ok…..I know Spring is still a month away here in Australia, but it sure felt like it was a lot closer today! I came across these flowers on a shopping trip for an upcoming table, aren’t they just beautiful?

and then I was off (armed with my two trusted tasters, thanks girls x) to find some desserts for the table, here are some of the contenders

found at Patisse in Waterloo

and

found at Yellow in Potts Point

AT (Ataxia-Telangiectasia) is something that is close to my family’s heart. My gorgeous little cousin Mia was diagnosed with AT when she was just a baby.

The devastation as a parent to know what is in store for your child is something that I could never imagine. Mia is now 6 years of age, and we are all praying that a cure will be found so that she along with all the other effected children are able to live a healthy, happy and long life.

There is an A-T charity dinner being held in Melbourne on the 13^th of August 2011 to help raise money to go towards finding a cure.

There will be an auction taking place on the evening and the fundraising team are needing items to auction.

This is a great opportunity to give back whilst helping make a difference to a very worthy cause.

If any of you have anything that you would like to contribute to the auction it would be very welcomed and I would be truly grateful.

Please e-mail Vanessa Scrofani, (Mia’s Aunty) at vanessa.scrofani@axa.com.au with your details and what you would like to contribute. You can let her know that I sent you. x

If you would like to know more about A-T you can do so by visiting the BrAshA-T website http://brashat.org.au/index.php

xx

Louisa

For those of you that know me it’s no secret that I love all things old and unusual. I have the best time rummaging through bargain bins and picking up the things that most people just pass by. I think in part because it gives me great satisfaction in turning something unwanted into something of a treasure. but  also because I find it very hard to find new things that have the same quality in workmanship and purpose as what a lot of vintage and antique things do.

I LOVE my local consignment store as its filled with so many little trinkets but I am also a huge fan of charity shops. My first ever Levi jeans came from a charity shop , I was 14 at the time and my best friend took me there to show me what it was all about. I will never forget walking in with her and going to a big bin at the back of the store, it was filled with Levi jeans all for the price of $7 each…. needless to say I bought 2 pairs and one pair to turn into cut off shorts (lol, oh the fashion back then)

I am working on a couple of tables at the moment so I stopped into a few of my favourite shops and look what I found!! I also got a frilled milk glass cake stand that I haven’t photographed yet. I am so thrilled with my finds.

I also wanted to share with you this beautiful decanter and glasses set that was passed on to me from my mother. I just love the colour and detail!

Garden Parties are one of my absolute favorite ways to celebrate. For me there is nothing lovelier than celebrating in the open air being whilst surrounded by all that’s beautiful in life, friends, family, food and nature.  I have the fondest memories of family picnics as a child, everyone brought along their own specialty dish and as children we would go off exploring and only come back when it was time to sample the delights on offer.

When I was asked to create this table for a 50th Birthday Party all of those memories came flooding back. Of course the styling has changed , but that same feeling of good food, friends and family was still in abundance. I hope you enjoy the pics

x

Louisa

I wanted to share some pics from one of our latest events,

This party was styled for an adorable 7 year old boy named Nikolaus, who loves to play tennis with his father and friends.

I am so thrilled with how the sweet tennis court turned out. Lots of sawing, nailing and gluing to create the frame, I can’t tell you how much fun it was to pour the candy onto the court.  It was one of those occasions when the image in your head of how it should look actually turned into reality.

The table linen was made of felt which was super fun to work with. The children sat at tables that were covered also in green felt with marked out tennis courts on them.

The mini tennis ball cookies were supplied by the very lovely and talented Libby from Polka Dot Cookies. I have used her cookies in the past and I am never disappointed with the quality and amazing service! I just love going in to collect my cookie orders, the sent is heavenly in there!

Each child had their own ‘deuce juice’ aka apple juice and custom labelled water bottles. Hand stamped Tennis player serviettes were also a great added touch to the children’s place settings.

A Tennis coach helped entertain all the children with lots of tennis playing fun and games which allowed Nikolaus’s parents to have fun at the party as well.

Unfortunately I wasn’t there when the birthday boy came home from school to see his party set up but I was later told that he had a grin on his face from ear to ear!

Apologies for the picture quality , I forgot my trusty SLR.

x

Louisa

There is something about rows and rows of organised colour that makes my heart skip a beat. I get the same feeling at the stationery store as well as the flower markets….supermarkets not so much lol, oh except for the lolly isle

I took these pics the other day when I was out doing some last minute propping for our latest event.

x

Louisa

Super excited to see some of our work in the first issue of Peekaboo Sydney Magazine!

Here is a little more about the event and some extra pics x

This party was created for a gorgeous 6 year old girl named Emily

The event was held in the families’ back garden in Sydney. Emily and 11 of her sweet friends partied along to an apple theme.

Gorgeous tree invitations set the tone for this party with envelopes that were scented with apple essence. When the children opened their invitations they were greeted to a scent of what was to come.

Lots of good old-fashioned activities kept the children entertained. There was an apple bobbing competition, painting with apples and even an apple tasting contest. The children had to guess what type of apple they were eating.  Was it Granny smith, Golden delicious or Gala?

The children sipped milk from little bottles embellished with glittered green apples.

The party guests were also treated to oh so sweet mini apple pies, yummy apple shaped cake pops and apple puff cookies just to name a few.

Monogrammed gift sacs were filled with delights such as maltesers  (apple seeds), chocolate covered stick cookies (apple stalks) , apple flavoured mini rice cakes and of course just as the doctor prescribed, an apple!

We were told that the children were thrilled with their goodies and the parents even more so with the fun use of apples.

Darcy Miller, editor in chief of Martha Stewart Weddings is one of my creative idols, her wedding in 2001 was the first time I had ever seen a dessert buffet. You can have a look at her wedding pics here. It amazes me how after 10 years everything still feels so current.

I thought I would share some of Darcy’s gorgeous styling from a Bridal Shower she hosted for Dylan Lauren of dylanscandybar. I am so totally in love with the candy garland draped on the stair way!

This week is celebrations week on The Martha Stewart show, todays episode was all about candy crafts so I am adding an extra pic of a candy centrepiece which was created on the show by Dylan Lauren herself

x Louisa

May is such a HUGE month in our family, we have so many birthdays as well as my wedding anniversary not to mention Mothers Day.  It also happens to be my birthday this month and 7 years ago I was given the most amazing birthday present of all, my daughter Sienna. Just to add to the excitement my little boy was also born in May…… no wonder my bank account looks like a crazy person has stolen my card and gone shopping!

So a big happy birthday to all my May born family and friends, all 14 of you x

love these Huge candles by Philippe Pareeno to match my Huge month of May.

My daughter often collects pretty leaves and things from nature for me, it’s something that she has done ever since she was a toddler and something I truly love. At one point, when she was about 3 I had a collection of over 40 pine cones!

I can’t even remember where she found this but as soon as she gave it to me I thought of a candy scoop. 6 months later……..with remnant silk ruffle fabric (from my overflowing fabric cupboard), one velvet pink bow and some cupcake sprinkles….. ta da meet my new little candy scoop curtesy of nature via my Sienna x

Louisa