WHIMSICAL,
VINTAGE,
SPARKLING!

"Design with a hint of elegance and a shimmer of magic."

design + inspiration blog

En Le Jardin….A weekend to remember!

DSCN4412_edited-2

Im staring at this post not even knowing honestly where to start.  My mind is still on a “high” from the amazing weekend. I did it!!!! I hosted my first art workshop event and it exceeded far beyond my wildest dreams!!! It started with a vision and grew over time. I knew in my mind what I wanted this weekend to be about and I put my heart and soul into bringing it to life.  

Just and FYI….this post is a bit LONG. I didn’t want to break up the post, because I want to capture the WHOLE weekend in one. I’ve kept the wording simple and filled it with TONS of gorgeous photos. Some are mine, and some borrowed.

Meet the girls…….. this photo was taken Friday morning on my front steps as we were headed to Savannah in a limo for a day of lunch, shopping, and some serious crazzy fun!!!

3546496729_23fc0af612_b

3546864579_62041f1117_o 

I have to post at least one photo of us in the limo.

3547119783_25ec6ce808_b  

We started with lunch at the historical Olde Pink House restaurant.

3543956076_0e8ebac6f0_b 

DSCN4191_edited-1

Me and my gorgeous big sis Jessi

3547934852_779bc15d1a_b  

We shopped at Paris Market and my favorite shop in Savannah @ Home Vintage General where the super sweet and gracious owner Liz Demos was waiting for us and served us with yummy finger foods and mimosas!!!

I fell in love with this chicken wire butterfly cage at Paris Market.

DSCN4201_edited-1  The lovely Kim Caldwell.

DSCN4205_edited-1 

3546866357_838c85434c_o

Liz and the Flower Fairies.

3547136813_0c0d7180bf_b

 

We paid a visit to the locally and now nationally famous Cheryl Day of Back in the Day Bakery. Cheryl and her owner husband Griffith make the YUMMIEST cupcakes!!!

DSCN4226_edited-1 

Her shop is full of vintage sweet confections.

DSCN4213_edited-1 

DSCN4212_edited-1  

DSCN4211_edited-2 

DSCN4208_edited-2  Yummmm!!!!!

Cheryl welcomed us girls with open arms and was such a sweetheart to chat with. 

DSCN4223_edited-1 

Goodbye beautiful Savannah!!!!

3547948374_3e351cf3ee_b

It was a fun ride home. Almost a little too fun to show photos. Let’s just say we were on a sugar cupcake high. 😉 

Saturday was the MAIN EVENT!!!! Early noon I hosted a tea luncheon. My Mother and I prepared all the food, and  I closed off my dining room to all of the ladies, because I wanted it to be a surprise. I spent much time decorating and transforming my dining room into a dreamy beautiful enchanted garden “feel” for the luncheon.

3547307624_853ecff122_b

DSCN4270_edited-1

DSCN4268_edited-1 

DSCN4274_edited-2 

DSCN4278_edited-1 

DSCN4279_edited-1 

DSCN4288_edited-1 

DSCN4258_edited-2 

DSCN4300_edited-1  

DSCN4259_edited-1

3547307024_131b3021e6_b  

DSCN4290_edited-1 

DSCN4281_edited-2 

DSCN4284_edited-1

Me and my darling friend Cheryl

DSCN4302_edited-1 

My gorgeous Sis Jessi!

DSCN4301_edited-2 

Darling beautiful friends.

3543160861_c0614a4236_b

3547169133_0d5fc75a42_b  

We dined outside under the beautiful decorated tent. For many of you that know my artwork it’s all about the DETAILS!!!! So I went ALL out on the details of the decor.  Tables were set with vintage floral linens, vintage hankie napkins, white wedding chairs that I coverd with vintage embroidered pillow cases and tied with tulle and silk flowers, cherub statue centerpieces, and beautiful vintage bottles of fresh flowers that I decorated with lace, ribbon, and glitter butterflies.

DSCN4334_edited-1 

3547312952_405699ff8b_b

I decorated this old frame with vintage millinery, butterflies, and glitter banner created by the super sweet and talented Madai of  Forget me Nots from Wren Cottage.

DSCN4331_edited-1

It was a BIG surprise to the girls, but one of my FAVORITE artist is the super kind and creative talent Kris Hurst . She and her lovely sweet friend Marilyn drove down to Macon to help me set up for my event. Kris is in the works of wanting to plan an art retreat close to her home, so she decided she would like to come and help me out and take some notes. 🙂 

 

 

I commissioned Kris to make me a banner that says “Welcome Flower Fairies”. EEEK!!! Sooooo adorable!

3542933821_9f4c9de7ef_b

 3543172045_e4100a877b_b

3543757386_78ca6be41c_b

Gifts for the flower fairies. 

3542910677_c22573fe55_b

I made them each a flower bottle.

DSCN4037_edited-1 

DSCN4032_edited-1

 

DSCN4324_edited-2 

DSCN4313_edited-1 

DSCN4323_edited-2 

DSCN4325_edited-1 

DSCN4327_edited-2 

DSCN4340_edited-1

DSCN4328_edited-2   

DSCN4339_edited-1 

DSCN4342_edited-3 

DSCN4349_edited-2 

DSCN4353_edited-1

Andrea hosted a garden swap for us gals and she stuffed all the incredible treasures inside these big beautiful ruffled tote bags she made for us all. It felt like Christmas opening up all the sweet lovelies inside!  

3543991506_18c48d93b2_b

3547309310_6053140c3d_b 

3547308804_06527154f9_b

It felt like an oasis of beauty surrounding us!!!!!

DSCN4319_edited-1 

DSCN4320_edited-1

DSCN4321_edited-1 

Some cute snapshots of the ladies.

Andrea and Lorraine who I now call “Miss Pinky” and who always makes me smile!!!

3543989602_a3dbca2700_b   

Angela and Sherry.

3543169969_e372b5b35c_b 

The tiniest flower fairy being such the lady!

3543180739_71afe48d92_b

I had TWO surprises for the ladies. I wanted to my retreat and luncheon to have an elegant feel to it, and thought it would be lovely to have a harpist perform. I hired Calista who is an AMAZINGLY talented!!! Her beautiful soft erethreal music really made the event even more special.

3548004942_0010c125c6_b

DSCN4371_edited-1

My next surprise was something both Natasha and I planned. Since she could not obviously be here to attend, Natsha made a “mini me”. We ALL cracked up!!! She looked so lovely sitting in her chair. 😉 tee! hee!  

DSCN4391_edited-1 

Cheryl and I giving Natasha a sip of champange punch. Not too much tho’….we didnt want her getting too tipsy!

3548010994_d2cddee91d_b

After the luncheon we had a little Vendor Fair set up. Tons of sparkley goodies!

DSCN4378_edited-1

DSCN4377_edited-2  

Silly Analise!

DSCN4383_edited-1 

DSCN4381_edited-1 

DSCN4379_edited-1 

Georgia Southern Belles!

DSCN4386_edited-1 

In the corner of my yard we set up a  beautiful outdoor sitting area.

3543173339_d889b9b9ca_b

3546510085_027bc21ab4_b

Moi. 🙂

3547316306_d7e8dd3717_b   

My incredible birdcage that I just found a few weeks ago.

DSCN4408_edited-1 

DSCN4406_edited-1 

You NEVER know what’s going to happen in this crazzy Georgia weather. Once we got started working on our projects. It proceeded to rain!!!! Thank heavens for the tent. We all huddled about and worked regardless of the short downpour. The rain NEVER once dampened our sprits!!! As you can see Miss Tiffany and Karla thought it would be fun to slide down my childrens slide in the rain.  

DSCN4396_edited-1 

We we ALL laughed hystarically! Such a cutie even when soaking wet!

DSCN4403_edited-1

Everyone kept working while it was pouring rain, and we chatted and laughed the whole time. The completed projects ALL turned out sooo beautiful and unique to the artist personality and style!!!

Tiffany and Andrea’s gorgeous flower pots.

3547318244_a5ce03b043_b

3546512531_d57844f707_b 

Tiffany’s stunning flower pot filled with flowers.

DSCN4421_edited-2 

The girls REALLY LOVED making the fairy ball ornaments.

Miss Karla’s.

3546515533_1b1516e278_b  

Cheryl’s sweet little wee one.

3547322692_b80a278960_b 

Kim’s

3547322796_c309e77bc7_b 

This darling little fairy ball has twinkling lights and is made by one of the kindest and sweetest ladies Rosalyn-Sue.

3546515613_9277e4a9cc_b

3546585541_7d028a51d3_b 

DSCN4423_edited-1 

Im simply amazed at how everyone’s projects turned out. Im still “pinching” myself that I taught my first class!

To end our FABULOUS weekend, we all dried off and rested afterwards, than later on got all “dolled up” for a garden cocktail party hosted by one of my dearest friends Suzanne McCrone. She had a beautiful spread of food and cocktails!

3548026200_65cc74a70c_b

Andrea, Tiffany, Suzanne, and Lorraine.

3548919404_c970d960f4_b 

Suzanne’s husband Reg really knows how to make a yummy cocktail!

3547231819_b94d7b5a77_b 

Some fun snapshots of the ladies.

DSCN4444_edited-1   

DSCN4448_edited-2 

DSCN4449_edited-1 

3543212237_b5f7ce9bce_b  

Such pretty ladies in their floral dresses.

DSCN4450_edited-1 

After hours of talking, bonding, and laughing so hard that our tummies hurt we finally called it a night at 1am. 

Sunday rolled around and it was time for the girls to pack up all their pretties and head home. It was sooo bittersweet! I’ve enjoyed spending more quality time with my old friends and bonding and getting to know my new friends.  

Needless to say I was one EXHAUSTED girl!!! LOL!!!! The weekend could not have been more perfect and more beautiful!!!  I felt so inspired and creatively rejuvenated by being surrounded by these super talented women! I can’t thank you ladies enough for attending my first event and making it a HUGE success!!!!  

I want to end this VERY long post (thanks for hanging in there!) with a painting the uber talented Karla painted that sums up some really funny (inside joke) moments.

Pictured is me as Queen Flower Fairy, Tiffany going down the slide, Lorraine sitting pretty in her chair, Carol with a black eye (long story! LOL!), Jessi with her pretty pointed toes, Cheryl standing on top of cupcake, Analise giving homeboy peace signs, and Andrea and Kim showing ABC flashcards.   

6a00d83451ead569e201157092f932970b 

Thank you ladies for the memories…. I will cherish this weekend forever!

XOXO,   

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Affiliate Disclosure & Content Disclaimer

This post may contain affiliate links from paid sponsors, Amazon, or other programs. When you use these links to make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This support helps me continue creating the content you love. Please note, the information in this article is based on my research and opinions and is intended for informational purposes only.

Jennifer

Sparkling Magic Wishes!

May 20, 2009

browse by category

events & gatherings

Magazine Features

Stay updated with all my whimsical adventures and creative inspirations by signing up for new blog posts!