Sweet Federica

My sweet friend Federica at sweetasacandy.blogspot.com sent me the nicest blog award. Thank you, Federica...I love, love, love your blog and I visit it daily...it makes me so happy!

I think YOU deserve the best blog award, so this one's for you!

Stacy Claire Boyd + b amici = Precious Baby Gift

We recently designed a boxed line of baby onesies with coordinating stretchy knit bottoms through a great little company called b amici. The company is owned and operated by two talented ladies that I love working with...Carolyn and Janet.

The "Once Upon a Baby" storybook line is so cute and the presentation is precious! The sweet baby outfit is tucked into a keepsake box that looks like a child's book. It is ready for gift-giving...the perfect baby gift!

There are several "book" designs to choose from, and each has its own little story printed inside that relates to the image featured on the onesie. The outfit itself is the softest cotton fabric with stitched details...very well made. It's just a great baby gift...I've loved having a few on hand for easy and unique baby presents ready to give.

Oh, and take a look at that sweet baby modeling the "Whooo's the Cutest" outfit...what an angel!

Just Write

While in Memphis, I visited one of our stationery retailers...Just Write. The shop was just adorable and the manager/buyer Dawn Moyers made us feel so welcome. I was accompanied by my daughters Annie and Claire. Just Write decided that in addition to the Stacy Claire Boyd line, they were also interested in carrying the Annie B Boutique line of jewelry and hair accessories. We were just there a few days ago and they have already placed a re-order. Fantastic! Thank you, Dawn and thank you Just Write for showing us around your lovely shop. We had a great time...you have such a nice selection for all ages. Great paper, great stuff! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit!
Just Write Stationery and Gifts
2135 Merchants Row, Suite #5
Germantown, Tennessee 38138
901.755.4438

Sister Weekend

Sister Weekend is an annual event that has taken place for almost 15 years now. My 3 sisters and I spend the weekend together at one of our designated homes. We banish our husbands and children for the long weekend which gives us plenty of time for eating, drinking, laughing and a chance to catch up on some much needed r & r. We all look so forward to it...it's a complete blast and when we're all together...we wish time could just stand still for a little while, but it never does. This year's event took place in Memphis at my sister Lauren's house. Because she has a swimming pool and because we basqued in the sun all weekend, I am going to do the nice sisterly thing and refrain from putting up a "bathing beauties" photo (for all our sakes). Instead, just happy feet. The food was fantastic, the beverages were fun and the great time that we had being together was priceless as usual! Thank you "sistas" for a fabulous weekend!

Wedding Entrance

This wedding entrance is so awesome...if you've already seen it, watch it again because you can't see it too many times. Doesn't it just make you grin from ear to ear? My friend Todd sent it to me today and I loved it so much that I wanted to share it. It made me cry...seriously. This couple is already living happily ever after!

Family Portrait Wall

This makes me fall in love with life. This photo "wall" was created for a couple's wedding using vintage picture frames and wallpaper. Holes were cut out in certain places for guests to peek through. What a lovely way to remember the day. Love that baby!

Thanks to Joanna at the Cup of Jo blog for making my day.

Beau Coup

I just love the site Beau Coup for their great selection of neat and out-of-the ordinary wedding and party favors. Here are a few of the gifts I thought were just too adorable.

Potty Perfect

My friend and co-worker Melissa just had one of the bathrooms in her new home renovated with help from Lowe's home store to be in an upcoming issue of their Creative Ideas magazine. Her husband Brian is a freelance photographer and was hired to photograph the renovation. It's so exciting...what a difference! It's awesome, Melissa...I know you all are lovin' it!

Sweetiepie, NYC

I wanted to share some cute pictures of of an interesting little restaurant named Sweetiepie located in NYC's West Villiage. Sweetiepie is a restaurant, dessert bar and absinthe den wrapped into one. It has been described as "the imaginary restaurant that your little sister wanted to open when she was 11—but with hard alcohol." I am going to have to stop by and try to figure this place out for myself next time I'm in town for a visit.

Carrier & Company

Oh my! I covet these rooms from Carrier & Company's Forge River Guest Barn and Forge River collections. They are just fabulous and I'm ready to move in...how 'bout you?

Thank you, Federica (http://www.sweetasacandy.blogspot.com/). You know just where to find all of the good stuff!

Cottage Living Chair Makeover

I went back to an older issue of Cottage Living (August 2007) to bring you these wing chairs. I just love them so much and I think the use of vintage grain sacks with the monogram top center is great looking. I'm missin' my Cottage Living magazine (circulation stopped at the end of 2008).

Flower Votives

I love the simplicity of a single bloom attached to a votive candle sitting in a little saucer of water (which is practical to keep the flower fresh an also adds a nice little reflective quality). This is a winning display of both color and light! I just love it...so simple!
Credit: Martha Stewart

Tree Cups

I think these little tree cups make the cutest little table decoration...they are sweet in the mis-matched tea cups and could have an entirely different look planted in a sleeker, more modern cache pot. They would also make nice party favors to send home with each guest after the event is over, too.

Credit: Martha Stewart

A Tweet Craft

My 10-year old daughter Claire made this adorable bird's nest and had a great time doing so. Here are the instructions if you happen to know a little one looking for a fun summer-time crafty activity. Thank you Michelle and Zoie for the great idea, via Woman's World magazine and for gathering all of the necessary ingredients!

Above: Photo and instructions from Woman's World magazine and photo of Claire's finished project.

Idea Paint

I wanted to mention another fun thing I recently ran across..."idea paint". It turns any surface into a dry erase board. Just think of the unlimited amount of fun!

Crab salad cups

I'm thinkin' that I might make these little salad cups tonight for a light fresh dinner. Yum! Thanks to myrecipes.com for this great dish!

Zubble-Bubbles

I must have bubbles on the brain...

I love these colored bubbles from zubbles.com. that don't stain when they pop. How cool is that?!

Popping Bubbles

This photo, courtesy of a cup of jo.blogspot.com, is a little series that I thought was quite nice. Bubbles are magic, aren't they?

Smiling Baby

We received this adorable baby photo last week to be placed on one of our birth announcements to celebrate the arrival of sweet little Maggie. This photo (courtesy of www.freshartphotography.com) definitely made us smile!

Post-It Love

I found this "Post-It Love" video at one of my favorite blogsites, "A Cup of Jo". Isn't it sweet? Have a great weekend!

Technicolor Tabletops

A few days ago my sister Lauren called from Memphis where her son will be performing in a summer theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She was nominated to decorate the buffet tables where 300 people will have dinner after the show. She said "they need to look like the show" and wanted to know if I had any ideas? Well, unfortunately, I get very excited about projects like this and usually end up wanting to do them myself. The problem is that I only seem to have time in the wee hours of the night usually between midnight and 3:00 am! The other very unfortunate thing about me is that I am "Last-minute Louie". I wait until the night before a project is due... always! Well, anyway... I've never seen Joseph's technicolor dreamcoat, but this is my interpretation of it. These flower vases will give the tables pizazz with their poppin' color. I shipped them yesterday by UPS and she will get them today just in time to buy flowers and decorate her tables for Friday night's festivities. I snapped a quick pic, so that she can visit the blog to get an idea of how to do the flowers. I was pleased and I hope that both she and my nephew Brian will be too.

Break a leg Brian!

Love,

Aunt Stacy

Melt-in-your-mouth Melon

Isn't this a precious treat? I'm heading out to the market to buy my honeydew melon and raspberry sorbet right now...my family will love it!

Credit: Family Fun Magazine.

New Pattern Invitations

We have been working hard on a new collection of fun and fashionable all-occasion invitations that will be available soon on our website. Here's a sneak preview of a few cards, along with some of my "photo inspiration" of beautiful spaces. Check out website in the weeks ahead to see all of the new designs.
Images courtesy of delikatissen.com (first three) and mylife-myloves.blogspot.com (last).

Annie B Boutique

My 13 year old daughter Annie started a jewelry and hair accessories business about a year ago. She enjoys keeping up with her business...shopping for the findings, designing and actually making the product and making her rounds to the various shops that she sells to. She does all of this with my help along with the assistance of her 10 year old sister Claire. annie b boutique (anniebboutique@gmail.com) is a fun business that we all have a blast doing together even though there are some days we don't do anything because Annie declares that she "just wants to be a kid today." The business is growing as her product offerings have expanded to include: hairclips, pony-tail holders, necklaces and rings. A portion of the money that she is making is being donated to St. Judes research hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Here are a few photos of her ever-changing line.

Even puppies enjoy pony-o's by annie b boutique!