Halloween Monster Movie Night with Whole Foods Market Berkeley and 100 Layer Cakelet

I can't believe Halloween is just around the corner! A few weeks ago I designed/styled a fun Monster Movie Night party along with the talented catering crew from Whole Foods Market Berkeley for one of my favorite blogs 100 Layer Cakelet and all shot by the talented Michelle Drewes. It was super fun! I designed these fun invitations with finger monsters in kraft jewelry boxes.

Whole Foods Market Berkeley's catering team did an AMAZING job with the spooky spread (remember Lucas' 5th birthday party they catered?)--monster pizzas, witches fingers (hummus and veg dip), graveyard dip (7 layer bean dip), banana ghosts (frozen bananas dipped in white chocolate), and caramel apple and pears. They provided gorgeous fall flowers with ghosts made of cheesecloth, "healthy" candy and not-too-scary Halloween books. We played "Monsters, Inc." on a white sheet and the kids were hooked.

I created this monster backdrop for the food table complete with eyeball pumpkin.

That watermelon brain! Those carrot fingers!

"Healthy" M&M's from Whole Foods Market Berkeley were packaged in these super cute glassine treat bags from the Oh Happy Day Party Shop.

I had no idea that Whole Foods Market Berkeley made custom cakes like this one--using one of Lucas' monster drawings. So cute! They also make character cakes using licensed images like Star Wars. Who knew?

I set up a low table with some goodies for the kids including glow sticks and jars with neon bouncy balls and spiders from Target. Lucas set out place mats and drew monsters on each one. He was so excited to help!

One of my favorite crafts was the giant pair of balloon eyeballs that were so easy to make.

Theo's favorite thing to say (or scream in your face) is, "I AM BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!" so naturally we had to get him a Buzz Lightyear costume for the shoot.

Side note: Lucas' hair looks hilarious to me here! Also, he looks like me in this pic!

+ Check out the feature and all the photos on 100 Layer Cakelet!

+ Photography by Michelle Drewes
+ Catering by Whole Foods Market Berkeley
+ Design, planning, decor, invites by me
+ Party decor by Oh Happy Day Party Shop and Target
+ Cute kiddos by Lisa and Lisa

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West Coast Craft - Summer 2015

A few weeks ago I attended West Coast Craft with my friend Nancy mainly to shoot some photos for the Anthology magazine blog, but also because the last time I went, I was really impressed and excited about many of the vendors (including Jen E, Natalie Davis of Canoe, Half Hitch Goods and Micaela Greg. This summer's show did not disappoint. Here were some of my favorites.

Half Hitch Goods and Welcome Stranger

Liz Robb - see more about Liz in her feature on the Anthology magazine blog

Aleksandra Zee

Brook Perdigon Textiles

That vintage stool!

Stuffed Hipster Emblems by Mimi O Chen - hilarious and oh-so-awesome!

Drawn Home - really loved those quilts!

Remedy Quarterly - the colors, the photos, the recipes!

Ilano - loved those rugs and the booth was so bright and inviting

People I've Loved - loved the quirky illustrations

Meghan Shimeck (discovered her at last year's show and I'm still wishing I owned one of her pieces) and Gallanter and Jones with the most innovative heated outdoor seating that warmed my always cold butt cheeks. Seriously. Such good design and totally functional, especially during these Bay Area "summers". Also turns out that Miranda Jones and her brother Aaron started this company. I know Miranda from her Sunset Magazine days when she worked on our house feature in the January 2011 issue! Seems like ages ago!

Pine and Boon - loved the painted dash and suede dot punch collections

Luca Jackson - Love Julia's textiles! Also love how her company name is just like Lucas' name! Julia is so sweet and has two little boys as well.

Mt. Washington Pottery - one of my favorite products at the show were these peace bells

Knotwork LA - Such neat products from this vendor, lots of stoneware with porcelain inlays

Ventana Surfboards and Supplies - With its amazing craftsmanship and attention to detail in all of its products, this company has figured it all out when it comes to environmental and social responsibility. So much respect for that!

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Favorites: Lucas' Creativity Lately

For the longest time, Lucas' art file at school was always empty. It secretly broke my heart that he didn't do much drawing, crafting and creating and would rather perfect those gross motor skills. But this past year something changed and Lucas was ready for art. Really really ready. His art file started overflowing and all he wanted to do was draw, cut, color, fuse beads, make books, write letters, words, names. Do you know how happy this makes me? I just love seeing his creative mind explode. He recently started drawing block letters -- I honestly had no idea he could do that but I'm totally in love with them.

Of course, there's still plenty of running, jumping and climbing, but it just melts my heart to see him express himself through art.

Lucas has also been asking me to draw some of his favorite cars so he could color them in.

Lots of pattern making. LOVE that!

Symmetry on the left and a little drawing of Theo and Lucas on the right -- brother love!

We like to make books for friends.

A little apology note from Lucas for some mean words he said to me in anger one day.

Apparently Lucas is a scissor expert. Look at those curves!

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Book Review: Playful: Fun Projects to Make With + For Kids

I was given the opportunity to review the new book PLAYFUL: Fun Projects to Make With + For Kids by Merrilee Liddiard (love her blog Mer Mag) and photographed by Nicole Hill Gerulat. And guess what? Today is the book release! The cover and all the images/styling are super cute and the projects look so creative and relatively easy. You can order it right now on Amazon.

I appreciate that PLAYFUL is divided into five categories—Playful Dress Up, Playful Toys, Playful Paper Crafts, Playful Repurposing, and Playful Art. It makes it easier to flip to the section you want to craft. Some of the fun projects I could do with Lucas and Theo include a squiggle floor tile project, fingerprint art, duct tape portfolio (to hold all of Lucas' drawings!), and my favorite, the animal art print pillow. Some of these projects require basic sewing skills (I have zero) so I may have to enlist my mom for some help. Templates for the projects are included at the back of the book with step-by-step instructions.

I would recommend this book if you want to get extra creative with the crafting. It's a great resource for adults and kids to make something fun together and then let the kids' creativity take over.

Happy crafting! Wish I could go to the launch party!

+ Top photo by me
+ Other photos courtesy of Abrams Books (photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat)
+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper)

Theo's party details on 100 Layer Cakelet

Some of Theo's smile themed 1st birthday party photos are featured on one of my favorite blogs, 100 Layer Cakelet. Donut holes, Theo-faces-on-a-stick, and carrot cake with sprinkles.. what's not to smile about?

// Photos by Good on Paper