The Final Touch

Real Party: Noah's Baptism

When my friend called me asking for my help for her son's baptism, I was thrilled. She had decided to have it at MB mange. boire restaurant in little Italy, a place I particularly enjoy. Not only because Matteo the owner is a family friend, but also because the chef Tommy ( which happens to be a good friend of mine and my husband ), is awesome!

I knew the food would be great, and it was. 

For the decor, we started with invitations. Since it was a baptism, Noah's mother wanted to keep it serene, without it beeing too classic. The chocolate brown and mint green duo not only brought that feeling to life, but also reminded me of my beloved after eights :)

I designed a simple monogram with Noah's initials, and this graphic element was used on the invitations, menu, cake, and cookies that were given out to guests as a favor.

Eva did a great job on the flowers, it was original and fit perfectly the sleek look of the restaurant, as well as our colour scheme. The guests were wowed. She used some inexpensive stainless steel plaster containers from the hardware store. The shape was perfect, the look impeccable, and very affordable.

The cake and cookies were created by Montreal Confections. I love this girl, she absolutely masters her art. I packaged the cookies to match the whole look and feel of the party with tranparent cellophane bags to reveal the design of the cookie, and a fairly wide gros grain chocolate brown ribbon to make a cute bow.

It was a fun project. I enjoyed it. Congratulations Noah!

Office Party

I was in a different kind of mood today. A friend of mine owns a software development company, and is about to launch a new web application. He called me for ideas on how to finalise some details for his launch party. I laughed when he said: " Lorena, please don't kill the budget! "

I took a trip down to Staples, with one goal in mind, finding all the supplies I need from there.

Sometimes inspiration comes on its own, and sometimes, you just look for it. Today, I waited for the inspiration to come to me, while walking down the aisles of the store.

I am pretty happy with the outcome:

1. I bought a business card box to display and organise the escort cards. It's an easy practical and original way for the guests to find their seats.
2. I covered some slide boxes with black paper, wrapped some twine around it, made a loose bow and attached those shipping tags. The words " Thank You!" I just wrote by hand.  
3. Another idea for the escord cards was a plain foam core board ( they come in all shades of colour, with "@" push pins. And I printed the names and table number on plain card stock.
4. The invitation has a modern, clean look to it. Adding a touch of red with the envelope brings some colour ( you can use your corporate colour envelopes )  

Mission accomplished. I came out of Staples, with a light bill, and a light heart. 

This look will work well for trendy agencies, hi tech companies, any business that is not taking itself too seriously. It is all about fun!

Love Birds

Nature is an inspiration. All these colors, smells, and textures, it just can't leave me indifferent.

I've decided to include an element of nature in this post. I just couldn't make up my mind. What would it be? I love butterflies, and clown fishes, I love horses, leaves, and grass, I also love flowers, especially tulips. Humm, the choice was too vast. I decided to make my son decide for me, he just answered with a wise voice :" Why don't you flip a coin?"

Kids are too wise nowadays, but I am going off topic. So I decided to take my wise son's advice. I wrote all things I loved in nature on small pieces of paper. I then, looked at them, stared at them, tried to cheat a bit, but didn't. I closed my eyes, and picked  " BIRDS".

I was happy with my luck. Birds, Birds, which bird? the answer was clear : LOVE BIRDS

Love birds are active birds ( just like me ) , they love water ( just like me ) , they love raspberries ( just like me !! ), they're social and love the others of their kind ( just like me, maybe I was a love bird in a previous life). I was happy with my choice, and here is the result of some research and inspiration.

The Love Bird wall stickers are a perfect way to turn any boring space into an exciting one. I found these at Ferm-living

I fell in love whith that necklace. I can just picture the maid of honor wearing a plain turquoise, red, or chocolate brown dress and that necklace as an accent. Erm Originals has beautiful necklace designs with birds.

The cake is a piece of art. Lovin Sullivan Cakes reproduced the Lenox Chirp Design China drawing on the cake. They did a fantastic job, and the idea is awesome. 

For favors, I thought of two ideas. First the bird's nest , it fits perfectly within the whole theme. Or to be more subtle, a simple box with ribbon and label, that can be filled with raspberry candies. This box I have designed last year for a couple, I found the colours to fit well within the whole theme. Favors could be alternated for a more ecclectic look and feel.

And this absolutely adorable love bird felt embellishment, I couldn't resist. it was so cute I had to include it. What to do with it, I am not sure. But what I'm sure of, is that you will find tons of ways to use it. Get it at Tessa Ann

I added the last picture, cos I can just picture that party to be very vintage / rustic, and the long bare wood table is something I always dreamt of having. I thought for someone that is crafty ( of has a crafty entourage) these tables could be built for a special event, for not much money. I wouldn't put any tablecloth. I would live it raw, just like nature.

Edith Piaf Dinner Party

I am very emotional while writing this post. Edith Piaf played such a big role in my life. Whenever I am running low on creativity, I play her music, and the sound of her voice full of truth and strengh inspires me. So the least I could do is pay her tribute. 

I designed these invitation postcards thinking of how great it would be to spend a whole evening in her company listening to La vie en rose, Milord, or l'Hymne a l'amour.

Now that I had the postcards, I felt like organising that party. I saw myself finding my computer searching and browsing, and here is the result. A french dinner inspiration board to share with all of you. I will be having this dinner party in three weeks with some of my close friends that are in love with Edith Piaf too.

Her favorite meal was " Coq au vin " , and I am anxious as to how it will turn out. I've never made it before. But it just sounds delicious. Good wine, aromatic cheeses from Hamel la Fromagerie,  fresh figs,  and the best baguette from Mamie Clafoutis will be on the menu.

For the table setting I got inspired from the picture of Bistro Les Petits Carreaux. Forest green, ivory, and butter yellow. 

When saying Paris, you cannot forget those delicious macarons, that literally first crunch and then melt in your mouth. An explosion of taste, that invade your whole being! So I decided to package some pistachio macarons with some almond macarons in small green boxes and tie a buttery yellow ribbon around to give my guests as a thank you favor. 

I will be playing " La Vie en Rose" movie. If you haven't seen it (or if you don't now Edith Piaf ) I highly recommend you rent it. It is a jewel.

I am really looking forward to it. A whole evening with Edith Piaf! What else to ask for?

If you live in Montreal, they play her music at Pois Penché, a fairly new french bistro downtown. If you're craving Paris, go for a lunch there. It will do you good :)

Polka Dot Theme Party

Let's be realistic. This is no theme attractive to men ( I do love polka dotted ties though! ). But if you're thinking bridal shower, baby shower or even your little girl's birthday party then think polka dots. Polka dots are fun. Seeing them always makes me smile, maybe because it reminds me of that song. I am sure all of you have heard at least once. Doesn't make you happy just listening to it? So if happiness, joy and smiles is what you're looking for at your next event, then think of giving the polka dot theme a try.

You can try different color combinations for a different feel. Yellow and white is very refreshing, and black and white a bit more edgy.

These invitations and favor boxes I created for a client's bridal shower. And from what I heard, happiness was in the air.

Marshmallows - Puffy Little Forgotten Treasures

These are not the marshmallows you used to have when you were a kid. These are the gourmet version. If you're running out of ideas on how to treat your guests at your next event or party, try to consider those little bites of heaven. And when I say heaven, I mean it! When biting into them, you feel you're biting into clouds. They're fluffy, soft, and they melt in your mouth. You can find them in so many flavors: cardamom, flower salt caramel, lavender, whisky, and even wasabi! You name it.

Different shapes are also available, the heart one is a cute one for a Valentine party favor, and the suckers perfect for a baby shower, or birthday. My personal favorites are the square ones, I just love the texture on the sides.
 

Marshmallows are colourful, and when packaged in clear bags, with a nice personallized tag or label, colourful matching ribbons, make an original, fun, and beautiful favor.

Adding them to your sweet table or candy bar will make your guests talk. They enhance the overall look of a table, add colour, and some lightness into your decor. Why take ourselves so seriously? Let's eat some marshmallows, and treat the kid inside each and every one of us :)

Here are some stores that make great marshmallows:

• Whimsy and Spice
• Suzie's Confections  
• Laura's Candy    

And if you are in the mood of making your own, here is Martha's recipe. You can then get in touch with me to package them for you. I will match your theme and colours, and of course use food safe packaging.

Tea Cups

When my parents renovated their kitchen a year ago, they got rid of their large cabinet which housed all their glassware and china.  With nowhere to put everything they had gathered over the years, I volunteered to store ( keep?! ) some things at my house.  I quickly grabbed my favorites: the tea cups.

I remember being a little girl, staring at these beautiful objects and fanstasizing about the day when I will throw fancy tea parties.  I had my favorites of course, but there was something so unique about each and everyone of them.  Each tea cup told a story and inspired me in a different way.  

A quarter century later ( or maybe a little bit more :P ) , my dream came true, and I have them at my house. I still haven't used them.  I have kept them in a box wrapped in newspaper and I'm not quite sure why.  So today I decided to take them out, and display them, suddenly all those beautiful memories came back to me. I looked at my daughter, and she was staring at them with her big eyes open, and I smiled. I just knew what she was thinking.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, first to show you those beautiful tea cups that made me realise who I was, and what I wanted to do in life. And secondly, to incite you to pay a visit to your family, open their drawers and cabinets, take out all their beautiful objects, borrow them ( or simply take them ! ), and throw a "vintage tea party". You can also take a walk down the antique shop streets, and look for beautiful cups. If they are not in a set, they are usually very cheap. They don't have to be similar, and they don't have to match! The beauty of it is that each one of them tells its owns story. 

Have a nice tea party :)

Wedding Colour Palettes

Basing myself on the 2009 Spring Pantone Colour Report, and just by walking down Montreal's streets, looking at my favorite boutique's windows, trendy people, and gourmet stores I've put together this colour palette that I think will be hot for 2009.

I will try to get you amazing finds to fit within these palette. Keep tuned :)

If you are a bride, and came up with an original colour scheme, please don't hesitate to email me. I will blog about it.

Cookie Bouquet - Delicious!

  

Over the holidays I met Marlyn. Marlyn is a cookie designer, that's how I like to call her. She creates those little pieces of art, which are a pleasure to the eyes and palate.  I have seen and tasted lots of cookies in my life ( oh yes I did! ), but none as perfect. 

My favorite are these daisy cookies on a stick.  

These can create original centerpieces, which can double as favors instead of having the usual flower centerpiece. They are perfect for a baby shower, a bridal shower, or a birthday party.  I also think they would look stunning at a wedding's sweet table.

Marlyn Birmingham, you're great!  

If you're interested in getting those cookies for a special event, just email me

They can be personalized with ribbons, tags and embellishments to match your event's theme and colours.

Check out more of Marlyn's cookies here or here.

Portable Wine

How many times did you want to pour yourself a bottle of wine, but didn't want to open a bottle, so you just forget about it?

It happens to me all the time, and I was excited when I found out about Volute.

Top experts in wine, marketing, and graphic design launched this amazing 21st century wine brand. It comes in three varieties, red, white and rosé. Only the finest grapes are used, and it is hand harvested.

The aluminum bottle is eco-friendly, since aluminum is infinitely recyclable, and protects the wine from the light. The bottle is sturdy, Every bottle is an individual serving ( one glass ) So, in three words: single serving, shatterproof, and eco-friendly. It is worth giving it a try, especially that the makers pretend their wine to be competitive in taste to top wines.

I love the shape of the bottle, and the concept. I think it is courageous and I am buying myself a case soon.

I can see these bottle all lined up in a casual outdoor party. It will make a statement, and for sure will make your guests talk.