William's Wild West Showdown

I have been blown away by the response to William's recent Wild West Showdown. Thank you to everyone for your comments and posts. I would like to thank Amy Atlas for sharing some of the images with her readers here.

I hope you enjoy looking through more images from William's 5th birthday. Leanne Stamatellos captured the day perfectly. I have to say the relationship our family has built with Leanne over the past two years shows in these images. Both William and Olivia were so at ease with Leanne. Thank you Leanne. I know you know how special it is for me to have these memories to look back on.

I asked Anna from Invite with Style to create William's invitations. How cool are they? I feel it's very important to set the tone of a party with fabulous invitations. William's classmates certainly thought they were cool!

I lashed out with the props, I couldn't help myself. It's what I do.

The guests were greeted with mini choc milks. They came back for seconds and thirds. Paper straws available here. Mini glass milk bottles available here.

We offered a range of cookies, muffins and whoopie pies for the boys to snack on for afternoon tea. I love the cookie bar idea. There was also fresh fruit available too.

Plenty to keep the boys entertained. A hay bale treasure hunt. We hid sheriff badges and choc coins in the hay for the boys to find.

The animal farm was a huge hit.

The boys practised their shooting skills.

Sacks races. Cowboy hats and bandanas will be available for purchase soon.

We are blessed to have wonderful neighbours who we are lucky to be able to call friends. The two eldest boys demonstrated whip cracking for the younger boys. Thanks Johnny and Fraser, you did a wonderful job.

Leanne pulled my two aside and got some special photos for us. Thank you Leanne.

I made William's cake and was really happy with the result. I got the design from here. I changed it a little, but the initial concept was from Sam's Cakes.

The Favours. The cute Sambellina boxes are available in the shop now!

Credits

Photography Leanne Stamatellos Photography

Cookies and Whoopie Pies Bubble and Sweet

Invitations, thank you tags, sweets table signage Invite with Style

Party design and styling Sharnel Dollar Designs

If you would like help creating a fabulous party of your own contact me about our event styling services. You can also purchase many items I use in my parties here.

Amy Atlas coming to Australia

Would you like the chance to meet with the original creator and queen of dessert tables?

Well Amy is currently gauging interest in a tour DOWN UNDER! If you would like to meet her click here and read how to get in contact with her team.

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting with Amy in October last year and I told her just how much we all love her and what she does here in Australia. She has inspired so many of us to create beautiful dessert tables and even start our own businesses. Mine included!

Fiji

Been a little quiet on the blogging front the past few weeks. We spent 10 glorious days in Fiji and I wanted to share of my favourite photos with you.

Can't wait to go back next year.

The Party Dress Issue 2 - OUT NOW!

For those of you who love to entertain you must read the latest issue of The Party Dress magazine.

I'm very proud to be featured again this issue. Be sure to check out my Summer Lunch on page 29. My love of pink and navy heavily influenced my colour palette. It's so fresh and fun!

The striking tablecloth, napkins, placemats and napkin rings were all purchased from Jessie Lauren.

Thank you Kelly for asking me to be apart of your beautiful magazine. I'm looking forward to seeing it in print very soon.

If you would like help creating a fabulous party of your own contact me about our event styling services. You can also purchase many items I use in my parties here.

Roses (are they difficult to grow?)

Hi everyone, how was your weekend? Mine was lovely and long. Got lots done around the house and started making props for two very special birthday parties coming up in July.

I did take some time to smell the roses. And what beautiful roses they were.

On Thursday evening I was lucky enough to be invited to a friends home and she offered for me and another friend to cut our very own roses! These all came from one garden! I haven't stopped staring at them and smelling them all weekend.

I've now got this crazy notion that I may even start my own little rose garden. Are any of my readers rose gardeners? Are they hard to grow and look after? Any information would be much appreciated.

All images Sharnel Dollar

Sale time

We have just listed a heap of beautiful items at crazy prices. Click here to view our sale.

Gourmet Family Picnic

Yesterday morning Southbank Corporation officially opened River Bend, Brisbane's newest riverfront recreational greenspace at Southbank.

I was asked by KDPR to create a gourmet family picnic to showcase how this space can be utilised.

The Honourable Anna Bligh MP Premier of Queensland was there to give her seal of approval to this beautiful outdoor space. There is even a little beach for you to arrive via kayak if you are so inclined.

In keeping with the Premiers Healthy Eating policy we served a delicious homestyle menu of:

• Zesty creamy chicken with avocado and rocket cibata
• Beetroot, sweet potato, chickpea and balsamic onion salad
• Organic museli and raspberry yoghurt served in individual jars
• Maui Muffins made with pineapple, apple, carrot, walnuts and shredded coconut.
• Fresh fruit

Thank you to Esther from In A Pickle for helping with the menu selections. I cannot recommend In A Pickle more highly for your next function.

All images Sharnel Dollar for Sharnel Dollar Designs

If you would like help creating a fabulous party of your own contact me about our event styling services. You can also purchase many items I use in my parties here.

Butterfly and Bee Party

I have been waiting for the opportunity to use these delightful printables designed by Style Me Gorgeous for months now.

When my cousin Paula reminded me that her daughter's birthday was coming up I jumped at the chance to help with the party.

I was able to reuse some props used in previous parties. You might remember the crates from William's Pinwheel Party and the butterfly balls from Olivia's Enchanted Woodlands party.

The little jars filled with custard and jelly reminded me of honey pots. You can find them at Bread Top filled with milk custard in the fridge section.

If you would like to purchase SMG's Butterfly and Bee printables collection simply click here.

The delicious cupcakes where from The Lemony Cupcake. Thank you for last minute delivery Coby!

If you would like help creating a fabulous party of your own contact me about our event styling services. You can also purchase many items I use in my parties here.

A beautiful sign of things to come

I wanted to share with you a snippet of the gorgeous items that will be arriving in our shop soon.

I will update you on pricing and arrival date as soon as possible, I promise!

xox

Martha Stewart Show {Memories from Manhattan}

I travelled to NYC with my friend and neighbour Michelle in March this year. Michelle shares my loves of all things crafty and party related. She is a mad (as in a really, really good) sewer and is always willing to help me out in the jam. Michelle made the gorgeous ruffled tablecloths I used in this party.

So one of our bucket list of things to do was visit the set of the Martha Stewart Show and we were lucky enough to score tickets. Another friend of mine Marlene who lives on Long Island also joined us for the taping. Here are some pics from the shows taping.

The warm up guy, funny man Joey Kola

My oh my what a lovely bunch of apples you have! So big and shiny and round!

Everyone is busy prepping the set

I've died and gone to ribbon dispenser heaven.

Then I've come back to earth and died (again) and this time I went to milk glass heaven.

As you can see the set is quite large

Here we are. Marlene, Michelle and I.

The one we came to see. Hail the Queen of Style and Organisation.

See you again sometime Martha!

If you would like to visit the Martha Stewart Show, click here to apply for tickets.