Buzz: Kiss the Groom again!!

Modern Press' "Just Married" sign makes it's way to the pages of San Francisco Bride thanks to the talented photographer, Elizabeth Messina!  See the spread on Elizabeth's beautiful blog, Kiss the Groom.

MP finds: Outstanding in the Field

First came a truly inspirational find...Jim Denevan, just a guy with a rake...but wow, his sand and earth creations are breathtaking! 

And just when I thought I could not get enough of his amazing work, I learned about Outstanding in the Field.

Denevan, a talented chef as well, began a "roving culinary adventure" that is set, well, pretty much anywhere!  Their mission is to reconnect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it.  Amazing.

Cost is about $200 per person and it seems to sell out fast.  Check out the tour locations and find one near you.  Lightbulb!  What an amazing wedding gift!  And they do private events!

The NYC area is sold out for 2011 but I am definitely looking forward to next year!

Cool Reads: Amateur Couture

I love this blog...Amateur Couture...where art and fashion meet.

Buzz: Kiss the Groom

Photographed by the lovely and crazy talented Elizabeth Messina.

Kiss the Groom: Signs of Love

Kiss the Groom: Pure Loveliness

Kiss the Groom: Just Married by Modern Press

MP finds: childrenBMerry

Somehow for the past 4 years, I have managed to walk away from every birthday party i've thrown for my children, with a sad amount of photographs.

I'm too busy, too overwhelmed...regardless of the excuse, I end up with a few lame poorly lit shots or ones taken by others with the focus, of course, on their child, not mine!

This is supposed to be a day to remember...the joy and the fun of a special day for my sweet baby! I bust my butt on every detail, doing WAY too much and barely getting it all done. In the end, it's wonderful, for better or for worse, and I promise myself that I will manage my time better next time. Regardless of the outcome, it never changes the fact that I walk away without a single great shot capturing my child's special day, not to mention my own labors of love.

This is the year it all changes!

My brilliant idea: post on some local parent listings a barter for professional photography in exchange for letterpress services. It's the only thing I have to offer! Let's see what happens. Wow, overwhelming response...and wow, what amazing talent! I don't even know how to choose but I follow my instincts and find myself most drawn to childrenBMerry. Bea Merry is an incredible photographer whose work somehow captures the essence of the moment and the child. That fleeting nanosecond of a moment, that anyone whose ever struggled to get that perfect shot knows, is what separates the amateurs from the professionals and ultimately from the artists.

Details of the party to follow but here are just a few gorgeous images.

Apart from her children's photography, Bea is co-founder of Merry+Valenzuela. With her lovely and talented business partner, Laura Valenzuela, they head a unique design collaborative with allies around the world. Graphics, branding, photography, art direction, video, web...the list goes on...they can do it all. Their work is amazing. Clean, clear and thoughtful...exactly as it should be.

Thank you both for capturing the day so beautifully and somehow making scrap paper look delicious!!

MP obsessions: Birthday parties

My little baby just celebrated her 3rd Birthday and I've come to realize my new obsession...birthday party planning. Anyone that knows me, knows how crazy I go with my kids' birthday bashes. I think about it non-stop for weeks prior and always come up with something that entails many late nights leading up to the big event. It's not only for the girls but so much for me. What joy it brings me!

So little Isa is princess crazed. I actually don't know many that are not at this age. As much as I thought to fight it, especially pre-parenthood...I now get it. And besides, it too brings them such joy, why deny them that? So princess it is. We went with a whole dress up theme and I insanely made the costumes for all. Princess skirts/accessories for the girls and knight costumes for the boys. It seemed harmless enough when I made that first mock up and thought, "ok, that was pretty easy..." 37 later is not so easy anymore. The funny thing about the head count was that the party fell on Columbus Day Weekend and many that I first mentioned it to were not even in town. My own personal fear of party failure started kicking in and I widened the net, assuming many would still not make it. Bad idea...thus the 37 kids.

It was a blast though and complete with cardboard castle, we had a wonderful little royal kingdom!

It's unfortunate that hosting a party often leaves me unable to take as many shots as I would like but there is only so much one can do!

Here are as many details as i could capture!

Some worthwhile finds...

Girls skirts were made from Gossomer which is often used for inexpensive backdrops or curtains. It comes in rolls and is very cost effective!

I always buy my ribbon from Artistic Ribbon in NYC. Lots and lots of great colors, well priced and the best part is i can pick it up at my convenience. Though when only the best will do, I go to Mokuba.

Most of the fun princess accessories are from non other than the infamous Oriental Trading. Could not live without this resource when planning kids parties.

Though in my travels, I have found some other great resources that are worthy of a mention...

S&S Worldwide is an unbelievable craft and educational supply resource with EVERYTHING! What I've found here that I have not found elsewhere is an awesome selection of group craft supplies or kits, perfect for diy items in goodie bags and party activities.

Through a wonderful stationer friend of mine, Niki of Papery and Cakery, I was introduced to her lovely, talented sister/pastry chef, Ali, who created the beautiful cupcakes for Isanna. We wanted something different for her actual birthday celebration with just family and also had Ali create a little mini 6" fondant cake with a big fat bow. Very very sweet...to look at and to eat!

Now if I had found this next artist at the Lollipop Workshop on Etsy,I would have been hard pressed to buy one of these absolutely ADORABLE cake toppers! It is just ooozing mini sweetness. Love it!

Inspiration . My Pom Love

Well I am a little embarassed to admit that I did try Martha's PomPom and my first try was actually quite bad!  I am proud of my craftiness and was shocked that it was ugly enough to crumple up and begin again!  I guess I did not pull gently enough to maintain some of the folds so it turned into a wrinkled mess!!

All the more reason to admire how gorgeous Pom Love's work is...as well as the stylists over at Martha Stewart!

My second round of poms turned out great but completion was cut short when my girls insisted on them as their new bouquets. They were thrilled!

I am having thoughts of how this can be transformed into something bigger.  I am seeing masses of backlit poms hanging from my office ceiling.   Or a sea of them forming a beautiful undulating texture on the bare wall behind my press.  hmmm....

i'm off to try some things.  

i'll be back...