Day 9: Indulging on a Sunday

Today begins a new week in our 31 day journey! I'm so glad to have you along with us in celebrating an artful event!

I've decided that Sunday will be our day of inspiration. I love taking a few minutes on Sundays to be inspired. Sometimes it happens through visits like this. Or sometimes it happens while I'm peeking at blogs. But, today, I found this show stopper.

Ok, maybe I'm the last to know (which wouldn't surprise me), but Oh My, HEAVEN!!! I couldn't be happier to find Styled. It's an absolutely amazing online magazine. Drooling, I tell you. Their tagline is...

design. create. celebrate.

Hello. Could you be any more me?!? (sense the Chandler tone of voice) I don't think it could be. So, stop reading here, and go indulge!

Previous 31 Days Posts:

Day 1: 31 Days to an Artful Event

Day 2: The Haves and the Have Nots

Day 3: A Few of My Favorite Things

Day 4: Thinking Outside of the (Berry) Box

Day 5: It's the Little Things

Day 6: Layering is a Good Thing

Day 7: Allowing it to Be

Day 8: The Finished Product

Day 4: Thinking Outside of the (Berry) Box

If you're just joining us, we've been on our journey of...

If you need to get caught up, here's the list by Day:

Day 1: 31 Days to an Artful Event

Day 2: The Haves and the Have Nots

Day 3: A Few of My Favorite Things

This week we are looking at how we turned a business dinner from just an average event, to a memorable evening for everyone there!

Once we had decided on a menu, we could develop our design for the table. Knowing that we were going with traditional southern fare, I knew that I would be able to bring in the rustic elegance look that I love.

Because I have several things around the house that fit into this style, I began looking around. I gathered anything that I saw that reminded me of that style into a pile. Then, I started figuring out what items could be used and what things I would most likely do without.

I also always try to think about the time of year it is, and stem from that with the design. I loved these few things to bring in a bit of Autumn, without going too overboard.

Keep an open mind when you're looking for items to design your event. You can use anything that fits into your vision. It doesn't have to be a "bread basket" to hold bread. You can make a bread basket out of a huge wash stand bowl. (gasp!) Or why couldn't a vintage berry basket hold your utensils instead of just laying them on the table?

Or your books for that matter?

(i know it's a completely different event, but it's a perfect example!!)

I love thinking outside of the box when it comes to how to showcase the necessities. Remember, you're an artist. You were made to create, so have fun with making your event however you want it!

Day 3: A Few of My Favorite Things

Day 2: The Haves and the Have Nots

Day 1: Welcome to an Artful Event

We're onto Day 3 of our 31 Days! The next step in turning this casual business dinner into an artful event was deciding on the menu. I love this step!

I reviewed all of the details that my client and I had discussed and decided that this would be a perfect menu.

I knew that I could partner with a local caterer to make this dinner delicious, while staying in my client's budget. I ordered the most important menu items (the pulled pork sliders and homemade slaw) from the caterer and picked it up for a fraction of the cost as having it delivered and set up. All the other food I picked up from the store, and simply arranged it in a way that looked made from scratch! Shhh...

Great food. Casual atmosphere. And a way for me to intertwine rustic elegance into yet another event. My favorite!

Day 2: The Haves and the Have Nots

As I talked about yesterday, finding your vision is key to beginning your creative venture in planning your event. To find your vision, you have to assess what you must have, what you want, and how you want your event to feel. It's like looking for the big picture of the event.

The Must Haves:

When I asked a few more questions, my client expressed how she was desiring the business dinner to be good food, casual atmosphere, and reasonable in price. She didn't want anything too complicated for people to assemble, but rather easy "pick up and go food", yet still enough to be dinner. Easy enough to stand around and mingle while you eat some great food and visit with business associates.

The Wants:

At first, she was just thinking of getting it catered. However, many times, once you add in the cost of food, the fees to deliver and set up, usage of their plates, napkins, cups, it ends up being much more expensive. And, the other thing, is that caterers don't always design a tablescape or an atmosphere, they just deliver the food. My client wanted a dinner that would taste great, but would also "wow" with it's presentation.

The Feeling:

There were a few things that my client said she really wanted the business dinner to feel like. She wanted it to be nice and she wanted the table to be pretty. She wanted it to feel comfortable. She wanted her associates to walk away from dinner feeling appreciated.

Now, I had the vision, and was able to begin creating.

Day 1: 31 Days to an Artful Event

Day 3: A Few of my Favorite Things

Day 2: The Haves and the Have Nots

When you think of the word "art" you don't exactly think of events. Usually, what comes to my mind is an artist with a paint pallet in hand, and a easel standing upright in front of them...and usually they have a beret on their head. Don't ask me why. It seems like an artist thing.

However, the more that I design events, the more I feel like an artist. And, the more I create, the more I love creating.

This month, I'll go through a different event each week, and describe how it became, not just an ordinary event, but an artful event.

So, we'll be kicking off our

with a business dinner that I designed just this past week.

My client had a dinner that she was hosting for about 25 of her associates. However, she is slammed with business right now (which is wonderful!) and she knew there was no way that she would have time to do anything special if it was just up to her. Sure, she could pick up a few cartons of take out, but she wanted the dinner to show her appreciation for her clients, not just throw some last minute food down on a table for people to help themselves. So, she asked me to come up with a plan that was in her budget, and yet be a memorable evening.

I always start with trying to find out what my client is envisioning for their event. This is always my first step in my process. I have to understand their desire before I can begin to create. Isn't that how all art works? You have to express your vision to be able to create.

Find your vision. That's the first thing in creating an artful event.

There are a ton of great blogs linking up to this 31 days party, so go check them out!

It's Almost Here...

Last year, I posted every day in November, and called it...

It was so much fun celebrating on a daily basis with you all in this little spot of the blogosphere. This year since, 31 Days is open to everyone, I figured I would join in on the fun!

I've been thinking about what my topic would be, and I'm so excited about it. One reason why I love my business is because every single event or wedding I design becomes a unique creation, different from any other. I mentioned on Monday how what I do is more like art to me than a job, and how it and gives me life. My hope is that as I post daily during the month of October, you will come away feeling more inspired than ever to create artful events in your own life.

I'm a little nervous, but I'm jumping in, and I can't wait to see you tomorrow!

Linking up with In the Studio today!

First and Ten

I love the first few planning days I have with couples. I've always loved solving puzzles. And, though the last two sentences might seem completely unrelated, they actually have a lot to do with each other. When it comes to putting all the pieces together, it truly is like putting together an amazing puzzle that you work on for weeks and months, until you finally see the finished product.

So, this cute couple had their first planning day with the sweet mother of the bride, and myself. It was so great. Even though it seemed we chose the rainiest day of the year (thus the ponchos) we still had a fabulous day.

Our goal?

Select their reception venue

and choose a date.

Impossible task? Heck no!

There were several things that we were looking for in a reception venue. Namely size and location, and availability... but also how it felt. Similar to how you want to feel in your home, the venue must feel the way you want your wedding to feel, or it will be difficult to enjoy.

We definitely had to use our imagination to figure out what places would look like in the Spring, without a monsoon going on. When you're choosing locations for your wedding, you always have to try to see yourself there, on your wedding day. There's always a bit of imagination involved, because there is so much that goes into changing the space for the day of. However, I've found that if a bride and groom can't really picture themselves enjoying their time at their wedding (throwing the bouquet, dancing their first dance, being sent off, etc. etc.) they're usually not going to fall in love with it. You want to find a place where they can envision all of that going on, and love the place it in which it would happen.

We ended our planning day talking details at a great local coffee shop, sipping on deliciousness. The perfect ending to a fabulous day. I know I've talked about it before, but I love finding out who my couples are, and then being able to implement what they want into their wedding day. Every couple is so unique, and though it may seem all flowers and food to some, to me...

it's art...and it's life.

And, no way in the world I'm going to spill the beans about what they chose. Though, I will say, by the end of the day, we had a date and we had a place.

Ooh, La, La...Chartreuse!

Thursday, I treated myself and went to my favorite shop in town. Even though I was only there for 20 minutes, I felt completely renewed and inspired when I left.

Chartreuse is a fabulous mix between a flea market,

an antique store and an art gallery.

They have amazing furniture finds that are 100% repurposed...

and the great part is that they're listed at consignment prices.

The other day my daughter asked me why I liked old things so much.

I laughed and thought about it for a minute.

Then, I said, "Because they tell a story."

I really like things that have been somewhere, and have a story to tell.

Or things that could have been thrown out, but have been given a new life.

If you were a piece of furniture, what would you be? Would you be rustic and restored, or would you be bright shiny and new? What's your story?

StC: An Artsy Giveaway!

Today's give away and post are brought to us by the fabulous Katie Wall Podracky, of Katie Wall Art. Katie is a local artist, and is so talented with what she does. She enjoys bringing color to life, and teaching others to do the same. My kids love taking lessons with her, and I'm always amazed at what they bring home! And, not only that...but she is a super fun person to know! She's definitely a fan of celebrating, which is why I'm so glad that she offered to partner up with me for this month's Something to Celebrate series. I've loved each day of celebrating this month, and this week is going to be another great one. So, with no further ado, here's Katie!

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November—what does the word mean to you? Each time I flip my calendar pages from October to November, I think of crunchy piles of fall leaves, steaming cups of hot chocolate and the smells of roasting turkey and baked apple pie that you only find at this time of year. Of course it also brings to mind a palette of red, orange, yellow and ochre, as fall is my favorite time to paint and my favorite time of year to share!

Here are a few images of my favorite fall tree paintings.

As an artist and an art teacher, I’m offering two holiday art classes this December for the price of one. Have your little ones create beautiful centerpieces for your Christmas table while you get a few hours of time for yourself to run errands. If you purchase a class for Tuesday, December 7^th, you’ll get a free class on Tuesday, December 14^th too! We’ll be sculpting special angels and painting Christmas scenes. Each class is $25.00 per student, ages 5-9, Tuesdays from 4:30-5:45 p.m. at my studio. All supplies are included and I’ll email directions and details to any newbies who are interested.

Tell us about your favorite painting and be entered to win a pack of Katie Wall Art notecards just in time for holiday thank you notes!

Enjoy this fantastic drawing by Ava, and if you get a hankering for some holiday cooking of your own, check out my blog for apple pie that is out of this world!