{Tuesday Giveaway} and Preferred Vendor Spotlight: Le Petit Party

Le Petit Party was joyfully welcomed as a preferred sponsor of the Kate Landers Events, LLC, blog in October. I am absolutely SMITTEN with some of their gorgeous party products, and could order oodles today!

Today I have the great opportunity to share with you an interview I conducted with the two lovely ladies behind the business, Effi and Anna.

I hope you have a moment to read through their answers...it is full of wisdom and great advice!!!

 Oh, and of course, they are sponsoring a terrific giveaway!!! (giveaway at end of post)

                                      {anchor cupcakes by Whipped Bake Shop}

{Question} What made you decide to start Le Petit Party? How and when did you start your business?

{Answer} Le Petit Party was a natural progression of our original business, Effi Georgia. We had been organising weddings for over 7 years.

Our wedding clients eventually starting having babies who needed Christenings organised, those babies then started turning 1 then 2 then 3 and needed birthday parties organised. After getting a taste for the fun and colour of oganising children’s parties over the last 5 years, we decided to phase out the wedding side of our business in the last year to develop Le Petit Party - where our focus is solely children’s parties and Christenings.

{Question} What is your favorite trend in children's parties and/or party products right now?

{Answer} We have a ridiculous obsession for dessert tables and candy buffets at the moment.

While the trend has been around for quite a while now, the concept is still considered a relatively new one in Australia. We have just started doing dessert tables in the last few months and find them so much fun! We find ourselves up till all hours scouring the world for amazing candies and desserts, and have been busy baking in the kitchen coming up with ideas. (the waistline is of course suffering because of this!!!)

{Question} If you had to select your three most favorite products from your shop, what would they be?
{Answer}At the moment (because it does change from week to week):

• Our pretty Boxed Butterfly Invitation

• Our nautical sailboat favour box

• Our ladybug maracas

{Question} Do you have any insight for others trying to balance a business and family? What are your priorities, and how do you keep them straight?

{Answer}We have 3 gorgeous young children between us, and very supportive husbands – our beautiful families are our priority and come first no matter what. When you have a family to look after, your business and your attitude to your business need to be flexible. We have set up and run our business in a way that allows us to prioritise our families.

                                          {Cupcakes by Cupcake Bake Shop}

We have had to change from having a storefront open to the public 6 days a week to an online only business, we work flexible hours, and generally try to create a stress-free work environment. Sometimes the workload can be demanding, but you always have to make time to do the things you enjoy – and we absolutely love planning wonderful parties and making our gorgeous clients smile.

{Question} What are your favorite blogs to read on a daily basis?



{Answer} Kate Landers (of course!!!)

Amy Atlas – we love the inspirational dessert queen

Hostess With The Mostess – it’s so inspirational seeing people’s amazing events

{Question} What children's party theme is your current favorite?

{Answer} The ladybug party theme and the jungle party theme are oldies but goodies – they will always have a soft spot in our heart.


We are currently planning a vintage tea party theme which we are very excited about – I know this is going to be our new favourite!

{Question} Are there any children's parties you are currently planning? If so, can you divulge any details with us about what to look forward to?


{Answer} We have lots in the works. As I mentioned, we are currently working on a gorgeous vintage tea party theme. We have these cute little rag doll invitations we are currently designing, and the party table will be filled with lots of old world charm – lace, floral printed fabrics, strawberry jam sandwiches, pretty cupcakes, lots of beautiful teas and tea cups. The colour palette is pale blue, pale pink, lemon and pale green. Can’t wait to launch the photos.

We are also working on a bright summer palette of orange and fuchsia – we were inspired by a gorgeous stripe print fabric and have been designing an entire party theme around it. It will be perfect for the spring and summer.

{Question} What do you consider to be the best party favors for parents or party planners who want to give out something classic, adorable, eco-friendly and useful that won't end up the the "junk drawer" or lost under the seat in the car? Do you suggest people give out one larger and more expensive party favor, or multiple smaller things? Which are some of your favorites in your shop?


{Answer} Young children always love the idea of getting lots of bits and pieces in a party bag as a gift. There is nothing like ripping open a party bag and pulling out lollies and bubbles and all sorts of knick-knacks. Half the party fun is sifting through that bag at the end of the party on the way home and ooh-aahing at everything. Yes, often these little knick-knacks do end up in the junk drawer, but there are lots of little reasonably priced knick-knacks that are great quality that kids will use over and over again.

All of our beautifully painted wooden toys and favours are great fun, and kids will continue to use them long after the party is over.

Some of our favourites are:


Gorgeous wooden ladybug castanets

Fun Jumping Clowns

Pretty pink maracas

Alternatively, you could incorporate items throughout the party that guests use while they are at the party, and then get to take home as party favours:


Our ladybug wands and handbags are great for dress ups at a ladybug theme party

Our circus sipper cups are great for serving drinks during the party and then for taking home as a favour at the end of the party

{Question} Just for fun...what is your favorite color? Favorite movie? Favorite dessert?

Favourite colour: red

Favourite movie: Life is Beautiful

Favourite dessert: Chocolate cake OF COURSE!

THANK YOU Effi and Anna of Le Petit Party for a delightful interview!

NOW, for a fabulous giveaway!!!!!!

A $50.00 (AU dollars, which is what everything is priced in on their website!) gift certificate for purchase of precious products of your choosing from their online shop!

Shipping complimentary, and INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AVAILABLE {large/bulky items may not be suitable for international shipping}, so everyone is encouraged to enter.

Here's how to enter:

1. Visit Le Petit Party here, come back and leave a comment on this blog post telling us 2 of your favorite items (more details the better!)

AND

2. Become a fan of Le Petit Party, and it would be lovely if you dropped Effi & Anna a note to say hello and introduce yourself!

AND

3. Become a fan of Kate Landers Events, LLC (if you already are one, thank you!)

THAT'S IT!

***FOR AN ADDITIONAL ENTRY (DOUBLING YOUR CHANCES), please tell us in your comment what items you would like to see available at Le Petit Party.***

Thank you kindly! Must be age 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway ends Monday, November 15th at 11:59pm EST.

GOOD LUCK!

{Tuesday Giveaway} and Preferred Sponsor Spotlight: Magnolia Creative

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you one of our lovely new sponsors, Emily of Magnolia Creative.

She is sponsoring our fantastic giveaway this week, and also gave us the chance to get to know her a little better in a terrific interview.

Let's get to know Emily of Magnolia Creative (don't worry, giveaway details are at the bottom of the post)...

{Question} How did you come up with the name Magnolia Creative, and also, is there a story behind your color-scheme?

{Answer} I named my company after my dog, Magnolia. She is my first "furry" child. I originally started with a pink and green color scheme but changed it to the purple, green and gold I have today. I wanted to set myself apart and these colors are the colors of Mardi Gras, my favorite holiday and a real Louisiana tradition.

{Question} What brought you to starting Magnolia Creative?

{Answer} I was always the one friends came to when they needed party or event invitations or it was my assignment in hosting a party so it just became a natural transition to turn a hobby into a business. The ceramics part of the company kind of happened by accident. One of my retailers saw a wedding plate I did and asked me to do some for her and it just spread and has been so well received.

{Question} What new designs of your pottery products do we have to look forward to seeing you create? Do you do custom orders for clients?


{Answer} I am starting to do more entertaining sets and also personalized ornaments. I'm really excited about both items. I do a lot of custom orders and it's something I love to do. I like helping someone create EXACTLY what they want for their home or the perfect gift. No one should have to settle for almost right. The custom wedding platters are my favorite. I love to get as many details as possible about the day so I can create this perfect gift that I know the bride and groom will treasure and the customer will be proud to give.

{Question} What do you love most about Magnolia Creative, and what it has brought to your life?

{Answer} I love art, designing new things and the entire creative process. Not many people turn a passion into a college degree and then keep that as your career. I love that I can create little pieces of art to travel around and make someone's day. The phrase "Do do what you love and love what you do" fits me perfectly. I love the local events and parties I do to help people create the hand and footprint plates. It's nice to be a part of a special memory and capturing a special moment between a parent and child. I think I have inspired my two year old daughter to create some personalized work of her own. I caught her coloring the bottom of her foot with a Crayola marker and then trying to stamp it on a piece of paper. She looked up at me and said "Mommy, I'm just like you". It was really cute!

{Question} Tell us a little bit about you, the woman behind Magnolia Creative. What are your passions, hobbies and interests?

{Answer}  I'm blessed with a wonderful family and that is my true passion. My husband and daughter inspire me everyday and we are so excited to expand our family. I talk to my parents daily and have them to thank for fostering my creative drive. My hobby is I guess my job, expanding my line and turning more people onto art. I've also started teaching painting and it's become a true joy. I like to give back to my community. I started a non-profit organization and our main fundraiser, the St. Patrick's Day parade, raises money for a different local charity each year.

{Question} Any helpful hints in balancing family, work, and the holidays?

{Answer} I couldn't balance my very busy life without my very supportive husband/business manager/sounding board, an organized to do list and my iPhone. You just have to remember don't stress, it will always get done, just learn to prioritize and put family first. Starting early for the holidays is a huge help, my mom taught me that. Make your shopping list early, buy your wrapping paper as soon as you see it so you're prepared and sit back and enjoy the wonderful season with those you love.

{Question} How does your family celebrate birthdays? Any special traditions?

{Answer} Birthdays are always big in our family and one in particular combines perfectly with another favorite family tradition. As I've said Mardi Gras is my favorite holiday and part of the reason we bought the house we live in is because it's on the Mardi Gras parade route. My daughter's birthday falls during the Mardi Gras season so we have a BIG party. The most popular part of the party seems to be the Kiddie Krewe Parade. We pick a different theme each year and parents and kids decorate wagons and it's getting pretty competitive as the year's go by. We announced the 2011 theme back in September because parents were already starting to plan. We start in our circle drive then move into the street and the other parade watchers love to see all the kids dressed up and cheer them on. It's an all day event and we always have a huge turnout, my husband makes a big pot of jambalaya and we even have a live band in the front yard. Everyone has a ball!

{Question} What are your favorite websites and blogs that you find are daily reads for you? Any e-zines in there as well?

{Answer} Well, Kate Landers of course, Amy Atlas, Southern Living, Martha Stewart, P is for Party, Project Nursery and The Party Dress. I love Bakerella since I'm trying to learn to bake. My daughter is allergic to eggs so it's been quite a challenge.

{Question} What are your goals for Magnolia Creative?

{Answer} Like every business owner I'd like to keep growing but I still want to maintain the custom aspect of my business that makes me so unique. I originally started out in paper and now a lot of my business has turned to ceramics so I'm very excited what I'll do next. The most important thing is to adapt and keep learning and always be willing to try something new.

{Question}  Is your pottery lead-free, and dishwasher safe (or best hand-washed)?

{Answer} Every piece of Magnolia Creative pottery is lead free and microwave and dishwasher safe. The only pieces that are not food safe are the ones that have glitter on them.

{Question} Since we all want to order your products for the holidays, how soon should we place our orders to ensure delivery on time?

{Answer} Traditionally we work on a two week production schedule but rush orders are available. I never want a customer to be without their gift and we will do everything to get it to you on time. We have a lot of our pieces pre-painted and ready for personalization speeding up the production process to just two days. Get your orders in now!

{Question} Do you ship internationally?

{Answer} Yes, we will ship internationally.

{Question}  If you had to choose 3 of your favorite pieces of pottery you have EVER designed, what would they be?

{Answer} My daughter's first footprint plate for obvious reasons, any of my custom wedding platters and my travel coffee mugs. I use one every day.

{Question}  How much hand painted personalized pottery fills up your home?
 
{Answer} Probably not as much everyday pieces as you might think. I do have a lot of special serving pieces I use for special occasions like Christmas, Mardi Gras and my daughter's annual tea party with her friends.
 

A tremendous thank you to Emily, for giving such a thorough interview, allowing us to learn so much about the woman behind Magnolia Creative!!! I found it incredibly insightful and a good read! {Thank you to DeAnn Arnold Photography for all the beautiful images!}

AND NOW, for a *fabulous* giveaway sponsored by Emily of Magnolia Creative! A $100 (one hundred US dollars) gift certificate to her online shop! W.O.W. I can already think of many ways to spend that! Plus, complimentary shipping.

Here's how to enter:

1. Visit Magnolia Creative here, come back and leave a comment on this blog post telling us your two favorite pieces of pottery.

AND

2. Become a fan of Kate Landers Events, LLC (if you already are one, thank you!)

AND

3. Become a fan of Magnolia Creative (and feel free to leave Emily a note to introduce yourself!)

That's it!

For an EXTRA ENTRY, tell us in your comment what you would design or pottery product you would like to see in Emily's shop next!

The giveaway is open to people ages 18 years and older. Giveaway ends on Monday, November 8th at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be selected at random and announced later that week at the end of one of our blog posts, so stay on the lookout!

Good luck! AND...Leticia,  you WON the 8 custom tiaras from Tradewind Tiaras...please e-mail me landers.kate@gmail.com to accept your prize!!!!

{Stylish Guest Party Feature AND Surprise $360 value Tuesday Giveaway}: Cornish Fairies Party by Tradewind Tiaras

I have a VERY special surprise for you!!!!! The second Stylish Guest Party Feature on Kate Landers Events, LLC, along with a HUGE (over $360 value) SURPRISE {TUESDAY GIVEAWAY} At end of post!!!!



Nicole of Tradewind Tiaras submitted her daughter's Cornish Fairies Birthday Party for it's debut right here on Kate Landers Events, LLC, blog! And trust me, you will want to make yourself a cup of tea and sit down to enjoy this one.





Nicole narrates: "My daughter requested a fairy themed birthday for her 7th birthday, and I was delighted with the choice. What a fun excuse to indulge in fairy girlishness! There are a lot of wonderful woodland fairy parties out there, so we wanted to put our own spin on the theme."




{Inspiration}

"Inspired by a summer trip to Cornwall, the fact that we've been studying Cornish as a family (a Celtic language), and our family heritage, we decided that our party would be a Cornish Fairies party. That gave us a specific folklore framework from which we could draw inspiration. Think standing stone circles. Mischievous Spriggans. Playful Piskies. Cornish pasties. This was one *fun* party to plan!


{Invitations}

"To introduce our guests to Cornish fairy traditions, and to get them excited for the party, instead of a standard invitation I wrote an adventure book. Within the body of the story, the invitations were customized for each invited child.

"The story ended with an unresolved conflict in the fairy world, and an urgent need for my daughter Ainsley to bring her little friends back to the fairy world in order to defeat the evil spriggan fairy, and recover the piskie fairies' stolen treasure (Nicole's post on invitations and full text of the story can be found here).



{Color Scheme}


"I loved the red/white/green palette that many fairy parties adopt (Kate Landers Events, LLC's was a huge inspiration, in fact!), but wanted something different. Greens and browns of the woodland scheme were a given, but for our accent, I went with soft oranges. That brought in the fall colors for an October birthday, and was something I hadn't seen before."

{Decorations}

Nicole made all of the decorations herself {Wow}including...

A pomander ball pinata with over 300 tissue paper roses
{a special tutorial feature on how to create one will be in the next blog post, so stay tuned!}

A standing stone circle based on the Merry Maidens circle in Cornwall {all made out of styrofoam}

A circle of mushrooms (where fairies are rumored to appear), 3-dimensional created out of fabrics to match the bunting.
 

A Dessert Pavilion (creating a grand dessert table)
Nicole adapted a 7x5 tent she found online that was designed to shade grills! She also made the bunting.

A hand-painted the muslin tablecloth

Floral arrangements and burlap & lace table runners

Suspended vases of flowers that floated above the tables under the fairy tree

Toadstool Cake Stands

Nicole says she did purchase the fairy door (found here), however she did make the bunting to go in front of it!

{Dessert Table}

If you aren't already impressed, read on: Nicole made all of the goodies on the dessert table.

Nicole says: "I decorated sugar cookies, lollipop topiaries, meringue mushrooms, browney-made-brownies, gnome-made scones and strawberry jam (the idea for that label came from Kate Landers Events, LLC, too), the cake, edible wands, branches from the crystal forest (rock candy sticks), considerate caramels (from a detail in the invitation story text), and wee trifles.

"I'm particularly proud of the Lollipop Topiaries. I've never seen anything like them before, and was very happy with how they came out."

{Kate here: A personal favorite below, bringing back fond memories of my Woodland Fairy Party}

{The Cake}

Yes, Nicole even made this cake. Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!

I love the details!

{Favors}

Nicole created the following favors for the birthday girl and her guests (all 22 of them!):

Tutus for each girl

 

{As well as wands for each girl (oh, and the girls were given wings, too)}

Tiaras with Swarovski crystals for each girl
{Nicole shares: "It's good to have a mom who is a tiara designer if you're a girly girl!"}

Fairy Dust, of course!

Nicole shares that she had shields to decorate, elf ears, tunics, and boy-wands for any boys, but none of the invited boys came!
Nicole mentions that she LOVED the wooden forks, knives and spoons from Ecoware.

{Activities}

The festivities included face painting, decorating fairy wings with sticker jewels, and a treasure hunt including the evil Spriggan (Nicole's husband) who made an appearance at the end to try to keep the stolen treasure!

 The rest of the time was just free-play, and we had families and little fairies racing around the yard, playing and reenacting the story I'd written until 10:30 at night!

{Menu}

Nicole says: "We served the above-mentioned desserts, but also had salad (with homemade dressing), apples, and a selection of Cornish pasties (Peanut Butter and Jelly, Cheese and Onion, Chicken Greek, and the traditional Oggie) from the Cornish Pasty Co. It's one of our very favorite restaurants. They'll even allow you to buy the par-baked pasties and bake them at home! I might not have made the pasties, but I did build the wood-fired oven we baked the pasties in!"

I love the beautiful beverage container and label, don't you?

A gigantic THANK YOU to Nicole for allowing us to debut her *spectacular* Cornish Fairies Birthday Party. It was a visual delight and a tremendous source of DIY-inspiration!

And now for a ***spectacular giveaway***!!

Nicole is offering one incredibly lucky winner a set of EIGHT gorgeous fairy tiaras (over $360 value!) as featured in this party!

Take a look at the beautiful tiaras "in action"!

Here's how to enter:

1) Visit Tradewind Tiaras website, and come back here leaving a comment on this blog post telling us which tiara style is your favorite.

AND

2) Become a fan of Tradewind Tiaras, and be sure to say hello to her letting her know you stopped by!

AND

3) Become a fan of Kate Landers Events, LLC and leave a note saying you stopped by (if you already are one, be sure to leave a comment in your comment on this blog post letting us know).

That's it!

One VERY lucky winner will be drawn at random. Ends Monday, October 24th at 11:59pm EST.
{Please note: Kate Landers Events, LLC, is not responsible for the products or delivery there of of any offerings in any of our giveaways other than products or services from our own shoppe. We do our very best to make sure we work with the most delightful and reputable vendors and designers out there, but we hold no responsibility or liability for any giveaway item(s). We are merely the hosts of the giveaways, not the sponsors and hold no liability should the sponsor not deliver what was promised}