Plate Love

TGIF! I can't believe this week has zoomed by so quickly, and what a fabulous week it has been indeed. Today's Friday so let's talk all about another element of my business, vintage plates. My obsession for vintage or vintage inspired plate ware is an ever growing collection and each piece is handpicked by you guessed it, me. There is something very special to me about depression glass, pastel colors, 23 carat gold china, Limoge, and Noritake that just reminds me of a time I can only dream about and somewhere between yards of vintage lace, flowing chiffon and silk are my vintage lovelies for the perfect table setting at your affair. I've been asked by more than a few friends and brides exactly how many I have, and my answer is always "more than one girl needs", you're just going to have to take my word on it.

Where can you find these beauties for your wedding? Here of course! But did you know that you could also rent them through New England Country Rentals, where our plates are apart of a full vintage line? YES, you can! It's been such a dream come true to be able to collaborate with New England Country Rentals in order to spread our  love for plates far and wide. No post would be complete without pictures so check out where we were featured this week and another one of our fav's.

Enjoy your Friday lovelies and Happy Memorial Day.

Photo Credit: Kelly Dillon Photography

Photo Credit: Kelly Dillon Photography

Photo Credit: Henry Photographers

Gettin' all pretty!

Why hello! This week is flying by, and I have so many wonderful things to share with you that I hardly know where to begin. This is the one time during the week where I feel like I can share with you a bit of what's going on with Making ME and the direction we're going in....soooooooooo (close eyes-squint nose-and type)

We're officially getting a whole new look! Gah, it's taken me months to share this news with you but I truly couldn't be happier. It's a business owner's dream to step into the big world of entrepreneurship knowing that they have the kind of brand that people will remember. The entire process has been so amazing and dreamy, I can't even begin to tell you how much I adore the dynamic duo that's making it all happen, Makewell.

I ABSOLUTELY can't wait to show you the new "Making ME"!! Stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled for some amazingness.....and because no blog post is complete without a cute pic, check out this sneak peak at our studio!

DIY: Dream Dresser

Happy Monday. I absolutely couldn't wait to sit at my computer and write today's blog post! Monday's are all about perfecting the art of D.I.Y'ing (aka do it yourself) and showing it off, for now I'll only be featuring the projects that I D.I.Y but as my house and studio are completed I'm sure I'll have more to show you.

Last summer I was determined to find a dresser that could be used as a multi-functioning piece, I searched and scoured websites like freecycle and craigslist until finally giving up. Then one day while browsing craigslist I found it,the dresser I had searched months for. The dresser was a little banged up, but the lines and details were perfect and for $5 hell I could ignore any scrapes and scratches. I put the dresser in my living room and used it for my 1 year business party and I was starting to see it's potential.

 Below is the dresser! Not to shabby for a $5 find right? After seeing pictures I knew that I had made the right choice but the color was just all wrong for me, I'm from the south and LOVE white furniture! It's cliche but if this dresser was going to stay in my home I had to make it me.

Photo Credit: Summer Street Photography 

So the transformation project began to turn boring into BAM......

Step #1 

Sand the dresser so that it can be ready for primer and paint. I'd recommend doing this outside. You'll thank me later!

Materials to Sand: Free! My landlord is awesome!

Step #2

Pic out a Primer and a Paint (I had a water damage stain that if I hadn't primed the dresser the ugly mark would have been noticeable). I also should tell you that I initially used a flat paint, but after realizing it could get a bit dirty I repainted with a gloss antique white. It still looks gorgeous!

Paint: Lowes $20 for Paint, Primer, and a new brush!

Step #3 

Accessorize-Accessorize-Accessorize! I wanted mismatched hardware and decided right then and there to come up with a color palette for the entire studio space. Deciding not to fight with the existing vintage wallpaper but include it into the color palette was the right choice and it gave me the exact pop of silver I was looking for. 

Hardware: Anthropologie $12 for 4 new nobs on super sale!

Step #4

Enjoy it!

Finding the perfect dresser took a while, finding the perfect paint and accessories took only a few days but it was all worth it. This is my dream dresser and I made it for under $40. It's now nicely tucked away in my studio and has been used as a mini-bar, dessert station, brunch area, and more! I like to think this studio is a place where all things pretty go and I'm happy to say that this was one of the first pieces. 

Photo Credit: Don't Frett Photography

Blog Brain working!

Today is THE DAY that I get back on the blogging horse and with a 3 month hiatus I'm finally feeling like my writers block is over! Seriously blogging is a lot harder than I EVER thought it would be, some days I would sit at my computer just thinking about topics to write about and it was torture. So to get myself in a better blog space I'll be blogging 4 times a week on specific topics (hello organization.bye-bye scatter brain!). As many of may know my business has really grown up over the past year, we went from just being wedding planners to include vintage plate rentals (absolute obsession) and that entails a lot more than just wedding talk.  This has also been the year that we've opened our own studio and have been crafting our way to perfection! So FINALLY we have a lot to say! I hope you'll stay with me on this fun journey to becoming a better blogger and drop me a line, comment, or just leave some love when you can.


So DRUM ROLL please for our weekly line up.


Monday: D.I.Y crafting our way to perfect projects


Wednesday: Weddings & The business of planning


Friday: Make My Plate


Weekends: Fav pics from around the web

Are you ready to rent?

Many years ago when I started collecting vintage plates I had no idea that what I'm dubbing as the "plate phenomenon" would take off and boy am I happy it did. Now knee deep in plates I'm happy couples get to add an extra special touch to their wedding by using my vintage plates.

Deciding whether or not you should rent? Well let's dish, no literally let's talk about why you should be thinking about renting.

1.) It takes a lot of time, let me repeat A LOT of time to collect these one of a kind pieces. It's taken me years to build a collection that I'm proud to put together for clients.

2.) What on earth are you going to do with the hundreds of dishes after your wedding? When you rent with me, NADA I'll pick them up and you can enjoy the lovely comments from all of your guests for years to come.

3.) They're gorgeous...pinky-promise-swear

4.) Ok really, do you really need anymore reasons?

Below is a preview of our awesome vintage collection....Love-Like-Share-Pin these babies to your hearts content....

Photo Credit: Henry Photographers

Photo Credit: Henry Photographers

Vendor Love

Vendors this post is just for you! Over the past year and a half (yikes and wow) you've been so instrumental in the success of this business.  Many of you have referred clients my way, worked on special projects such as editorial photoshoots, clicked "Like" on facebook, and have left your words of kindness and encouragement.....all of those things mean so much to me and now I'd like to pay it forward to you.  Please leave me a comment describing a tid-bit about your business and if you'd like to collaborate in the future...if you can dream it we can build it!

Picture used from Blitz and Glam

While you're here once again I'd like your support in increasing the readership of this blog...so please kindly become a follower--------------------------------------------------------> Look right over HERE--->


Many thanks and much love!

Day 10: What mama didn't tell me

So we are yet again doing a bit of combined post love....and yes still counting down with only 19 days to go.

This next post came from a conversation with my mom, Celeste. Over the years we've shared hundreds of conversations, each one giving me gentle direction about love, life, career, and all that happens in between, but there are some things that "mama didn't tell me".  When I started this business, a  young bright eyed bushy tailed, naive in many ways girl began the journey. Along the way and far from the end a strong, thoughtful, optimistic but realistic woman emerged. Mama didn't tell me that in order for this business to be successful I'd have to sacrifice so much for it's success but here I am telling you what life is really like when you own your own business.  I've cried, jumped for joy, and sought guidance when needed, I've learned that no decision can be made before I mull it over with a cup of coffee, and I've learned that this business sinks or swims with yours truly.

Just so we are clear....I plan to swim my ass all the way to the top keeping an open mind, warm heart, and strength of the family that gently whispers to me when it's time to make the next move.  Mama didn't tell me that the journey to the top would be long, arduous, painful, and at times discouraging but I'm telling you it is.  If you plan to go into business be prepared to fail.....write yourself a little note that reminds you, you knew this would happen, gather yourself and move onto what's next.

My note is simple and it says this......

Nancy, Minnie, & Ruth.

The meaning is for me to know, but the purpose is to remind myself that with great success comes great failure. Now maybe my mama didn't tell me this, but this may have been the best lesson that I learned early on in my business. Plan to fail and Prepare to succeed.

See you on day 18!

Day 10: No resolutions for me!

21 days left until the big day and only the second day into the new year.  This year I admittedly and purposely didn't make a New Year's resolution list, why you ask because I can't think of a thing I'd like to change that I haven't already put in motion in 2011.

On the business side I made a promise to myself last year that I would embrace who Making ME is, a small firm looking to take on only 15 events a year with a focus in clients. Ah yes and of course it was finally time not just for my former clients to know me but for the wedding industry to know me as well, you see the thing about owning a business is you can't work in your little bubble. This is an industry that craves to know who you are!

Who am I....I'm 5'2, lover of black clothing, gap between my two front teeth, with a FIERCE AFRO. Yup in a nut shell that's me.  In a year I've risked it all and by God I've come out stronger than ever, it's as if I've emerged over the last year, finally becoming the woman that I've been dreaming about, finally becoming ME.

A little less than a year ago and only a few months into my business I decided it was time to make a change. I looked in the mirror and with a pair of scissors in hand I closed my eyes and said goodbye to my relaxed hair. A HUGE chunk of hair was gone and there was no coming back, I called my friend Sara and she finished the rest....what was left was....well nothing.

My hair also known as a woman's strength was gone, but strength was in the little hair on my head that was left. That hair represented the new me, the me that would come to accept herself as the square peg never quite fitting in the round hole, and the crazy love obsessed planner who would soon have a love affair with plates!  With my dream only steps in front of me I did it and the world is seeing me! My strength, my confidence, and my continued passion grows daily~as does my hair.

BEFORE

AFTER

TODAY!
photo credit: Summer Street Photography

Day 9: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 2012 is going to be an exciting year for me and my baby Making ME. Let's recap last year shall we....we planned 15 events to include weddings, birthdays, celebrations and just because events, styled 5 shoots while working in collaboration with photographers, ate at least 100 pieces of cake (a personal victory), and watched a lot of "I do's". 2011 was a successful year indeed and we closed it with an amazing event we planned, The Lexington Symphony Gala. Throughout the day I took moments to reflect on how far we've come and just where we're going, at every turn I saw the same thing, our future is incredibly bright! This year we plan to embrace who are: a small wedding boutique firm focusing only on 15 events per year and renting out our beautiful collections of plates....every chance we get.

With 22 days until I turn 30 I reflect again on how much this business has helped to transform me too. Our name Making ME Event Planning Firm is so fitting, it's what we do and it's who we are. Behind every blog post you'll know it's me; Phebe and at you're wedding you'll know that I've poured hours upon hours into making sure your wedding is YOU.  I'm starting to think that 30 is like a new pair of jeans...it fits me and finally I'm starting to feel like I'm ready to try it on.

{Picture taken from Ecopreneurist}

Day 8: Becoming one of them

Combined post: 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8!

The countdown continues with 24 days to go until I'm 30 and I must say the past 5 days have been such a roller coaster of excitement. To catch you up my sister aka partner in crime is ENGAGED to the man of her dreams, the plus for me is that I get to gain a new brother (I hope he knows that I'm apart of the deal too hehe), Making ME is growing and making such a proud mama out of me, and me well I'm planning to take 30 by storm!

I feel like so much of my life has been about making discoveries...subtle and on a grand scale. When I was a teenager I discovered my love for music, in my twenties I found my passion for planning, and in my late twenties most days I feel like I'm having a love affair with all things resembling design. I can see a pattern, ribbon, color and literally fall in love with it and decide exactly the kind of event I want to use it for. I remember starting this business in my head years before I ever saw it on paper, I yearned for a business that could allow me to discover my inner strengths and passions while transforming women into wives. I could watch them take their first steps into this remarkable journey, but what I hadn't thought about until my last wedding in November is that they were watching me too and I WAS MAKING ME. I was becoming this woman who was a combination of all the women I had admired, they were strong, confident, creative, passionate, idea flowing, and take the world by storm women...I was becoming one of them.

Day 3: Christmas Day

It's Christmas!! This morning I was up bright and early to deliver my lovely holiday cookies and joy....aka presents! All were happy and with a full belly and enough laughs to last in to the new year it seems only fitting that I do a bit of blogging before the end of the day.  To keep this short I'll say this......

To find more holiday quotes, head over to Creating Keepsakes

Day 2: Christmas Eve

Today is Christmas Eve and I can't help remember that this would be my last Christmas Eve or Christmas for that fact in my 20's. As I reflect on nearly 30 years of tradition, family, and laughter I can't help but think about my sister. We would laugh and giggle until all hours of the night attempting to stay awake and catch a glimpse at the ole' big guy himself. My mom doesn't know this but when I was around 10 my sister spilled the beans...there was no Santa...puh I remember thinking. As I feel softly asleep I remember being awaken by my sister and practically dragged down my grandmothers staircase. To my surprise there was my mother sipping a glass of eggnog and wrapping presents with my grandmother and aunt. I think that image will forever live on in my memory.

I didn't know it but that day helped me to remember that Christmas wasn't all about the presents, it was the kindness and love from family that would carry me through anything in life.

Here we all are!

Day 1: Introduction to the countdown

Today is December 23rd and while my mind is swirling with holiday joy and spirit I can't help but think of a huge milestone that is taking place in exactly 30 days.  Yup, in 30 days this gal is turning 30! Now I won't go on and on in this post about how terrifying it is for me  to say goodbye to my 20's, instead I'll be taking the next 30 days to delicately say hello to an exciting new chapter in my life. Let's start from the beginning shall we......

Day 1: That's Me! I'm the one on the left (of course) and there's my rock, my sister Stephanie, she's been one of the people  who's been there gently guiding me through life's terrain.

Now really how cute are we???!!

Inspiration Board: Gingham love....

Today was filled with inspiration and as we move into yet another winter I'm still dreaming in vintage/gingham/strawberry shortcake love! I can't wait to do my very own interpretation based on this inspiration....

Credit: Inspiration board and links to pictures provided by: snippetandink.com....Thank you!

Top row from left: floral print clutch by Ila Handbags, photo of strawberry lemonade in mason jars from flickr, strawberry buttercream cake from Call Me Cupcake
Row 2: photo of red gingham shirt and drink by Thayer Gowdy, bouquet with pink and red ribbon from Martha Stewart Weddings (photo by Johnny Miller), women’s red gingham bow tie from Forage
Row 3: strawberry shortcake basket favor from Martha Stewart Weddings, thank you note by Rifle Paper Co., photo from J.Crew

Food Challenge!

I need a little bit of help.....

I'm thrilled and I mean over-the-moon excited that I will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my home.  It's a little girl's dream come true in my family and I'm finally felling like I've earned my "big girl pants". Now that the excitement is wearing off and reality is setting in...I-AM-FREAKING-OUT!  I haven't turned on my oven in a month, my fridge is a condiment only container, and I haven't cooked a meal in goodness knows how long.  I am a good cook, but for one day I'd like to be a great chef, but I need a little help and a lot of inspiration. I need to find my passion and love for food all over again.

Game Plan: I've purchased a cookbook! THE Cookbook that will help to inspire me and turn this takeout queen into chef for a day.

Challenge: 1 dish per day until all 500 + delicious recipes are completed, filled with step by step instructions and pictures. Oh goodness can I really do this?

Wish me luck! I've already combed through the cookbook and labeled everything I'd like to cook for the week---WOW I'm really doing this!

I don't know how she does it?

I recently saw a movie preview of one of my fav gals, Sarah Jessica Parker or SJP as I call her. SJP and I go way back to 1996 when I fell in love with her infamous character Carrie and even more in love with the mysterious Big. I guess you can say Sex and the City was one of my first T.V. loves and crushes.

Anyways the title of the movie really got my wheels turning, how do we do it all? Many vendors in the business (myself included) are often juggling a second full or part time job along with planning, photographing, creating your wedding invitations, and etc.  Although I like to think we all wear a very special cape under our clothing and have an extra 5 hours in each day, sadly we don't.  It takes a lot of careful planning and scheduling each week to make sure we prioritize our clients, our jobs, and our full time lives.

I'm really-really lucky, I have an incredibly supportive family and boyfriend and friends who help me maintain a healthy work/life balance. In my off time and when I'm not planning your wedding, or just because event my boyfriend and I are entertaining friends...just because!

**Photography credit: Summer Street Photography

 And with a little magic and a lot of love THIS is what everyday feels like for this planner.

Granny's Collection

Ready for another update on what's new with Making ME?


A few months ago we shouted from the roof top our new vintage plate collection, we instantly had a pour of interest from brides, clients, and vendors to use our plates.  What we didn't tell you about was another very special collection that we've been slowly piecing together. To give you a little background on how this collection "came to be" I'll start from the beginning.

Nell taught me to gamble, in life, in love, and on a slot machine! She wasn't your traditional grandmother, but she was the toughest old lady I knew and in very matter of a fact way you always knew what was on her mind (yes, I do get that from her).  About 8 months ago my grandmother fell suddenly and unexpectedly ill and as my family prayed and bonded together and eventually continued on, I was in New England, so far away from home and still heart broken.  I couldn't think of anything except our last conversation which ended in "I love you" and how that could have been the last words we ever spoke to each other.

Alas one day out shopping for a few vintage plates I stumbled upon a plate that my grandmother had in her cabinet, with a stack of 20 new plates this was instantly my favorite but unfortunately it wasn't vintage. Each shopping trip I found myself more and more interested in collecting what I was dubbing as "Granny's collection", and with each found plate I felt closer and closer to recreating a collection that she would be proud to have in her cabinet.

Initially purchased as a way to keep my grandmother close to me turned into a wonderful collection that I know she wouldn't want me to hide away. Granny's collection is inspired by my sweet-sweet grandmother, Nell and is reminiscent of the late 60's and 70's, you'll find a combination of stoneware, bone china, and fun patterns.

My grandmother is so special to me and I'm happy that today she is still with us and currently recovering. I'm also happy to say that each time Granny's collection is rented a donation will be made to Granny.

.....Enjoy the preview and stay posted for more beautiful pictures of this collection

Thanks for the "LIKE"

A year ago when I started dreaming of how this business would grow I had no idea the kind of journey I had begun or the path of twists and turns that lay ahead . My dream was simple: plan fabulous weddings for fabulous people. I knew I had a lot to offer to any client but what I didn't expect was what I'd get in return, 859 supporters, followers, and friends! With all of you on my side I know we're in good company.

Keep "liking" us and loving our work and in turn we promise to show you those fabulous weddings, and fun creations with a touch of vintage.

Don't forget to follow us on the blog!

UPDATE: 936! THANK YOU-THANK YOU-THANK YOU!

Now that we're 1!

Now that we're 1......

We'll be featuring tidbits and touches of what's new with Making ME Event Planning Firm (we have a lot to share with all of you!). Let's kick it off with our brand new sparkling website! A few months ago I decided to give us just a little face-lift and I'm quite proud of how far we've come, not to worry we're still the same gals who will cry at your wedding, toast to you and your husband, and eat cake (with you of course!).

So what are you waiting for? Fall in love with our website page by page here....

Sneak post: Jennifer and Ed

Yesterday I had the pleasure of planning a beautiful wedding in Nahant, Massachusetts. Given that I am not a native New England-er I've been excited to travel to and plan wedding's in the eastern part of the state. Nahant is simply stunning and the views of the Boston skyline and rocky coast is easily compared to something magical. On a crisp almost fall day Jennifer and Ed were wed and I couldn't have been happier for the two love birds. I promise a full post with pictures are in the very near future but for now feast your eyes on the little gift the two sent me home with (flowers and cake, my fav!) and a picture of the lovely couple.

These two have firmly occupied a place in this wedding planners heart.