Tag Archives: Creations

the kansas city plaza art fair

Take one breathtakingly gorgeous day; add in a crowd of eclectic people, live music, delicious food & libations and booth after booth after booth of artwork… So what do you get?  Why the Kansas City Plaza Art Fair, of course!  And yes, that is where the hubbie and I spent a blissful Sunday afternoon last weekend… just wandering and munching and people watching and chatting and, of course, admiring artwork.

I love looking at art and chit chatting with the artists. I love to hear their thoughts, their inspiration, their passion…  Most of the art is nothing that I would, personally , hang in my home, per say – I have a very white/cream/pastel “shabby chic” style of decorating – but I adore all of the bright colors and appreciate the different mediums and techniques that make each artist unique.

My hubbie, more of a “numbers” kinda guy, mentioned that there seemed to a lot of artwork with “heads”.  At that point I suggested that we stop and get him some munchies at “M&S Grill”.  And a beer at “Houstons”.  See how happy he looks drinking that beer…?  Worked like a charm.

Just admiring the work of these talented artists gets my creative juices flowing; I feel completely energized and inspired!!  Since my chosen business name is “Creations”, this is definitely a good thing!!  And speaking of, the hubbie got a kick out of a piece of art that highlighted my (creative) demise… as you will see in the following pic.  Hmmm… Note to self: Think very carefully about what you choose to create..

And so a happy day it was.  The music, the food, the weather, the art, the inspiration and, of course, the company of my sweet hubbie – all to myself after a very busy weekend.  Ahhh… Life is, indeed, very good.

(french) deals and donuts

For those of you who are “Kansas City friends”… You are probably aware of the fact that I have a booth out at Trendz Market.  Well, I have to let you in on some breaking news.  This week (thru next Tuesday), I have the “item of the week” (big gasp; then silence…)  Yes.  It’s true.  While you are sitting here reading my blog post, you could be up at Trendz saving 20% on anything french…!  Oooo la la, my friends.  (Click on my Facebook page if you want a “sneak peek” at some of the featured items!  For store hours and info, click on “shop with me at Trendz” link at the top of my blog site)  OK.  Maybe you are not here in Kansas City, or you are a new reader of my blog, and therefore have no idea what Trendz is…  No worries.  Simply click on the links at the top of this blog page…”who is creations by cathy” and “shop with me at trendz”.  That should get you up-to-date.  So now you’re sad.  You wish that you lived here so that you could stop by Trendz and check it out.  I’m sorry.  I do, however, have two bits of good news that might cheer you up a bit.

Number one; I am working on getting a little shopping page together so that I can share some of my Creations goodies with all of my friends, near or far. It will be the “shop now” link at the top of this blog site.  I will keep you posted.

And reason number two (the more delicious of the two); I found this yummy looking recipe at Camille Styles blog site.  (Thank you, Camille!)  Indulge and enjoy…

Baked French Breakfast Donuts

Adapted from Cooks.com

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup milk (I used whole milk)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat donut pan generously with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg; mix well.
  3. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg together. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk.
  4. Fill donut tins half full. Bake 15-20 minutes. Take out of pan immediately and swirl tops into melted butter, then sugar and cinnamon mixture. Makes 6-7 big donuts.

*Note:  These work just as well in a muffin tin, too!

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

“just do it”

I turned fifty just over a year ago.  Let me just tell you right now, I love it!!  That year between fifty and fifty-one was one of the most important years of my life, so far.  It was the year that I began the process of “re-discovering myself”.  Since I plan to continue this procees well into my 100’s, I’m about halfway there.  Plenty of time.

For a long, long time, I played around with the ideas of taking my business, Creations, in a fresh new direction.  I dreamed of “following my passion”; a shabby chic with a French accent kind of direction. But, Oh my… all the changes that I would need to make!!  New logo, business cards, website and – Oh ya – how about all new merchandise?!  So there I was, one random day, in the middle of that glorious year of awakening.  I just decided that the moment was NOW.  So I did it.  No regrets.

I love cooking and healthy eating.  This is a good thing.  I hate exercise.  This is a bad thing.  Went to a presentation on “healthy lifestyles” from a gal who knows what she is talking about – Mitzi Dulan.  She speaks all over the country and is very well known in her industry and beyond.  She also teaches “Boot Camp“.  OK, let’s be honest here.  Me going to Boot Camp is so far out of the box that the box is in Russia.  But there I was, all “50 something” and crazy confident, so I grabbed a friend (love ya, Deb!), and we did it.  Four weeks, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00-10:00.  After the first day, my friend Deb and I were certain that we were dying.  It hurt to lift my pinky finger.  As one of my kids said, “there’s a reason why they call it Boot Camp, Mom”.  Yep.  There sure is.  Crazy as it sounds, we even did a second session!  I have to say – I was so proud of myself.  Besides the physical benefits, there was that deep sense of accomplishment that comes from doing the impossible.  And trust me – I saw Boot Camp as Impossible.  Capital “I”.

And so the positive wave of my “50’s” continues.  More changes.  Some baby steps, some much bigger.  I turned 51 in May, and I am already planning my 100th Birthday Party, so consider this blog your “save the date” card…  May 2061.  In the meantime; Enjoy every day.  As Nike says… “Just do it”!!  live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

my creativity meter

So today is my last (half) day at the Dallas Market.  Heading back to the airport this afternoon to catch a flight to Nashville for a conference with my hubbie.  My “roomies” are all still fast asleep, so I am in the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the tub with my laptop chatting with you…  Not very comfortable, so this won’t be a long post – Ha!

Have had a great time here over the past three days, and I wish that I had an unlimited budget to spend on goodies for Creations… but that is not exactly the case.  My very favorite showroom while I was here was one that sells all kinds of beautiful ribbons and adornments.  My creativity meter went off the charts, and I am so inspired to go home and CREATE some goodies for you!!  Things that I have been thinking about for a long time.  Yep – it’s time to let those creative juices flow!  Thanks, Donna, for creating such a beautiful and inspiring showroom.  Your creativity has inspired MY creativity – and I thank you for that!  (I will tell you more about my new friend, Donna, later… and the rest of the delighful crew!  She deserves an entire blog post!)

OK – They are still snoring away in there (yes – literally!!!) so I am heading off to catch my last few hours of Market.  Toodles…!    live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

the big day…

So it’s almost here; my Grand Re-opening at Trendz Market.  Can I just say that I am really excited…?!  I’ve been checking off all of the last minute”to-do stuff”… hanging my new sign, putting the crystals on the last chandelier, figuring out the food, stuffing the “indulgence” bags with goodies… The anticipation is just killing me!  So, if you are here in Kansas City, I do hope that you will be able to stop by – even for a minute.  I have taken the big leap to follow my true passion, and it will be so fun to show everyone what that really looks like!  Nibble on some munchies and have a glass of wine.

It will be so good to see you…!  

creating yourself

And so who is “creations by cathy“…?  Hmmm… well, that’s kind of a long story.  OK, let’s be honest here.  I don’t know any short stories.  Period.  Better that you know that from the start.  But I try.  Really, I do.  In fact, I will try right now.  This is gonna be the short story of “Creations”…

Well, let’s see… I started Creations almost 10 years ago in July 2002.  During that time I specialized in giftware and hand-painted glassware (by yours truly!), participated in about a million different shows and had booths in four different locations (stores) throughout Kansas City (at different times).  Presently,  I can be found at Trendz Market, an upscale boutique co-op in south Kansas City (151st & Nall for you “locals”!), where I have been since it opened, just over three years ago.

Everything changed in early 2012.  I finally found the inner strength to follow my true passion; a very “Shabby Chic, English/French Country, cottage-y, feminine” sort of look… (How is that for a description!)  This meant completely changing EVERYTHING about Creations… my merchandise, logo, business cards, Facebook site, Blog ( and here we are!) and, soon to come, my new website!  Whew!  (A big “shout out” to BRANDtabulous and my “re-branding buddy/partner-in-crime”, Jerrod!!)  Now that I am almost done with the whole process, I have to tell you that I am SO HAPPY!  I love the look and feel of everything… it just feels like ME!  It feels so good to be true to your authentic self – and that is where I am right now.  (I will elaborate more on the whole “authentic self” thing later. I’m a big believer!)

So here is a toast to creating yourself, and more importantly, to RE-creating yourself..!    live happy~ laugh, love, dream, create