Feature Friday: The Roseville Utility Exploration Center

Today's Feature Friday brings you a fantastic venue that is perfect for a childrens party or baby shower: the Roseville Utility Exploration Center. Situated next to the Martha Riley Community Library and within the Roseville Sports Complex, the Center is "an environmental learning center focused on bringing visitors information on protecting natural resources in a fun, engaging way."

*Quote and all photos courtesy of the Roseville Community Exploration Center*

It is the mission of the Roseville Utility Exploration Center to promote a healthy environment by encouraging individual actions for a sustainable future. Topics covered include energy efficiency, renewable technology, water conservation and recycling.

The Roseville Utility Exploration Center was the perfect venue for Mason's Birthday "On the Green" in keeping with our commitment to making the event environmentally responsible. When we originally scheduled the room we reserved three and a half hours at a rate of $60 per hour. The party ended up running over by an hour and they didn't charge us any extra fees! While that was great in and of itself, what we were most impressed by was the impeccable service the Supervisor, Bob Garrison, offered.

From the moment we arrived, Bob asked what he could help with. He helped set up tables and chairs, instructed us on how to use the technology, brought pitchers for drinks, and provided ice and a jug for water. He offered a selection of movies to show and reassured us that his office door would be open should we need anything. Bob stayed visible until party guests arrived and then retreated to his office, still available if we needed anything.

The room itself was clean, bright and spacious with a functioning sink and ample counter space. One entire wall consists of windows, which allowed for light to flood in even on a cloudy and rainy day. Although not pictured, the room also had a large white board we were able to use-- children enjoyed drawing and writing messages to the birthday boy.

We will definitely utilize the Roseville Utility Exploration Center in the future and highly recommend the venue to others. For more information or to book the Center check out their website or call 916.746.1550.

Feature Friday: Duchess & Bird

We are nothing less than thrilled to introduce you to today's featured business, Duchess & Bird! Two ladies, a decade worth of trips to Paris, and an idea resulted in Duchess & Bird's owners launching their unique shop. Having opened the online boutique earlier this year, Duchess & Bird is "taking flight with inspired luxuries." See for yourself!

These gorgeous cupcake toppers would make elegant additions to any dessert table.

For a truly special party favor for your guests, fill these French Vellum Candy Envelopes with sweet treats.

 Duchess & Bird also has a selection of ribbons and trims, like this beautifully detailed red and gold ribbon.

We can see this gold thread trimming wrapped around clear glass cylinders holding pillar candles for a classy detail.

Duchess & Bird's selections are one of a kind and each piece has a story. These stunning Antique Mirrored Wall Brackets would make a statement in any home.

These French Grocery Lists are my personal favorite. Frame them for fun wall art for the kitchen, laminate them for place mats, or use them to line the back of a vintage china hutch.

Duchess & Bird's wares are reasonably priced, which makes it possible for anyone to have a little piece of Paris in their home-- or choose the perfect gift for someone who "has everything."

There is SO much more in Duchess & Bird's online store and be sure to click over to the Duchess & Bird blog to get to know the ladies. You'll be glad you did!

Feature Friday: Handmade by Heather

Etsy is one our favorite places to find unique, handmade touches for the parties and events we design. Today we'd like to introduce you to Heather Mattos, owner of Handmade by Heather!

Remember Katie and Jon's wedding this summer? We had the sign pictured above custom made for the event. The wooden sign was displayed on an easel at the entrance of the venue to welcome guests and later moved to the lawn where the reception took place.

Best of all, the newlyweds had a gorgeous keepsake they could display in their home long after the wedding!

Handmade by Heather specializes in personalized wooden signs. When we say "no detail is overlooked" this is the kind of thing we're talking about when personalizing an event for a client.

A personalized tiki bar sign will be making an appearance at the In Luau of Christmas party in December!

Every child should have a special birthday outfit, right? Handmade by Heather's birthday t-shirts are a-DOR-able and the child can wear the t-shirt long after the actual birthday.

The "initial tee" would also be a thoughtful surprise for the guest of honor.

Remember that Handmade by Heather takes custom orders of just about any kind! Have an idea? Send her a message. We have a 1 year-old's birthday coming up and will be submitting our order for a custom birthday bib shortly!

Be sure to take a peek at Handmade by Heather's shop and stop by her blog. She has got some amazing recipes, fun craft ideas and gorgeous pictures.

Thank you Heather, for letting us feature you this morning!

Feature Friday: MKL Designs

We love when we get to feature brand new businesses and even though MKL Designs is new, we are head over heels for owner Melissa Larson's gorgeous work. Melissa is the mother of two gorgeous girls and calls herself an "amateur" photographer although the photos on her blog could easily pass for professional. MKL Designs debuted this fall and we are loving their fresh, simple, and beautifully bold designs.

Check out these gorgeous save-the-date's (which could just as easily serve as wedding invitations themselves.)

After the wedding you may be in need of these...

And then these...

And then these!

Why not get a jump on your Christmas cards this year? MKL Designs has tons of holiday card options to choose from and welcomes custom orders.

Go check out MKL Design's shop and Melissa's blog and be sure to submit your holiday order soon!

Feature Friday: Sweet Expressions Desserts

About a month ago we mentioned that we had a "*sweet* feature" to bring to you, and we finally have it! Meet Kiiki Pittman, owner of Sweet Expressions Desserts.

Kiiki had been making desserts for friends and family for years and after a person hears, "You should do this for a living" so many times, they start to think that might actually be a good idea. For Kiiki, it turned out to be a great idea! Kiiki's dessert business is mainly word-of-mouth and referrals (which is the BEST way to get business). She made the leap to be her own boss after being laid off from her 9-5 job and, like many other entrepreneurs, has found success in doing something she loves.

Sweet Expressions Desserts has an extensive list of treats they offer but they will happily do their best to fulfill any custom order. Here are some of their delicious dessert choices:

• Baklava
  
• Banana Pudding
  
• Brownies (over 17 varieties)
  
• Brownie Pops
  
• Brownie and Cookie Sundaes
  
• Cakes (over 17 varieties)
  
• Cake Poppers
  
• Cheesecake : Traditional (plain), cherry, blueberry, double chocolate, strawberry, chocolate chip, toffee bar, peanut butter cup, pumpkin (seasonal)
  
• Cheesecake on a Stick
  
• Chocolate Fountains
  
• Chocolate Dipped Fruit
  
• Chocolate Truffles and candies
  
• Cookies (over 23 varieties)
  
• Cupcakes
  
• Cupcake Parfait
  
• Cupcake Towers
• Flan
• Fresh Fruit (seasonal fruit kabobs and fruit bowls available)
• Lemon Bars
• Parfait
  
• Petit Fours
  
• Pecan Bars
  
• Peanut Butter Chewies
  
• Rice Krispie Bars
  
• Sugar Cookies (decorated) - we have over 100 different shapes
  
• Tarts
  
• Trifle
  
• Monogrammed Treats

I don't know if you caught that, but Sweet Expressions Desserts offers 17 varieties of brownies. YUM. We've sampled their brownie pops and they are amazing.

Sweet Expressions Desserts has done candy buffets (pictured above), dessert buffets, and ice cream buffets. They also frequently have "just because" customers... I mean really, do you need an excuse to enjoy dessert? We sure don't think so!

If you are in the Sacramento area, don't miss Kiiki and Sweet Expressions Desserts on Fox 40 next week! She is doing a cooking demonstration on Wednesday, October 21 at 11AM. Set your DVR's.

If you need to satisfy your craving after all this yumminess, give Kiiki a call at 916.508.3293 and check out their website here.

Enjoy! And thank you to Sweet Expressions Desserts for letting us feature them!

Do you know someone who owns a small business that is related to the event planning industry in some way? We would love to feature them and learn more about their business. Send us an email at peartreeevents@gmail.com. And don't forget to check out our new website: http://www.peartreeevents.net/.

Feature Friday: Blooms by Martha Andrews

We are so thrilled to introduce you to today's featured business! Blooms by Martha Andrews is a highly sought-after wedding and event florist in Northern California. Her work is absolutely stunning and fabulously unique. Without further ado, meet Martha!

"Weddings have been a part of my life since childhood when my mom and grandmother were wedding coordinators. I always tagged along and helped out with receptions. When I was 17 I fell into a job at a florist, taking orders, washing buckets, sweeping etc…then I started pestering them to train me and they did! I worked in the shop, Relles Florist for 4 years then left to free lance. I had a booming business for a few years and then stopped it all to have children. I say stopped but you never really stop because friends, family and the community always ask you to do something."

We asked Martha how she got started in her own floral business...

"I always knew I would start my business, I was waiting until my baby was 6 or so thinking it would take a few years to build up to busy, but my first wedding season out I did 28 weddings. That was the 2006/2007 season, the last 2 years I have done over 55 weddings from April to November. I always take November through Feb. off to do the holidays with my family."

And if there have been any surprises in her experiences as a small business owner...

"The biggest surprise for me was media attention, I have been featured in all the local magazines, t.v. and national wedding magazines as well, it is very flattering!"

Blooms by Martha Andrews is a Style Me Pretty Little Black Book member and has most recently been featured in Sacramento's Kidaround Magazine.

From Martha...

"My specialties are weddings! I do other events, but I love weddings, I really strive to make each one as unique as the bride. For most people it is the biggest event they will plan in their life time so I want it to be a memorable one."

And any challenges she has faced in running her own business?

"My biggest challenge has been the sudden growth and managing my family. I home schooled my 7 children for 15 years, I am used to being a full time mom, it was my career, now I feel like I have 2 full time careers and we all know we can’t do it all. I have some ideas I am trying to implement to 'solve' this 2 career dilemma, Next season I am going to limit the amount of weddings I take and I have put a minimum on them."

We love business who put family first and Martha Andrews is a mother first, who just happens to be ridiculously talented when it comes to all thing floral. One of the many things that sets Blooms by Martha Andrews apart is her Signature bouquet. She has developed a modern twist on the cascade bouquet. Pictured below is her Chandelier Bouquet.

Perfection!

We love it when boutonnieres are creative and different-- and these are no exception. Blooms by Martha Andrews uses a variety of floral elements combined with gorgeous embellishments.

The most difficult part of today's feature was deciding which photos to use. The sultry black feathers and glamorous crystals make this table setting absolutely pop!

The bright, beautiful yellow flowers make the table scape below look elegant and playful at the same time and compliment the black and white perfectly.

Carnations give this chic table setting a natural, welcoming feel.

We love how the photograph below shows that even in the most beautiful of outdoor settings, the right flowers can make your ceremony stand out and at the same time not distract from the beauty of the surroundings.

The flower balls below give this hallway such a high-impact punch of color and would set the tone of your reception for guests as they arrive.

Excellent use of petals to designate an aisle. Couldn't you envision flower girls in little white dresses gracefully walking down that path before the bride? Beautiful.

Delicate orchids paired with fresh hydrangeas... I think we may have set a record for the most time we've used the word "perfection" in one post! But really-- absolute perfection.

There is so, SO much more eye-candy over at Blooms by Martha Andrews website and blog. Head on over to both sites. A warning though, you can't blame us if you end up spending WAY too much time there-- and we're speaking from experience.

Happy Friday and thank you so much to Martha Andrews for sharing with us today!

Feature Friday: Sakura Graphic Design

Welcome back to Feature Friday! One of the biggest ways to make your event memorable is by "thinking outside the box". Whether it is decor, favors, games or stationary, using unique and unexpected elements help your party stand out. Why not consider working with a graphic designer to create unique one-of-a-kind invitations or stationary for your event? We'd like to introduce you to Sacramento-based Sakura Graphic Design!

Buongiorno! My name is Kate Digrigorio (dig.rig.oreo) and I am the owner of and
designer for Sakura Graphic Design. It had always been my desire to take my
creative ideas and turn them into a self-sustaining business. After many late nights and countless Diet Cokes, Sakura Graphic Design is now an independent, full service design firm intent on providing creative designs along with quality results.

This being the third year in business, I am delighted to branch out into new and exciting endeavors. First on my list is LETTERPRESS! I fell in love with the look and texture of letterpress and I am on a mission to make it a new line of cards under Sakura Graphic Design. (All handmade of course.) So stay tuned in the coming months at www.sakuragraphicdesign.com for more information and progress reports.
And Happy Creating!

We are a little bit infatuated with the these crisp, clean-looking Passover invitations.

Modern baby shower perhaps?

We love the lavender/grey and red color combination on these holiday gift tags! Envision your family name at the bottom-- cute, cute, cute!

We're not shy, the "Tini Time" invites are our favorite. Don't those raspberry pink invitations immediately invoke the flavor of berry martinis? Where can we RSVP?

Head over to Sakura Graphic Design's website and see what other goodies Kate has to offer. Shoot her an email with some project ideas you have and let her help make your party truly memorable and fun!

Feature Friday

So there is not actually a feature today... BUT we have several fabulous companies to introduce you to in the next few weeks and a slew of DIY projects to share.

Coming soon are photos of Hunter's 18th Birthday-- a beachy fish-fry happening in Bodega Bay next weekend.

Remember to email us or comment here if you know of a great company we can feature. Happy planning!

Feature Friday: Bake It Pretty

Meet Amanda, owner of

Bake It Pretty: Sweet Supplies for Inspired Bakers!

"I'm Amanda Krueger and this is Bake It Pretty, a magical wonderland of clever and nostalgic supplies for baking, crafting and decorating. This little cottage industry began in 2006 under the name A. Bel Emporium on the popular Etsy online marketplace. The success of that shop sparked the creation of the new, bigger and better website you see here. We are pleased to continue offering the same, charming miniatures and baking supplies as before...plus much more! Joined by my husband Mike, and my sister Kristina, this family business will continue to grow and evolve.
Everything you see here is hand-selected or designed by us, and wrapped-up just for you at our headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina."

These polka dot cupcake wrappers are adorable and would add a punch of color to any cupcake.

"Miniature-sized baking liners, also known as candy cups, have a variety of uses. Make small, snack-sized cupcakes and muffins, or use them to display homemade candies and sweets. Click on each style for individual color options and assortments."Cupcakes in polka dot wrappers, sitting pretty on top of decorative doileys? Yes please.Bake It Pretty also offers a wide range of miniatures and toppers to decorate your delicious desserts. Can't you just picture those edible carrots adorning a homemade carrot cake or carrot cupcakes?Or these vintage Christmas toppers?
Bake It Pretty has you covered for every detail,
from packaging......right down to the candles on the cake.

We are smitten kittens over Bake It Pretty's selection and are looking forward to using them to help us embellish our next event! Thank you Amanda, for sharing your business with us.

Also thank you to Heather at Cookie Mondays for telling us about Bake It Pretty! If you know anyone who owns a small business involved with event planning in any way, we'd love to get to know them. Email us at peartreeevents@gmail.com.

Feature Friday: Paperless Online Providers (Addendum)

Here is one more online invitation service to add to your repertoire that we forgot to include in the Paperless Invitation Providers Feature Friday post: Sendomatic.com

There is a small charge to send more than 50 invitations and if you want them to be delivered sans advertisement you'll have to shell out a few dollars for that too. They have some fun designs though and the website is quite user-friendly. Check them out!

Feature Friday: Rosebud Cards

I know, I know, we are back to stationary-- but after you've been introduced to Rosebud Cards you will understand why! First, here is a little bit from Rosemary with Rosebud Cards...

"For as long as we can remember, our family has shared the tradition of painting cookies during the holidays. This special time together is the inspiriation behind Rosebud and our creations. We initially photographed our hand-painted cookies and created cards to share with our family and friends on special occasions. With words of delight and encouragement, our creations evolved into a collection of paper goods. We'd like to introduce Rosebud and the whimsical, painterly touch of our card collections.Our Cookie Collection recalls the fond memories of a simpler time: family, holidays, and childhood excitement. Baked and hand-painted by two sisters and an aunt, the creation of our whimsical treats is a true family endeavor, inspired by the sweet aroma and joys that can be shared over a cup of tea or tall glass of milk.

The Chinese Brush Painting Collection captures the essence and energy of the subject and appears like magic on rice paper or silk. The subjects have been hand-painted, scanned, and printed on Crane's Museo fine-art cards and look as if they've been painted right on the card.These are some of our favorite things - and we hope that they will be yours too! Our intent is to present cards done in the spirit of fine art. To that end, our cards are individually printed, not mass produced. We have chosen to print our work on Crane's Museo fine-art cards. Uncommonly beautiful, it has the touch and feel that can only come from 100% cotton. The paper is manufactured to the Library of Congress's archival standard. Our gift cards are printed on Strathmore Bright White Wove.

We are thrilled with the opportunity to share our original creations with you as we think that these cards make a sweet treat for all.These collections celebrate any occasion: birthdays, weddings, new arrivals, celebrations and holidays - plus, who doesn't love cookies!In the spirit of a handmade gift, our card collections are created with love."

Pear Tree Events recently got our hands on the Red Heart Cookie Cards and the Red Crab Card. We can tell you from experience that even though these cards are cute in the pictures, they are GORGEOUS in person. We are so infatuated with the Red Crab Card we are hoping to use the invitations for a crab-feed/fish-fry 18th birthday taking place in Bodega Bay next month. The quality of the photographs is so beautiful it looks as if you could eat the cookies right off the page.

Go check out the Rosebud Cards website for more deliciousness!