Annette Joseph Book Signing

For those of you that made it out on Saturday, you know that we had an absolutely lovely time hosting Annette Joseph here at The Paris Market. After meeting Annette during Taste of Savannah & seeing what a joy she is to be around, we just knew we had to have her come to the store & do a book signing & she definitely did not disappoint! Not only was she stationed all afternoon signing copies of her book Picture Perfect Parties, she also brought along supplies to do a lovely holiday craft. Her DIY holiday snow globes were a huge hit & Paris Marketeers of all ages enjoyed making a little memento to take with them. We'd like to say a big thank to everyone who came out & made the event such a wonderful success, & also, to Annette for coming out & spending the day with us! For those of you that weren't able to make it, check out some of the photos we captured of the fun day below! 

Get to Know: Annette Joseph

We are beyond excited to be welcoming Annette Joseph to The Paris Market this weekend for a book signing & holiday how-to! With over 20 years of experience, Annette is an expert on entertaining, styling, & cooking. Specializing in lifestyle editorial images for magazines, she has done a little bit of everything, from photo styling for interiors to food propping to special production projects. She regularly appears on The Today Show & Martha Stewart Sirius Radio as a lifestyle contributor. She decided to share the many ideas, tips & tricks she has gained as a nationally recognized photo stylist/producer in her most recent publication Picture Perfect Parties: Annette Joseph's Stylish Solutions for Entertaining. She will be joining us to sign copies of her book & also to share a how-to for making your own holiday place cards. After her table setting demo at Taste of Savannah using props from The Paris Market, we had the opportunity to catch up with Annette & find out a little bit more about what makes her tick. Check out the interview we did with her below (which includes a sneak peak at some of the images from her book) & then be sure to come to the store on December 6th, 2014 from 12-3PM to pick up a copy of her book & ask her any questions you may have about styling or entertaining yourself!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a prop/ food & lifestyle stylist plus a producer/editor who lives in Atlanta & in Italy part-time. I work with magazines & cookbooks, & work on TV shows like The Today Show as a lifestyle expert. Most recently I have written a cookbook from a stylist’s point of view called Picture Perfect Parties for Rizzoli, NY.

How did you get your start as a stylist?  
I started working as an assistant stylist in a studio over 20 years ago, before anyone even really knew what that was, including me. The photographer I worked for told me he thought I would make a great stylist, so he invited me to his studio to observe & I never left. After 3 years of working with him, I went out on my own as a freelance photo-stylist.

What is one of your favorite things about being a stylist? 
I love collaborating with other creatives & photographers on set. I love to shop for amazing props all over the world. I love making beautiful images.

From photo styling to interior design to working as a lifestyle contributor, you wear many hats. Is there one thing you enjoy doing more? 
I love styling the most, I am happiest when I am on set creating beauty.

Can you tell us about the inspiration for your book “Picture Perfect Parties” & a little bit about the process behind making it? 

People always ask me: "How do you come up with these ideas for photo shoots?" I decided it was time for me to share my styling tips & tricks & stylist secrets. So I wrote Picture Perfect Parties, Stylish Solutions for Entertaining. It is essentially the primer for creating the perfect party with little stress. Once you have the stylist secrets, you’re all set.

What is one of your favorite holiday recipes? 

I love Thanksgiving & I think that my turkey is really delicious, & the Thanksgiving cocktail the “Ginger Snap” is a must try recipe! I love the Thanksgiving Chapter in my book.

What inspires you?  

I am very inspired by my travels, & my summers in Italy. Style & entertaining there seem much more effortless & natural than here in the US. I tend to get especially inspired on the Italian Riviera where I live in the summer.

What are you most looking forward to about the holiday season? 

I love spending time with my family. My children are amazing & an inspiration. They are smart, funny & filled with wonderful insights. I love our family discussions. And of course I LOVE to cook, so non-stop cooking & entertaining is something I can’t live without & look forward to immensely every holiday season.

*Images courtesy of Annette Joseph from her book Picture Perfect Parties

A Crafter's Guide: Peppermint Package

This weeks Crafter's Guide is in the spirit of gift giving.
It can be a challenge bringing that personalized Christmas cheer to faraway friends and family. Instead of wrapping up your gifts to-go the old fashioned way this holiday season, try this peppermint inspired package idea to warm the hearts of your loved ones and show off your Christmas spirit.

Supplies Needed

Colored Felt

Scissors

Gift Tags

Glue Gun

Ribbon

Candy Filler

Gift Boxes

Step One

Cut your colored felt into 1.5 inch strips. Proceed to then cut half inch slits down each strip of felt. Make sure to leave at least a quarter of an inch at base of each strip.

Step Two
Roll each strip of felt on uncut end to create a pompom. Dab a spot of hot glue at the end of strip to secure and prevent unraveling.
Note: Try alternating colors and layering to strips together to create a multicolored pompom.

Step Three
Using your glue gun, attach your tag and ribbon to the gift box.

Step Four
Coat the back of your pompom with glue and attach to your box. Use as many or as little as you want follow your creative instincts. Try off-setting your ribbon and decor or use different sized pompoms and create a covered package.

Step Five

Fill your mailing box with your festive gifts and use your candy filler to create an unforgettable backdrop and spread seasonal cheer.

I cannot wait until my faraway friends and family open their Christmas packages this year!

A few more tips to help your gifts reach their destination safely.

• Don't reuse old shipping cartons. Package gifts in a new box that will stand up to the rigors of holiday shipping volumes. Old cartons may collapse and may display previous address and return address information that could misdirect the package.
• Place labels directly on the shipping carton. Don't wrap shipping cartons -- old or new -- in brown paper. If the paper is torn from the box during shipping, the shipping label will be lost too -- and the package may become undeliverable. 
• Place delivery information inside the package, as well as on the delivery label. If the delivery label is lost, the carrier will still be able to complete delivery. 
• Duct tape is for ducts, not for shipping packages. Duct tape loses its grip in cold weather, and masking tape, painter's, and electrical tape are not strong enough to stand up to the shipping process. 
• No strings attached! Don't tie packages up with string. String can get caught in sorting machines, resulting in mangled packages and damaged contents.

Happy Holidays and as always Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica

A Crafters Guide: Greeting Card Garland

Hello again Paris Market readers!

It's Jessica your go-to how-to girl, bringing you another holiday craft that will swing you into the seasonal spirit. 

I love the detail of decorating during this time of year. Every surface covered with the twinkle and magic of Christmas. One of my favorite holiday adornments is the garland. Whether strung up on a tree or lining your mantle, these little strands of seasonal cheer really can create a special atmosphere for you and your guests to enjoy. 

This week we will be creating our own unique garlands out of greeting cards and vintage bits to send the message of Christmas for all to see.

Supplies Needed

5 vintage holiday greeting cards

75 inch strip of grosgrain ribbon

Vintage magazine, newspaper, or printed paper

Craft Glue

Scissors

Star shaped cookie cutter

Glitter 

Colored twine
 

Step One

Using your star shaped cookie cutter, trace and cut 16 stars out of your vintage magazine. I chose to just use black and white images since all my holiday cards are in color. I thought the contrast was really interesting. Have fun with the images you choose to cut out. Try pairing just plain text with a picture of a snow covered hill or maybe a christmas tree ad.

Note: If you don't have access to vintage magazines, try finding some printed paper that inspires you at your local craft store.

Step Two

Using a small strip a glue, adhere your greeting cards to your length of grosgrain ribbon. Space each card roughly 8 inches apart. 

Note: My garland is made for a 65 inch long mantle. When making your own custom garland, measure your mantle or hanging space first and then adjust length accordingly.

Step Three

Cut 8 pieces of colored twine. With a brush and your glue, coat one side of your paper star. Place one end of twine at the top of your star and then sandwhich the twine with a second star. By doing this, you are hiding your hanging twine and creating a clean polished look. Continue this process until you make 8 completed stars.

Step Four 

Create an accent star for your garland. I chose to use a set of wooden stars found at a local craft store and covered them in glitter. Make your garland your own by choosing a foiled paper or a small ornament.

Step Five
 

Grouping 3 stars together (2 paper and 1 accent), tie a knot onto the grosgrain ribbon in between each greeting card. I chose to layer each star at different heights to give them a falling look. Repeat this step 4 times until each space between your greeting cards is full.

 

And Voila! Now it's time to trim your tree, mantle, or doorway with your handmade greeting card garland!

I can just feel the crafty christmas spirit taking over!
Tune in next Wednesday for another holiday how to and be sure to pop by my blog home, Strawberry Moth for more how tos, vintage love, and handmade projects!

Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica

A Crafters Guide: Holiday Centerpiece

Hello Paris Market Readers!

My name is Jessica. I am a Paris Market shop gal, vintage fanatic, and how to guru. I have flown over from my blog Strawberry Moth to bring you a series of weekly projects to jump start your handmade heart and spread the holiday spirit.

The holidays are an extra special time for me and my family. I love to decorate my home and create Christmas crafts to add something special to my festive decor. One of my favorite projects is to plan out my table and create a memorable centerpiece. This year I will be creating my very own table tree using my collection of vintage jewelry and antique beads to add a sense of old to the new year to come. This is a great craft to share with friends and little ones, so pull out your jewelry junk drawer and join me on making this unique centerpiece.

 

Step One

Gather your supplies!

Supplies Needed:

Floral Styrofoam Cone (found at most craft stores)

Glue Gun

Straight Pins

Tube of Acrylic Paint

Paint Brush

Craft Glue

Beads

Vintage Jewelry (Grab bags available at Paris Market)

Any other buttons, gems, or pieces that inspire

I love incorporating vintage pieces into any project! Try using some family hand me downs to add a touch of sentiment to your centerpiece.

Step Two
Using your craft paint, coat your floral cone from top to bottom (I chose white to give my vintage jewelry a pop).

Let your cone completely dry. Use this down time to enjoy a hot cup of cocoa.

Step Three
Once the paint is dry, begin adding your vintage pieces. I chose to use a collage of antique brooches and earrings. If you are using special family items, try just pushing the pin back into the cone avoiding any glue. This way you can preserve your treasures and take them off later.

 

Try mismatching textures and tones! Or for an extra crafty look, try using vintage buttons!

Step Four

Add some strands of faux pearls or old necklaces to create the shape of garlands. It is a fun way to use up any broken bits you have lying around and will create some depth and detail in your centerpiece.

A glue gun can help string this step along quickly, but for more precious strands that you want to keep in tact try using straight pins to tack down your treasures.

Step Five

To fill in the spaces between your vintage jewelry, try using an assortment of beads as your filler. I chose to use this collection of different sized faux pearls. They make a great contrast to the colors I have chosen for my centerpiece and the different sizes make it possible for me to create various patterns.

I used simple straight pins to attach my beads to my centerpiece. This allows me to move the pearls if needed and also keeps my fingers safe from the hot glue gun. If you're doing this project with you're little one, straight pins are a great way to attach all the pieces and avoid any sticky situations.

I just love all the different textures together!

Step Six

No tree is complete without a star! Once you have finished attaching your pieces you will want to craft a top to your centerpiece. I chose to make my own using a wooden star (craft store find) and some sparkle. When choosing what to use as your topper, try an over sized star burst brooch or your family initial. Whatever you choose it will bring that extra something special to your Christmas creation!

 

Now step back and admire your craftiness!

We used a palette of silver, whites, and greens to decorate our holiday table. The use of textures and light catching surfaces will give your guests an extra dose of Christmas cheer!

Tune in next Wednesday for another handmade how to, and be sure to come visit me on my blog for more vintage and project love! Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica