Monday, July 29, 2013

Exceptional Summer BBQs

It’s the perfect season for family and friends to get together for outdoor summer gatherings, but you can transform your typical BBQ into a unique and memorable summer event!


Turn your next Summer BBQ into a Clambake




The origin of clambakes began along the coast of New England as a way to prepare the plentiful seafood that fishermen caught from the Atlantic Ocean. Although now you don’t have to be on a beach to host a clambake, so why not do it in your own backyard? The preparation of the seafood can last an entire day, so make it be a part of the fun! Serve appetizers and summer drinks while guests wait and enjoy being a part of this culinary affair. Visit this New York Times article for recipes and ideas to turn your next party into this unique gathering.  

Throw a Country-Style Hoedown

  

An All-American hoedown can turn any BBQ into a fun party for all ages. Do Si Do with your partner to a live band or make a country playlist! Have some down home fun with square dancing and Southern dishes served cold at a help-yourself station overflowing with buttermilk fried chicken, herbed biscuits, cabbage slaw, and heirloom tomato salad. Get more ideas by visiting Country Living.  

Host a Summer Movie and Dessert Night 




Instead of hosting a dinner party, invite guests to an evening event serving sweets. Create a spread of desserts and champagne cocktails for friends, and show an outdoor screening of your favorite summer movie. Martha Stewart lists this event idea on her 2013 Best Summer Ever BucketList.

Take Your Party on the Water



Whether you own a boat or prefer to charter one, take your summer BBQ party on the water! Enjoy an afternoon cruise or evening sail and entertain your guests with music, cocktails, finger foods, Hors d'oeuvres and premade treats. Remember to send invites with details including the dock location, departure and return time. When guests commit to a boat party, they will want to know exactly when they will be returning. Keep consistent with the agenda, adhere to the maximum number of people allowed on the boat, and ensure that the proper safety gear are on-board and your summer BBQ on the water will become the party of the summer.




Monday, July 22, 2013

Event Planners Assist New Orleans Katrina Victims

We are so happy to be featured in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Read more about Event Pros Take Action, or EPTA, and the work that we are doing after hurricane Katrina HERE.



Thursday, July 18, 2013

Wedding Trend to Watch: Cacti & Succulents


Many brides are starting to mix up their classic bouquets and centerpieces with non-traditional floral elements. We recently attended a wedding in San Francisco where the bride added some surprising elements that made the table settings unique. Modern and cost-effective, cacti were used as centerpieces and created a cool, unexpected vibe.



Succulents were also added at tables throughout the venue for a California twist, giving the setting a desert feel.




The bride even waited until the morning of the wedding to pick out her bouquets! Checking out a local farmer’s market, she picked out fresh flowers with her bridesmaids that included some unbloomed bulbs for a dramatic effect.







You don’t have to be in California though to add these elements to your own wedding. Many Pinterest boards are online for inspiration (http://pinterest.com/trueme/simply-succulents/), and both cacti and succulents can be ordered online through Etsy for brides (http://www.etsy.com/search?q=cacti+and+succulents).



Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Style by Susie: The Great Gatsby

1. Who is your favorite character in the Great Gatsby and why? Ok so this is a tough one. Contenders are  Nick, Daisy and of course, Gatsby.  The problem is that they are all flawed. In my heart, I wanted Daisy to win, but knowing how she was caught in an era when it was hard to put passion before societal norms, it was still painful to watch her as she wimped out. While Nick was a great observer and recorder of everything that he witnessed and ultimately was drawn into, he failed to intervene and stand up for what he knew was right. He was caught up in the moment and enamored with everything he experienced but became an enabler. Gatsby was undoubtedly flawed. While he lived a grand life and put on a grand show, one could easily argue he was an imposter with absurdly unrealistic dreams. However, despite the slow unraveling of his lofty dreams through the course of the story, he remained true to his vision and was unwavering in his optimism. So, in the end, for me Gatsby wins because he stayed true to his vision and character despite the fact that his persona was flawed! Tough Decision!



2. What would you personally wear to a Great Gatsby themed party? Where to begin? Well the dress would be drop waisted, adorned with beads and fringe and fabulousness. The palette of my ensemble would be champagne or blush and the fabric would be encrusted with gems. Now, for the hair....  I guess I would have to add an accessory - something deco and diamond and dripping, and suppose I would have to borrow it from Harry Winston, of course. And the shoes? Sadly I just cannot embrace a low hour-glass shaped heel T Strap so my shoe choice would be a metallic Mary Jane.

3. What is the best accessory someone can wear to a Great Gatsby inspired party? Hands down it would be a great hairpiece. It could have a feather, it could drip with pearls, or it could be a headband anchored with sequins, but no question a fabulous hairpiece would be mandatory!

4. For the host, what party decorations are essential? Whether you are planning a casual cocktail party or sit down dinner, think deco flapper and decadent.  To start, I imagine a great invitation to set with stage with a geometric fonts, heavy cardstock and graphics in black and gold. Embossed metallic. At the party, certainly one would want to deck the tables with fringed cloths like Mosaic's Eyelash as well as other flowey fabrics encrusted with detail. From Mosaic's collection, Leaf Jungle and Rajistan come to mind. For florals, certainly orchids and roses would be me choice - arranged in deco vases and mint julip cups. Crystals and pearls could be dripping off the arrangements, accenting the tables and create a chic backdrop for celebration.  As for food... thinking of waldorf salad and oysters rockfellers.  No Gatsby party would be complete without champagne, which would have to be flowing all night long.

Leaf Jungle
Rajistan


5. Mint Julip, Brandy Sour or Champagne?  Duh, Champagne please. And preferably Dom.

6. White flowers are a popular theme in the film… what type of bouquet would you recommend for a classic look? While flowers were everywhere and the concept of more-is-more certainly applied to the decadent scene, other signature styles of the era were tight, sculpted and geometric. Thinking of the slick hair-dos and tight curls and geometric motif prevalent in design, I can imagine a sculpted romantic decadent bouquet filled with orchids, fragrant blooms and blush colored roses exploding with romance. Ok, in the end I  may loosen the bouquet by adding a few strands of gems and pearls.

7. Which of Party Mosaic's linens would you say are 'Vintage Glam?' Sparked by this movie and the fact that vintage has been en-vogue in recent years, I can think of lots of linens which could go vintage glam! As mentioned above, Rajistan, leaf jungle and eyelash are great examples of cloths that fit the era.  We have a great cutwork lace cloth that would be perfect juxtaposed with a metallic cloth peaking through in an unexpected way.  Funzi and rosebud would also be well suited for a Roaring 20's party. Dressing up the chairs with paillette chair treatments and/or rosettes on bikini chairbacks would enhance the drama.

Funzi


8. Jay Gatsby wears an iconic pink linen suit in the film. Which of your linens best reminds you of it? Not to digress, but since we are talking about Gatsby's clothes, can we talk a minute about that incredible scene in the movie when Gatsby is seducing Daisy in his bedroom, throwing dozens of his crisp folded cotton shorts over the balcony onto Daisy reclining on his bed. How fabulous was that scene? OK back to the question. A new favorite linen of mine is Mosaic's blush pink satin bold stripe. While it is not deco, the color and bold linear design remind me of Gatsby. Had he been courting a woman in a slightly different era, I can see her wearing a fantastic bustled ball gown in this fabric.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Best Designers on Pinterest


Do you love Pinterest as much as we do when event planning? The fastest growing social media site in history, Pinterest is a haven for fashionistas, design lovers and modern stylists. At Party Mosaic, it's easy to lose track of time on the site as more and more pins pop up as we peruse various categories. So when it comes to pinners, who is the best?  We know how hard it can be to sift through it all to find the pearls! Designer Marketplace recently put together a list for the interior design industry, and we are obsessed with their picks. Take at look at this LINK for a cheat sheet of the who's who on Pinterest in terms of noteworthy curation. 



Our personal favorites from this list include AphroChic, based across the state in Philadelphia, for their color crush boards and styling inspiration. We also love Austin based Room Fu for thinking outside of the box (just like their hometown). 

Also, don't forget that Party Mosaic is on Pinterest too! We've created a lot of boards to give you that extra kick of creativity when it comes to party planning. Our boards include events ideas influenced by light, color, florals and of course… fabric.

Check us out and be sure to follow us: http://pinterest.com/partymosaic/

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Quick & Easy Centerpieces


Short on time, but want to wow your guests? Real Simple recently published an article showcasing twenty 5-minute centerpiece ideas for every occasion. It inspired us at Party Mosaic to explore a few of our favorites to pair up with complimentary linens. 

Fruit Fillers

Pick up some miniature citrus fruits like kumquats and key limes on your next grocery visit. Place them in a clear vase to add a burst of color to your centerpiece. Also, you can use larger fruits like oranges and lemons and slice them up for a juicer effect! 



This type of centerpiece would look great with our Lemon Sheer Linen for a casual, outdoor event in the sunshine.



Striking Branches

Whether real or fake, it's a great idea to spray paint branches with a bright color to showcase them as a centerpiece. They can be displayed alone or in glass bottles or vases, or even spray painted mason jars. Try out this look with our Rosebud Line for a striking effect at your next party.






Flower Box Table Runner

Pick up a long flower box and fill it with your favorite blooms. Gerber daisies and sunflowers both work well and you can convert the centerpiece to an outdoor flower box after the party. If you run out of flowers and have to improvise, add some candles with glass stones instead!



Try this centerpiece out with our Turquoise Mystique Linen.



For the full Real Simple article and other inspirational ideas, click HERE.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Forces of Nature Swept Pittsburgh by Storm


Forces of Nature Entrance by Airhead Balloon Art & MissElaineous 
Photo by Joey Kennedy Photography


Mosaic was proud to be a presenting sponsor of Forces of Nature at Bakery Square on Friday, April 5th, 2013 benefiting Event Pros Take Action and ISES Pittsburgh.  All Occasions Party Rental was the other presenting sponsor for this first-time event.


Goldstein Photography 

Pittsburgh’s finest event professional joined forces to create their interpretations of the elements: Earth, Fire, Ice and Water in 20 x 20’ vignettes. Designers include Tim Komen of TK Events (Fire), Sheila Weiner of The Event Group (Ice), Bob Sendall of All In Good Taste Productions (Earth) and Shelly Tolo of Tolo Events (Water). In addition, Joe Mineo of Something New Events created the incredible décor in the common area and VIP lounges, including furniture from AFR Events, and wall treatments from Atomic.  With over $200,000 worth of product donated, raw space was transformed with a mind-blowing array of décor components, enabling our guests to explore and enjoy the evening in this magical space. With bands, DJ’s and food/beverage donated from Pittsburgh’s finest caterers, restaurants and hotels, our supporters could dine and dance all night long.

Event Pros Take Action (EPTA) is a charitable organization that gives back to communities suffering from environmental catastrophe. Join us July 20-23, 2013 in NOLA for our next mission! To connect with EPTA click HERE. International Special Events Society (ISES) is an  organization that aims to educate, advance and promote the special events industry.

Earth by Bob Sendall of All In Good Taste ProductionsJoey Kennedy Photography
Earth, Joey Kennedy Photograph
Fire by Tim Komen of TK Events, Goldstein Photography
Fire Room, Joey Kennedy Photography
Ice, In-Vision Studio
Ice by Sheila Weiner of The Event GroupJoey Kennedy Photography
Water by Shelly Tolo of TOLO EventsGoldstein Photography
Water, Joey Kennedy Photography

Mosaic Linens would like to thank the amazing partners that made Forces of Nature a success. Over 120 companies participated in this incredible showcasing fundraiser, including (but not limited to): All Occasions Party Rental, Create Studio Invites, Bakery Square, Walnut Capital, SSIS Agency, Theresa Kaufman Events and PR, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale, Revive Marketing Group, Hughies Event Production Services, Bill Chisnell Productions, Joey Kennedy Photography,  Goldstein Photography, In –Vision Studio,  Rania’s Catering, The Common Plea, Big Catering, The Fairmont Pittsburgh, Clear Story Creative, Hepatica Florist, Bella Christie’s, Allison McGeary Floral, Rattle Clack Entertainment, Lendable Linens, Post-Script Productions, Airheads Balloon Art, Natalie’s Bridal Consultant & Party Planner, Sherer Video, Party Savvy, Steven Vance Strolling Violins, Hens and Chicks Flowers, Renaissance Hotel, Parkhurst Dining, Heinz History Center, The Mansion at Maple Heights, Bonnie Walker Events, Pittsburgh Magazine,  The Mansions on Fifth, Whirl Magazine, Kelli Burns (DJ), Phipps Conservatory, Elite Show Band, Event Source, Paulette Zanotti, Entertainment Unlimited, Luxe Lighting, Perfectly Planned by Shari, UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh Winery, Glassworks/Cheeks, Nota Bene,  Creative Juice Group, Strategy-First, MissElaineous Balloons, Martini & Co, Shutterbooth,  Verterra, Lquid Flair, Clique Vodka, Jeff Jimmerson & Airborne Unplugged. Omni William Penn, The Prop Shop, Heinz Field, PJ Dick, Three Rivers Lighting  and to our volunteers, guests, and many individual contributors.

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