Fairies are in the Garden!

This week I had the pleasure of keeping my granddaughter for a few days. She lives in California, so we don't get to see her very often. So this was a real treat! I decided to invite my friend Laurell's little granddaughter, Charlotte,  over to play with Audrey and have a little girls fairy party. Of course, I had to completely spoil her while she was here- that's what grandmothers do!


Early in the morning, I hid garden fairies that I had purchased on-line in the garden.

Dressed in their fairy costumes-Audrey and Charlotte  raced to find the 16 hidden fairies!

 

 

 

 

Two real little garden fairies having a good time! Audrey trying to be the scary fairy face!

 

Fairy garden tea sandwiches were enjoyed by the girls- mostly the peanut butter and jelly ones!

 

 

And of course a Fairy Dusted cake for dessert topped with edible sugared roses, which they promptly spit out!  Loved the pink icing though!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audrey and Charlotte! Charlotte is wearing the necklace that she made during the play date!

 

 

In our cookbook, Romancing the Home Entertains, we have another version of this party for little girls.  Here are some of the pictures from our book!

 

A porcelain baby fairy hides in the bowl of peonies!

Pansies and lamb's ear are tied to the napkin.

A compote of blackberries and spring blossoms- a simple centerpiece!

 

A porcelain fairy from Susan Snodgrass climbs out of a mason jar!

 

Happy fairy hunting everyone!  It's the perfect time of year to find them!

 

 

Our book, Romancing the Home Entertains, can be purchased through paypal by the button on the sidebar of this blog!

 

 

 

 

Remembering the Past 16 Years

Tomorrow is the final day of business for Romancing the Home as a traditional retail store. We have rented showroom  space, where we will conduct 4 to 6 sales per year.  The concept is exciting and gives us the flexibility to do more traveling to gather more unique merchandise for our customers.  Our first sale is going to be "Parisian Hide-Aways", a gathering of new and antique merchandise that one might find in a Paris apartment, inside a walled Paris  courtyard or in an neighborhood bistro. We are so excited and already beginning to gather, create and display the first show.  But much more on our new direction in later blogs..............  Today I am reflecting on the past 16 years of business and remembering the fabulous customers that have supported us.  They have allowed us to come into their homes and create something for them.  The following pictures are a snapshot of some of those moments that  we were lucky enough to share with our customers along the way. 

 

Remodeling Projects

 

Bathroom in a Chicago Brownstone

 

Feature  piece in a new kitchen we designed.

 

Powder room in the city

 

 

Interior Design

 

Entrance to a ladies studio in an attic

Dining room with a mixture of traditional and modern

Sitting room. We fabricated the sofas by coping an antique and made the window treatments to mimic the iron garden shelves. Wallpaper on the ceiling and a low hung iron chandelier make the room cozier.

 

A lady's study ready for Christmas

 

Our Book Launch - Romancing the Home Entertains

 

Launch Party in Tennessee

 

 

 

 

 

 Picture from the book- fruit sushi on shell plate. Staged a local fundraiser by RTH

                                                            Book launch party in Atlanta

 Antipasti tray in book

 Centerpiece with rhinestone pins as centers of flowers

Boxed lunches for another fundraiser using old silver plate vegetable dishes popular in the 60's and 70's.

Installation of  Christmas Décor in Many Homes every year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Birthday Luncheons and Weddings and many Dinner Parties

Birthday Luncheon for Girlfriends

 

Place Assignment Card table for a wedding in a library using old books to organize.

Summer Dinner Party Bash

 

House Walks and  Home Tours for Charity Fundraisers

Sunroom breakfast setting for Woodland's Christmas Walk 

 

Store Displays

 

 

 

It has been a busy sixteen years with lots of different experiences.  I have had the pleasure of working in some of the most beautiful homes in our community and wouldn't trade the experience for anything.  But I am looking forward to more freedom in my daily life, yet  still staying connected with my favorite customers. Many of my most loyal customers have become close friends and I am so lucky to have them in my life.   Tuesday morning I start the re-design of another city apartment  for a customer whose home we designed in Lake Forest last year.  And we will be participating in the Spirit of 67 Home Tour in May and looking forward to it. In a couple of weeks, I travel to Atlanta to purchase Christmas décor for our November sale in our showroom  and to fill in  existing Christmas customer's  decorations. Late May is a trip to France. So the year is beginning to fill up quickly and promises to be fulfilling and fun.  The past sixteen years have given us a foundation to build our future business. So from the bottom of my heart- to my dear customers and friends- I thank you.

 To my dear staff, none of this would have been as much fun without each of  you at my side.  Your support has been unbelievable. Who would have guessed that 7 women could become such close friends.. much less last together in a small business for 16 years! Through the good and bad, you stood by me. You girls are one of my life's greatest blessings.  But our real fun is just starting!! And to Lynda Sue, Jill , Marlene and Mariterese- thank you  for your  endless support. The buying trips, the "hotel accommodations in Atlanta", helping me with the publication of the book, the advise and wisdom over many glasses of wine  and generally just sharing life with me.  I love you all!
 

From the Romancing the Home team- we plan to exceed our customer's wildest shopping dreams with our first sale in May. So  stay tuned!