Wrapping up Christmas

"Brown paper packages tied up with string" were my favorite wrapping thing this year. And printing on old paperback book pages to create the letters for the name bunting was quick too. Some packages had red velvet ribbon simply tied in a square knot, some had a red and green plaid ribbon, and a few had a burlap ribbon with a Christmas-y print on it. All were wrapped in brown paper, of course!

Decor and Details for the 60th Anniversary

Can you believe they still have the bride's dress? And I thought I'd try a new style of bunting too.

Friends from church brought some goodies for dessert. Can you believe this layered Jello?
I've never seen anything like it! She even made it to match the color scheme.

What a wonderful party that honored this deserving couple! If a couple has been together for 60 years you know they've got a lot going for them. Good health, obviously, much in common and a good sense of humor are a few of Ed and Lorraine's attributes. This couple's marriage has been filled with travel, family, friends, parties and a whole lot of music. I decided to focus on the music and used vintage sheet music as a runner down the long tables, breaking it up along the way with some folded music fans, paper roses from sheet music and then real yellow roses tucked in here and there. No great surprise there was singing at the party! The church choir did an adorable rendition of "Do You Love Me?" from Fiddler on the Roof and some family members sang the song which Ed serenades Lorraine.

My client made a wonderful program that included a custom crossword puzzle on the back that had "Ed & Lorraine" clues and answers. Lorraine is a regular NY Times crossword puzzler. The pinwheel on a pencil was the party favor and it had a dual purpose. One, the party-ers needed something to solve the crossword puzzle with, and two it represented how the couple met all those years ago when Lorraine's dropped pencil was picked up by Ed. Awe. You can check out the invitation here.

Party of Two

My sweet husband and I haven't gone out on Valentine's Day for dinner in many years. And last night was no exception. It was "just the two of us" but instead of our same old casual thing I decided we needed to have a cozy table by the fireplace and music instead of the TV in the background! I pulled out some linens that don't get enough use, clipped some flowers from the yard for our centerpiece, pulled Cupid out of the cupboard, made a small "love" bunting, printed the menu, cooked everything except the German Chocolate cupcakes (Elizabethan Desserts, yummmm!) and lit some candles. I think I took him by surprise!

Hitched!

Wedding signs are the rage. Cute wooden ones that say "Mr. & Mrs.", bunting that spells out "Love is Sweet", a pennant that says "Yay!", and even some that say "Hitched". It seemed like the perfect word for one of my recycled jeans pennants. Darn cute!

They're Engaged! Part One

Do you ever wonder if anyone at your party notices all the details that you spent hours creating, or worrying about. If you are like me you do. Maybe "worry" is too strong of a word. "Fuss" might be better. Yes, I fuss about and fuss over all the details until I hit the point when I start to wonder who will notice. That's when I usually decide to just let it go and let the party happen and what didn't get done will only be missed by me. Here are just a few details from the latest party!

Upcycle Madness! Denim Pennants!

I have not lost my mind. But I am in a recycle/up-cycle/re-purpose/renew kind of mode. It started a few weeks ago when I decided I should go through my closet and toss some dust-collecting clothing items into a give-away bag. I ran across a couple pair of jeans that have really gotten to that frustrating point. You know. They are great when you put them on right out of the dryer, but sit in them for an hour and the tush area is saggy? Baggy? Just what I need!

But denim is precious somehow. I couldn't part with the jeans, I had to recycle them. So here goes. Denim wedding pennants. I think this will be a great prop for wedding photos, a fun bridal shower gift, a cute wedding ring carrier for a ring-bearer (tie those wedding bands on the ribbons!), and something fun to decorate the newlywed's home.

I'm working on another one with red glittered "Love" and I think it's gonna be too cute too!

I Scream

am in charge of a little ice cream thingy at church this week. No great surprise, my way of looking at a "little ice cream thingy" means a full-fledged party with a theme! And also, if anyone is going to go to the trouble to bring all the goodies and set it up one certainly wants people to eat the ice cream. Sure, it's best to say "no" to desserts most of the time but if the presentation is fabulous then it's harder to resist the temptation. So I'm shooting for a great presentation that will make it a true party and cause folks to dig in! The classic "I scream, you scream... " and we all know the rest, will make an appearance in pennant bunting form. Here's a preview..