As many of you know, we have an amazing studio on Liberties Walk in the uber-chic section of Philadelphia known as Northern Liberties.  People just love it here — and so do we!!

Often, people stopped by to ask if we rent any of our space out for parties.  As the photos below show you, the answer is a resounding yes!   We’ve gotten enough requests now that I thought it was time to send a message to the world that if anyone would like to rent our studio out, we would be more than happy to make that happen.

If you need more space for a larger party, we can combine our space with the teaching studio at Beautiful Blooms Boutique as a kind of bundle where you could have both spaces and the Walk in between for an amazing party on the Walk.   Take a look at all the photos below to see how cool each possibility is.   The space rental fee includes the use of our incredible screens, too, where you can play a video of your own or watch a cool season finale or the World Series! Depending upon what configuration of space you choose to rent, your party could go anywhere from intimate (25 people) to 125 people.   The rental fee begins at $500 for a five hour event.

Give us a buzz if you’d like to talk about renting our little oasis.   We’ve had some incredible parties here!

Eclatante and Beautiful Blooms were honored and excited to be asked by the American Heart Association to host their annual Go Red for Women Preview Party.

Heather Fowler agreed, not only to let her studio be turned into a dressing room, but to shoot this wonderful event.

The event showcased some of the most talented young women I have ever met.   Young fashion designers from Philadelphia University’s fashion design program competing at a drop-dead amazing fashion show on our Walk.   All the dresses were, of course, red.   But even more incredible, each designer was inspired by the story of a person close to them who had experienced heart disease in a very real way.   The stories were beautiful — just like the dresses that were exhibited that evening.

In attendance were about 200 women (well, mostly women) who have a heart for this incredible campaign.    As they arrived, they were treated to delicious treats from Max & Me Catering and served wonderful beverages.  And All Around Entertainment created the perfect musical atmosphere for the evening.

Of course, we added our own special touches everywhere!

Donna and I were thriled to introduce the participants

The emcees were Biil Henley and Lori Wilson, hosts of the daily NBC10 10! show.  The judges were Jenice Armstrong of the Philadelphia Daily News, Kristin Munro of Philadelphia Style Magazine and Tiffany Hill, B101 Radio.

While all that was going on, the models were getting ready on the next block in Heather Fowler’s studio.  Their hair and makeup was expertly accomplished by Phoenix Salon & Spa and Salon 201.

until it was time to line up for the fashion show

In Part 2, you’ll see the parade of these beautiful dresses and the winners of the 2010 Go Red For Women Red Dress Fashion Show.

This Sunday, our little piece of the planet is going to be host to one of the most exciting events in Philadelphia.  The region’s largest GLBT street festival is taking place  at Philadelphia’s chic new open-air plaza in Northern Liberties and down the wonderful Walk where we live!

Sure, there are parties.  And there are dances.  But there is culture and education as well.

The International Equality Forum is bringing it’s own amazing art of celebration to us and we are proud to be able to play a part.   Come down and enjoy the party!

Free round-trip shuttle available every 15 minutes from Knock, corner of 12th & Locust Streets.

Admission: $10 Adults, $5 Students

For more information visit, http://equalityforum.com/2010/event.cfm?id=107

The word is out all around the country that Sunday OUT! at the Piazza and Out for a Walk is the day and the event not to miss.  So I urge you to go to their website and pick the events that appeal most to you and by all means participate.

SundayOUT! at The Piazza

OUT for a Walk

Sunday, May 2, 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Piazza & Liberties Walk
North 2nd Street & Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA

It doesn’t have to be complicated, or expensive, to insert some pretty, unique details into your spring parties.  Here are some wonderful ideas that will absolutely delight your guests.

Once again, Heather Fowler shot the wonderful photos of the items in our Boutique. See for yourself what a great job she does with details.

A set of six placecards is only $9.

We love these adorable hand-crafted paper placecards that flutter right onto your stemware at each placesetting. They make for great conversation-starters. Handwrite your guests’ names (or have them calligraphed) and slip the notch over rim of water goblets or wine glasses for a lovely dinner party accessory.

Well, here’s the final episode to Kelly & Liam’s amazing wedding on the beach in Bethany, Delaware.   There so much to tell.   But the photos by Amy Deputy do such an incredible job of giving you the beauty of evening.

After the ceremony (see Kelly & Liam, Part 2), the guests were invited to step over to the cocktail are on the beach.   Who could resist?

The reception took place inside an impeccably constructed tent on the sand by The Party Center.   We had to pay extremely close attention to the tide tables — there was a storm out there somewhere and their wedding was on the night of the high tide.   We weren’t quite sure until the construction was complete exactly what configuration would best suit the shape of the beach on that day.   Further, each piece of the tent had to be carefully transported in from the public access point two miles down the beach via Hummers.   It was quite the process!

The dinner tables were stunning.  We brought in each carefully chosen element on every table crate-by-crate down the long narrow boardwalk leading to the beach where the reception tent was constructed.   Each table eventually became an understated, yet very beautiful, setting for a shared meal among friends and family – dinner was served family style.    There were no large centerpieces; rather the table was colorfully decorated in small arrangements of delphinium orchids and pillar candles placed on beautiful teal seaglass — Expertly created by Beautiful Blooms (as always).

Dinner was served family style by the family’s long-time friend, favorite caterer and restaurateur,  Jamie Weist — owner of Chef Du Jour Catering. Jamie  executed a beautiful and scrumptious presentation.   The guests raved all evening long about the food.   It was wonderful!

There was a surprise in store for the guests after Kelly & Liam’s first dance.  Waiting outside the tent was an amazing Irish Dance team who charmed everyone in the room.  They were absolutely incredible to watch!

Meanwhile, Amy Deputy had one of the best photo booths set up that we’ve encountered.   Everyone took a turn and had a blast.

I absolutely love these photos of Amy and Kelly!

I got such a kick out of this -- even the security guard had fun!

As the night was drawing to a close, we had just one more surprise in store for everyone who came to celebrate Kelly & Liams incredible wedding.

Fireworks straight ahead.

It was a truly great wedding.   It was hard to say goodnight.

It was a truly enchanting night.   We see an amazing future of love and laughter in the lives of these two extraordinary people.

For our first Halloween on the Walk, we thought it would fun to do it up right.  As it turns out, other shops on the Walk are doing the same thing.   You should come down.   The treats will be crawling out of the woodwork.

Those of you who have  attended an Eclatante event knows that we know how to draw a crowd. 

Well the same holds true for our home on Liberties walk.  Our die-cut curtains have caught the attention of our entire neighborhood.  As the sole veil between the outside world and the Eclatante magic we can’t seem to shed the gawkers.  

We’d like to think it’s us, but let’s be honest, these curtains are astounding!  They are extremely unusual, chic and fun, but the strange part is that the people with their noses pressed against the window to our office gawking at these amazing curtains either don’t or can’t see past the curtain into our office.   We’re always shaking our heads about that!

Add this delightfully unexpected element to your home and it is sure to be a conversation (and compliment) starter.  Take it one step further and make it the center of attention at your next dinner party.  you can use a single panel as a room separator or screen.   Or here’s an idea — turn the curtain into a wide table runner (if you have a table wider than 42″).  Pair it with a gorgeous wood table and play up a nature theme or layer it over a brightly colored tablecloth for a little whimsy.  

Made of Tyvek (the same stuff the USPS priority and express mail envelopes are made of) these curtains are tear, temperature, and water resistant.  One side of the 42″ x 96″ curtain is white but you have the option of black, white, lilac or green for the other.  Hanging them is a breeze!  The little velcroed loops can slip right over a string of fishing line – no need for curtain rods!  Amazing!

Come down to the Eclatante boutique and stare for yourself!  Or, give us a call at 215.925.9911 and we can have them sent right over.  We just hope you are prepared for the onslaught of curious passersby.

Welcome to Marisa and Chris’s wedding!  This unbelievably adorable couple came to us wanting to bring all of their families’ traditions and their love of the shore to life in a beautiful wedding.  And the amazing photography by Tania Lezak tells the story so beautifully that I almost don’t need words to tell you how perfect this wedding was!

Marisa’s father is a very talented graphic artist — he designed the logos for the printed material used throughout their wedding.

Chris and Marisa each have been Jersey Shore people almost since they were born!  So, of course, they got married there.   The lovely rehearsal dinner took place at Chris’s parents’ summer home right on the ocean in Ocean City, NJ. It was such a pleasure running down to the shore from time to time to hang out with Chris’s family at their gorgeous shore home right on the ocean to plan the rehearsal dinner.

Take a look at this charming rehearsal dinner cake created by The Cake Studio in Ocean City NJ to mirror the story of Chris and Marissa, all the way back to Chris’s days as an OC lifeguard!

Finally, their day arrived.

The wedding ceremony took place just down the street.   The readings were done in both English and the Bride’s mother’s native Italian, so that the guests who arrived straight from Italy would understand every word!

Beautiful Blooms created these gorgeous bridesmaids’ bouquets of white peonies, yellow ranunculus and gorgeous blue hydrangea.

After the ceremony, the couple and their bridal party went back to to Chris’s parents’ house for photos then spent time cruising the Boardwalk and the beach.   Amazing photos, eh?  

The reception was at the beautifully located Avalon Yacht Club in Avalon, NJ, where the sky was simply magnificent.

The tablescapes on the beautiful dinner tables draped with royal blue pintuck linens sometimes included vases filled with submerged tulips, roses and hydrangea and electric blue wire, while others had a trip of square vases filled with bright blue hydrangea, bursting white peonies and dreamy yellow roses.  

The guests ate, drank and danced all night long!   It was a truly a great night.   

We wish Marisa and Chris and the very very best from the bottom of our hearts!

So, it’s not a big secret to those who know me — I’m a bit of a skeptic.  So, when some people (whom I trust, actually) suggested the use of “angel cards,” I sneered. For those skeptics among you who, like me, have no idea what an “angel card” is, it’s an affirmation card – something like a fortune cookie, except bigger and more directed towards making you feel really good about yourself.   

Would you know it, in spite of all my skepticism, angel cards found me — sort of.

Way back (two months ago) when I was trying to figure out what paint color went where in our new home, I decided to have some fun and paint the employee bathroom in our new home with blackboard paint and keep a cup of colored chalk in there. The original idea was that Leila, Taylor, our interns and I could write secret notes to each other that would never been seen by the outside world. (The bathroom reserved for clients and customers in the boutique is in completely different room.)  But when our industry friends, our personal friends (many of whom overlap), our family (and some random other people we know) wandered back into our office, they came upon our blackboard painted bathroom and wrote wonderful notes to us!   

Here are my favorite walls EVER — a never-ending source of inspiration!