Over the Top Studios

Kitsch Toppers for your cupcakes

I was stumbling around on the computer this morning looking for fun sites when I happened upon Bake it Pretty. What a great place, I just wanted to share it with you. I know I will be placing an order very soon. I love miniature cupcake picks, the really unusual ones you don't see anymore outside antique shops. The problem is I always want more than just one. It makes it very difficult for me to use if I know I will have  hard time replacing it:)  I have this little drawer in my craftroom where I keep the precious little finds and I must say their numbers are dwindling. Well, not for long - a much needed infusion of fun is on it's way. Check out some of the Kitsch I found.

This is called "Forest Friends"

And who won't remember these little beauties

 

  

 

 

Aren't those adorable.

The last item is one I really miss from my childhood. I am the youngest of four sisters and we grew up in West Los Angeles about one hour away from Disneyland. We went alot, still do, and we all loved Cinderella. I think everyone of us girls had Cinderella, Prince Charming and her lovely couch and horses on our Birthday Cakes at least one time growing up. I so wish I still had mine. The one I found at Bake it Pretty is much like the one I used to have except mine had blond hair and gold trimmings and not such thick eyebrows. LOL! It does bring back many memories.

 

 

There are tons of other geat finds at this online store so take a peek. I know you will enjoy it!

A Free Saturday - Time to Explore

Well this weekend ended up being nothing like I expected. About mid week I got a call from a good friend asking me if my daughter Sarah had mentioned anything to me about the Relay for Lifecar wash our daughters were supposed to be putting on Saturday. "No!", I responded. My precious 17 year old had neglected to tell us about it. It seems they desperately needed volunteers as I believe the other girls on my daughters team had forgotten to mention it to their parents as well. I knew Tim had plans to help out on a potential Eagle Scout Project, by the way those of you who know my hubby understand he is very dedicated to Boy Scouts. He started out 13 years ago with our son Tim Jr as a den leader and ended up a Scoutmaster for many years. Now that our own son has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and is off at college, Tim still helps many boys achieve the coveted Eagle Scout distinction. Long story short, that left me having to change my plans to help out. So I did and planned on dedicating a few hours Saturday morning to a worthy cause. Come Saturday morning as Tim and I were having our coffee, Tim received word that the Eagle Project had been postponed because of bad weather. As I mentioned he could help out at the car wash with Sarah and I, I heard a sleepy voice from up stair call down "It's been canceled!" Now what to do?  A whole Saturday morning and afternoon with nothing on the agenda. What a treat!

I knew exactly what I wanted to do. There has been a shop I have been wanting to visit ever since my girlfriend Paisley had mentioned it to me. Paisley is an amazing artist and is so gifted. We have very similar taste so I knew I would love it. The shop is called Maxine's Floral. Don't let the name fool you, it is much more than just that. I quickly googled it and off we went.  Maxine's is in Seattle on Roosevelt Way and you cannot miss it from the outside. In Maxine's own words:

"We have been one of the coolest flower shops in Seattle since 1983.The shop is kind of like walking into munchkin land in the Wizard of Oz.People come in just to get there happy fix."

This is so true. I took my daughter Sarah with me as well as my photographer (Tim) with me and we were oohing and aah-hing at all the wonderful little treasures Maxine has assembled in her fantasy land shop. You know you are in for a treat when you drive up and catch your first glimpse of the storefront - bright red Chinese lanterns and brightly painted flowers adorn the outside. My heart leaped as I gazed into the windows. There was so much to see, so much color and detail. Seriously one of the most amazing displays I have ever seen.

When we walked inside we were met by a variety of feathered friends - some in cages some not. Maxine has a large parrot that lives behind the counter and was making himself quite at home in one of the open drawers.

These are just two of the many parakeets that call Maxine's home. Maxine has a wonderful eye for displaying things and great taste as well. I saw merchandise at Maxine's I had only seen on line or in catalogs. She carries great millinery flowers, ribbon, handmade nests, vintage hats etc. Not to mention some of the most beautiful flower: I saw her talented staff putting together arrangements behind the counter. Just a hint: Next time any of you want to send me flowers please send them from Maxine's! She does everything from everyday flowers to magnificent weddings.

  

I love storks. They just seem so magical to me. In the 1920's there seemed to be a fascination with them. They have for years been associated with the arrival of newborns and they adorned the front of postcards and Congratulation wishes alike, but no one does them better than the Germans. Paper mache storks were placed on top of candy boxes and given as gifts. Now the originals go for a pretty penny at antique stores and flea markets. There are many reproductions out there that are very well made and close to the originals in look and feel. Maxine seems to love them as well as I saw many around the store from little ones with bobble heads straight from Germany for around $14.95 to great big ones which are priceless.

I became fascinated with them while reading The Wheel on the Schoolhouse by Miendert Dejong to my children when they were young. The story is a bit odd. The children want storks to return to their village where they once nested on the roofs of the houses. The goal is to find a wooden wagon wheel to attach to the school roof to encourage the birds to stop and lay their eggs there in the little village of Shora along the dikes in Holland. That’s it. That’s the plot. Yet somehow we were drawn into that town and into their lives. My kids loved it and it began our own quest to bring cranes, not storks, to our home. We had just finished our barn and decided to search for an antique wagon wheel to attach to the top of it. Our search ended in Duvall, WA where we found the perfect tractor wheel. To this day it sits on the top of our 45' barn: no cranes but plenty of odd looks.

The beautiful crepe paper flowers at the top of the picture are all over the store and Maxine tells me she  will be offering a "How To" class soon. I will definitely let you know when. You know how I love crepe paper!

  

This is part of the front window display. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful. The colors lit up the gloomy skies outside.

Even Sarah loved it and didn't want to leave.

Here I am paying for my treasures and talking to Maxine about some of her contacts for German glass glitter and crepe paper.

Maxine's is one of those rare finds in Seattle. Once you find it you know you will be going back again and again. It is stocked full of interesting pieces in all price ranges and in all categories and it is the perfect place to find that special, artsy gift for the person who has everything. I purchased some gorgeous ribbon and rose petals for a wedding topper I will be making.

Next time you find yourself in Seattle or have a few hours on any given afternoon drive over to Maxine's and get your days dose of HAPPY! It is just what the doctor ordered on a gloomy Seattle day.

 

 

Spring Banner from Lasting Memories

New K & Company Line at Lasting Memories.

All the fun embellishments!

  

   

Right of the bat I want to apologize for the sub par photos. Usually my husband Tim takes all my pictures with his amazing equipment but today he was so busy with other things I didn't want to bother him with this so I got out my trustee Nikon Coolpix and shot my own using only my flash and room lighting (it was a cloudy day as well, snow even) Like I said, Tim would usually take out all his studio lighting, fancy lenses and so forth not to mention his photographic knowledge and expertise and take amazing shots, today you will have to suffer through these. Like I said I was at Lasting Memories (my favorite scrap booking store) a few weeks ago looking at what cool things they had gotten in since CHA and I stumbled upon the new Cut and Paste line from K & Company. It is so playful and retro in feel. It does not scream spring like some of the other papers I saw but I like that about it. The colors made me feel warm inside: the way I used to feel on warm spring days in California as I ran down the ice cream man waving a quarter. Yes, I am that old! I picked up a four different 12X12 pattered papers from the line along with a bag filled with laser cut images that complimented it. This was the best deal in the house $5.95. There must be over 100 laser cuts from tiny buttons to jumbo bingo cards, I will be using these for a long time. I had picked up some lettering there a few months ago in the bargain area (Lasting Memories has a great bargain area and they are always updating it) I loved it so much I picked it up in several colors, I used the green ones here. When I got home I laid out all the supplies I had purchased and then started looking around my craft room for fun embellishments. I love to add dimension to all I do, layers of things and I am not afraid to go big.  I had seen a banner recently where they added lots of crepe paper and naturally loving all crepe paper I took out my scraps.

1. Start by laying all your supplies out and taking inventory, then map out the way you want your banner to look. You don't want to over embellish one flag and leave the next without. See what you have to use and decide where you will use it

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2. I started out by embellishing each letter with a little glitter glue to make it pop. While you let that dry start laying out each flag. I made a patter for the flag out of tag board and then cut out 6 more for the SPRING banner. These flags are pretty small about 7 X 5 inches. You can also use the die cut machine at Lasting Memories to cut these out of tag board, I just didn't get back to do it in time.

3. Using your flag piece as a pattern cut out the paper to fit on top and glue them to the tag board using a thin layer of Elmer's glue.

 4. I made crepe paper circles to add dimension to my letters, I also decided to go with one color for every flag to create continuity but you can do whatever you like. I taught you how to make these in February for the Valentines Cone project so you can refer back to that tutorial. Then the fun begins! Start layering, adding color and fun embellishments. Keep in mind balance as well. Youwant to be somewhat symmetrical when it comes to balance. In other words don't put a whole lot of embellishments on the last few cards and just a little on the others. Try out things and when you have each letter just the way you want it start gluing. I used a lot of hot glue and dimensional.

 

The bird is pretty big and not the exact color blue but it works!

Each letter has a little something in the center. This one has a raspberry flower.

The bicycle is a laser cut and the pin wheel is a leftover party pick.

Fun Fringe at the bottom and crafting flowers add charm. The border at the top is trim from the fabric store.

My favorite, a 5 cent fuzzy chick and paper umbrella from a drink remind us that Spring can sometimes still be quite wet. What a "Cootie Patootie"

More fun fringe and fabric store trim.

At the end I punched very small holes on either side of each flag and ran a 7 foot piece of pink seam binding through them to string my banner together. Do not make the holes too big, just big enough to get the seam binding through with a little difficulty. You don't want it to slide too much. I hung mine across my fireplace on the hooks we use for Christmas Stockings, again - forgive the images.

There you have it - a fun SPRING banner you can make in one afternoon. This paper line is so much fun and so detailed I found myself having to do little more to it. Remember, let you imagination fly and you will be surprised what will happen. I never would have thought the chick and umbrella would work but once I put it together I loved it and it became my favorite part of the banner. Have Fun and I would love to hear your comments on this.

Stores carrying my line

It has been a busy last few weeks. I have been working hard to produce enough product to get out to stores. I have had such a wonderful response from all the store owners, so Thank You to all. If you are up Snohomish way make sure to stop by Faded Elegance and say hello to owner Kimberly McIlranth. Kimberly has an amazing shop filled with beautiful antiques, wonderfully unique gifts for the home, birthday and special occasion treasures, as well as intoxicating scents.  Everything is displayed with such flair that you will be inspired to go home and begin redecorating. I challenge any of you to leave without purchasing at least one thing. In addition, Kimberly is now exclusively carrying  Over the Top Studios entire line. You can find the entire Marie "Let Them Eat Cake" birthday and special occasion hats, crowns, masks and trinket boxes displayed right next to the 2009 Wedding Line of Toppers and gift boxes. Even more exciting, we will be planning special shopping events at Faded Elegance featuring my line and other exciting new products that Kimberly has discovered. We are in the planning stages now and I will let you know the dates as soon as they become solid. I have included a couple of pictures of the display at Faded Elegance. As you recall, before I even approached Kimberly regarding my line, I did a blog spot on "Shops I love" and Faded Elegance was one of those. You an go back to the Archives to see a few more pictures of the inside of the store.

   

The Marie Mask displayed in the jewelry cabinet

 

 

If you can't make it down to Snohomish and find yourself driving in the Bellevue direction you can purchase Over the Top Creations at Common Folk right on the corner of 156th and 8th. The owner, KathrynStaub is amazing, as well as all the other fascinating women who work there. Kathryn has a wonderful eye for all things glittery and fabulous and the Marie and Wedding Line really caught her eye. The store is really large and packed to the gills with antiques,reproductions gifts and furniture for the home. What I love about Common Folk Co., besides the incredible customer service, is the variety and unique quality items she carries. I guarantee you will find things in her store that you have not seen anywhere else. Mostly, I believe, because Kathryn still believes in the "Cottage Retailer". Like the Over the Top Studios of the world. Small artistic businesses that make one-of-a-kind, handmade items. Common Folk Co. itself is in some ways just like that. Kathryn is busy planning an upcoming wedding trunk show where she will be inviting brides from far and wide to come and see what is new (and different) for their upcoming weddings. This will be sometime in April and 10% of the proceeds will go to Breast Cancer Research. A cause near and dear to my own heart since my mother, Amada Padilla, passed away when I was 13 from breast cancer. I will be there with all my wedding line plus a few fantastic "Over the top" surprises. Again, more information will be available as the details become solid. I have included a few pictures of the display at Common Folk Co. for you to peek at.

 

Kathryn and me holding up the new wedding cake toppers

That's it for now. Hopefully I will be showing you a couple of other stores in the Seattle and Kirkland area where Over the Top creations will be available for purchase. As always, I encourage all of you to make a habit of shopping at these wonderful, unique shops. I have been entertaining guests and making gifts for friends and family for many years: I am always asked "Where did you get that, or How did you get that idea?" It is places like Faded Elegance and Common Folk that inspire me and draw me back for more. It is a kind of therapy for me to walk into an Establishment where every one of my senses will be filled. I know that times are hard and we are all looking at what we can cut back, but I submit that when we cease to surround ourselves with things that make us happy and deprive ourselves of the beauty that surrounds us, we also deprive ourselves of a little joy. Put some joy back into your day with a trip out to one of these shops, you won't be sorry.

Eye Candy and More...

Okay, here I go again I blogged for 1 1/2 hour this morning, went to preview and my computer went nuts! I lost everything. So i'll try again and SAVE more often this time. My husband Tim and I went out to Snohomish this weekend for some quick shopping. It had been a year since we had been there, the bad weather this December unfortunately kept us closer to home. So wasn't I pleasantly surprised to find new places for both dining and shopping. First on my stops was Faded Elegance. WOW! This shop is new to Snohomish and worth the drive out alone. Filled with antiques, garden and home decor it is a francophiles dream. Here are a few pics.

 

 This lamp was made by a local artist. It is adorned with vintage ribbon, garters and a sweet cameo.

It went home with me.

 

I spent 45 minutes in this shop and it wasn't enough. it is huge and also has an upstairs.

We then walked down the street to Joyworks. What a fun place. I met the owner and her daughter Jana  (who is a fellow blogger), and a host of other fun people. We traded some stories and cards and I walked out with a box of goodies. Glittery things that I plan on incorporating into my Wedding Toppers and Hats for the upcoming wedding season. Everyone just seems to love working there and why not, you get to look at beautiful things all day long.

 

 

I just can't resist putting on a crown.

 

I love this shot looking down at this jewel encrusted mermaid.

After Joyworks we took a walk down to Queen Bee. A must stop if you are in Snohomish. From the moment you walk in you are enveloped by the sight of rich fabrics and wonderfully worn antiques. There is a great mix of old and new in this store and I guarantee you will not leave empty handed.

Unfortunately I could not get any inside shots on this day but here is a shot of the outside to entice you.

 

So there it is. What a fun day. We stopped into a number of other shops as well. A great Italian shop Casa e Cucina Francesca where the owner treated us to espresso and an amazing taste of balsamic vinegar and lemon rind infused olive oil. Both were a treat to the palette and we walked out with the vinegar. There were antique malls and great new restaurants. Our time was too short. We had an evening commitment so we had to run. I love the sound of an antique door opening and the ringing of the bell that lets me know I will be treated graciously. That is what I know I will get whenever I go out to Snohomish.

Later this week I will post simple directions for a Victorian Valentine cone anyone can make. The possibilities are endless and you can make them as elaborate or simple as you like. Also a sneak peak at the new wedding topper and hat supplies.

Okay I am having major problems when I try to preview and spell check these pages so they are going up as is. Please excuse the errors. Have a great day!

Off to one of my favorite places...

I am off to Snohomish this morning to one of my avorite shops, Queen Bee. Two weeks ago we tried to get out there but the flood waters were so bad we couldn't make. Hopefully she would have gotten some great new things to inspire me.