Top Wedding Trends of 2013 - Mint

We have recently had a lot of custom requests for mint flavoured paperware...including garlands, notelets and tags...and why not? According to colourwheelpro.com, the colour green symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility: perfect ingredients for a wedding or baby shower.
As such, we recently made and listed in store our mint ombre sweetheart garland and it took off like a rocket, with a treasury within 12 hours on etsy and then this lovely inclusion on the 3D-Memoirs oh so sexy blog...

"10 hot wedding trends for 2013: #1 Mint"

Look to 3D Memoirs as a source of inspiration and ideas related to beautiful and creative event decor for a variety of events, especially DIY events...and for lots of event styling eye candy...

A touch of class in event decor in a place where you would least expect it!

So where is the place that almost always gets overlooked for event decor, but is one place 99% of your guests are certain to visit?
In my former life as a Sydney Event Manager, we came across clever girl Helen who had set up Oh de toilette, stylists for the, well....the washroom....providing a touch of luxury where guests least expect it.  It was my favourite gigs that we used the services of Oh de toilette - for the finer detail enriching the whole experience of attending a very special event...beautiful soaps, towels, perfume and for the very special touch, an attendant, to ensure the nature of the washroom remains equally as luxurious as the party venue itself throughout the entire event.
If you don't have the six star event budget, styling the loo is as simple as some flowers, nice fluffy towels and good quality loo paper....for a unique touch to the tail end, I love this Renova Loo paper - the ultimate in stretching your event decor to the finer detail.

And finally, I can't finish without a plug for our little creations....stylise the bathroom mirror with one of our garlands, the mirrors reflection will love it, as will your guests (and your client) for its the finer detail in the least expected places which gives the most enriching experience...be sure to check out our range in our online stores.

Neon is BACK! A week painted with a touch of Neon..

This week was painted with a little touch of Neon as we worked together with the fun and fabulous Ms Vanessa of Little Pear Events....

Whilst we are not ones to kiss and tell...we will have to share the pics AFTER the birthday party of course....in the meantime I have been all inspired by the palette which decorated the 80s ever since and thought I would share these with you!

The above pictures have been shared from other fabulous sites, if it belongs to you and you want it removed...just ask :)

Big things come in small packages - applauding bespoke, indie, hand-made

This week has been a roller-coaster professionally and personally....hang on...every week seems to be a roller coaster at the moment....and I guess what I am about to say illustrates my point nicely!
A huge step forward for red elephant creative with lots of custom orders, A huge reality check in how exposed my online business really is and two teething children has had me thinking about what goes into a Bespoke enterprise from scratch....
Most of us are building a new creative business from nothing on a 'part time' basis, amongst other professional careers, and some of us also juggling an already deemed 'full-time jobs' as Mums.
The time and dedication which goes (often single handedly) into developing our designs, building our brands, creating, listing on websites and booking and appearing at markets, blogging, tweeting, face booking and networking in general...not to mention the steep learning curve with 'learning the ropes' in many of the areas of marketing, finance and running a business in general,  the hourly investment in chasing our dream is far beyond the reality of a full-time income....
The about turn on the investment is a beautiful sense of support, from people who you have never met in person, who love your creations for their true representation of passion in construction and travel a journey in sisterhood (and brotherhood) with you, shouting from the sidelines a sense of love and support...something I doubt possible without the tool of social media...nothing I have ever experienced in a career in the crazy events world in 15 years.
It has been 9 months red elephant creative since has been established and we have a long way to go before we will be satisfied with what we offer to the world.........its a continual effort in refining the branding, the designs and our message to this beautiful industry. We felt a cold slap this week in the face of Listing Piracy - but the hearts and heads of the industry over-ruled, giving us the strength to continue with our passion in making designs....to make you smile.
So I take this opportunity, by way of this blog to pause and to hold out my hand and congratulate every person who has attempted a journey in this industry...who has shed blood sweat and tears (figuratively speaking) in building a business in Bespoke, Indie, Handmade....because its bloody hard work, and you all deserve a big around of applause.
Thank you for giving me the inspiration.
Nicole xx

Show us your party with our decor and get a discount on your next order....just like this lovely couple did!

Last week we had a lovely email from Eva in Portland, Oregon, who liked our cupcake picks so much, she just HAD to share the photos!!

We think they look great, particularly with the chosen cupcake stand and too good to eat cupcakes!! Eva did an absolutely beautiful job styling this lovely affair....

SO thrilled are we to see our little creations in all their glory, we invite you to share your party piccies including your chosen red elephant creations with us for a 10% discount off your next order!

Loving IndieSpotting....and being in their spotlight this week.

Filled with Handmade inspiration from around the globe, we LOVE IndieSpottings knack for bringing beautiful handmade creations to one place. So you can imagine that when I saw lil' ol' red elephant as a feature piece I was Squeeling with delight and grinning from ear to ear! I KNOW!!!! So exciting....

... check out what all the fuss is about, some clever wordsmithing for the face of red elephant...

http://www.indiespotting.com/shop-showcase/meet-red-elephant-creative/

whilst you are there...make sure you subscribe to the IndieSpotting feed...their selections are always inspirational and certainly make quality window shopping....

My hero in the form of a 2 year old toddler!

The easter bunny took his dummy....it was a scary time - for O was a true devotee to his 'mumma' - addicted one would almost say.
Prepped with lots of counselling prior to the event (and I confess, not a whole lot of practice- his choice) we took the plunge and fished it out of his room in the early hours of Easter Morn.....distracted by Easter eggs....of course!
And so....fuelled by chocolate hangover, the first few hours were tough...tantrums every time he asked, and we reminded him, that the dummy was gone....taken by the bunny in favour of eggs and no back up dummy existed anymore...for he was a big boy now.
The daytime nap came and went (truthfully he wasn't really that good at taking them anymore, the big boy status came with a new routine which didn't need a sleep anymore - much to my disappointment)...so we let it go.
Then the night time routine commenced. We let him have his night bottle in bed, whisking it away before he went to sleep and without a peep, he popped his head down and drifted off to dream land.
We waited, wondering at which point we would hear the familiar cry 'mumma' as he fished around for his dummy in the middle of the night....but he didn't....and before we knew it, it was morning and O was crawling into my bed for morning cuddles, fist full of easter chocolate which he managed to raid from the fridge....it WAS after-all cause for celebration...so for the moment I let it ride, whilst we cheered on the little champ who never ceases to surprise me.....and once again became my hero.