Over the Top Studios

Seattle Bride Feature and Kentucky Derby Hat

 Big news for Over the Top Studios, one of my wedding toppers will be featured in Seattle Bride June/July issue. Kelley Moore, entertainment and lifestyle expert, has chosen the topper for her own reception and will feature it in the magazine. Kelley made her final selection  at the Common FolkBridal Event last Saturday where she had plenty to choose from. Kelley has a definite look she is going for, I can't wait to see the final shots. It was so fun to watch her stage the shots before hand and I think they are going to be fabulous! Of course I am going to run out and buy every issue I can get my hands on.  But wait, it gets better: Kelley does a lifestyle segment for King 5 Morning News on KONG, in addition to having her own event design and production company. She will be doing a segment this Friday morning, April 24th,  where she will be featuring my latest creation - a Kentucky Derby Hat! Check out the Video Here. Kelley will be featuring it as the centerpiece for the party. Okay, my Tivo will be ready for this one. It will probably only be on for a minute and I don't know what will be said exactly but just seeing it on TV is going to be surreal.

It has been about 2 months since I decided to pursue making a real business of "Over the Top Studios" and it has been lots of hard work but tons of fun. I have had the opportunity to meet lots of interesting people and friendly shop owners. Being picked for Seattle Bride and for a segment on King 5 is icing on the cake. I just had to share this good news with all of you who have been supporting me the last couple of months through my blog and in the stores.

So since it will only be on for a few minutes I will give you a sneak peak. I also have a shot of the topper Kelley chose for her reception. By the way, I don't think it is actually going on a cake as much as as a centerpiece. See, cake toppers are great as centerpieces and gifts or on the top of cupcakes. Hint: More info on that in coming weeks!

The front of the hat.  The hat is styled after the old English riding hats women used to wear. I didn't want to do the traditional big straw hat. I couldn't find a hat to alter so I made one. I made a pattern from a modified  New Years Eve top hat I had. The paper and ribbon are Midori. The feathers on the side are vintage and the flowers are hand made.

 

From the side. Ostrich feathers, fans and glitter.

 

 

I love this horse pin. Can you believe I found it in the throw away bin at the Goodwill!

 The Wedding Topper which will appear in Seattle Bride. I love the feel of this piece. It is very modern yet romantic.

Bridal Flair Event - A Sweet Success

KathrynStraub, owner of Common Folk, and Kelley Moore

Wow, what a busy weekend but also tons of fun. Saturday was the big Bridal Event at Common Folkin Bellevue where a portion of the profits went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I have been blogging about this for a while and the big day finally came. I made some special wedding cake toppers just for this event as well as plenty of other "pretty little things" It was busy all day long as prospective brides, and some grooms filed through. They were treated to all kinds of samplings of appetizers, chocolates, flowers, photography etc. The shop looked fabulous as you can see from the photos.

Kelly Moore, entertaining and lifestyle expert, was there all day lending her advice to brides and grooms.  She set up some beautiful tables to inspire them: midnight blues with raspberry and red, silver and pearls. So elegant yet so affordable and a wonderful table setting with handmade paper flowers. Jihan Zencirli, the manager of Paper Sourcein Bellevue was there teaching us how to make them. So easy to make. 

Jihan of Paper Source and Kelley Moore making flowers.

 Hoffman's Fine Pastries in Kirkland was there as well serving up their signature Princess Torte Cake, layers of light sponge cake with raspberry jam, whipped cream and Bavarian cream with a Marzipan icing. YUM! I had two pieces and went back the next morning for muffins and coffee.  You have got to visit them in Kirkland right across from the QFC in the Parkplace Center. The Princess Torte is my new favorite cake and I am requesting one for Mother's Day.

Princess Torte as good as it looks.

Hoffmans wonderful cakes are perfect with my toppers

So many other wonderful vendors were their with products and services. Including Timothy Siciliano of Party Partners in Seattle. I have been using their products for years and it was so fun to chat with him about their future and past. We discussed crepe paper for 15 minutes.

Tim Sicilaino and Kelly Moore in black

Kelley and me at the end of the day.

 

Emily and Kelley

The list goes on and on. Didn't photographer Tim Lebel of Tim Lebel Photography (my hubby) take some amazing shots. Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family who came by to support me and "yes" I kicked off those 4" heels as soon as I walked through the door - 8 hours in heels is my limit. They did look fab though! I am already looking forward to next year but in flats.

Bridal Flair Event at Common Folk

Tomorrow is the big day at Common Folk in Bellevue, the Bridal Flair Event! It should be tons of fun. Kathryn Straub, owner, has been working hard for the last month to pull this event together. There will be something for everyone really, not just brides. Common Folk is located on 156th right in the Crossroads Shopping Mall area: the store is huge so you can't miss it.

Last night I was sorting through some pieces to bring and I counted 8 new pieces I will be unveiling for the first time, including a small "Mother of the Bride" mini crown for the Grand Dame of the event! I have also created two rather unique pieces (at least for me) that have never been seen outside of my house. I am also binging my "Kentucky Derby" hat creation to the event. This is a decoration only display hat that can be brought out each year as a centerpiece or whatever else you may have in mind. I shopped exclusively for the materials on this hat and I spent hours putting it together. I couldn't find just the right hat for what I had in mind so made that by hand as well! All out of paper of course.

The event starts at 11:00 and ends at 5:00, I will be there most of that ime with a break now and then. Please come by and say hello to me and all the wonderful women who work at Common Folk. I hear the weather will be cooperating. See you there!

Sneak Peak of one of the new toppers

Wedding Event at Common Folk and New Toppers

Exciting news about the wedding event taking place at Common Folk Co. April 18th, Kathryn Straub, owner, has teamed up with Kelley Moore Creative Media to host an amazing bridal event that will satisfy even the pickiest of brides. Kelley is best known for her extraordinary lifestyle and entertaining expertise, she lives her in Seattle but has a nationwide following. She regularly contributes to Seattle Magazine, Seattle Bride, King 5, just to name a few. Kelley will be there all day so this is your opportunity to meet her. Kathryn and her creative team will be hosting the event at Common Folk and have been working day and night to make it a special event. If you know of anyone getting married get in your car and drive over you won't be sorry. Even if you don't know of anyone celebrating their nuptials this summer come by anyway, the store is filled with unique gifts and home decor.  I will be there with all of my creations from Party hats and Wedding Toppers to gift boxes and tags. I am creating a host of one of a kind toppers just for this event. I may even have a special announcement to make in the next week or so - stay tuned. I have added the event icon on my sidebar, click on it and get directions and details. I have added a few more toppers to my line that I can give you a peek at. There will be plenty more to see, including some more colorful pieces. Remember, a wedding topper doesn't necessarily have to go on top of a cake - they can make beautiful gifts or centerpieces for a rehearsal dinner, a bridal shower or even at the reception. I love the idea of receiving one of these as a gift. Remember each of my toppers opens up, and a special gift or note can be tucked inside. 

These are mini toppers and stand about 61/2 inches tall, great for a bridesmaids gift

The all white topper "To Love and to Cherish" The largest of the toppers so far.

Sneak peak of one of my "one-of-a-kind pieces"

New Line Pieces

I have a few more pictures to share with you. I just created these over the weekend, with help form my husband. The latest wedding topper "From this day forward"is a mini cake itself. It looks good enough to eat. At the top proudly stand my signature wedding couple. They stand behind a lace white gate, and are surrounded by paper butter cream and sage rose petals. Sprays of pearl and hydrangea leaves frame the images of this had glittered couple. The bottom tier of the cake opens up so you can hide a secret love letter to your future husband or wife. Mementos can also be stored inside like a time capsule of your wedding day. Seeing a dove on your wedding day means good luck, here one is perched just overhead. I made this topper to be viewed from all angles including from behind. The image is exactly the same on the backside. This topper stand 10 inches tall.

 Isn't she lovely and he is so handsome. I love the way he is supporting her tiny hand

Also new to the line are gift tags. This is where I received much help from my hubby Tim. I tell him what I want (sometimes not too clearly) and he manages to put it together for me. Each tag is 3X6 and hand glittered. The Black and White "Happy Birthday" card has a 1 inch removable button with the silhouette of Marie warning you not to "Lose Your Head". Thanks to my son Tim Jr. for making them for me. Creativity runs in the family. Hope you enjoy the new creations and as promised I will share a family St. Patricks Day tradition and craft this week.

Each have "To: and From:" printed on the back

My New 2009 Wedding Trinket Box

I forgot to post this yesterday morning with the rest of the Marie line. I guess it is better it has it's own post anyway. I love these little boxes. They are so fun to make. I imagine this box holding the precious pearl necklace a young bride wears on her wedding day, or perhaps the garter. Any special small memory from that whirlwind of a day can be tucked secretly inside. Perhaps a love note or bible verse which will be taken out years later, gently unfolded and read out loud causing a flood of beautiful memories to come rushing back. Gentlemen, wouldn't your future bride blush if you gave her this sweet box and tucked her engagement ring inside? Ladies, how about a lucky coin for your grooms pocket? Buy a few or more and place your bridesmaids and groomsman gifts inside. The possibilities are only limited by your romantic imagination. I have used vintage music sheets from hymnals inside and out as well as something else "Old". A piece of vintage lace sewn to create a crown adorn each brides head. Enjoy the latest in my 2009 wedding line.

  

Doesn't it look lovely with pearls cascading out 

 

Detail of the knob. I used old chandelier crystals inside silver jewelry cups.

New Mini Wedding Crown Topper - "Honey, I Do"

I just had to show you the newest in my line of 2009 Wedding Toppers. As you know I am set on returning romance to it's rightful place when it comes to your wedding cake. Lately the trend has been humor. Brides and grooms pushing and pulling each other, dragging each other to the alter. Men have been portrayed as mere puppets in the entire ceremony, in fact I saw a topper that literally had a bride pulling the strings of her marionette groom. Some might think that funny, I believe it to be quite sad. A sign of the times really. I yearn for a time when couples made a commitment for life. For better or for worse, and back in the 1920's with the war and depression still ahead there was plenty of worse. But have you noticed those marriages survived. Both bride and groom standing tall, side by side. Mutual respect, admiration and most importantly of all love. Am I reading too much into a wedding topper? Maybe. But to me this is what I see when I gaze into one of those old, fading and chipping wedding toppers of the 20's. I love working with paper and glitter - my toppers make an attempt to bring back an era when love and romance were king (and queen) and hopefully by placing one of these on top of your cake you can too. I have used mostly new materials with the exception of the brides veil. While on a trip to Snohomish I ran across an old wedding veil from the 20's, old and fading but rich in nostalgia. Each bride in my Mini Wedding Topper "Honey, I Do" has a small piece of that veil crowning her own head. Take a peek, I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I have enjoyed designing and making them. I have embelished this 1920's image with  flowers, glitter and of course a top hat for our groom. As promised I will be letting you know when and where these will be available. I am working out the details with stores right now and as soon as I can I will reveal those stores to you. Thanks for all the wonderful comments and words of encouragement. I am having such a wonderful time designing these pieces and this is not the end. Over the next few weeks I will be adding more. Smaller pieces for those who may just be looking to take home a little piece of romance.