pom pom POW

One of my best friends is getting married next month and I just happen to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.  So, when the time came to throw her a shower of course I jumped at the chance to do a little crafting and DIYing for her special day.  (you can see the tea party themed invites I did for her HERE)

We decided that the favors would be an organic green tea soap.  It went along with the tea party theme, and was also something that everyone could use and not just a chotchkie that would get tossed.

Anyway, they came in clear plastic bags that were just itching for a little sprucing up.  Her wedding color is pink and her flowers just happen to be peonies, so can you guess what I made?

Pom Pom flowers!

Martha to the rescue (directions found here)

They looked so cute all grouped together, ready to hand out

It was a super easy project and most importantly the bride loved them!

(photos by Deborah Hall)

Getting ahead

While we don't even have a place or a date for our wedding I cant help but start to plan the pretty things, you know the flowers and the decor and the colors- my mind is in overdrive just thinking of all the possibilities for our day!

I'm still stuck on flowers like i was a few posts ago and I'm thinking of centerpiece ideas now.  I'd like something different from the usual one arrangement.  I could always go with one funky arrangement, but for now I am gathering ideas for centerpieces using multiple arrangements.  Of course Martha has some great ideas

 

I love the last one- its so colorful and bright.  Also the tea tins are really fun- being that the fiances family is from Sri Lanka I wonder if I could get a bunch of Ceylon Tea tins?   Hmmm, I might be on to something here.  

Anyone know where I can get like 100 Ceylon Tea Tins that are bright like these??

(all photos from Martha Stewart)

Album

I like the way these wedding photos are displayed.  They are not in a book somewhere that hardly gets looked at- they are displayed for all to enjoy. 

I think this little vignette is perfect. 

(scanned by me from Martha Stewart Weddings Winter 2009)

A Cheesy Post

I have yet to mention on this blog that I am related to a famous person, at least she is famous in my world (and soon to be yours too).  My cousin, Besty Devine, and her partner Rachel Mark are the brains and beauty behind Salvatore Bklyn a company they started that makes the most delicious ricotta cheese.

Located in Brooklyn, NY they were taught secret of cheese making from a man named, you guessed it, Salvatore when they were vacationing in Italy.  They brought back the recipe and started making small batches of this creamy goodness in their own kitchen. 

I would say the rest is history, but I know that this is only the beginning for them.  They are certainly making a name for themselves all over NY as well as the rest of the world and people are taking notice. Betsy and Rachel sell their cheese at the Brooklyn Flea every weekend in the Summer and that is where people started to catch on that they had something really special.

(photo from Timeoutnewyork's photostream)

Besides being written about all over the tri-state area, they have made a giant leap onto the national stage this past year. Here are just a few great places they have been seen.

Last year Country Living had a feature on the Brooklyn Flea and there was a large colorful photo of Betsy at work.  See more about it HERE

(photo from Country Living)

While they were at the Brooklyn Flea one day Martha Stewart tried their ricotta and fell in love.  She featured them on her blog back in October

Then she had Betsy and Rachel on her show in November to make some yummy Lemon-Poppy Seed Ricotta Pancakes

To follow up they were featured in the April issue of Martha Stewart Living (dont mind the cell phone pic, I didnt have a scanner handy)

If that was not crazy enough Martha invited them to the Tastemakers event held at the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia offices in NY

Andrew from Martha Moments wrote up a great review of the event HERE

(photo from Martha Moments by Andrew)

They were written up on the Everyday Food Blog too

Other mentions are:  

NY Magazine, yummy caramels can be bought from Liddabit Sweets a homemade candy store in NY, The NY Times,  and there are so many, so just do a search for Salvatore Bklyn and you can see all the great things people say about them and the ricotta.

I could go on and on but I really think you need to just check out their cheese for yourself.  I'm not just saying that because she is my cousin, I'm saying it because their ricotta really is THAT GOOD.

 two things you can get at the Brooklyn Flea: Bruschetta made with imported prosciutto and ricotta & a salvatore bklyn cannoli

Check out the Salvatore Bklyn website for more info on where you can get it.  Also, they will be back at the Brooklyn Flea this summer and I just heard that they are starting to carry high end olive oils too. So if you are in the area be sure to head over- we all love a good flea market, right?

Long story short (ok, this was a long one) you will be hearing lots more about Salvatore Bklyn in the future I'm sure. It is an empire that is just beginning. 

You're so perfect

Oh Martha, you are so perfect in everything you do.  You have your hands in almost every aspect of building, decorating, and keeping a beautiful home.  From furniture, rugs, paint, green cleaning supplies, crafts, books, flowers, to dishes and I could go on and on.  How do you do it all and look as gorgeous as you do?

And yet you amaze me again.  Your new paint line for Home Depot is great.  Better then great actually, it's fabulous and I cant wait for my next project to use it on.  The names of the colors made me laugh, you should give that creative team a raise (hey, I WISH I worked on your creative team- are you hiring?)

Just one itty bitty bone to pick with you Martha- why no paint deck?

I had to stand in the aisle of my local Home Depot and pick out each pretty little paint chip one by one to make my own paint deck.

Not an easy thing to do I must tell you.  Oh Martha how I love thee- please make a paint deck for us all to keep and treasure just like everything else with your name on it.

Thanks a bunch, I know all my blog friends would really appreciate it!

XXOO

your new BFF Linds

(and I PROMISE to NEVER EVER to write a mean tell-all book about you. Cross my heart, girl scout honor)

Martha, Martha, Martha!

Do you love Martha as much as I do??

Well, now is your chance to be able to be featured in a segment on her show featuring YOU


or spend a day in her craft room


or have a private tour of her garden and lunch with her


or have a decorating consultation with Kevin Sharkey



All it takes is a little click of the mouse to bid at the live auction HERE for all of these items and more. The money is being raised for the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai.

I wish I could bid on every single thing there, oh how amazing would that be?

I never...

Speaking of Martha Stewart, I never thought I would see a chair with this color combo grace the pages of Martha Stewart Living.

I'm totally digging it and I might paint my chair yellow now....way to go Martha!

(photo scanned from my September 2009 Martha Stewart Living)

Kevin Sharkey, You're My Hero!

Just to update all those who are not in the know- Kevin Sharkey is SVP and Executive Editorial Director, Decorating, and Executive Creative Director, Merchandising for Martha Stewart. In other words, one fabulously creative and talented person.

Just look at his office at Martha- I seriously have no words. Just insane jealously and admiration for a person who gets to work in this space every single day.


total "hello lover" moment when I first saw this




Now THAT is a styled bookcase




Take notice of those magazine boxes behind the pretty office supplies...


They are the SAME Ikea boxes I have...and they put mine to s.h.a.m.e. He had his painted faux bois and has the perfect little label holders on the front...swoon!


pens and pencils all ready to grab in beautiful silver cups.


So my blog friends, that is why Mr. Kevin Sharkey is my hero.

He just started his very own blog and I think I just became his #1 fan- in a total non-stalkerish, only high admiration for such a talented designer kind of #1 fan.

To see more from him head on over to Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

PS- Kevin, are you looking for an assistant? Have your people contact my people me (who am I kidding, I don't have people).

Pull on This

Awhile back I ordered a bunch of these metal label holders, not really with a project in mind I just liked them. Well, they have been sitting in a drawer for over a year now and last night on a cleaning/organizing/crafting kick I got them out and put two of them on this little white drawer thing I have in the kitchen.

Before


After


Don't get me wrong there was nothing wrong with the before, I was just sick of looking at it since I've had it circa 1999. I figured this little switch would make me like it again, and it did! Now, the BF has no excuse for not putting things where they belong (hint, hint BF)


I am going to order more and might do something like this


(image from Martha Stewart)

Can you see all those little labels on the edges of the shelves? I just LOVE how this closet is so neat and clean...makes me giddy.


Am I the only one who gets overly excited about labeling and organizing?? My family tells me I'm totally nuts when it comes to this, so please tell me it is ok and you are like that too :)

Did you get this?

I know this is old news because this book has been out for a few weeks now, but it really is a great resource. I would not say I am a beginner crafter, I've done several different types of crafts and this book has great projects that even the advanced crafter can get ideas from.

And NO, I am not getting paid by Martha to promote this book, I just like it (side note: Martha or any of the Omnimedia employees if you are reading this I would LOVE to get paid to promote this book or anything else you need me for- call me :) )

Here are a few ideas


How cute are these for a birthday gift, or even housewarming present. Dont forget holiday presents- what great packaging ideas she has



Cute family tree- great for your parents, grandparents or a new mother! And of course she has many ideas on gift wrapping, bows and tags.

all pictures from marthastewart.com and marthastewartcrafts.com