Bake It Pretty

Now that I have all this well-structured time to be creative (thanks to working from my home studio and the City of Cincinnati taking care of the education of my children) I've been really motivated to do some fun baking. Or maybe not even bake, but think about all the cool party ideas can be gleaned from great blogs like mine (gratuitous, shameless, etc). Ahem, anyway...

Here is a great little site I found that sells all things for baking called Bake It Pretty. Fun themed toppers, cupcake papers, frosting thing-a-mabobs (I don't know how to use those tubes and I've tried several times, but I'm sure someone who reads this knows how to make them work without spewing frosting everywhere but the item in need). Anyway, I hope it inspires you for your next party!

Pantone's Color of the Year--Turquoise!

Turquoise Inspiration from Margot Madison Creative

The Pantone company (world authority on color) has decreed that the 2010 color of the year is turquoise. And I must agree! What's not to love about turquoise? It's sometimes greenish, sometimes bluish. It can be soft, calming and sophisticated or bright and cheerful. In honor of one of my favorite colors, I have put together some delightful turquoise inspiration for your event. In the coming weeks, I'll explore some beautiful colors you can use i combination with turquoise. We'll consider this a starting point, shall we?

Cake image from Lovely And Gracious blog,  Beach Gem Cookies from Island Cookies, Cadillac Chair, Turquoise Swirl Letterpressed Invitation from Margot Madison Creative, Funky pocket mirror by Sweet Fairy Boutique, hand painted shoes from Pure Mystyc, original mandala artwork from Margot Madison Creative, Paper bouquet from The Guilded Bee, Turquoise Pendant personalized laptop cover from Margot Madison Creative.

Metal Table Numbers

How great would these look at each table of a modern wedding reception?? They would also make a cool cake topper for a birthday party I think. You can find them at Knob Creek Metal Arts for only $4.99 each.

Mod Turtle Twins Birthday Party Invitations

Mod Turtle Girl Twins Birthday Party Invitations by Margot Madison Creative

Just finished this cute suite for an etsy customer. The party is at a nature center!

Peace Themed Fundraiser Giftbasket

Margot Madison Creative's Peace Clipboard in a fundraiser gift basket.

Since everyone seems to be doing gift baskets for their fundraisers, I thought I'd post this great theme for younger folks. This features the Margot Madison Mod Peace Clipboard. You can also personalize it with your school's name.

Wood You Marry Me?

Wood Themed Wedding Inspiration collected by Margot Madison Creative

The city of Cincinnati just ruthlessly chopped down a tree in front of our house after having hacked the top and center limbs some years ago from the wires in the street. Yesterday, I left to run an errand and came back with it reduced to only a pile of freshly cut stumps. It was a bit shocking to say the least! Not wanting to let it all go to waste, my husband dutifully carried the cut logs to our back yard to cure for a future fall campfire.

So, in tribute to the poor cherry tree's life past, I've collected some wood themed inspiration for you! Enjoy...

(from left to right, top to bottom)
Garden Ornament Wood Invitation Suite from Margot Madison Creative available through Designer's Fine Press, Wood Candle Centerpieces from This Fine Day Wedding Accessories, Photograph by Kisa Koenig Photography, Birch Save The Date from Margot Madison Creative, Wood Table Signs from This Fine Day Wedding Accessories, Wooden Ring by Stout Wood Works, Wood Slices as Tags by The Hickory Tree, Twig Pencils from Beau-Coup, Wood Print Guest Book by Kate Blocher, Balsa Wood Flowers available by Krislyn Design, Wood Print tags by Bird Haven.

Win a wedding!

Cincinnati Art Museum and Channel 5 give away a wedding!

To celebrate the upcoming exhibition, “Wedded Perfection: Two Centuries of Wedding Gowns”, which runs from October 9, 2010 to January 30, 2011, the Cincinnati Art Museum has partnered with Cincinnati Wedding magazine, WLWT Channel 5 and some of Cincinnati’s premier wedding vendors to give away a wedding at the Art Museum. 

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Tell us your love story in a clever and engaging way- make us laugh, make us cry, make the public want to root for you!

The Cincinnati Art Museum will choose four finalist couples and is looking to visitors of the Cincinnati Art Museum to choose the winning couple. The four finalists will have video presentations within the exhibition where visitors to the exhibition can vote for their favorite couple; this is the only place that people can vote for their favorite couple but they can vote as many times as they want with one vote per visit to the Art Museum. The public and the 4 finalist couples will be able to track public voting on wlwt.com. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING GIVEN AWAY?
Free Rental of the Cincinnati Art Museum for wedding and ceremony
Catering by the Terrace Café/ Cincinnati Art Museum catering
Custom invitations by Margot Madison Stationery
Photography by Bluebird Photography
Flowers by Courtenay Lambert Floral
DJ Music by J. Griffin Entertainment
Rehearsal Dinner Dress and Bridesmaid Party by Saks Fifth Avenue Wedding
Cake by The Bonbonerie
Custom Lighting by Goodwin Lighting
Wedding Rings by Richter and Phillips
Valet Service by Blue Chip Parking
Custom Linens by All Occasions
Day of Wedding Make- up Artist by Brideface   

Madisono's Gelato wins "We Love Cincy" award!

Madisono's wins Cincinnati's Best Gelato!

Many of you may know that my "better half" is in the gelato business. My husband Matt produces and sells Madisono's Gelato, the delicious low fat, big flavor frozen dessert at various retail and restaurant outlets in Cincinnati (Nada, Nicola's and Via Vite to name a few...).

It is exciting to announce that he won the "We Love Cincy" Best Gelato award from Cincinnati Magazine for the 3rd year in a row. I couldn't agree more, I must say but you can read for yourself below:

Best Gelato
"With Mom and Dad dishing out son's locally-crafted gelato, Madisono's Gelato (Madison's "Italian name") is another excellent reason to visit Findlay Market. Amid the array of gelato and sorbet, don't miss Dark Chocolate Orange, Black Raspberry, and especially Caramello Sea Salt. Madison's at Findlay Market. 110 W. Elder St., downtown. (513) 723-0590. www.madisonogelato.com."

If you live in Cincinnati or are planning on visiting, don't miss a scoop at Findlay Market!

The Bright Side Project

You can win a set of M:Studio Yellow Diamond notecards! Go to The Bright Side Project blog and answer the question "What did your mother do right?" to enter.

find great party tunes here...

You know how you start on a blog and click links until you have lost your way and entered the blog oblivion of great ideas? So, that's how I got to this great blog site called Flashdance. I've been planning my 40th birthday party for about 1.5 years and it's next year (you really can't plan too much ahead of time in my crazy life) but I'm starting an obsession with good music to play. Dancing at my party is mandatory but I also want it to be because my guests can't help themselves!

So this blog has lots of awesome music lists that are compiled by "regular" folks and pro DJs. I'm just going to sit and listen to the music and wiggle around in my office chair for a bit Lindsay-style today. Miss my Linders...

Eco-friendlyEco- lunchboxes

Eco-friendly Lunchboxes collected by Margot Madison Creative

Well, it's that happy time of the year when the kids finish off the summer and start school again. I'm thrilled that ALL of my kids will be in school for a full day! It's been over 10 years since I've had that much time by myself!! And now that I'm in my home studio it will mean 6 hours of uninterrupted work time before they come home. Bliss!!

Anyway, I started looking into reuseable lunch bags. Last year's little insulated lunch bags worked well enough, but the crumbs in the cracks start really getting to me after a few weeks. They just don't go away, and God forbid there is a mysterious food explosion in there that gets into the little crevices. Anyway, I was on the search for one that I could throw in the laundry periodically that was still cute to look at and could hold everything. Here are some great choices from etsy vendors...

1. I love this retro oilcloth sack from Farfalla Gialla. 2. These snack bags from UldeYrth are adorable and I love how simple and sweet they are with the heart and name on it. 3. Bento Boxes with Bags from Ojami are something I'm facinated with too. I love organizing the little snacks in the little compartments and then putting the whole thing in the dishwasher when you're done! 4. Gotta love the Mod Circles from SewLongZiploc (would look great with a Margot Madison Mod Circles Personalized clipboard, don't you think?) 5. A bright and cheerful bag with lots of space and 6. a homespun and natural linen look from Bebeloosh. Enjoy!

Back to School

A cute personalized clipboard from Margot Madison featured here!

It will get here, no matter how long it feels!

Here is a cute treasury featuring the Margot Madison U-Pick Organic Circles personalized clipboard among other adorable and stylish back-to-school items. Check it out!

Bookplates feature

This was a nice surprise to see the Margot Madison bookplates included in a bookplates feature on this blog, Petite de Lis Paperie. And I see some bookplates from my other favorite etsy store Jack and Izzy. Thanks, Stacey!