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Posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2012 11:01 AM
Just 3 days after the Mardi Gras tea party ended we are completley booked for the Disney Princess tea party on April 1. I will not be sending out invitations for this party. If you want to attend I will start a waiting list in case someone has a change of mind. I am thrilled that girls, moms, and dolls enjoy it so much! They all know I have a ball! I am so excited about all the things I have already bought for the April tea party! Now I need to work on the menu! Any suggestions for princess foods? Any suggestions for a theme for the June party? |
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Posted on Monday, February 06, 2012 7:16 PM
Yesterday we had a wonderfully successful Mardi Gras Tea Party. Eighteen littel girls with their mothers, grandmothers, and some aunts were in attendance. After some shopping, the girls settled down to learn a little bit about the history and traditions of Mardi Gras. Then we feasted on King (cup)Cakes, little beignets with powdered sugar, and home made pralines that I made late Saturday night. Everyone that walked in the door said the shop smelled like sugar! What a great smell for a very old store! After the dishes were cleared from the table, the girls were given a glitter mask for them and one for their doll. Sparkling jewels and purple, gold, and green feathers were spread on the tables. The girls decorated their masks with a little glue gun help from Mom. They then took their doll to the back of the store to have their picture made. My daughter photoshops their picture onto an appropriate background and we send each girl a photo of her and her doll.
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The shop was filled with girls, dolls, laughter, giggles, feathers, and glitter!
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Making the perfect mask is very hard work!
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Sisters shared the day!
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Best friends had a great time together!
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Before they left the girls took the feathers off the back of their chair - Mardi Gras boas for thier dolls. They also took home a bag of doubloons - foil covered chocolate and bubble gum, and a Mardi Gras magnet that I bought the last time I was in New Orleans. All anyone needs to do is look at the pictures to understand why I do this. There are more pictures on our Facebook page - Patches Dolls. The smiles on the girls' faces, their hugs, and the wonderful things they say about the parties are why I do this. And the fact that "I believe in make-believe!" Next tea party will be April 1st; it will have a Disney princess theme. I am so excited about the treats I have to give the girls and their dolls at this party! It should be magical! |
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Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:29 AM
All the dolls are ready for the Mardi Gras Tea Party this Sunday! Doll begients and grape sparkling punch are made. Bags are filled with doubloons! Boas and beads are ready! Cajun music is downloaded, just have to burn to CD! Everything is ready but the shop! Today is my last day to paint! Tomorrow I start putting things back in order!
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Samantha, Aden, and Mia insist on playing with the beads and feathers!
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Aden is wearing an outfit made at Patches. This outfit is for sale and would look cute any time of the year.
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Samantha is wearing a long dress made at patches. This one is also for sale and would be perfect for the Princess Tea Party in April.
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Bags are filled with candy and bubble gum doubloons! Each girl will get a mask magnet like the one in the picture!
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Eighteen girls, dolls, and moms will be coming Sunday! Plus three people who have volunteered to help. I have to make room for about 40 people Sunday in my little shop! It will be wonderful! |
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Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 2:14 PM
Well, even with preparing for the Mardi Gras Tea Party on Feb 5th, I decided the store on 8th Street needed a new look. It has been 10 years since I made any real changes. The other night I gave the web site a new look, so I decided the store needed one too.
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So everything has been pushed to the middle and the the front of the store. Nothing is where it should be!
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I started redoing some of the old shelves. Mike put slatboard in two sections for me. But we (me) had to take off the facing board first.
I am hoping I can get it all put together and the painting done before the tea party. But I will be happy if I just get it back together for the party.
I still want to finish the clip on chairs so the dolls have their own seats for the party. Wish me luck and lots of energy!
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Posted on Friday, December 30, 2011 8:03 AM
Some have asked me why I would have a Mardi Gras Tea Party for little girls. Carnival and Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday are based on religious tenets; it is the last hurrah before the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Like many holidays it is seen as an excuse to over indulge and to sin by a large number of people. Carnival is related to the Christmas season. It begins with the Epiphany which falls on January 6, or 12 days after Christmas. This day is the day the Three Kings delivered their gifts to the Christ child. The word Carnival refers to the ordinary time in the Christian Calendar, the ordering of time outside the Advent/Christmas or Lent/Easter seasons. Carnival comes from the Latin words carne vale, meaning "farewell to the flesh." The removal is not a prohibition during that time, but a time to remove it by consuming all the meat, eggs and dairy in the household before the beginning of Lent, the weeks of fasting and prayer leading up to Easter. Epiphany is also traditionally when celebrants serve King's Cake, a custom that began in France in the 12th century. Legend has it that the cakes were made in a circle to represent the circular routes that the Wise Men took to find Jesus, in order to confuse King Herod and foil his plans of killing the Christ Child. In the early days, a coin or bean was hidden inside the cake, and whoever found the item was said to have good luck in the coming year. Many bakers now put a small baby, representing the Christ Child, in the cake; the recipient is then expected to host the next King Cake party. Now the cakes are served throughout Carnival. They are most often iced or colored with the colors of Mardi Gras: purple, a symbol of justice; green, representing faith; and gold, to signify power. Mardi Gras literally means "Fat Tuesday" in French. The name comes from the tradition of slaughtering and feasting upon a fattened calf on the last day of Carnival. The day is also known as Shrove Tuesday (from "to shrive," or hear confessions), Pancake Tuesday and fetter Dienstag. The custom of making pancakes comes from the need to use up fat, eggs and dairy before the fasting and abstinence of Lent begins. So yes, we will celebrate Mardi Gras with a tea party. We will talk about the Christian roots for Carnival and Mardi Gras. We will wear masks; purple, green, and gold feathers; and beads. We will feast on King Cake and Beignets. We will party as we do at all the tea parties. The debauchery associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans and other parts of the United States will not be part of our celebration. But we will have fun! |
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Posted on Friday, December 16, 2011 9:37 PM
I have been so busy with the shop and the tea party and open house that I was having trouble getting into Christmas. (Check out all the pictures on Facebook - Patches Dolls.) I have been busy buying things for the Mardi Gras Tea Party scheduled for Feb. 5th. My mind has been more on purple, green, and gold - feathers and glitter than on the red and green of Christmas. I have the cutest masks for the girls to embellish for their dolls and themselves. Beads all over the place; and lots of ribbon everywhere. All that will be put away until the first of the year. But today I got the lights on my tree! Tomorrow the ornaments go on and my village goes up. Next week cookies will be made for all the company coming! So I am taking a break from my dolls till after Christmas. I do hope to get at least four "nite-nite" doggies made before Christmas. These are a family tradition - every new baby gets one. But those that happen to marry into the family are not happy till they get one too. My daughter has had several, but she still has her first one. It was pink; now it is so faded and thread bare that it looks white in spots. I hope to make some smaller ones next year to sell in the store. Both on her dolls have one, my granddaughter's doll has one, and so does my Molly! I will post pictures of the one I get made this year! So until after Christmas, I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate your business and your support. I pray that each and everyone of you have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year! |
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Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2011 3:28 PM
The Snow and Ice Tea Party was a great success! We had 13 young ladies and their dolls fromSoutheast Missouri and Southern Illinois. We had Frosted Cupcakes, Snowflake Cookies, Sugar Snowballs, and Icy Blue Punch. Everything was decorated in blue, silver, and white. Girls make a snowflake and bead necklace on silver ribbon for their dolls. And they left with a snowflake covered box that contained a blue organza bag filled with blue and silver chocolate kisses, a silver box with a snowflake yoyo and bubbles for their doll, a kit to make a popcorn ornament, a kit to make a reindeer face ornament, and a pair of Angel Slippers! Everyone had a great time, especially me. Now I am getting excited about the Mardi Gras Tea Party scheduled for Feb. 5th, 2012. The menu will include beignets, king cakes, and pralines. Not sure about the drink yet. This afternoon I ordered some decorations and lots of purple, green, and gold beads. I am trying to get masks for the dolls and girls in the same colors. For their craft they will decorate their masks. I already bought some treats to take home while I was in New Orleans last month. I only have room for 16 girls to attend a tea party, and the Mardi Gras party is half filled before I even send out the invitations. Many of the girls attending the Snow and Ice Tea Party made reservations before they left. Fun, Fun, Fun! |
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Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 7:25 AM
Plans are complete for the Snow and Ice Tea Party. Fourteen girls and their favorite dolls will be attending. Store is decorated; lots of new items are now on display. "Goody" boxes are packed; place cards are made...still need the names for two dolls. Everything is done but the baking! Everyhting looks so beautiful; I can hardly wait! Pictures will be up on our Facebook Page - Patches Dolls - as soon as the party is over tomorrow. Hope you can enjoy the pictures as much as we will enjoy the party! |
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Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 10:00 AM
Busy decorating the store in blue, silver, and white for the Snow and Ice Tea Party, Dec 4th. It is looking beautiful. Started packing the "goody" boxes for the girls and their dolls. The are pretty blue boxes with snowflakes on them. I am beginning to think I should have gotten the next size up! I love to find "goodies" for the boxes/bags, and I may have overdone it this time. Menu is planned with cupcakes decorated with 7 minute icing and coconut, lemon flavored snow ball cookies, sugar cookies decorated with blue snowflakes and icy blue punch! I hope my 7 minute icing turns out OK! Sometimes it can be a problem. The tea party will be preceded with an Open House on Nov. 26 for adult girls. This is Shop Small Saturday across the nation to encourage people to support local home owned shops in their community. If you can't attend my open house, I encourage you to visit a small shop in your community and make a purchase. The February tea party is tentatively set for Feb. 5, 2012. After a recent trip to New Orleans I am inspired to do a Mardi Gras party. Decorate in purple, gold, and green - the colors of Mardi Gras. Girls can decorate masks with jewels and feathers for themselves and their dolls. And beignets and mini king cakes for treats! Doesn't that sound tummy? I may even hide a coin in one of the king cakes and have a prize for the one who gets it. I bought Mardi gras magnets for each girls "goody" bag. |
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Posted on Sunday, November 06, 2011 7:23 PM
Just unloaded the jeep after the Trunk Party! Karen, Shannon, and Sophie were so gracious. Met lots of new friends, saw some old friends (Sabrina & Olivia). I think the Moms and Grandmoms had as much fun shopping as the girls did. We played bingo for prizes and had lots of delicious refreshments made by Shannon and Sophie! I hope the party was all they hoped for! Now I can concentrate on the Snow and Ice Tea Party, Dec. 4th. Have lots of great things for the goody bags, a special craft for the girls, and planning lots of yummy treats. I even found a recipe for a blue punch! I needed that because the store will be decked out in ice blue, snowflake white, and glittering silver. As you can probably tell I am really excited about this party! |
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