The Party Girls!

I just received the photos the photographer took at our event in NYC with the East Coast Party girls and the amazing Amy Atlas.  We appreciated all of the details which made the get together even more special. The chic stationery was provided by Two Pooch Paperie.

I'd like to introduce you to all in attendance.

Back row:
Lisa ~ Polkadot Pound Cake  - Custom baked classic cakes - great for favors and events!
Khaliah (one of the planners of this event) ~ The Party Muse -  - Specializing in children's event design.
Vanessa ~ Vanessa Grant Events - A new party planning and design company.

Front row:
Dawn (that's me!) ~ Hydrangea Home - I am now expanding into event decor - I  love weddings!
Crista ~ Creations by Crista Marie - Event styling and customized party elements.
Dawn (one of the planners of this event) ~ Bees Knees Parties - Children's event planning.
Amy Atlas ~ Amy Atlas Events - Party styling and custom dessert buffets.
Lisa ~ Amy Atlas Events - Amy's wonderful assistant.
Jennifer ~ The Hudson Cakery - Great tasting custom cakes and cupcakes for your upscale event.
Sarah ~ Dreamers Joy Events and Design - Event planning and design.
Gemma ~ BrainFry Concepts - Beautiful custom invitations.

A ton of talent in one room!!

Here are some pics of the night:

The beautiful details

Getting to know each other

Amy's Grand Entrance

Intently listening to Amy's words

Final group photo


Until the next time!




UPDATE!! Amy Atlas just posted about our event on her blog and included some of her mentoring advice for small businesses.
Check it out HERE!

What a night!

Last night, I attended a get together of East Coast Party Planners in NYC. It's a group I belong to through the Dreamers into Doers on Martha Stewart's site.
Two of the members Dawn of Bee's Knees Parties, and Khaliah of The Party Muse did an amazing job putting it all together.  We met at Alices Tea Cup off Lexington Ave ~ such a cute place and great tea!!

It was so great to meet the ladies in the group and the biggest highlight was an appearance by Amy Atlas - famous party stylist and original dessert table designer.
We were so surprised!

She came with her assistant and they sat down with us sharing lots of great business advice. Amy even had the time to check out each of our websites.  They were so sweet and genuine. What a great night!

So glad I was able to be a part of it all and meet all of the talented ladies in attendance! I will introduce them and their creative businesses when I get a hold of a group photo.

Thanks again Dawn and Khaliah!

Mini Chocolate Cake Eggs

Using a cake pop recipe with homemade cream cheese frosting - chocolate cake eggs without the stick!

Yummy!

Happy Easter!

Wishing you all a beautiful Easter! 

New this week...

My studio smells so good! Had fun unpacking and photographing some new products this week.

Dried lavender is here.

Natural jute ribbon and roping for creating...

And some fun cast iron hooks, handles and accessories.

You can find them all on my website or etsy shop.

Now I must get back to a wedding I'm working on ~ can't wait to show you the finished products!

Dreams of France...

My first Etsy treasury. These are fun to put together!
Just wanted to share some of the beautiful things you can find on Etsy.

'toutes choses francais' by myhydrangeahome

all things french...

La Poule Blanche - Fine Art ... honeytree $28.00	Paul French Patisserie - 8x1... rebeccaplotnic... $30.00	Vintage French Country Metal... chicfrangine $65.00	Vintage French music sheets lapomme $48.00
8 oz or 1/2 pound - Very Fin... GlassHouseSupp... $9.95	SALE Antique French Encyclop... elitas $75.00	French Petite Antique Crysta... ParisCoutureAn... $450.00	Vintage Bordeaux France Wine... sevenbc $120.00
French Antique House plate N... LucieTalesVint... $6.00	Vintage French Birds on a Fe... Bluebirdlane $6.00	Brocante - Black and White ... honeytree $28.00	Le Carrousel- beautiful past... TCaponePhoto $30.00
Parisian Ballerina II fififlowers $30.00	The French Emblem - Burlap a... JolieMarche $37.00	White Chocolate Raspberry Ma... TheWhimsicalSp... $24.95	Paris Door LindaJanePhoto... $12.99

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Decoupaged Eggs ~ two looks

Love the way these eggs turn out. Here are two different looks for the same paper, same process. I like using paper mache eggs - so I can display them again next year.

Glittered in Crushed Glass

Tea-Dye Varnished

Start with your paper mache or wooden eggs and prime them. You can find the eggs in different sizes.

Then take some tissue paper and tear it into small pieces 1"-2". I like using an allover pattern such as this pretty floral.

Using, white glue or Mod Podge, start gluing and placing your pieces all over the egg until completely covered.

The next step is going to give you two completely different looks.

You can use a tea-dye varnish for a vintage look. I don't know if this product is still in stores - but anything like it will work - or an acrylic glaze would be fine too. And don't worry about the folds ~ I love how the varnish collects in the creases.

Or german glass glitter for a sparkly egg.

For the finishing touch, I like to add some vintage lace and buttons.

 And paper shreds for display.

Hope you enjoyed the project! Would love to see how you are decorating with eggs this year. Leave a link in the comments for us to visit.


I shared this post with the following link parties:

Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Giveaway Winner!!

Katie Newman is our  Spring Giveaway winner!

She wins a $50 Gift Certificate to Hydrangea Home.

Congrats Katie!

And thanks to all who entered.

My Clam Basket Light

Here is my version of the often seen clam basket light fixture.  

It started many months ago when I spotted the basket for $5.99 at the Christmas Tree Shops. I knew right away this would turn into the fixture for my laundry room. And was my husband shocked when he found the hole in the basket was a perfect fit for the fixture ring. So easy!

I basically took a piece of my jute fabric and weaved it through the basket, which by the way, I will be spraying with a fire proof fabric spray.

I thought I was done, but the green beaded chain was the perfect addition to my basket. I actually added this on while the fixture was in place. My arms were killing me! I took a thin piece of jute string and just wound it around the rim of the basket (that is also what is keeping the handle from hanging down).

So what do you think? A little funky, a little wierd, maybe not your taste. But I love it!

As you can see, I am beginning to accessorize the room. The construction is almost complete! Yay! Cabinet doors should be hung this weekend, counter installed next weekend and then I can finish up with some drop cloth curtains, and a really cool laundry hanger I am working on.

You might be wondering, why all of this fuss for a "laundry room"? Well, besides it being a walk through on the first floor to the patio, it's the room I spend much of my time in (besides the kitchen).
So I want to really enjoy being in there!!

Oh and the fabric that inspired the theme in the room is on my new ironing board cover.

And did you see the color of the cabinets I went with? Love the grey!!

Don't forget to enter our $50 Certificate giveaway - 
2 posts down below. Ends on Sunday!!
Just in time for your Spring Re-decorating!!


Participating in the following parties!

Frugalicious Fridays @ Finding Fabulous

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming

Metamorphosis @ Between Naps on the Porch

Project Parade @ DIY Showoff

Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Spring Paintings

We woke up to a couple of inches of snow on the ground this morning.

So, I thought I would paint some spring!
Inspired by the fabric and accessories from my laundry room (almost finished).

Just listed in my Etsy shop...

Only a few days left to enter our Spring Giveaway ~ 
$50 Gift Certificate - See the post below to enter.

Spring Giveaway!

Happy Spring! 

Thrilled to say winter is over. The cold dark days don't usually get to me - but this was a long one. 

To celebrate the new season - I'd like to giveaway one

$50 Gift Certificate to my shop

Hydrangea Home

To enter:

1: Visit my website here:

Hydrangea Home
or my Etsy Shop here:
Hydrangea Home on Etsy

and tell me what you would use your gift certificate for in the comments of this post.

For additional entries:

2: Blog, Facebook or Tweet about the giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post.  

Please make sure I am able to contact you through your comment or leave an email address for me!
(if your profile is not enabled - I will not be able to get in touch with you)

Comments open until Sunday March 27th, 8pm eastern time.

Winner announced Monday morning 3/28.  

Thanks so much!!

and

Good luck to everyone!!