Party Planning Tips...

This past weekend my cousin, Matthew, graduated from Morton High School and is planning to continue his studies at Bradley University this coming Fall semester. Although not 'certified' caterers, Blake & I enjoy preparing and presenting food and we able to caterer his graduation party on Sunday afternoon for family & friends. For those of you who might be planning an upcoming graduation party or a future get-together, I thought I would pass along some tips we have learned from party planning throughout the years.

1. Plan Ahead. Collect ideas from a variety of events you attend throughout the year; creative ideas can be gathered from business meetings, wedding receptions, birthday parties, magazine layouts, etc. Identify characteristics/styles you find appealing & notice which ideas are effective AND those which miss the mark.
2. Know your audience.Determine the number of guests who will attend the event and plan accordingly. For example, a larger sized group may demand simplicity when choosing a menu OR the adult/child ratio may impact your food choices and/or seating arrangements.
3. Make Wise Food Choices. While it is always fun (and adviseable) to try out a few non-standard or specialty foods, be sure your menu centers around food that will be found pleasing to the majority of the guests in attendance. Also, it is best to plan a menu which includes a combination of foods which can be made ahead of time and those which require last-minute preparation.
4. Make Lists. Once your menu is finalized, print each of the recipes required & a corresponding shopping list organized by specific store location where you plan to purchase the item. You'll also want to make a ToDo list of tasks to be completed prior to the date of the event and those which need to be accomplished the day-off. These lists should be organized in the order in which the tasks need to be accomplished.
5. Presentation! Presentation! Presentation! We use differently shaped and sized white and claer servingware so depending on the type of event, the bowls & platters can appear formal or understated. Even the most simple food can gain extra 'pizzazz' when arranged in a unique and/or creative manner. Arranging food at different height levels creates more of a 'food display' and avoids the 'cafeteria-line' appearance.

Springtime! Springtime!

As I mowed the yard for the first time this season, completing it exactly 17.5 seconds before a rainstorm blew in, I found myself often glancing at our front door. Although I am not an inside 'seasonal' decorator (i.e. if you come to my house at anytime except around Christmastime it will pretty much always look the same), there is something inviting about having a front door display that changes with the seasons.

After we finished painting our front door a couple of summers ago, Blake mounted a black wrought iron basket to the door. Since our front door is also black the basket kind of blends into the background. The permanent basket makes it simple to change the design of the front door arrangement and offers security for blustery and/or stormy days.

So here is a picture of our current front door. To me it says, "Hello, Springtime! Glad you are here & please stay awhile!"

What's in a Name?

Looking for a fun & creative way to bring your child's bedroom to life? Have you searched & searched for images/artwork which reflects WHO your child truly is and still have come up empty? Well, nothing symbolizes your child more perfectly than his/her very own name.

It's easy to personalize your child's room & allow the walls to reflect your child's personality, most favorite colors or interests. I recently re-discovered the art of decoupage. Decoupage is most simply defined as..."the process of placing a picture onto an object for decoration." It allows for instant customization & color-coordination of lettering which can be displayed anywhere in your child's room (or throughout the house).

For those of you with jam-packed schedules who cannot image tackling yet another project (and where would you store the newly purchased craft-store supplies anyways!?)...I would love to step in and help. Following are the details of the 'official' launching of my not-so-official business venture :)

FONT. I am currently offering only 1 font design in which all the letters are capitalized and edges are painted white. Height of each letter is approximately 9-inches (varies by 1/4-inch depending on the actual shape of the character itself).

DESIGN. Share one or more of the following details about the room where the letters will be displayed: (1) the color scheme. Example: chocolate brown & aqua OR pink & purple, (2) style theme of the room. Example: trains & planes or anything with wheels OR pastel flowers & butterflies, (3) specificly desire pattern design. Example: stripes & polk-a-dots OR gingham & flowers. Based on these details, I will select paper designs which coordinate/compliment your ideas. If you want the lettering to match a VERY specific color, I request you send swatches and upon review, I will advise if I am able to match the color accurately.

HANGING. Each letter can be wall-mounted utilizing a 'keyhole' slot on the back.

COST. $8.00 per letter + cost of shipping. For names which exceed six letters in length, cost for letters seven & beyond are reduced to $6.00 each. Cost of shipping is estimated at $7-10. NOTE: I may be able to accomodate personal deliveries; please inquire.

TURNAROUND TIME. 2-3 weeks from receipt of your order. I will attempt to work more quickly, if necessary.

NOTE: Jonah & Jared are the names of two of my nephews. These names were completed this weekend with the assistance of my SIL, Penny.

If interested in placing an order, please post a Comment or contact me at designsbyblake@hotmail.com. Thanks!

An Easter or Springtime Arrangement?

Hosting Easter dinner at your home? A bright floral arrangement can add elegance to your diningroom!

Looking for a unique Mother's Day idea? A floral or plant design is sure to bring a smile to the heart of your wife or mom AND it won't be headed to the trash within a few weeks!

Wanting to add some sunshine to a coffeetable, fireplace mantle or bedside table? We can create a design with your favorite flowers to match perfectly the decor of your home.

If you are interested in placing an order for a Springtime design, drop us a line using the email address noted in the titlebar. We can customize an arrangment to meet your expectations & your budget.

NOTE: We will be in downstate IL for the Easter holiday & available to make to-your-door deliveries on Saturday, March 22nd.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Home decor is all about making the spaces within your house a reflection of those who live inside. Here are some easy ideas to make your home reflect your heart.
Gather a collection of your favorite things & sayings that inspire you.

Draw from your childhood memories; cluster items which remind you of former days. This idea is perfect for a small space in an office or shelf in a child's bedroom.

Give special attention to photographs that capture the best moments in your life. Shadow or memory boxes like those shown here are available at craft/hobby stores and are an elegant alternative to standard frames. Including a tin word plaque within the arrangement creates a 'romantic' flair to the grouping. These granite pots are hand-me-downs from my grandmothers. Combined with a modern kitchen plaque, it's a perfect combination of old & new.

Bringing the Outdoors IN...

You can bring 'sunshine' into your house all year 'round (regardless of the weather outside) by incorporating florals into the decor of your rooms. This guest room is designed to mimic an English garden with the dominant bedside arrangement seen here.Old barn window frames painted white are draped with bright, cheery peony blossoms are a low-cost & easy way to bring the outdoors IN.

Winter Wedding Elegance...

This bride & groom were married on a wintry day in January. White roses arranged in a cascading bouquet complimented the bride's classic dress and the icy green branches added 'sparkle' to the florals. The boutonnières were kept simple; you know it is with guy's wearing flowers!