A Few New Things

I recently bought one of those cool slide scanner thingamajigs and I've vowed (privately until now) to make some headway in converting the family archives, dating back to Mom & Dad's pics from the 50's. I've gotten through about 25 (!) but I am enjoying the trip down memory lane. So I added a new spot to the left called "From the Archives" and posted the first photo. The reason I was finally moved to start the project is the request we received from my cousin Allen. We were invited to a party Allen, his brother Ron, and dad Ronnie were throwing for his mom Judy's 70th birthday. Allen asked we send along any pictures of Judy that we'd like to share. I remembered one in particular that I always loved to see when someone would drag out the projector and pull down the screen for a family slide night. So I bought the scanner, dug out the first of the old Kodak carousels and got to work. Here then is Judy and her soon to be husband Ronnie, both around age 18, with Ron's mom, my aunt Millie, in my parent's dinette, circa 1959! (No, you can't see the "99 More Years" plaque but DO take note of the equally infamous pink patterned wallpaper!).

I've also posted a couple of videos from the party. These have not worked out so well - one is truncated because I didn't think to start filming until a few seconds into the performance and both are taken from a distance with my i-Phone - but if you are family they're fun to peek in on. Here's a tip: click on the caption beneath each to be taken to an external website and see the video in a larger format!

Party Accents

I finally got some pictures of the decorations we made for Mom's party. I took a really great picture of Mom, probably from her early 20's, and created a Warhol-inspired graphic in 4 colorways for the cover of the invitation. I chose one of the portraits that coordinated well with the colors of the various rooms and used that as the centerpiece for all the custom designed accents. I didn't want them to be too juvenile but definitely fun and a bit whimsical. There was a scalloped "plaque" hung from white satin ribbons for the front door and little matching medallions adorning the floral centerpieces.


We hand cut and assembled a charming little garland for each room. In the dining room we hung one from the hutch, in the kitchen it was over a window, with satin ribbons, a few matching balloons and lots of curling ribbon. In the living room the fireplace mantel was adorned but I used tufts of tulle in 3 different colors instead of the balloons since they were down low where too many rug rats could get at them.


More little signs - similar to our cupcake toppers - made a nice accompaniment for the candles on the cake.


Last but not least everyone got to take away a little favor. Part treat and part tribute to the guest of honor, the bags were filled with mini Milky Way bites - Mom's favorite!

** If anyone is interested in custom party decorations we can come up with a design package to fit any need. Just send a comment and I'll contact you.

Happy Birthday Miss Evvie!

I am catching up on last week and posting about Mom's 85th birthday party.Yes, 85. And, after the situation we had in December (which seemed decidedly bleak for a short while), that feels particularly great to say. The invitation I made is one of my favorite motifs - Warhol, of course. "Miss Evvie" is a throwback to the eighties...when "Dallas" was all the rage and Barbara Bel Geddes' character, matriarch of the Ewing clan, was called Miss Ellie. We adapted it for our own and my sister and I have used it on and off ever since. I'm not sure anyone else in the family realizes it but no one questioned us either! The party, on the Saturday after her actual birthday (February 9th), was a lot of fun. Gina made her usual array of delicious and interesting dishes - this time with a cozy winter's eve theme. Everyone who was invited came and it was the first time in a long time both sides of the family were together. Mom had her hair done and wore a flattering all-black suit so she looked wonderful - healthier and happy. People came and went, everyone had fun and we ended up talking with the cousins until 1 in the morning. Thanks to all who attended and helped to make Mom's day a special one.