Baby Girl Banner

Hello Friends!  I created this beautiful banner for a baby shower I hosted at my bed and breakfast, Southard House, and I wanted to share it with you!

I think it is so fun to sit down at my craft table with some pretty supplies and see what comes out of me.  I had no idea how this banner was going to turn out because there was no real plan for how to do it.  I just started working and this is what I created.  I absolutely love it!                                                                              

I used chipboard pennants for each piece of the banner. I covered the chipboard with pretty pink gingham scrapbook paper, then I started adding pretty pink embellishments.

                                                                                                                                            

I painted the chipboard letters a soft baby pink and then added some brilliant glitter to make them sparkle.  When the pennants were finished I strung them on to some pretty pink ribbon, then tied pieces of ribbon, lace, and torn fabric in between the pennants to add a vintage look to the banner.

 I used the banner for my baby shower I hosted last weekend and everyone enjoyed it and all of the other beautiful decorations.  I would like to make another banner for baby boy showers so if I get a booking for one of those I will make the banner and certainly show you the end results!

                                    

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this pretty little banner I made and it has inspired you in some way.  If you would like to see other pictures of the bed and breakfast, the delicious food I prepare, or other crafts I have created, please visit my facebook page at www.facebook/southardhouse.com or my website at www.southardhouse.com for more inspiration.       

Have a Blessed Day!

Tammy Neal

Linking to Pink Saturday

www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Vintage Baby Shoes

Hello Friends!  It is hard to believe that so much time has passed since my last post!  Today I wanted to share a special project with you that I created for a baby shower I will be hosting here at Southard House.

I purchased these sweet baby shoes at an antique shop many years ago with the thought of altering them and using them as decoration but just shoved them in a closet and completely forgot I had them until I got a request to host my first baby shower here at Southard House Bed and Breakfast Inn.  I dug through the closet and found the shoes and immediately began working to create some cute vintage shoes I could use as decoration for the shower.

I used a lot of distress ink to cut the "new" white appearance down a lot.  I used vintage sheet music, vintage laces, and old embellishments to create a "days-gone-by" look for these sweet baby shoes.

I also distressed some mulberry paper roses, a pink one for the girls shoe and a blue one for the boys shoe.  Those roses are not permenant and can be removed so I can make both for a girl, boy or leave them off completely if I am hosting a shower for a baby that we don't know the gender of yet!

I am using pink roses on these shoes because the upcoming shower is for a baby girl - I am so excited!  My mom gave me my baby cup and spoon and I tried to polish them up several times but then I realized that the patina actually works for my vintage baby shower theme!

Here are the shoes as they will be displayed at the shower!  I think they are so adorable and a perfect touch for my vintage baby girl shower.  I can't wait to see what the guests think of the beautiful inn when it is all decorated for their special celebration.  I have many more projects I created and pictures I took for this shower so I will try to post them soon!  If you are interested in me hosting a shower or celebration for you or a friend please visit the inn website at www.southardhouse.com for more information!

Blessing to you!

Tammy Neal

Linking to Pink Saturday

Mother's Day Luncheon at Southard House

Hello Friends!

I hosted a luncheon for my moms on Saturday and wanted to share it with you!  I have hosted a Mother's Day brunch or luncheon at my home every year since 2002 and each year it gets better!  This year I was so blessed to be able to host at Southard House in Enid, Oklahoma!

Here is the dining table all decorated up for our luncheon.  I used lots of pink because the theme was "Marie Antoinette" and because I absolutely love pink.  I had a lot of fun with this theme!

 I set each place with some antique Theodore Haviland Limoges china I recently acquired.  I have wanted this china for many years now so I splurged and bought some.  I absolutely love the delicate rose pattern and fluting on this china.  It is oh so girly, just like me!

 I made each person a place card and I think they turned out so sweet!

 Here are a few more pictures of the tablescape.  Don't you just love that candelabra?  It is an antique that I painted and added crystals to.

 I made these faux cakes from foam and spackling.  Then I made Marie Antoinette cake picks to go with our theme!

 Another photo of the beautiful candelabra and a pretty bird cage I decorated for the centerpiece.

 I made each mother a favor to take home and I used a beautiful etched goblet and filled it with Southard House treats for her enjoyment.

 I made almond chicken salad wraps, fruit medley with honey lime dressing, and blueberry muffins with lemon curd for our lunch.  Then I made these amazing almond sugar cookies with images of Marie Antoinette on them.  They were so delicious!

 I also made some white chocolate raspberry cupcakes for dessert.  We had vanilla hot tea from our pretty Limoges teacups with these cupcakes.  I was in HEAVEN!!!  I think the mothers were too!

 I made pretty pink Marie Antoinette cupcake picks by hand that read "Let them eat cupcakes" and I used pearl sprinkles, silk roses, and pink feathers to accompany the picks.  They were gorgeous and so delicious too!

 I also purchased these beautiful Dresden hearts that were made in Germany and glued them to picks for the mothers.

 I know the mothers felt special while eating these pretty cakes.  I think they are the pretties ones I have made yet and I have such a passion for making cupcakes.  Cupcakes make me happy.  Maybe I should have opened a cupcake shop instead of a bed and breakfast.  But I guess I can serve cupcakes to my guests at the B&B to make them happy, right? Oh, I can't wait!  I have so many awesome ideas!

 This was my favorite cookie of the bunch that I made.  I love Marie's dress in this picture.  I used edible glitter to make it sparkle!

 My mother-in-law, Jean Neal, was a guest of honor at the luncheon.  She had been ill and I was so glad that she had recuperated enough to come to her party!  She is a very sweet lady and I am blessed to have her in my life.

 My grandmother, Mary Donaldson, was also a guest of honor at the luncheon.  She helped my mother raise me so she is like a second mom to me.  I have learned so many important things from her and I take after her in a lot of ways.  I am so happy and blessed that she is my grandma.

 Here is my mom, Ginger Engler, and she was a guest of honor at the luncheon as well.  I know she is very happy and excited for me opening Southard House and she has been a strong supporter and encourager throughout this process.  I have learned a lot of what I know about innkeeping from her and I am blessed that she is my mom.

We had a wonderful afternoon together and it was nice to spend time with each other at the inn.  Southard House made the perfect setting for our luncheon and I was so happy I got to host my first celebration here at Southard House for my mothers.  If you are interested in having a small gathering, celebration, luncheon, or tea party, Southard House would be a beautiful place to hold your event!  Please call me at (580) 231-3960 and I will work with you to plan your event.  My grand dining table will hold 12 comfortably but I can host about 20 total in the dining room with separate seating.  I would be so honored to help you celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation, bride-to-be, baby-on-the-way, promotion, or any other reason you can think of to celebrate.  Maybe you just want to treat your mom or girlfriends to a special luncheon get-together.  I can make it a special event for you!

I hope this Mother's Day Luncheon inspired you in some way.  Please leave me a comment, I would love to hear from you!

Blessings from Southard House!

Tammy Neal



Tea Parties at Southard House

January is National Hot Tea Month and hosting tea parties at Southard House is something I am very excited about and looking forward to in the near future!  I purchased this beautiful tea set on Ebay several years ago.  It is definitely a beautiful antique that was made in New York and it will find its home in one of our many china hutches at the inn very soon!

 I have been hosting tea parties in my home for family and friends for many years now.  I had my first tea party for Mother's Day in 2003.  It is amazing how the times have changed and how my ability to prepare a beautiful tea table has improved as you will see in these pictures below.

 Above is an Easter tea from 2005.  I made tea sandwiches, muffins, and chocolate-covered strawberries.

 This tea party was in the Fall tea in 2005.  Everyone brought their favorite teacup and a treat to share.  I used mini pumpkins as vases and filled them with fresh flowers.

I loved this tea party.  I cleaned out a spare bedroom in my house and turned it in to a tearoom for a day.  It was so beautifully decorated with roses and plenty of pink.  It was one of my most favorite and memorable tea parties.

My mom, my grandma, and my aunt from Oklahoma City came to this rosy tea party.

This is the Valentine tea party I hosted in 2006.  I love the fresh roses and the delicious chicken salad sandwiches I served that day.

This tea table was decorated for an Easter tea in 2006.  I made those cute bunny pouches to hold the silverware and napkins. 

 Here is a pretty purple tea party from Mother's Day 2006.  I have a beautiful set of purple floral dishes that will be used at Southard House that I used for this tea party.

I made some delicious things to eat, including one of my favorite strawberry and spinach salads.  It has candied walnuts on it!  Yummy!

This tea party was held in the Fall of 2006.  I purchased that beautiful brown transfer ware on Ebay several years ago and I always wished I could find some more.  I use those dishes every fall and will use them at the inn.

This is a St. Patrick's tea from 2007.  Those pretty shamrock cookies have chocolate on the bottom!  I really love the pretty green dishes.  My husband bought them for me at the Emporium here in Enid.

 This is a tea I hosted in the fall of 2007.  My best friend Dena came and I remember us carving pumpkins at that party.  It was a fun time!

I made some delicious treats, including chocolate chip pumpkin bread.  Come to think of it I haven't had that treat since I made it that day!  Maybe that will be a good addition to the menu at Southard House in the fall.

 I really loved this tea party.  It was held outdoors in my back yard for Mother's Day 2010.  It was an absolutely beautiful day outside.  It was the perfect day for Mother's Day brunch!

This is my mom, my grandma Mary, and me after our tea party that day.  They have been honored guests at every tea party I have hosted and they have seen me grow to be the tea party hostess I am today. 

 This tea party was held on my little front porch for Halloween 2011.  Those are butterscotch muffins and I served them with a flavored cream cheese spread.  This tea party was for two!

 I hosted this beach tea party in the summer of 2010.  I remember serving a tea that was called "Taste of the Tropics" and it tasted like coconut and pineapple.  I also remember my whole house being decorated like a cute beach cottage.

This tea party was held in 2011 for St. Valentine's Day.  My mom gave me those beautiful dishes for Christmas one year.  They are pink toile and they have cherubs on them.  I use them every Valentine's Day and I know they will be very popular at Southard House.

This is the tea table for an Easter tea I hosted in 2011.  I absolutely love this tablecloth and the cute bunny in the centerpiece.  I am sure you will see him at Southard House this spring!

I made my famous chicken salad, cucumber tea sandwiches, and pink bunny sugar cookies.  What a pretty little serving tray!

Now I must tell you that my mom is the world's best scone maker and she has a knockout recipe.  I am really hoping she will make scones for us at Southard House.  She makes several different flavors and every one is out of this world delicious!  She made these scones with toffee and chocolate chips.  So yummy!

I made a little Easter basket favor for each guest.  I love the vintage graphics I used on the buckets.

This is the tea party I held for Mother's Day in 2011.  We ate outside on my back porch and it was another beautiful day for Mother's Day brunch!

I made those favor baskets from peat pots.  I think they turned out so pretty!

This was a really fun and wonderful fairy tea party I hosted in August of 2011 for my husband's two daughters, now my step-daughters.  It was such a lovely and romantic centerpiece I put together.

My mom taught me how to fold napkins to look like roses and I placed them in the tea cups and added a butterfly clip to each one.

I made lots of wonderful treats to eat and gave them cute fairy names to fit the theme.  I made those big flowers on this table from pages of an old book.  They were a lot of fun to make!

I held this tea party in the Spring of 2011.  It had a bird theme and I used a pretty bird cage for the centerpiece.

I made a Spanish frittata and my mom brought her delicious scones.  I also made fruit and yogurt parfaits - one of my favorite things to eat.

I also made some delicious cupcakes and bird nest macaroon cookies.  I really love those too!

This was a Halloween Tea Party I hosted in 2011.  Aren't these ghost cupcakes cute?

 The tea table was decorated to the hilt with black and white.  I also remember making apples with caramel dip, mini pumpkin pies, turkey wraps with veggies, and that orange jello with crushed pineapple.  

 I made these baskets for each guest and filled them with treats.

  This was one of my favorite tea parties, mainly because of the pretty pastel color palate.  I love the angels in the centerpiece and the pink toile tablecloth.

I made each guest a place card to take home and a Lindt chocolate carrot too!

I also made marshmallow Easter pops and those darling cupcakes that look like Easter baskets!  I will definitely make those again!

I also made some nest cookies from chow mien noodles and some cream cheese stuffed strawberries that look like blooming tulips!

I think this tea party has been my all-time favorite so far.  I have an old barn on my property and I decided to clean it out and decorate it up like a French tea garden for Mother's Day 2012.  I had so much fun decorating and making pretty things to make the day special.  I invited my mom and my grandma to this special tea in their honor and I know they enjoyed it.  If you are interested you can see more amazing pictures of this tea party (and many others) on my personal blog - www.tammyssweetheart.blogspot.com.

I made these pretty French pink buckets and filled them with goodies.  I even painted roses on each bucket and covered them with glass glitter to make them sparkle.  They were so pretty!

My old barn ended up being one of the prettiest places that we have ever had tea!

This tea party below was held in the winter of 2012.  It had a snowflake princess theme with lots of silver and white.
                                     
I made these pretty favor cones and filled them with winter treats, including a snowflake fairy wand and a crown.  I also made each person a place card to take home.

I have gotten a lot of good experience hosting tea parties over the past 10 years.  I feel well prepared to host tea parties at Southard House and I am looking forward to providing this service to ladies in our community.  I am hoping to host my first tea parties at Southard House before the end of this year, depending on how busy we are at the inn.  I will be announcing the addition of tea parties via Facebook when the time is right!

We have one day left in January and I hope you will take some time that day to have a cup of hot tea and relax for a few minutes.  We all deserve a much needed break to rejuvenate and what a better way than to enjoy a cup of hot tea from your favorite teacup!  I think I will take my own advice and do just that tomorrow morning.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and you will consider having a tea party at Southard House when this service is offered. I can host as few as two ladies or as many as twelve ladies at the grand dining table at Southard House.  I would also be happy to provide tea service to your little girls too!  Is there a good friend you haven't gotten together with for a while and you would like to meet to catch up?   Is there a special birthday for a special friend or loved-one that needs to be celebrated?  Is a friend or loved-one having a baby or getting married?  These are all great reasons to book a special tea party at Southard House Bed and Breakfast Inn!  I will be offering three different tea services - the "Splendid Tea" will consist of scones or muffins and as much hot tea of your choice as you can drink.  The "Grand Tea" will consist of scones or muffins, a fruit and cheese plate, and as much hot tea of your choice as you can drink.  The "Extravagant Tea" will consist of  tea sandwiches, a fruit and cheese plate, and an assorted dessert plate served on a three-tiered tray with as much hot tea of your choice as you can drink. Prices for the teas will be released at a later date and I hope to make them as affordable as possible.  I think it is important for ladies to get together for tea and I hope to encourage that activity!

I have been very busy at the inn preparing it to be a grand place to stay and enjoy yourself.  Lately I discovered a wonderful way to clean some stained antique dishes that I want to use at Southard House.   I will be sharing a tutorial on cleaning antique dishes in my next blog post, so if you have some pretty antiques that have seen better days and you would like to bring them back to life please join me next time!  Until then . . .

May You Be Blessed!

Tammy