The Big 3-0

This past weekend was the official celebration of my sister's birthday. It was a wonderful weekend filled with family, friends, food, and of course wine. As you'll recall from the invites, (Sealed With A... Fleur-de-lis?) my sister is a fan of any and all things purple. For this particular tablescape, she opted for gold as the accent color.

You know you've done well when the client cries in disbelief- happy client, happy designer. Happy Birthday Tiffany!

Guest Book Gone Digital

In the day of age where most individuals are more incline to watch television before reading the newest best seller, it comes as no surprise that wedding traditions are following suit. Meet the newest guest book...

"Years from now, you could flip through an album of well-wishes and scan all the handwritten names. Or you could flip the switches on your computer and watch your guests in action. Devote a corner of the event space to a video photo booth: set up a digital camcorder, leave a movie clapper and dry-erase pens for guests to write their names, and let them raise a glass and talk a blue streak. For a seamless background, hang a large white piece of fabric or paper" (Winter 2011 Edition of Martha Stewart Weddings).

Check out Keira & Dan's digital guest book featured on The Knot to see what fun this new take on an old tradition can really be.

The Coffee Table Gets Personal

Are you already hyper at the thought of all the holidays gifts that you need to buy? If so, why not make life a little easier and get some shopping done way in advance with the help of Amazon.com. For those "what the heck do I buy them?!?!" people- think of their favorite past time or hobby and buy them a hardcover coffee table book. For all the hosts and hostesses in your life, look to William Yeoward for your solution.

In 2009 I received his wonderful book William Yeoward on Entertaining and a year later it is still my favorite look book in my collection.

"William Yeoward has a worldwide reputation for designing collections for the home, and is particularly known for his imaginative table settings. He has shops in London and New York, lectures on design throughout the United States, and his work is featured in magazines such as Town and Country, Elle Decor (for whom he is a contributing editor), House and Garden, Vogue Living and Vogue Entertaining" (Amazon.com).

On my wish list this year is his 2006 Perfect Tables: Tabletop Secrets, Settings And Centerpieces for Delicious Dining and his 2010 William Yeoward at Home: Elegant Living in Town and Country.

Help make your favorite person's home that much more personal with pages of information and illustrations that will keep them occupied for hours. Happy Shopping!

The Junior League Of San Francisco- Patron Party

A dear friend of mine came to me recently and requested a donation from All Set for decorating services for the Patron Party- a preview to the 16th Annual Home Tour presented by The Junior League of San Francisco (JLSF). Absolutely! Not only because my dear friend is my dear friend, but also because I believe in what JLSF stands for- an organization of woman committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The Home Tour is a fundraising event that is dedicated to supporting and strengthening Bay Area families in need via direct service, advocacy and grant making.

Home Tour will take place in early November, but the 300 person Patron Party took place on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. The venue was the beautiful White Palace on Divisadero Street in San Francisco. My task was to create a simplistic, elegant, and feminine design for the exterior of the house. A field trip to the White Palace was necessary for design inspiration. After 30 minutes with my sketch pad, I had derived the ideal design for the budget and audience- pom poms and crystals!

As a thank you for the corporate donation, JLSF gave All Set the option to contribute to the party swag bags. Each attendee received an All Set goodie bag that stayed true to the "San Francisco" theme with the recipe for a San Francisco Sidecar, cocktail napkins, and a photo of the speciality cocktail with one of All Set's custom flags

showcasing All Set's

attention to detail.

Do·na·tion[doh-ney-shuh n] –noun: an act of instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution. There are so many wonderful donation opportunities available throughout a community. Be creative- you never know when your hobby or special talent may serve as a meaningful contribution to an organization.

A special thanks to Elizabeth, Mariah, and my mother for all your input and assistance.

Prefect Place To Showcase

I have had the opportunity to take All Set on the road and spend some time on the beautiful Central Coast. As a designer that never stops thinking about the next special event, I am observant to interesting venues, vendors, and "must know" local resources. Thank goodness for my "eagle-eye" ways, as a need arose for an All Set photo shoot and I knew just the place to go...

Native Lounge is located in downtown San Luis Obispo. The trendy hot spot is open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Patrons have the opportunity to enjoy delicious California Cuisine in one of four unique settings: the dining room, patio, bar, or plush lounge area. After 10pm, this swanky scene transforms into one of the most popular nightclubs on the Central Coast. The evening atmosphere is electric and draws crowds Tuesday- Sunday until 2am.

Therefore, it is understandable why a designer would be drawn to such a fabulous venue for a photo shoot. The task: to photograph custom All Set signage with a San Francisco signature cocktail- the sidecar. The Native Lounge bartender produced a work-of-art that was worthy of a closeup. Let the photo shoot begin.

Stay tuned to see what the final shot was used for...

Win 'Funky Cards' In Reader Raffle

Shopping at the mall, spending hours on Facebook, or pretending to complete summer reading is how many 15 year-old girls spend their summers. However, Madison Womack, Founder of Funky Cards has quite a different story. This young entrepreneur started making custom greeting cards in order to financially contribute to her club volleyball tuition. What started as a fundraiser has transformed into a successful business.

Funky Cards creates birthday, thank you, baby shower, wedding wishes, and any other special occasion card that the customer needs. Each card produced by Funky Cards embodies homemade perfection.

As if starting her own company at age 15 wasn't admirable enough, Madison has created a special line of greeting cards that generates donation dollars for the American Cancer Society and/or the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

I was beyond impressed with this young business owner and inspired by her drive and motivation that I had to share her story with you all. Here are the fast facts about the products:

- card dimensions 5.5 x 4.25 inches

- blank on the inside

- sold for $3 each or 2 for $5

To order Funky Cards online, visit www.funkycards.blogspot.com

Funky Cards has donated a set of greeting cards for one lucky All Set reader. To Enter: send an email to Heather@allset-online.com with your NAME and MAILING ADDRESS. A winner will be selected on Tuesday, July 27. Check back next week on Wednesday, July 28 to see if you are the winner!

Just A Bite

Have you ever heard of the cliche "everything is okay in moderation" ? Deb, founder of The Cake Pop Company makes satisfying your sweet tooth with just a bite that much easier. The Cake Pop Company creates decadent little cakes on a stick that are as yummy as they are cute. The cakes are approximately the size of a golf ball, encased in a confectioners candy coating. Each Cake Pop is made to order so you can expect a fresh delightful treat. There is a Cake Pop for every occasion: weddings, birthdays, and holidays too.

Since incorporating in May 2009, The Cake Pop Company has received national attention from from various media outlets. Whether word of mouth or all the magazine articles, The Cake Pop Company now manages a client list consisting of large scale companies such as Warner Bros Studios. No worries though- Deb still finds time to complete the home orders for all her confection fans.

As a designer, Cake Pops offers me an alternative option for new centerpieces. Not to mention the ever so trendy candy bar now has a new contender that sweetens your guests' experience. Cake Pops also offer a solution to the bridal debate of cake vs. no cake. The Cake Pop Company can create your wedding cake on sticks; therefore, alleviating your guests' dilemma of what cake tier they want to eat. With Cake Pops, why not sample them all.

To get more information about these treats on a stick visit The Cake Pop Company online.

Carnations...Making A Comeback

How has it come to be that such a simple flower has gotten such a bad wrap? Yes I am talking about the carnation. I believe that this negative connotation has developed from people associating the cost of this flower with the quality. However, with the growing popularity DIY weddings and special events, utilizing inexpensive materials to create a unique design is considered nothing short of savvy. If this is not reason enough for you to give carnations a second chance, just look to the queen of design herself, Ms. Martha Stewart. Martha has expressed many times her love for carnations because of their practicality when designing on a budget.