PULLING PROPS

I have to say that I love what I do....more than you can imagine.    As a window designer (retail visual merchandiser..lol) you get to play and create spaces to capture people eyes.   I enjoyed my years in retail but always had a love of furniture, parties and spaces.   Well event design is the same way....except a little more special.

Today I'm sharing a sneak peek of how I pull props for a shoot or an event.    Once I have a concept from either the photographer or the couple themselves then I can work my magic.


These photos are a what I pulled together last night to submit to the photographer that will be in charge of next months shoot in PA.   I can't give too much away, but let's just say it's going to be a Pig Out Kinda Day!

Okay that's enough.....you will have to check out my Lucky 7 Design Facebook Page to see the after event photos.

You can also message me on Facebook or Lucky 7 Design on Instagram about any props or styling needs you might have.

Have a Thrifty Tuesday!!!!

-MJ

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!

This year's July 4th holiday was a wet one....here are some photos throughout the day.

 

GOD BLESS AMERICA

-MJ

AFTERNOON AT THE VINEYARD

Today was a fun day, I had the opportunity to work on a collaboration shoot with a colleague/friend of mine.  Catherine of CS Events based in Jersey City, NJ and I have been talking about doing a photo shoot together for a month or two now and she had the opportunity and asked me to join in on the project.

The photo shoot was held at Laurita Winery in New Egypt, NJ and it was to be an engagement shoot.  A colleague of hers was the photographer on the shoot.   My job on this project was to provide props and a bit of styling.

We had colors, vision and an amazing couple that I had yet to see until today.  I was so happy when I saw this gorgeous couple who just so happened to love vintage.    They were so excited for their engagement shoot with props and we were excited to make it special.

As they got their outfits on and ready to go, we headed into the vineyard to set up vignettes for the photographer to shoot her awesome couple.  The weather was hot, humid and not very pleasant but we forged on and made some awesome memories for all of us.

The sweets were provided by Lenny's Sweet Treats and let's just say that was sweet tooth was satisfied at the end of the day.  Her cakes are awesome and I encourage you all to check her out.

I think the couple enjoyed their shoot and were very happy with our work and all the props used on this shoot.   I had to share this photo of them that the photographer was shooting and the future groom kisses his fiance's shoulder then does a True Blood moment and says "I forgot to tell you Im a vampire".  So cute, so sweet they were awesome and so glad to be apart of their special day!

Here's to June 28, 2014 when these 2 tie the knot!

-MJ

Photographer - Studio A Images

Props - Lucky 7 Design Vintage Props & Styling

Styling  & Decor - Catherine Scerbo Events LLC

Hair & Makeup - Lush Bridal

Sweets/Cake - Lenny's Sweet Treats

Location - Laurita Winery

NEW JERSEY IS....STRONGER THAN THE STORM!

Consider Having Your Wedding in New Jersey, we have wonderful venues.

FATHER'S DAY.....ON THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA

My husband is an awesome father to our 5 children, he is also a fan of the show Man vs. Food...we watch it all the time...im hooked too.  Adam Richman visits the best spots and makes us very hungry often.  This is the kids surprising Daddy with Dunkin Donuts coffee, donuts snack and surprise candy card.

As you can see he was surprised.

The cards says...    To The Best Dad,

We wanted to give you (100Grand) for Father's Day but the $ slipped our (Butterfingers).

We didn't have an (Extra) money because it wasn't (PayDay).  So here is hoping your day is

full of (Mounds) of (Almond Joy)

Love Your,  Hot Tamales..lol

We decided that on Father's Day we would drive about 1 hour and a half away to visit the City of Philadelphia and do our own Man vs. Food challenge................CHEESESTEAK STYLE!!!

Our Best Man & Maid of Honor (and still great friends) came along with the kids...by the way they have 5 children too.     ROOOOOOAD TRIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

YEP...... We made our way to visit the FAMOUS Pat King of Steaks & Geno's and did a taste test of both cheesesteaks and fries!

How awesome is this shot...I swear I love taking pictures.

This wall is to the right of Pat's King of Steak's place

Here is our combined crew, our friend's 5 children and 5 of our 6...we get the funniest look when we go places together...looks like a field trip!!!

 

My one and only son who isn't a baby anymore, sitting across from me today I realized he is grown, graduating next week and off to high school.  Love this kid!!!

My husband and his friend Joey on the right who was also our Best Man.  

Love this pic of them!

This is my Love and I standing at Geno's.  Your an awesome father and I love you for it more everyday...sometimes we give so much more when we didn't have it ourselves.

And yes, we did taste both spots cheesesteaks and their fries....Honestly, they were both awesome and the 4 adults were torn in making a real choice.   We thought Pat had awesome fries, we thought Geno's steak was awesome but I thought the cheese was too runny but it tasted salty and awesome.

Soooooooooooooooooo....guess we will just have to go back and do it again to make a final choice!

- MJ

KID'S PARTIES..............

My sister Jenn is great at throwing parties, this was my niece's 10th birthday last month (Im late I know).  It was Candy Theme...

My sister with the help of her sister Kristen (yes we are a trio of half sisters...lol) created a back drop photo area complete with handmade props.   Including this awesome Polaroid piece (love this and so copied it as soon as I got home)

My 2 littles and their bday cousin....I wasn't the main one shooting photos, I was in the background...so you can see the girls holding the prop. lol

Now that's a sweet Candy Buffet

They took her dining room buffet and filled it with faux mushrooms made with candies...candy sundaes, LOVE the dot candy.

The sister crew....Myself, Jenn and Kristen

Awesome craft....build structures with marshmallows and toothpicks.  This keeps them busy for a decent amount of time and they love it and get creative and competitive too.

My daughter and her cuz drawing the candyland walkway in the driveway

Awesome candy cutouts created by Kristin

Kristin's niece made these awesome Candy Sundaes...yep complete with Candy Kabobs...

So this shows that bday parties at home can be fun, unique and done up too!   The trick is to use your creativity and go crazy with your theme.

-MJ

GET YOUR BANNER OUT IT'S TIME TO PARTY

            Well it's Friday isn't it......end of the work week and let the weekend festivities begin!!!!!


Here is a little something Im working on for an upcoming fun double girls birthday!   Working on a few of these bright banners with fabric from the fabulous Walmart...yep gotta love my Walmart fabric stash.

This striped fabric is awesome, it has light pink, hot pink, yellow and lime green and red too!   I need to go grab some more because that color palette has given me tons of ideas already.

Happy Friday and Have a Great Weekend!

-MJ

SIMPLE DETAILS.

The beauty of a weddings sometimes lies within the small details that make the overall Big Day special.

Re-purposed pieces add great history to an event too. Vintage luggage, old sheet music, wood hangers,moss

(Lucky 7 Design)

Fabric from a dress and feathers add a romantic touch  to a boutonniere

 (Femme Fatale Florals for Lucky 7 Design)

Re-purposed ornate gold frames get moss covering along with some twine and clothespins (these were created by Catherine Scerbo Events with Lucky 7 Design moss frames)

Themed cookies are a great take home favor or an even better addition to Sweets Table.

(Oky's Cookies for Lucky 7 Design)

This centerpiece/tablemarker is easily created with flowers from garden, ball jar and 8x10 chalkboard.  (Lucky 7 Design)

This vignette is great for a fall wedding, preserved leaves, painted ball jar, citronella candle in terra cotta pot 

(Lucky 7 Design)

Another sweet centerpiece/table marker easily created with fresh garden cuts, painted ball jar, vintage lace handmade wood table number block, all sitting on a mirror frame.   (Lucky 7 Design)

Details don't have to be elaborate and expensive, they need to be well thought out and represent the whole feeling of the couple and the wedding itself.

-MJ

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.   

 Sharing a flower cupcake cake my daughter made for her sweet company Skulls N Sweets.

-MJ

NATIONAL DAY OF RECOGNITION....

MAY 10TH ....is now officially Military Spouse Appreciation Day. 



  As a military wife myself who has been through a deployment alone with 4 children IN 2009. I don't think people understand what you go through.

Yes there are single parents out there, and yes I was one of them before I met my Marine too.  It isn't the same, your other half is somewhere else in the world fighting for hi/her life and their country's freedom.  

Sometimes they are stateside and you do get to see them, but living life on a military base isn't the same either.  You are away from family, you have to create a new set of friends, it's like going to a new high school.   Sometimes you have to be relocated to another state or even a country.

So I want to take this time to give a BIG SHOUTOUT...to all the military spouses out there holding it down.   This goes for the husband's too, because this is the U.S.A and we have brave women in the military too who are wives and mothers as well.

Thank you to our President Barack Obama and our fabulous First Lady Michelle Obama for showing amazing support to our military families.

SEMPER FIDELIS

-MJ

WHAT'S BEHIND THIS NEXT DOOR.........

It has truly been a crazy past 2 months for Lucky 7 Design.     After the shop closing, I took some time with the family.  

Then I got down deep and really decided that my focus should be in the wedding/event props.  So the new website is still under construction (im picky..lol)   Photoshoots are happening and hopefully a new warehouse showroom soon.    Etsy shop will be the only retail shop at the moment.

 I have been working with a fabulous event planner here in NJ, who is very talented and she and I share a lot of the same visions for design and events.  We are planning some great things for this year.

Im also working with a local venue and doing some freelance work as well.  It's crazy but I can't complain....the best part is standing back and watching people enjoy something you have created.

So today, just stopping in before my crazy weekend to say hi and wondering what is behind the next door I open.......

-MJ