Darcy Miller's Daisy Themed Party and OpenSky Sale Launch!
As many of you know, I joined OpenSky to share my favorite cooking, crafting, and entertaining products. Now I am pleased to announce I am joined by Darcy Miller, Editorial Director of Martha Stewart Weddings and ultimate party planner! Darcy has been an integral part of the Weddings team as well as an author, illustrator, wife, and mother (I actually introduced her to her husband, Andy!). I have been fortunate to be invited to many of her parties over the years, like her daughter Pippa's Purple Party, which we featured on The Martha Stewart Show.
Darcy's inaugural OpenSky sale features a selection of items inspired by her daughter Daisy's first birthday of which I was in attendance. She chose Daisy's namesake as the theme and has recreated it so you can also throw your own daisy-themed party, whether for a birthday, wedding, or other special event. It's always fun for me when Darcy shares her ideas so I hope you all enjoy them as well. If you'd like to recreate this party, many of these items are available for sale on Darcy's OpenSky page. Perhaps these images will inspire you to create your own theme party!
Darcy (@darcymiller) will also be doing a live twitter chat on Wednesday July 25th from 1pm-2pm EST. To participate, tweet #darcyparty for party planning advice from Darcy as well as a chance to win many of these items from her sale!
1 Here I am with Darcy, Daisy, and my Chow Chow Paw Paw at Daisy's 1st birthday party eight years ago. I have attended many of the parties Darcy has thrown over the years.
2 When Darcy's daughter Daisy had her first birthday, Darcy decided to hold a daisy-themed party for her to celebrate. It was such a success she decided to recreate it and share the items in her OpenSky sale.
3 I am always amazed at what Darcy comes up with and how she uses my line of Martha Stewart Crafts products. Her party ideas always combine both purchased and homemade items. They always look impressive and are actually quite affordable!
4 The placemats and table runner are featured in the current issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. The designs are printed on paper and can also be used to wrap favors. http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/309691/place-mat-and-favor-box-clip-art-and-how
5 A close up of the place setting—a paper daisy tops a small favor box that can be filled with small toys or candy.
6 I love how Darcy mixes patterns, creating a jovial atmosphere, like these zigzag napkins against the dotted placemat.
7 These darling lollipops are also available for purchase.
8 Darcy's illustration of her daughter adds a personal touch to the cupcake tower and Martha Stewart craft punches easily dress up a simple white cake stand.
9 You don't have to be a professional baker to have well-decorated cupcakes. Here, flower stickers affixed to toothpicks dress up a large dollop of frosting.
10 Or you can decorate them with frosted sugar cookies, like these daisy cookies from Eleni's. http://elenis.com/
11 The cookies are frosted with royal icing and the centers sparkle with yellow sanding sugar. This idea can be adapted with many other shaped cookies for whatever theme your party is.
12 These jellybean and lemon drop favors are actually quite easy to make. All you need is craft paper, bags, craft stickers, and of course, candy.
13 The same craft paper can be used for both place cards and the favor bags. Darcy used craft punches and added adhesive flower accents.
14 Candy bought in bulk can be used for favors, like these plastic tubes with flower toppers.
15 This Daisy-shaped chip and dip dish also makes an excellent serving platter for colorful candy.
16 Darcy always finds alternate uses for everyday items. Here, she uses a paper cupcake wrapper as a dish for colorful gum balls.
17 If you are like me, you have many mason jars around the house for preserving and canning. Modified lids act as decoration as well as a straw holder.
18 Mason jars can also be used to hold candy, like these lollipops.
19 If not opting for mason jars, it's easy to add simple details, like craft stickers, to solid color paper cups.
20 Darcy made sure the star of the party had her own matching accessories, like this daisy hair clip.
21 She also made a special paper parasol for the birthday girl.
22 Buy the parasol from Opensky and then learn how to embellish it here: http://www.marthastewart.com/295412/posy-parasol
23 Darcy used a tent from Sperry Tents for outdoor shade. I used the same company for my nephew Chris's wedding we held at my home in Bedford. www.sperrytents.com
24 Here, the paper daisy flowers hang from the inside of the tent.
25 As well as daisy garlands
26 I attended the party with my beautiful granddaughter, Jude. We had a wonderful time!
27 Mason jars and other glass candy dishes lined the candy and favor table.
28 Similar flowers hung from the ceiling inside, where most of the cupcakes and other sweets were kept out of of the hot sun.
29 This cupcake stand is actually made of craft paper and yet still looks elegant.
30 Here's Daisy, eight years later, enjoying her party all over again.
31 Darcy is also including slip-n-slides for sale, as they are a summer party favorite!
32 A great shot of the whole family - Darcy, Andy, and their three beautiful daughters, Daisy, Ella, and Pippa!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha, I'm thinking your granddaughter is at the birthday party 8 years later, and not the first one. When I was off the computer for so long, I lost track of what was happening.
Everything is so festive.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | July 23rd, 2012 at 1:33 am
Daisy has been a favorite word of mine since reading STONE DIARIES-carol shields, years ago with my book group. Spose may have been 8 years ago. Now, your make up artist has name and wonderful Jude is on scene proving that the more things change the more they are the same, Hope that I can get in on twitter chat as I am slipping. Love old photos.
Posted by: ann | July 23rd, 2012 at 6:14 am
Yea! Darcy is on OpenSky! I always enjoyed seeing your segments on Martha's show. You always have such cute ideas for parties. See you Wednesday on twitter, I've got plenty of party planning questions!! Martha, I love the picture of you and Jude, so sweet!!
Posted by: Cindy F | July 23rd, 2012 at 6:46 am
Darcy, you are an incredibly gifted, talented woman! I have been inspired by your vision over and over throughout the years, especially the family tree project. So creative! Thank you so much for sharing your daughters' beautiful birthday celebration.
Posted by: Julie | July 23rd, 2012 at 7:27 am
Hi Martha, I have always enjoyed seeing Darcy, her three charming kids, and her husband, Andy whenever possible on your great TV Shows! They are a wonderful family who does so many fabulous things and now that Darcy is on OpenSky Sale that is even more fantastic! I love all of these beautiful photos and being able to see Paw Paw in photo #1 is so much fun! I have always loved him and still remember him lots of times! You must have had a terrific time there in LA and I certainly enjoyed your great tweets! Thank you for sharing this wonderful blog and be sure to thank Darcy for all that she does! Hope you have another great day! Off to see The Daily Wag where all three dogs were having fun in Maine! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 23rd, 2012 at 9:53 am
Martha,
Thanks for sharing this blog.
`
Save the date Oct 17th and 18th on your website what's the celebration for? I want to attend but I have plans to be at the O You conference on the Oct 20th in LA. Looks like I'll have to take a redeye from NYC to LA on the 19th so I can do both events. When will there be more details?
Posted by: KLBrown | July 23rd, 2012 at 10:47 am
What a great party, as usual. Darcy is something else! I love the family picture, we have watched her girls grow to lovely little girls.
To see Jude walking reminds me of how time marchs on.
Now I'll be off to OpenSky to see what's on sale!
Great day to all,
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon | July 23rd, 2012 at 10:54 am
Hi Martha,
Darcy and Andy had such a beautiful wedding and when they were expecting their first child, I remember writing you an email to say ‘I think it will be a tiny little girl with big eyes like Darcy’, and she was. I also guessed that your television producer Judy would have a boy and then there was Jimmy. I guess all the time with my family, as most people do, and I’m usually right – I keep telling them I get premonitions but they still want to test me. They get really spooked when I give them the exact birth day too!
~
I’ve been impressed with Darcy’s creations ever since she showed us her Wedding Planner on your show years ago. I was in awe of the pages and pages of ideas she had in it. She should publish a copy and put it on the market – it is so unique. Her Daisy birthday party was fabulous and something Daisy and her guests will remember forever. I saw pictures of the first birthday party you gave for Jude and that was quite spectacular also. From the pictures Alexis puts up on her blog, I can tell that Jude is curious and she probably inspected everything at her party too and will remember it. Little kids are amazing.
~
Thanks for this most colorful blog and I’m sure Darcy will do well on Open Sky. I really like the daisy lid jars and the starter kit offers a very generous supply of party staples. Everything is very nice! Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 23rd, 2012 at 10:58 am
How nice to see Darcy and her family! I remember when Darcy planned her beautiful wedding, what a treat it was to take the journey with her, and Martha. Darcy is so talented, thank you for sharing this special event with us.
Posted by: Barb | July 23rd, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Ok..Darcy needs her own show...
Posted by: julie Hewitt | July 23rd, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Wonderfully fresh and delightful!
Posted by: Karen | July 25th, 2012 at 10:15 am
Wow amazing and beautiful party. Love the details. Darcy is amazing.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | July 25th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
My, my what great pictures!
Do you happen to remember the July 23, 2012 show that was viewed in California where Martha made that Puff crust with one cup butter and one cup flour and other ingredients in the mixture? She made a napoleon, fish sticks, cheese sticks, and etc. and looked marvelously delicious?!
I'm interested in obtaining that recipe. Please tell me where I may buy it. Thank you. Amy Wright
Posted by: Amy Wright | July 29th, 2012 at 12:06 am
.
The 26th Photo!
.
Love this shot of Jude, reaching to achieve her grandmother's giant curiosity about her world!
.
Andrea and the Weimaraners
.
Posted by: andrea j. spencer | August 4th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Where did the Martha Stewart show go? Turned to Hallmark at 10:00 and no Martha! What's up with that?
Posted by: Rita Fogle | September 17th, 2012 at 11:52 am
So cute. Going to remember this for my daughter's 6th birthday.
Posted by: Amanda Webber | September 22nd, 2012 at 1:57 am
Hi Martha and Darcy,
Daisies are my favorite flower and have been since I was a little girl. I love the party that you gave for Daisy. I was thinking many of the ideas you used would be perfect for a wedding, like the daisy cupcakes on the three-tiered displays and the favors. I love it all. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Juanita Schulze | October 6th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
I, too, miss The Martha Stewart Show that aired on Hallmark channel. It was a major production for a daily endeavor, but so enjoyed, packed full of ideas and how-to's and recipes and talent not seen elsewhere in the media. Love Martha and all the gifting and sharing of her knowledge as well as those presented by guests from around the globe. I had hoped you would pair up with Oprah and help both of your programming needs come to fruition.
Posted by: Joan Spicer | December 18th, 2012 at 10:48 am