this look with one click. Otherwise, print this email and bring to your local Illuminations retail store and an associate will be happy to help you.

Share your comments with us! Click on the "comments" link and tell us what you think! You may also send your comments to customer_reviews@illuminations.com

Focal Points: Halloween Decorating

2000 years ago the Celts and Romans marked the end of the harvest season with bonfires and other forms of firelight and celebrated the souls of passing spirits. Illuminating out of the darkness has long been an integral part of modern rituals such as Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, harkening back to early forms - Samhain, Feralia and Pomona.

Dressing up the home for Halloween today continues the ritual of coming together as neighbors. Whether you go big with your decorations or more modest, the simple act of doing so includes you in a communal gesture of warmth and abundance. At Illuminations, our mission is to help you discover new ways to live every day by candlelight, discovering new rituals and ways to celebrate your loved ones and create community.

The key to creating an impact with any decorating is to create focal points, and Halloween is no exception. When you think of where you draw the most attention to the front of your home at Halloween, you can identify specific opportunities to create strong focal points:

Front yard and walkway
Steps
Doorway
Front windows

We have many solutions to help you make a splash in any of these areas of the home and create an inviting welcome for your trick-or-treaters this year.

Front Yard/Walkway
Key Items: Lanterns and Stakes

• Define a boundary or a path by placing lanterns along your yard’s edge or alongside your front walkway, illuminating the way to your front door. Lanterns such as our Bat Lanterns can be placed on the ground or hung from lantern stakes.
  
• Place novelty stake lanterns like our Bat or Skeleton Stake Lanterns along a pathway or as part of a focal display in your yard.
  
• Combine novelty electric lights with candlelight to create even more fun!

Steps
Key Items: Lanterns, String of Lights, Garlands, Stems, Novelty Candles, Halloween and Harvest Props

• Use lanterns to line either side of the steps up to your front door.
  
• Mix and match with gourds, pumpkins or other props that celebrate Halloween and the Harvest
  
• Faux spiderwebs are always a nice touch for railings and banisters. Dress these areas up even more by adding strings of lights and garlands
  
• A nice centerpiece that is relative in size to the size of your front porch – made by combining lanterns, votive cups, etc. with harvest items and Halloween props is always a nice touch. Just make sure it is safe and not in the path of young trick or treaters!
  

Doorway
Key Items: Sconces, String of Lights

• In addition to spiderwebs and hanging Halloween creatures that can be hung around a doorway and from an overhang, add to the drama by hanging sconces and strings of lights.
  
• We have many solutions to get you started! Changing your front porch light from the normal bulb to a spooky red or blue will complete the effect and really help your candlelit entrance pop!

Windows
Key Items: Lanterns, Votive Cups, Tealight Holders, Novelty Candles, String of Lights, Halloween/Harvest Props

• Make your front window(s) a focal point too! This is often the first thing people will see when approaching your house, depending on how big you go with dressing up your yard. There is unlimited potential to dress up a window space:
  
• String lights around the frame of your window to illuminate those spooky spiderwebs. Our Color Changing Eyeball and Flame String of Lights will do the job equally well.
  
• Make a focal statement by using your window space as a stage for a Halloween centerpiece.
  
• Homes with bay windows can especially take advantage of this opportunity.
  
• Line multiples of candlelit items like lanterns, votive cups or tealight holders along the edge of your window sill. Just make sure you can do this safely!
  
• Create a haunted village! We have easy to shop, complete solutions to help you build a grand haunted village that will leave your neighbors aghast with spooky delight well after they visit your home.
  

The main thing to remember is to make sure your decorations not only create an inviting Halloween environment, but a safe one as well. Make sure to place all candlelit decorations where they’ll be kept out of harms way from small hands and costumes. Use your imagination and go wild! The simplest display can cultivate strong community sprit as well as the most outlandish. Create displays that are fitting for your personality and have fun decorating!

Entire Halloween Collection On Sale Now!

Now it's even easier to cast a glowing spell in your home this trick-or-treat season...our entire Halloween collection is 25% off! Starting today, save on your favorite spooky Halloween decor. But hurry, quantities are limited. Shop entire collection >>

Here are a few of our customer's favorites:



Color-Changing Ghosts
Skeleton Stake
Silhouette Bat Tealight Holder
Color-Changing Eyeball Lights
Hanging Iron Bat Lantern

Gift Giving At Illuminations

As the holiday season approaches, remember to give the gift of candlelight. Shop our best selling gifts.

New Retail Store Openings!

Inspiring you to live every day by candlelight, Illuminations has opened its doors in the following exciting new retail locations:

Twelve Oaks Mall - Novi, Michigan (248) 374-5637
Southpark Mall - Charlotte, North Carolina (704) 362-9399
Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Illinois (847) 517-9183
The Woodlands Mall - Woodlands, Texas (281) 419-8383

Fashion Fair - Fresno, California (559) 229-1479
Sunvalley Mall - Concord, California (925) 689-8370
Westside Pavilion - Los Angeles, California (310) 481-0368

Some features of the Illuminations retail store:

A shopping experience to inspire "Living by Candlelight"

The opportunity to breathe in the 40+ varieties of scented candles and view display possibilities of the candles and candle accessories being offered

Newly designed floor plan for a soothing presentation

Knowledgeable and friendly staff to assist with inquiries about the product.

Illuminations Launches New Design Series

Designed to help customers better decorate with their products, Illuminations has recently launched its first edition of "Bright Ideas" a design series which will enable customers to more effectively use Illuminations' products in their home décor. "We intend to use Bright Ideas as a tool for our customers to easily recreate a certain look for their homes." Said Jennifer McClelland, Director Email Marketing, Merchandising & Design at Illuminations. While Bright Ideas originated as an email campaign series, "how to" brochures are also available (in stores). On Thursday, August 23, Illuminations retail stores hosted a guided walk-through and decorating workshop featuring its new Halloween collection. Customers received a custom tour and learned first-hand how to easily and effortlessly decorate like a designer.

Click here to print our latest "how to" brochure.