Freezer Paper Stenciled "Onesies"

For Violet, Lindsay & Kyle's new baby girl.

Grandpa Gage will be happy.

For the Egyptian-culture-loving Mom.

Katie spent a year in England for graduate school.

For babies who live in Albany.

For the Hoffman's twins.

For Harper. :-)

Bee-Themed Baby Shower

Today I co-hosted a baby shower for my best friend, Katie. My co-host was Katie's Sister-In_Law, Brooke. The theme was "bee". The sex of the baby is unknown so we were able to say "What will it bee ?", and invite guests to a shower for a "Mom to bee". Here are some photos:



"Onesie" for the baby

The "drinks" table

Cake and cupcakes from Coccadotts, Albany, NY

Banner and gifts

Favors

Food

Happy Baby Shower Katie!

The Coaster Project

The coaster project began when Michael and I decided to make coasters as our wedding favors. The first thing we did was look for slate that we could acquire freely or cheaply. We were successful and found a Craigslist posting for old roofing slate from a home in Altamont, NY. We drove there on a snowy, winter day and bought a large amount of the slate. Once he (the seller) heard what we were using it for, he gave us an awesome deal.

Roofing slate in the back of Michael's pick-up.

The next major step was Michael's job. He rented a wet saw for the weekend from a local hardware store and got to work cutting the slate into 4 x 4 inch squares.

Michael cutting roofing slate with a wet saw.

Michael cutting slate.

The slate tiles beginning to pile up.

 I washed each square and shaved off any loose pieces and checked each square for soundness.

Washing and shaving slate in kitchen sink.

 I used 2 different stencil designs (from Jo-Ann's) and 2 colors of metallic, acrylic paint (coordinating with our wedding colors) and painted each square.

Fleur-De-Lis stencil on slate tile.

 I used various clips to secure the stencil to the slate tile.

Medallion stencil done with metallic orange paint.

After the paint dried, I sprayed polyurethane in a thin layer to seal-in the paint and make the coasters water-resistant.

The polyurethane spray I used.

 I purchased (online) felt circles with adhesive backing in a "stone" color and affixed 4 to the bottom of each coaster. The adhesive backing wasn't as strong as it could be, so I super-glued each felt circle.

Felt, circular, adhesive dots.

Letting the super glue dry.

I painted and completed a little over 100 coasters. Originally I wanted to make a set of 4 for each wedding guest. As the wedding got closer, I settled for painting a set of 2 coasters. But I quickly became realistic and had to settle for painting 1 coaster per guest.

Yes, this took months.

Here is a finished coaster at our wedding.

If you look carefully in this photo, you can see that the champagne flutes at each person's place-setting have been placed on their slate coaster.

 

 The Coaster Project continues...

My Favorite Wedding Songs

Processional: Bach - Sleepers Awake

Recessional: Mozart - Ode to Joy

Our First Dance:

Eric Clapton & B.B. King - Marry You (~ a little awkward to dance to (tempo-wise), but when you're in love, can easily pull off...)

Great Reception Songs (that I can remember):

Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - I've Had the Time of My Life (from Dirty Dancing)

Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back

Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

Michael Jackson - Beat It

My Awesome Bouquet

Married :-)

As photos start coming in, I will post them and tell you about them.

Wedding Hairstyle Inspirations

There will be Tiger Vanda Orchids in my hair on the big day. My friend, Rachael, is a hairstylist and will be doing my hair and make-up at her salon, Carolyn's, in Albany.