Welcome back to the blog, friends! If you are new here to the My Blog, let me just start by saying how thrilled I am that you’ve found your way to my little corner of the internet. I’m overflowing with joy and residual creative energy because I get to recap our April “Festive Fun” event I recently hosted.

We called this month’s event Petals and Patina, and let me tell you, it was an absolute dream. Hosted at the incredible Granny Camp space, this event was a celebration of vintage charm, maximalist creativity, and, most importantly, the uplifting power of women gathering together to create something beautiful.

For those following my journey, you know that my mission with these monthly Festive Fun events goes so much deeper than just hot glue and paint. The ultimate goal is to empower and inspire women to take a break from the endless to-do lists, and pour some time back into themselves by stepping out of their comfort zone and meeting new people. There is a specific kind of magic that happens when women step away from their daily routines, gather in a beautiful space, listen to great music, and just let their imaginations run wild. The energy in the room during Petals and Patina was absolutely electric, inspiring, empowering, and filled with so much laughter. It’s honestly infectious.

Let’s dive into all the beautiful, shabby chic details of this unforgettable April event!

The Mission: Empowering Women Through Creative Play

Before we get into the crafting, I want to talk a little bit about the heart behind these events. As women, and especially as mothers, we are constantly pouring from our cups to fill everyone else’s. We are managing households, cheering on our kids at school events, running businesses, and keeping the world spinning. But who is filling our cups?

That is exactly why the “Festive Fun” series was born. I wanted to create a sanctuary, a collaboration of fun and creativity hosted at Granny Camp, where women could just show up and be taken care of. I want to inspire you to carve out that time for yourself. When you walk through the doors of Granny Camp for one of my events, the expectation is that you leave your stress at the door. You don’t have to clean up the mess, you don’t have to cook the food, and you don’t have to plan the activity. You just get to be present, be creative, and connect with a community of incredible, like-minded women.

The atmosphere we cultivated for Petals and Patina was exactly that. We had the most amazing playlist going, setting an upbeat, joyful tone and within minutes, the room was buzzing with the sound of women chatting, sharing ideas, and lifting each other up. It is truly an empowering experience to watch a room full of women realize how talented and capable they are.

A Brunch Spread to Fuel the Soul (and the Crafting!)

You cannot host a proper Festive Fun event without an absolutely spectacular spread of food, right? I firmly believe that breaking bread together is the fastest way to build community, so for Petals and Patina, we went all out with a magnificent brunch grazing table.

We wanted the food to be as colorful and abundant as the craft supplies we were about to dive into. The spread was an absolute feast for the eyes and the stomach. We had a massive, gorgeous arrangement of fresh fruits—plump strawberries, sweet blackberries, juicy cantaloupe, and crisp grapes. For our savory lovers, we put together a beautiful charcuterie section featuring artisanal cheeses, salami, prosciutto, and an assortment of crackers, perfectly paired with a vibrant vegetable platter featuring fresh carrots, celery, cucumbers, and a delicious hummus and ranch dip.

But of course, we had to indulge our sweet tooths! We had delicate little cucumber tea sandwiches, buttery croissants, and a towering plate of the most incredible donuts—everything from classic glazed to chocolate frosted with sprinkles. And the star of the brunch table? The beautiful platter of fresh, fluffy waffles dusted generously with powdered sugar and topped with fresh berries, served right alongside a bowl of rich chocolate hazelnut spread.

It was the perfect mix of sweet and savory to fuel us up for the creative marathon ahead. Food truly brings people together, and lingering around the brunch table with our coffees and plates full of treats was the perfect icebreaker for the morning.

The Details: Custom Name Tags and Signature Party Favors

If there is one thing I am known for, it is my love for the little details. An eccentric, maximalist heart beats for the personalized touches that make an event feel truly special. I wanted every single attendee to feel like a VIP from the moment they arrived at Granny Camp.

3D Printed Vintage-Inspired Name Tags

I am so incredibly proud of the custom name tags we created for this event, and it was a true family affair! My son, Christian, used his 3D printer to print out these stunning, intricate, vintage-inspired frames for everyone.

Once he printed the raw frames, I took over. I spent time aging and embellishing each individual frame to give it that authentic “patina” look that matched our theme perfectly. To finish them off, I created a custom fabric mat for the backing and hand-wrote each attendee’s name in the center. They turned out to be these beautiful, personalized pieces of wearable art that set the tone for the entire shabby chic workshop. They were super fun, super custom, and something the ladies could take home and keep forever.

The Signature Matchbook Party Favors

Every time you attend a Festive Fun event, you will never leave empty-handed! As a party favor this year, I have been creating custom matchbooks for my guests. If you know me, you know I love a good DIY matchbox project. For Petals and Patina, every attendee received a beautifully designed, custom matchbook made by yours truly. It’s a fun, functional, and deeply personalized little gift to remind them of the spark of creativity they felt during our time together.

The Main Event: Crafting the “Petals and Patina” Vintage Frames

Now, let’s talk about the absolute highlight of the day: the crafting!

The concept of “Petals and Patina” is all about taking something old and forgotten and breathing spectacular new life into it through layers of texture, color, and floral elements.

For the project, we provided each guest with a beautiful, authentic vintage frame. From there, the directive was simple: do whatever your heart desires. There were no rules, no “right” way to do it, and absolutely no limits on creativity.

The Ultimate Shabby Chic Supply Buffet

To make sure their imaginations had no boundaries, we set up a supply buffet that would make any crafter’s heart skip a beat. We provided an unlimited, overflowing selection of supplies. We had tables covered in spools of high-quality ribbon in every color and texture imaginable—velvets, satins, grosgrains, and sheer chiffons.

We had piles of gorgeous fabric scraps, delicate vintage lace, and strands of pearls and beads waiting to be draped. And, of course, to fulfill the “Petals” part of our theme, we had a massive harvest table covered end-to-end in stunning artificial florals. We had magnolias, giant pink peonies, sunflowers, delicate little roses, cascading greenery, and even cotton stems.

The Creative Process

The ladies started by choosing their frames and then got to work aging and painting them. Some chose to do a beautiful, distressed whitewash, while others leaned into bold colors—like the most fabulous distressed hot pinks and deep, moody greens. They learned how to layer paint to achieve that perfect, worn “patina” finish that gives a piece character and soul.

Once the frames were painted and dried, the real magic happened. The embellishment phase! This is where the individuality of each woman truly shined. I watched as some attendees draped elegant lace and pearls across the center of their frames, creating a romantic, Victorian vibe. Others clustered massive, vibrant floral arrangements into the corners of their frames, creating bold, eccentric statement pieces. They used the ribbons to add texture, wrapping the wood or letting long, dramatic tails of fabric hang down.

Every single frame was a completely unique masterpiece. To see the “after” photos and look at the sheer variety of what these women created from the exact same starting materials is mind-blowing. It was a true testament to the creative power we all hold inside when given the space and tools to express it.

A Heartfelt Thank You to My Co-Teachers: Tracy and Beverly

An event of this scale, with this much detailed crafting, simply cannot happen in a vacuum. I have to take a moment to give the biggest, most heartfelt shoutout and thank you to my incredible teachers and helpers, Tracy and Beverly. I literally could not have done this without them.

Beverly, The Bow Whisperer: If you have ever tried to tie a massive, structured, perfectly symmetrical decorative bow, you know that it is practically an Olympic sport. Beverly came in and was an absolute hero. She patiently walked around the room, helping everyone construct these magnificent, show-stopping bows out of our wired ribbons. (Just look at the photo of that giant, gorgeous green bow…that is the level of expertise we were working with!). Her patience and skill gave everyone’s frames that perfect, professional finishing touch.

Tracy, The Queen of Shabby Chic: Tracy is just so unbelievably talented when it comes to the “shabby chicness” aesthetic. She has an absolute eye for design, knowing exactly how to balance a distressed vintage look with feminine, floral embellishments. She was an invaluable resource to the ladies, offering advice on color combinations, floral placements, and how to get that perfectly imperfect, lived-in aesthetic. Her energy and artistic guidance elevated the entire workshop.

To both Tracy and Beverly: thank you for lending your time, your immense talents, and your beautiful spirits to this event. You helped make Petals and Patina a resounding success.

The Aftermath: Masterpieces, Laughter, and Community

As the event wrapped up and we took our group photos with everyone proudly holding up their finished frames, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Looking around that beautiful, eclectic space at Granny Camp, seeing the messy tables covered in leftover lace and clipped floral stems, and looking at the beaming, proud faces of the women holding their art—that is why I do this.

We came together, we ate delicious food, we listened to great music, we learned new skills, and we empowered each other. Every woman walked out of those doors with a stunning, personalized piece of home decor that they made with their own two hands. More importantly, they walked out with a refreshed spirit and a renewed sense of their own creativity. It was an incredibly uplifting day.

What’s Next? Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Festive Fun!

If you missed Petals and Patina, do not worry! The Festive Fun series is just getting started, and we have some absolutely incredible, out-of-the-box events lined up for the summer. You are not going to want to miss these.

Coming in May: The Trunk Show

Our next event is happening in May, and the theme is “The Trunk Show.” We are going to be stepping up our DIY game and taking on a slightly larger project! We will be providing vintage trunks, and we are going to spend the afternoon flipping, restoring, and completely customizing them. Whether you want to turn it into a chic storage chest, a whimsical toy box, or a piece of eccentric maximalist decor for your living room, we will have all the supplies you need to make it happen.

Space for The Trunk Show is extremely limited due to the size of the project, so you will want to secure your spot quickly!

[CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS FOR THE MAY TRUNK SHOW EVENT] 

Coming in June: Summerween!

Yes, you read that right. Summerween! For my girls who love spooky season and just cannot wait until October, our June event is for you. We are going to be hosting a “Summerween” Festive Fun party where we will be crafting spectacular, high-end Halloween wreaths. It’s going to be the perfect blend of summer party energy with all the fun, moody, creative vibes of fall crafting. Keep an eye on the blog and my Instagram for ticket drops for June!

Thank you all so much for reading and for continuing to support my creative journey. Whether you are crafting along with me at home, reading about it here on the blog, or joining us in person at Granny Camp, I am so grateful for this community.

Remember to take time for yourselves this week, find a little project that brings you joy, and never be afraid to make a beautiful mess. And make sure you are following me on Socials..

xoxo, Ashton