Martha's Done It Again!

Would you ladies look at this fun idea Martha Stewart had for a baby shower cake. And really this would be great for a first or second birthday two. Just do colors more primary or bolder pinks and greens.

When ever I'm a little dry on inspiration... I know I can count on Martha :)

Hugs,

A weekend of School Shopping and Painting

Well, here in Henry County, GA the kids start school August 2nd. So we had to take care of getting the girls all dolled up for the new year. We still need to get those pesky supplies...



And here's where I am with my painting. As you can see, I'm just beginning work on the steeple. And I'm rather excited about starting my first rag garland. I hope to have it ready to put up with my Fall/Halloween decor in a few weeks.

My etsy shop will soon have a New Halloween collection up too.

Hugs,

A Series

I'm starting a new series of paintings. The series will focus on old southern churches. I'm going large with super sized canvases and acrylics. I'll keep you posted!



Here's what I'm working from for the first painting in the series.



Hugs,

Birthday Bliss and A Little Trip

The Mermaid party was a blast. My lovely little mermaid enjoyed the party and her guest. And... mommy enjoyed seeing every one checking out the decorations!



Spiraling though the mountains of Tennessee are amazing views and areas to perch and take it all in.



The Natural Arch is one of the wonderful sights to see in the Big South Fork area of Kentucky.



The Cumberland Falls in Kentucky. Called the Niagara of the south, these falls are approximately 150 ft wide and 67 ft high. My grandparents spent their honey moon at the falls.



The lovely DuPont Lodge at Cumberland Falls. It was an amazing place.



The baby in the above picture is my great grandmother in the arms of her half Cherokee mother. Violace Parker married Webster Choate. She is about to celebrate her 95th Birthday.

{A Treat} from A Sweet Cousin

My Sweet cousin Elizabeth Sorianna Quinquinio Choate's did this fabulous drawing of me! She's just an awesome gal! Check out her website!

It's Almost Party Time

My little Mermaid
is so excited about her party this Saturday. She's going to have a giant inflatable slip in slide, which is a huge party pleaser every year. The adults also enjoy racing down the slip in slide! Cupcakes and Candy Buffet for all the sticky goodness she and her friends can stand. And I can't leave out a few rounds of Pin The Tail on The Mermaid!
So I've been busy cutting out mermaid tails, punching cupcake toppers and all the other fun things that go along with preparing for the little doll's party.








Hugs,

{ marshmallow fondant } Part 2

Hi Sweet Friends,
Here's what I was doing today! Thanks to that fab recipe from Cake Journal I had a great road map to these cute little treats that soon will top our cupcakes. The party is going to be mermaid themed so we'll be using the cupcake topper from my shop, with a sweet little shell sitting at the base of the stick. here are pictures of the process.













P.S. Thanks to one of my very best friends Tiffany for the great conch shell sculpting she did while I whipped out the clam shells. And to my other very best friend Pam for first introducing me to the fantastic yummy possibilities of MMF

Hugs,

Smoothie Heaven

I have been trying to be on a health kick lately... I do say trying ladies. I am human after all. So I started making a home grown recipe for a morning smoothie.

Hazelnut Heaven Smoothie

• about 3 large coffee mugs full of Ice
• 2 tsp instant coffee
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp hazelnut powdered creamer
• 1 cup soy milk
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup water

Blend it all and you have enough for a family of four!
My kids love it too.... of course they liked coffee in their sippy cups too though :)

Hugs,

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe by Cake Journal

A friend created her own fondant for her lovely pink and brown cake recently and it was a hit! I was intrigued and have visions of pink MMF seashells atop Isabel's cupcakes at her mermaid party.
So, I began a search for the recipe and hit the jack pot! I found a great website that is absolutely adorable. And she has some amazing tutorials, and some really cool "How To" items that you can buy. The fantastic find... cakejournal.com Louise is the talent behind the amazing site.



Anyways, here's the MMF recipe from Louise's tutorials and an image from her site showing the fondant. I can't wait to share pictures of my creations with her fabulous recipe.



Be sure to check out her website!

Hugs,

Special Occasions Call for Special Designs

We all have that special occasion be it a monumental birthday or a wedding, that calls for something a little more special. Something custom designed to mark the moment with the sentiment it deserves. With these celebrations in mind I'm offering custom designed invitations now through my etsy shop.



Or if it's just about convenience and budget why not go with a pre-designed invite from my shop.







Hugs,

Ice Cream Parlor Party Memories

One of my favorite birthday parties we've had for Roxy was her
Ice Cream Parlor Party.
It was a blast to watch the girls eyes bulge as they look at the treats that were spread before them on her Ice Cream Sunday Buffet. Sparkling pink sugar crystals, a variety of syrups, sprinkles and brownies galore. These girls were happy campers. The night continued with a marathon of favorite movies and popcorn , sleeping bags, singing to the latest Hannah Montana songs.
And mom's this was a very low budget party compared to how nutty things can get on prices of pinatas, bounce houses, skating rinks and pizza party destinations. So, don't stress Momma! Instead introduce them the Ice Cream Parlor Party Sleep over.

Buy this printable party kit here.

Hugs,

A Paper Purse for Your Little Mermaid

As sad as I am about the oil spill, I' m in the mood for some fun.
With that in mind let's talk mermaids!
My little dolls love nifty little hand bags to put their lip gloss in. And they love crafts just about as much as they love chocolate! So I designed this fun little DIY Paper Purse for a birthday party activity or to be created ahead as a parting treat bag. As with my other Mermaid Collection items it can be purchased here.



Hugs,

{ Birthday } Paper Dolls and Sand Castles

Mermaid Paper Dolls
What girl doesn't love a paper doll set? Well, I just fished designing these lovely dolls for the birthday mermaid birthday party set. There's just so many fun memories for those of us from a generation or two back tied to these little paper angles. And now I'm on a mission to share that joy with my girls and their friends.



Pool Party in your future?
Check out these fun little bits to embellish any beach side celebration. This is a set that includes party banner, cupcake toppers and cards.









Sweet Dreams Friends,