Event design, styling and photography: Kate Landers

Event design, styling and photography: Kate Landers

Event design, styling and photography: Kate Landers

Kate Landers here to share some celebration inspiration for spring, my favorite time of the year! One of my very favorite childhood storybooks for spring is about a fluffy white rabbit, and these desserts were inspired by a rabbit’s white cotton tail. Read below on how to get this look for your Easter celebration!


1. The Coconut Cake Bite Tower WCreating the dessert tower is incredibly easy and is sure to wow those you serve it to! You can use cake bites, cake pops or even donut holes!

To achieve the look shown, you will need approximately 4 dozen 1″ cake bites, 1 styrofoam cone (4″ diameter at base by 8″ tall) or to keep everything edible, a frosted rice krispie treat that mimics that shape, and several small toothpicks. Insert a toothpick on a slight angle upwards into the styrofoam starting at the base. Attach a cake pop onto the toothpick, and repeat for the entire bottom of the tower. Work your way up to the top until finished.

Display on a petite round dessert pedestal and you are ready to serve. I had some lovely embroidered blush cloth napkins on hand, perfect for guests to hold under their cake bite to catch any loose coconut.

2. Rabbit Printed Details Loralee Lewis has a gorgeous printed white rabbit collection seen here that utilizes a soft blush color. I used an “EASTER” banner to hang behind the tower, a small dessert sign and some favor carton labels (details below). Simple yet sweet.

3. Cottontails-to-Go There are many spring holidays I remember heading for a relative’s house for an afternoon dinner, and being very hungry in the car on the way. These “coconut cottontails” are a perfect sweet treat at home or on the road to hold you over. It was important to me that special take home packages were provided for guests so they could enjoy while heading to their final holiday destination. The white ice cream/soup cartons from Think Garnish work perfectly! In addition, Loralee’s labels are a lovely fit for the lid and to wrap around the carton. You can personalize them with guests’ names or simply print with a seasonal sentiment.

4. Spring Flowers There is something so cheerful about spring blooms. Hyacinth, rannunculus, tulips…and adding a small bouquet of these limited-avaiable-stems to the dessert table set the spring tone. They look beautiful arranged in a vase, small pitcher or urn.

RESOURCE LIST

• Styling, Design & Photography: Kate Landers
• Paperie: Loralee Lewis
• Coconut Cake Pops: Jasmine of Cakes with Jaz
• White Favor Cartons: Think Garnish

Rosanna Farmhouse Pantry

The arrival of new Rosanna marks a special occasion at Layla Grayce! From trendsetting tableware to haute handbags and pretty pouches, each new collection promises a slew of stylish yet functional must-haves that inevitably become not only our favorites but also customer favorites as well! What we love most is the variety of internationally-inspired prints, which add a modern twist to each design.

Rosanna Alphabet Studio Trinket Trays, Rosanna Cadogen Garden Plates

Rosanna Portico Dishware

Rosanna Totes & Cases

1. Rosanna Pouches 2. Rosanna iPad Cases 3. Rosanna Weekender 4. Rosanna Bags 5. Rosanna Luggage Tag

Treat your tabletop to a pattern party with Rosanna‘s graphic dishware, and our new alphabet trinket trays are even more darling at just $10 each! Or, if you’re a fan of our perennially top-selling Rosanna Ikat Coral and Grey Handbag, you might love the latest Portico styles in aqua, coral or pink. Whether you’re traveling the world or stepping out for a day of shopping or running errands, Rosanna’s new weekenders, luggage tags, tech cases and more will ensure easy, effortless style. Shop our complete Rosanna collection. Free shipping on orders over $75! >>

Jessie Steele Pajamas

Jessie Steele Pajamas: Limited Edition Pink Velvet Bows Robe, Boyfriend Deco Dot, Pink Velvet Bows Knickers

Jessie Steele Aprons & Oven Mitts

Jessie Steele Denim: Annie Apron, Pot Mitt, Oven Mitt
Jessie Steele Out to Sea: Oven Mitt, Sabrina Apron
Jessie Steele Cherry Cupcake: Pot Mitt, Bombshell Apron, Rubber Gloves, Oven Mitt

Featuring vintage-inspired prints, Jessie Steele’s sleepwear and kitchen accessories are known for being both retro and fearlessy feminine – and we’re thrilled to announce the latest collection doesn’t disappoint, featuring new styles and patterns to boot! The super soft and girly limited edition pink velvet robe is pretty enough to wear around the house, while the boyfriend deco dot pajamas put a stylish twist on traditional sleepwear. And when it comes to couture in the kitchen, Jessie Steele’s Denim, Out to Sea and Cherry Cupcake truly take the cake. Shop the latest from Jessie Steele >>

Kate Landers here, thrilled to share Valentine’s Day dinner party inspiration and free exclusive printable gift tags courtesy of the incredibly talented designer, Loralee Lewis. It is with great joy that I can take this opportunity to introduce you to Loralee (whose favorite holiday happens to be Valentine’s Day!) and her latest collection, debuting right here on Layla Grayce. Loralee is founder of her self-named business, Loralee Lewis, a company specializing in event paper and fine stationery for special events. She also serves as the party editor of Babiekins Magazine. When she isn’t designing wedding suites or styling photo shoots, you will likely find her trying to keep up with her four small children.

Design, Styling & Photography by Loralee Lewis

I asked Loralee if she would design a few free printable Valentine’s Day gift tags exclusively for Layla Grayce readers, and she said yes! I wanted a sophisticated yet simple design, using soft pink and another color such as grey, gold or emerald green. I knew with very few guidelines, she would create something absolutely perfect. Two of the gift tag designs feature sweet love phrases, which Loralee suggests can also be use yearlong attached to favors for weddings, baby showers or a girl’s first birthday.

Design, Styling & Photography by Loralee Lewis

In her own words, “Paper gives hosts and hostesses the chance to express themselves and their personalities beyond flowers and a table setting. When done correctly, paper can bring an event to life! Each paper item is adorned with cheeky phrases, such as ‘Take Me. I’m Yours.’ to keep guests on their toes. My goal is to create paper people will cherish for a lifetime, tokens of happy memories.”

Design, Styling & Photography by Loralee Lewis

Much like other admirers of Layla Grayce, Loralee values quality and exceptional design. She is always innovating and creating new paper items for that “wow” factor. Stay tuned as Loralee will be releasing a digital Summer Party Resource Book in the coming months, and the expansion of her event paper products, including her newest item, the personalized favor boxes you see here in this shoot. I look forward to printing these tags myself, adding some silver german glass glitter and raw silk ribbon to attach to gifts for my loved ones. Click here to download the gift tags.

Design, Styling & Photography by Loralee Lewis

Event concept, design and styling: Kate Landers Photography: Liza Voll

Event concept, design and styling: Kate Landers Photography: Liza Voll

Event concept, design and styling: Kate Landers Photography: Liza Voll

Event concept, design and styling: Kate Landers Photography: Liza Voll

Event concept, design and styling: Kate Landers Photography: Liza Voll

This is Kate Landers, thrilled to share with you a most darling personal event: our son Noah’s First Birthday Celebration! As an event stylist I have always recognized what a milestone event a first birthday is. As a mom, I have experienced first-hand the emotions and tremendous joy that comes along with celebration the first twelve months with your little one. I invite you to enjoy the beautiful images that captured a most perfect birthday celebration.

1. We opted for a very intimate family affair, 15 guests. Also, for the sake of Noah and other little ones, we kept the party at a manageable length of one hour.

2. We held the party mid-afternoon, offering a simple menu of birthday cake and a few special sweets, doubling as party favors, on the dessert table. This is also keeps your party within a reasonable budget.

3. Hiring a professional photographer allowed us to relax as parents, and feel fully present for this special day. It was an investment I highly recommend. Liza was able to capture precious moments as well as event details I normally would fuss over as a stylist.

4. Noah has a favorite giant teddy bear that he loves to tackle and snuggle, who served as inspiration for the party theme. The soft blue, yellow and tan color palette kept the event sweet and “baby”–celebrating his first 12 months of life. Loralee Lewis created a most darling paperie collection that everyone adored.

5. I thoroughly enjoyed hand-crafting (with my husband Ryan’s help!) pom poms for party hats I made. They were also displayed as soft toy balls, paired with the yellow polka dot boxes representing baby blocks, making for crafty centerpieces.

6. Noah had his very own “smash cake,” while guests enjoyed a soft blue ruffled cake filled with whipped cream and strawberries. Smash Cakes are fabulous for that infamous first birthday portrait!

7. Garden chairs and floor-length table linens created a clean palette for styling this event. The 3′ white balloons from The TomKat Studio also filled the celebration space with white. I used wide satin ribbons to tie them to the back of chairs, making them perfect for little guests to carry home.

8. I fell in love with the “Noah” banner created by Loralee Lewis, and we now have it hanging in his room, a charming way to remember this milestone celebration.

9. Inviting long-distance friends and family members to create items for the party can be a wonderful way to celebrate your child’s party with them. My dear friend Lynn made the gorgeous fine-wale pale blue corduroy overalls Noah wore, while my good friend Ruth monogrammed them.

10. Guests signed cards leaving “Warm Fuzzy Birthday Wishes” for Noah to read and enjoy for many years to come. I cannot wait to put together his first birthday book, another way to let the celebration continue!

RESOURCE LIST

• Styling & Design: Kate Landers
• Photography: Liza Voll Photography
• Custom Table Linens: Sweet Tea and Linen
• Paperie: Loralee Lewis
• Tableware, Party Supplies & Favor Packaging: The TomKat Studio
• Custom Cookies: Bambella Cookie Boutique
• Chocolate Covered Oreos: Le Bonbon LA
• Fondant Krispie Treat Toppers: Edible Details
• Party Horns: Oh Goodie Designs
• Peg Doll Cake Topper: Craft That Party
• Caramel Corn, Butterscoth Candies & Lollipops: Hammonds Candies
• Yellow Polka Dot Favor Boxes: Pamela Smerker Designs
• White Cake Stands: Rosanna Inc at Layla Grayce
• Embroidered “Noah” Party Hat: Shawna Brockmeier Styled Events
• First Birthday Subway Art Print: Dollhouse Paperie By Dolce Drive