This amazing letterpress note card from Smock Paper is part of their incredible red and purple series of cards, gift wrap, boxes, pads, bags and more. I love the vivid colors and the saturated inks in their designs overall, but this one stood out from the rest! A fun color combo that doesn’t get a ton of play!

I started thinking about receiving this card as an invitation, and what kind of party would lie in wait. Something chic, fun and “gardeny”– red and purple flowers are a given, but what about the rest? Here are some ideas!

Clockwise from top-left:
Party inspiration from Carter and Cook featured on Somewhere Splendid
Lavender anemone photo found on Maggie Austin’s portfolio (these are sugar, but they look so real!)
Red Ikea Salong vase ($7.99)
A whimsical arrangement from Saipua
Purple metallic vases from Pier 1 Imports ($30 and $40)
Pretty poppy cake found on the Iced Bakery blog

Lavender Louis arm chair on CSN ($180)

Red embroidered chrysanthemum blossom pillow from Bliss Living ($55)

Francine sofa from Anthropologie ($1,500)

Hamptons Violet Dinner Plate from Crate and Barrel ($9.95)

Cherry red wallflower print fabric from Amy Butler’s lotus collection

These shots from Fleur Wood’s impeccably styled entertaining book, Food, Fashion, Friends, are without a doubt breathtaking and unique. I love love love the brightly colored clusters of balloons and the way they draw the eye up to the very top of this impressively sized old tree. Balloons are a commonplace decoration, but the styling in these photos makes me see balloons in a whole new light!

When I came across these above pics on Oh Joy!, I got curious about other fun balloon ideas that wouldn’t necessarily require a cherry picker (or a tree climbing specialist) to pull off. Any other ideas? Do share!

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Electroluminescent wire (EL wire) is a pretty fantastic material.. it’s cool to the touch, thin, flexible, lightweight and easy to adhere to most surfaces. EL wire comes in a nice range of neon colors, and can be used in conjunction with programmable sequencers that allow the designer to control both brightness and movement of the light (check out Diana Eng’s 2010 Fairytale Fashion project that incorporated this technology, and her geek-chic tutorial on how to re-create the looks on Make).

I’ve been dying for an excuse to give it a try, and a New Year’s Eve dance party turned out to be the perfect trial run. It took a bit of playing around at first, but I was able to transform my studio apartment into a glowing dream come true in just a few short hours. In retrospect, I should have captured some video of the lights in motion. The pink wires were set to blink steadily while the blue and green were connected to a sound-activated driver that moved along to the music (thanks youtube, for the example!). Here are a few photos of the ridiculousness..

So fun, and now I have them around for future projects! Maybe some killer Halloween costumes? Only time will tell. Happy New Year to all! Here’s to a fabulous, creative, productive and joyous 2011. Cheers!

Clockwise from top left:

Painted netting installation by Emily Ann Nachison via Design*Sponge
Dreamy tiered coconut cake on Martha Stewart Weddings
Imperial yellow vases by Tozai Home on Organize.com ($324.99, set of 6)
Louis ghost chair by Phillipe Starck for Kartell on AllModern ($410)
Red coral chandelier from 1stdibs featured on Design Milk
Driftwood floral arrangement by Krislyn Meyer-Komarov
White coral sculpture from Basset Furniture ($69)
Tortoise large silver vase from Lamps Plus ($249.91)
Hand-blown glass votives in Cream and Pearl from Glassybaby ($40)
Pyrite cluster from Anthropologie ($38)
White anemone arrangement found on the WeddingBee
Fabric swatch of Marimekko‘s signature Unikko design
Verdant Acres dinnerware from Anthropologie ($10-$16)

This happy little guy is a creation from Bosque, as seen on the bosque photostream.  Bosque is a particularly awesome new design studio based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that works with a wide range of media. From graffiti murals and print designs to 3D installations, tote bags and commissioned designs for Vans, the Bosque team applies their street art-inspired style in some pretty unique ways.

I loved this sticker design for its muted colors and its trees-make-me-smile message. Trees do happen to make me smile, and with the lovely fall leaves outside my window, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about applying this inspiration to an eco-friendly fall event.

The natural linen table runner below would look great with the Japanese Maple bonsai landscape, or any other bonsais you might find to match your style! I prefer a lot of the deciduous trees, but indoor bonsais would be a great takeaway for guests to keep in their own homes. Check out bonsai rental services in your area for the same look at a lower cost.

Photo-realistic forest wallpaper murals and votives wrapped in birch bark take things one step further in transforming your space into a woodsy sanctuary. Throw in some branches and other rustic details and you’re well on your way..

Dessert and candy buffets are all the rage at weddings and events this year. Photos of stylized buffets, like this one above from a Martha Weddings magazine spread, are almost unavoidable when doing party planning research. As someone who likes to bake and decorate, I’ve yet to come across a buffet of treats that seems difficult to replicate.

This blue, brown and wintery white tablescape is no exception. The linens are simple, the cake stands are plain, candies are in clear glass vases and the display pedastals for bite-sized goodies are clean and modest. This modern style uses enough basic pieces to allow even those with a tight budget to find a perfect match.

Below are some easy recipes for elegant-looking desserts that you can whip up in your own kitchen. For a smaller crowd, downsize your table and swap out some of the tiered cakes shown above for tiered platters with cupcakes or petit fours.

When I saw this print from super-cool illustrator, Andrew Bannecker, I was immediately inspired.  One of his recent blog posts offers a peek into his studio, and it’s definitely worth checking out. This design, along with several other of his works, appear throughout the space with other eclectic pieces that any artist could admire.

The above print reminded me of a colorful Mexican fiesta. With El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) coming up on November 1st, I thought it was the perfect time to share some ideas for hosting your own party. Perfect excuse for sugar skulls and Mexican food with friends. Don’t forget the guac ! 

Clockwise from top left:
Turquoise papel picado banners from Casa Bonampak ($12.50 for 18 ft)
Black floral oilcloth from Denver Fabrics ($6.45/yard)
Seafoam dot oilcloth from Denver Fabrics ($6.45/yard)
Orange Icelandic poppies featured on Brides.com 
Metal wire votive holders from Target ($4.98)
Poblano risotto with garlic shrimp by What’s Cooking  
Roasted pork taco with Mole, recipe from FoodNetwork , photo by What’s Cooking 
Orange Vinyl Lace Placemat from Dream in Plastic ($1.49)
Laminated fabric trays from Simrin’s Surya collection 
Surya printed glassware in Ocean from Simrin  
Capri blue candle in a jar from Anthropologie ($25)
Lace strewn knob in sky blue from Anthropologie ($10)
Ceramic melon knob with antique brass from Anthropologie ($8)
Blackberry sugar skulls handpainted and sold by ArtofSkulls