WE'RE HAVING A BABY! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

That's right, the time has finally arrived...

While you are off merrily celebrating Christmas, I will be off merrily having a baby.

The shop will close from 23 December until further notice in January.

So, have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Kate

CHRISTMAS GIFT AND STOCKING FILLER IDEAS

Some Christmas gift ideas from our shop....

FOR BIG HIM....

Retro kombi van ($70) or reproduction tin surf sign ($25)

Reproduction vintage grand prix poster ($15) or replica wind-up tin toy car ($16)

FOR BIG HER...

Reproduction tin garden sign ($20) and mini tea pot ($20)

FOR LITTLE HER...

Mini dolly jigsaw puzzle ($3.50), pink musical carousel ($35) and flower sticker book ($4.50)

FOR LITTLE HIM...

Grand prix board game ($25), classic circus pinball game ($5.20) and mini racing car sticker book ($4.50)

FOR LITTLE HIM OR HER...

Vintage circus kids' plasters ($8.50), natural pencil ($1.75) and reproduction vintage snap game ($6)

Order in the next week or so to ensure delivery in time for Christmas!

AND THE WINNER IS...

After agonising over this decision all morning, I have finally decided to award the Vintage Christmas Advent Calendar to ... Belinda, for Hugh's 1st Birthday.

You can see pics from Belinda's gorgeous party here - lots of lovely ideas, all homemade, and the little bird nests and toad stools are too cute.

Belinda, please email me your postal address so I can get the calendar out to you (hopefully) before 1 December.

I would also like to make a very honourable mention of Dana's gorgeous tea party.

Dana, can you also please email me your contact details - I am going to arrange a prize for you too.

ALLY'S 6TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Thank you so much to Skye for sending us these AMAZING pics of Ally's 6th Birthday party.

I LOVE PARTIES created some custom tags for Skye to coordinate with the I LOVE PARTIES Vintage Circus Happy Birthday banner. I think they look fab! Love the Barrel of Monkeys party favors too...

You can see a few more photos on Skye's blog here...

Thanks again Skye, you did an amazing job! And Happy Birthday Ally!

GORGEOUS CUPCAKE LINERS NOW IN SHOP

These gorgeous cupcake liners have just arrived in the shop (each has been hand-picked to match our existing party themes)...

WEDDING AND DESERT BUFFET

So, it was my sister's wedding on the weekend. It was a very beautiful affair - see a few pictures of the heavily preganant bridesmaid (aka me) below. Angus (my son) clearly had trouble recognising me with hair and make-up done...

Also, here are few pics of the desert table that I assisted with.... I found the sweet heart stamp on Etsy.

I'll post some better quality pics if they come to hand.

PARTY COMPETITION

I am sorry for the delay posting some of the entries in our party competition. We had my sister's weddding on the weekend and it was a big and beautiful event (pics to follow soon), so I am just catching up on lots of orders and other bits and pieces, like updating my oft-neglected blog.

Anyway, I want to say a big thanks to those that have already entered the competition and encourage everyone else to do the same. It really is a lovely prize - details in posts below. And given the distractions of the past week, I am happy to extend the entry date until next Wed 24 November, which still gives me time (I hope) to post the calendar out to the lucky winner in time. Send your entries to info@iloveparties.com.au.

Here are just a few of the entries already recieved...

Dana's 36th Birthday Tea Party

These cupcakes are absolutely perfect - total pretty, vanilla buttercream goodness.

And I love the wrapped chocolate bar favours - simple, cheap and high-impact.

For more photos see Dana's Flickr Photostream here and be sure to check out her other cupcake photos, like I did.

Dana, if you have a business, please let us know, becuase your creations are really beautiful and we would love to refer people to you...

Indigo's "Flying High" Welcome Party

Here are just a couple of beautiful photos of the sky inspired party thrown by mum Renee for her little boy Indigo to welcome him to the world.

Such a fresh and lovely theme - and fantastic for boys with all the shades of blue to play with.

I immediately fell in love with the lettered biscuits and the beautifully detailed favour bags.

For more photos of this beautiful party, see Renee's blog here.

Emma's Eco Fairy 6th Birthday Party

Again, just a couple of the gorgeous photos submitted by lovely mum Joanne.

I chose these two because I think the favour bags are just so pretty, and the room set up is just so welcoming for budding little fairies (love the mini-sized chairs and tables, which I know you can hire out).

Ruby's 3rd Birthday Circus Party

I am a such sucker for a Circus party - of all the party themes out there, this is my absolute No.1. I chose these two pictures because (a) I think the party girl looks adorable in the photo above left, (b) our fabulous Retro Wagon Popcorn bags are featured, (c) I think the cupcakes with personalised toppers look amazing (those moulds are perfect) and (d) I think the parachute is an absolute winner.

Hugo's Woodland 1st Birthday Party

Here are a few pics from an incredibly impressive party for Hugo hosted by mum Belinda. I love the red, white and blue theming. The little birds nests and marshmallow "toadstools" are totally irresistable, and I love the gift-wrapped sultanas displayed in the retro suitcase (a very clever way to blend in things that otherwise don't quite "fit" on the table).

You can see more photos of this fabulous party here.

Baby Shower by Vicki

I just love this table set up with the little blocks, the big beautiful bunch of daisies (so so perfect for a baby shower I think) and I absolutely love the idea of floating a single rubber duck in a large vase - so striking.

The quality is so unbelievably high, I have no idea how I am going to pick a winner!