What a novel idea!

Here is another Special Guest Spotlight by Barb of Bababla Gifts on Etsy.  If you are interested in buying one of these, convo her at her Etsy Shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/babalagifts

Who doesn't love books!?! Curling up in your favorite chair with a good book, the feel of the pages as you thumb through, the smell of a new book, the things you learn and feel and begin to understand as you read. I have always loved books and now that I am married to a man in the publishing industry, our book collection grows and grows.
A few thoughts by Barb:
As I was thinking of what to give my husband for Christmas, my creative energy took over and my "novel flowers" were the result. Created from upcycled books, this vase and flower arrangement will definitely be a conversation piece. It is perfect for your desk, library, study, living room or wherever you need to be reminded of the beauty of books!

I am selling them for $20 (tax included), and since I am not quite sure yet how to ship them, they are for sale to those in the Twin Cities area. Please email me at babalagifts@gmail.com if you are interested and we can arrange payment (through my etsy shop) and delivery.

Wedding Rentals / Special Occasion Rentals of Vintage Decorations / Wedding Planning

If you live in the Twin Cities area, the following is available for rental for weddings or other special occasions such as a reception or bridal or baby shower (see below for more pictures).  We have much more than this, including table cloths, frames, cake stands, etc. etc.

I ALSO DO WEDDING PLANNING IF YOU'D LIKE HELP COORDINATING OR DECORATING YOUR WEDDING (see below for more information.)

Contact me at info@ritamarieweddings.com
or visit ritamarieweddings.com

1. Classic 100 Year Old Mirror and little rectangle mirror- This is very solid and has a strong and heavy rope in the back for hanging (pictured above).  It can also be displayed on a mantle or tripod.

From a recent wedding, here is one example of using the little mirror.

2. Candles- They are either ceramic or silver with a charming and distressed white paint with a protective coat.  (Pictured above and below.)

3. Milk Glass Vases- These are mostly depression era 1940's vintage vases.  You can use them with water and fresh flowers, or with silk flowers.  Or they can stand alone for a beautiful display.  (Pictured above and below.)

4. Table Mirrors with finished edges-

I also do Wedding Planning.  If you'd like someone to help you coordinate the details of your wedding, contact me and we can discuss options and pricing!
(My bachelor's degree is in recreation management administration and I come with special event and coordination experience.)

Special Orders

1. Not a big enough selection for you?  Please don't hesitate to discuss the option of renting more supplies than what is seen.  We can discuss larger rentals and prices.

2. I also sell cake stands, often made from vintage dishes, that may add that special something.  They are quite affordable and would make a wonderful addition to decorations for food, a guest registry table, to vary heights in a food display, to hold flowers or candy on a table, etc.  I have a variety of colors and styles.  Do you have something in mind that you don't already see?  Let me know and I can design something for you!  Click here for more info:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jlplatesandplatters

It is our goal to bring you an affordable and charming option for your most special of occasions.

Thank you for taking a look, and let us know if you have any questions.

Contact:

Dana at info@ritamarieweddings.com

More information on cake stands, candle sticks, and decorating ideas: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jlplatesandplatters

Maple Grove Women of Today Craft Show

We had a great time on Saturday having a booth at a craft show at the Maple Grove Community Center. Many people came and admired our work and we had a wonderful time having a booth together.

Thank you to everyone who came!  It was so fun to rent a booth with Barb (scarves and onesies) and Tanna (broaches, wallets, pillow cases).

Here are some pictures of our booth (don't you love the swimming pool in the background?):

Order Cupcakes and Cake/Cupcake Stands

FOR THE PERFECT GRADUATION OR BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!

And weddings and showers also.

Inquiries:

Cake stands-- jlplatesandplatters@gmail.com
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/jlplatesandplatters

Cupcake orders-- miascupcakes@hotmail.com

http://mias-cupcakeshop.blogspot.com/

Coca Cola

Cake Stands $12 each or $10 each for 3 or more (delivery fee may apply).

Available in red, yellow, green, black, teal, orange .

Order some cupcakes for the perfect finishing touch!

The possibilites are endless:  you think coca-cola cupcakes are cool?  What about root beer, orange crush, lemonade, or any other pop can?  And you can coordinate the plate with the cupcake as well!   Let us know what you want and we'll make just about anything.

Football or Team

You choose your school colors or team colors.

$15 each or $12 each for 3 or more (delivery fee may apply.)

Choose your team or school colors!!!  Red, yellow, green, black, orange, teal, or navy blue.

Order TODAY or at jlplatesandplatters@gmail.com.

Wedding/Shower/Party

Black Elegant Party Plate

Bridal and baby showers, weddings, any occasion.

Perfect for staggering your display or arrangement.

$12 each or $10 each for 3 or more (delivery fee may apply).

Available in red, yellow, green or black.

You can also ask Dana to keep her eye out for a certain style or theme you would like for custom orders.  Just convo her today!

A little teaser for MG Craft Show

Come join us at the free Maple Grove Craft Show for the big reveal.

Here is a "preview" of a few pretty things from JL Plates and Platters.

 

And what will this beautiful 100 year old antique turn into?  Come and find out!

Special Guest: Meet Mia of Mia's Cupcakes

  

My name is Mia Head.  I am a stay at home mom and I love baking.  I also love crafting.  What better way to put the two of them together than in a cupcake.  All I need is a theme to help me craft the best cupcake for you.  It's been almost 2 years since my first order (September 2010) and word has spread like wild fire.  I've been busy creating lots of cupcakes for every occasion.  I can't say baking runs in my family.  I don't have recipes that are handed down from my great, great, grandmother.  I am a self-taught baker, but for most of my life, I have dreamt about opening a little bake shop.  I always look forward to the next cupcake theme I will be presented with.


If you'd like to order cupcakes or have questions, you can find me here (my cupcakes look wonderful on Dana's cakestands by the way):


miascupcakes@hotmail.com

http://mias-cupcakeshop.blogspot.com/

Special Guest: Meet Barb of Babala Gifts on Etsy.com

You can purchase Barb's scarves, onesies, nursing covers, and other sewing and craft creations at her etsy shop found here: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/babalagifts

Here is a little introduction by Barb:

I can't even tell you the number of times I've had people say, "you should make more of those and sell them..." So I guess this all started 10+ years ago as I began exploring my creativity when making things for myself or as gifts for other people.

I also can't even tell you the number of times my husband and I have seen empty shop windows with "for sale" signs on them and dreamt and talked about opening a boutique of some sort.

Now (thanks to Etsy!) I get to do both! And I've been having so much fun. I started selling at a few craft fairs in 2010 and am excited for this new avenue. I am a mom of three young kids and somehow I find the time to make this all work--because I love it!

My products center mostly around what interests me (did I say I was a mom of 3 kids?). I like things to be functional, but also fashionable and fun. I love searching fabric stores for fabrics and letting my imagination go wild. I tend to not use patterns and I like to use bold colors or fabrics where appropriate.

So what does Babala mean? Well, in a previous chapter of my life, I traveled quite a bit. I taught English in China where I was called Babala instead of Barbara. It isn't a true Chinese name (it's more of a transliteration), but I love it all the same.

Here are a few of Barb's products: onesies, nursing covers, and scarves.  

Special Guest: Meet Tana of "tananaB"

This is a guest post about my friend Tana, who makes felt broaches, pillowcases, wallets, and other hand-sewn items.  If you are interested in any of her items, leave a comment and I will put you in touch with her.  

Now for the fun stuff- Tana's interview:

Tana's husband gave her the nickname, Tanana (as in banana), which inspired the name of her Etsy and craft business.  She has 4 children, and not a whole lot of time.  Her associate's in graphic design and illustration gives her the edge she needs in designing with fabric.  She was first inspired by her aunt who is an avid quilter, but because Tana does not have large amounts of time because she is busy with her young family, she finds that making more practical things like clothing, hats, and things for the home helps her meet the best of both worlds: creating art with a fun and funtional purpose.

Coordinating fabric and colors is her current passion.  Using her own style in everything che creates, she rarely follows a pattern completely, putting her own flare into all that she designs.  Sewing is a creative outlet for Tana to express herself.  She loves fabric and color so much that she gets giddy in a fabric store.

Look for Tana's pillow cases, wallets, broaches, and more!  Here are a few of her beautiful designs, and notice how cute her broach looks with Barb's scarves.

Meet Dana of "JL Plates and Platters" and "3 Etsy Mamas"

You can browse my Etsy Shop called JL Plates and Platters and order cake stands and other vintage items here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jlplatesandplatters

The first quesiton to find out is what is a person with a bachelor's degree in recreation management administration who was trained to run a city recreation department and sports camps doing making such pretty, feminine products for a shop on Etsy?  Let me explain....

One of my favorite 3-credit college classes was a course on party planning.  We were tested and graded on what it takes to throw a great party and had the "oh-so-challenging" assignment to plan and host several parties through the semester-- I think this is where my love of making things for special occasions stems from.

Going back even further, when I was growing up, my family ran a local store, where I spent a lot of time as a child.   On top of being exposed to customer service through our family store, my grandmother had a side business making and selling dolls which she included me in (she even let me make porcelain dolls as a child).  I learned a lot about customer service and creativity through both family businesses.

Fast forwarding many years later, it is no wonder that in the recreation management field, customer service and crafts became my specialty.  In my present day world, instead of spending time in the family store-front or making dolls with Grandma, I am spending time with my family for our On-line Etsy Shop making pretty things.  I am so thankful for the many life experiences that have taught me about customer service, designing, expressing, and feeling fearless in the creation process.

And I believe in our product.  In my party planning class, I learned the importance of celebration.  It feels so great to create things that mean so much to people for their special occasions or homes.  Whether it is a product for a bridal shower or wedding, or something to beautify the home, there is nothing more important than the people around us and living life to the fullest with them.  If something we create enhances that event or moment in time that we have with each other, I feel thankful I could be a part of that in a very small way.

Upcycling is my favorite form of art.  I makes everything from cakes stands, to candles, to frames, to home decor using mostly vintage or antique pieces. I do special orders as well, so e-mail me if you need something done in bulk for a wedding, shower, or party.  I'd be glad to help you out!