i spy: homemade cardboard creations!

I just love all the homemade cardboard creations I'm seeing these days. Remember...

the construction party?

the sailboat?

the castle?

the robot?

i spy: amy atlas-inspired tables!

Imitation is the best form of flattery, right?

Amy Atlas' name has become synonymous with highly-styled, fabulous, dessert-laden tables. The look has been copied around the globe. Did she 'invent' the look? What do you think? Martha Stewart Weddings has done brilliant 'dessert buffets' for years, but Amy has created so many gorgeous tables in this style that there is no doubt the look has become her own.

*If you guessed the top photo was Martha Stewart and the all-pink bottom photo was Amy's, you were right!

Tables above from: martha stewart weddings; scissors.paper.cake; sharnel/cupcake company; shauna young; baby lifestyles; amy atlas

everything's coming up...

rainbows!

photos via Jordan and Swiss Miss.

i spy: mish-mash lantern garland

It seems this mish-mash lantern garland (originally via d*s, pictured at top) is all the rage. I've spotted two other versions so far and love all of the interpretations! Middle picture from an engagement celebration via 7-year wedding; bottom photo from Audrey's mad hatter party via Simple Lovely.

i spy: pretty fakes

Why do we love pretty fakes? No...they're nothing new, but they're mighty clever- and popping up everywhere, it seems. Some of my recent favorites above... a jello lime crafted to look like a watermelon; a cupcake meant to look like an ice cream cone; and one of my all-time faves- the potted cake. What are your favorite fakes?

watermelon...right here (via pinkcupcakevintage)

ice cream cone...right here (via gen)

potted plant cake...right here (from martha, of course!)

i spy: birthday video trend?

For you video fans, check out this very sweet and moving short film, documenting Piper's first birthday (thanks to mom, Amanda, for passing along!). It seems a great way to mark this first birthday milestone. The film highlights special snapshots and moments of the day, set to music that rides on the emotions of the occasion. 

I feel like I am seeing more of these 'high-tech' videos, that are not just a running video of a child blowing out birthday candles, but a more thought-out compilation of the birthday. Some people even hire production companies to document such occasions. What do you think? 

I hate to admit it, but we don't even own a video camera. I do short little films with the video feature of my point and shoot, but have never considered it a priority to buy a video camera. Perhaps something I will regret down the road? I don't know. We have only looked at our wedding video once (we were married 6 years ago), so I don't know if I'm just not a video kind of gal. Then again, I love really well produced short films, like these super 8 films Chelsea wrote about last week. Or perhaps I'm just lazy. I'm having a hard enough time keeping up with photo-documenting my son...I just started working on his first photo album- coming home from the hospital! Personally, I think a more high-tech digital camera is on my wish list before a video camera (hint, hint...mom).

i spy: dangling parasols from the ceiling

Whether large or small, it seems dangling parasols from the ceiling (upside down) is the decor du jour. I'm quite partial to the small ones...the large ones seem odd to me, for some reason.

small...via beachbungalow8

large...via realsimple

i spy: lollipop flower trend?

I love the use of these perfectly round suckers as candy flower decor- so clever! Now I'm going to try to hunt down a source for them...the Amy Atlas ones seem particularly lovely and round.

On a side note, there is a feature in Food & Wine this month on Amy Atlas and how she creates her beautiful table displays. Lots of great tips, as well as revealing that she is a LAWYER in addition to (?) event caterer- who knew!?

And now, I'm really off for the weekend...

images...martha stewart, top; amy atlas, bottom

oldies but goodies

It's no secret that many designers look to the past for inspiration. Really good design can withstand the test of time and transcend the era it was born. Many of my favorite designs and patterns originated in the 1950's and 60's...though I am sometimes surprised to find myself picking up items from the 70's, and (gasp!), 80's, occasionally! Can you spot some of today's trends showing up in these vintage finds?

From top: rose card from ricracbuttons, etsy; vintage stripes and spots from bostonbaglady, etsy; vintage airmail labels from bostonbaglady; yellow flower cards from bostonbaglady; silhouette box from vintageworks/etsy.