{Name}  Sara Beth Cobb
{Hometown} Originally from New Albany, MS; current home base: Birmingham, AL (for the past 7 yrs)
{Event Site} Laurel Donahoo’s Baby Bee Shower: the home of Rachel Cooley

{Tell us about the occasion for the event?}
We wanted to celebrate our friend, Laurel Donahoo, and help her prepare for the arrival of her baby.

{What inspired your event location and theme?}
Rachel Cooley’s home is open and spacious, so it made a great location for the shower. The theme was inspired by Laurel’s love for bees. We thought it would be perfect for Laurel and a gender-neutral theme.

{What inspired your color scheme/flowers?}
The shower was gender-neutral, so we wanted to keep everything clean and neutral. Gray tones, whites, off-whites, and yellows fit the theme and reflected Laurel’s style. I wanted the flowers to be loose and organic, and I also wanted them to reflect the theme. Simple stems, such as Craspedia (Billy Balls), had a certain playfulness to them that seemed to work well with the bee theme.

{What’s your favorite event detail? Is there a story behind it?}
This party was all about the details. I loved everything from the beehive cupcakes to the “baby bee” banner. My favorite design detail was probably the main floral arrangement. It was elegant and fun at the same time, and the gold stand was so “Laurel”!

{What was your favorite part of the event planning process?}
I loved designing the invitation and establishing the look that we would use for the rest of the party details. It’s always fun to plan for a close friend and incorporate their style into the design! I also incorporated Laurel’s hand-drawn bee from her Lovely Bee logo into the invitation for a special touch.

{What was your favorite moment of the event day?}
My favorite moment of the day was photographing Laurel as she came into the shower. She was beaming with that beautiful pregnancy glow!

{Your favorite picture from the event day?}

Photographer: Sara Beth Cobb
Event Planner: Rachel Cooley
Venue: the home of Rachel Cooley
Florist: Sara Beth Cobb

The most beautiful closet in Mississippi belongs to one of the state’s most impressive physicians.

Dr. Barbara Sullivan serves as the Executive Medical Director for Women’s Services at Baptist Hospital in Jackson.  She has authored numerous publications and has served as a presenter at medical and scientific conferences.   Barbie laughs that she is known as the OB/GYN who performs Cesarean sections in high heels!  Barbie says, “I have always been interested in fashion.  My patients know and they always laugh at me!  If I have to run over and do a case or C-section, the nurses always say, ‘we hear clicking down the hall and we know it is you!’”

This brilliant, fashionable and kind woman also helped form a charity called Fund for the Girls through the Baptist Foundation.  It provides all breast screenings that a woman might need, for those who do not have insurance or are under insured. “This is near and dear to my heart. It has turned into a bigger impact than what I imagined it would be when we started it.  We have helped over 700 women get ultrasounds and biopsies in Jackson.  If a woman comes in and cannot pay for a biopsy – we want to provide the kind of care that will take them wherever they need to go, whether it is breast cancer screening, treatments, etc.,” says Barbie. 

Last year, Barbie downsized and purchased a home in Madison, and decided to treat herself with a spectacular closet.  Barbie has a busy schedule and often attends functions in the evenings after work.  She wanted to splurge on not only a lovely dressing room, but also a functional space.  Barbie says, “I just really and truly wanted to do something for myself, and wanted it to fit into my lifestyle.”

Barbie began working with Phyllis Doby of Closet Designs, to create a refreshing room, coated in light paint, featuring plenty of storage and an impressive wall for those famous heels. 

Phyllis says, “Barbie was a delight to work with on her closet design.  She is a very busy lady with a hectic career and with that in mind, we set out to design a closet where items were easy to see and locate.”

Phyllis adds, “The first step to designing a closet it to determine the needs of a client.  An inventory count is mandatory for a closet design.  For example, if a client has a fetish for shoes or handbags, we need to know.  In addition, we need to know how many garments and their lengths for hanging.  And, we always make sure the design is good for resale value of the home.”

Barbie’s closet includes these incredible features:

Rolling ladder system

Illuminated garment boxes with glass doors for quick viewing

Shoe and boot cubbies

Handbag and luggage storage

Customized jewelry drawer inserts

Chest of drawers

Cubbies for sweaters and folded items

Full-length mirror

Laundry/Dry cleaning drawer

Barbie’s 10’ by 11’ closet has enhanced her busy life.  “The thing I like most is that now I can see everything,” says Barbie.  “I can see all of my shoes and all of my clothes.  I don’t forget that I have something, and I shop a lot less than what I did before because I know what I have when I walk into my closet.  If I have an event after work, I can run in, put my hands on what I need, and be out the door in thirty minutes.”  A well-edited, cheerful space built for an inspirational woman. 

If you are looking for exceptional gifts for someone on your list this year, Barbie suggests a wonderful idea.  Every December she donates a mammogram to someone ($180) in her work partners’ names.  The recipient of the gift receives a beautiful card, stating that a mammogram has been provided for a woman in your name.  Barbie says, “All of us have been touched by someone.  We ALL know someone who has breast cancer, so it is something nice to give back.” 

Thank you, Barbie, for serving the Jackson community with your talents and incredible heart.  We are thrilled to share your beautiful closet!

If you would like to give a gift to Fund for the Girls, please click here!

If you are interested in giving your closet a makeover for the New Year, contact Phyllis Doby of Closet Designs at 601.214.0254.

{Bride} Marla Waldrop
{Groom} Ben Ferguson
{Hometowns} Bride- Starkville, MS   Groom- Union City, TN
{Wedding Site} (First Baptist Church Chapel -106 E Lampkin St Starkville, MS 39759  )
{Reception Site} (Burnt Oak Lodge- 1563 Penn Station Rd. Crawford, MS 39743)
{Bride’s Bouquet} Flowers By the Bunch in Starkville
{Bridesmaid Bouquets} Flowers By the Bunch in Starkville

{How did the two of you meet?} We initially met when we were in college at Mississippi State at a party and became friends. He moved back to Tennessee to finish up school, and while we were still friends, we kind of lost touch until we ran back into each other at a Mississippi State football game in 2012. We’ve been together ever since.

{What is your proposal story?} Ben and I had planned to spend New Year's Eve together in Starkville.  We had planned to go to my family's camphouse (which is just outside of Starkville) because it is one of our favorite places to spend time.. and Ben wanted to see if there were any ducks, of course.  Ben said later that he had planned to propose to me there, but on Ben's way to Starkville from Tennessee, right after he had picked up the ring, he got a flat tire which made him late.  As soon as he got to Starkville, he called my mom, met up with her, got her blessing, showed her the ring, then rushed to meet me, my sister, and some friends for dinner.  He said that the ring was in his pocket all night, and he was just waiting for the right moment, since the initial plan of going to the camphouse was foiled due to the flat tire.  No one wanted to do anything after dinner, so Ben and I decided to just go home to celebrate New Years together.  While we were snuggled up on the couch with a fire going, Ben surprised me by getting down on one knee.  I've never been more surprised or excited!

{What inspired your wedding and reception locations?} We were married in the church I (Marla) grew up in, and I had always wanted to get married in the chapel. Ben is the outdoorsy type and an avid hunter, and we both thought the Burnt Oak Lodge (which is a quail hunting lodge) suited us.

{What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers?} Purple is my favorite color, and I wanted something summery an light to suit the summer season. My florist was great (Monti King at Flowers by the Bunch), I gave her an idea of what I liked and she ran with it- she made everything so beautiful.

{How did you pick “the dress?”} It was actually really lucky. My mom, sister, and I had plans to travel to a big dress shop out of town one afternoon, but at the last minute, we stopped by a small store in Starkville called Christine’s Couture. We walked in, and she said everything was marked down since her store was closing (she was moving to be near her fiancé). So I tried on a few dresses, and the third dress was the one.

{What’s your favorite unique accessory? Is there a story behind it?} My mom surprised me and added my grandfather’s wedding ring and a locket with my parents’ pictures to my bouquet (my father passed away the previous year), and it was so thoughtful and special- I’ll treasure it forever.

{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?} I loved looking through wedding magazines. I had always looked forward to that- when I could go through them and pick out my own.

{Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day?} The “first look” right before our pictures. When I first saw Ben, and he saw me in my dress. It became real, and it was just us- it was perfect. 

{What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?} just seeing all the friends and family that were able to come- a lot of people traveled a long way to be there, and it really meant a lot to have them there.

{Your favorite picture from the big day?} There was a sunflower field in bloom outside the Burnt Oak Lodge where our reception was held, and at the last minute, we went out there to get some pictures before the sun went down- I love all the pictures taken out there in all the sunflowers.

{The picture that represents the two of you best?} Ha, probably when Ben is pretending like he might rub the cake on my face at the reception, and I’m looking at him like- you better not. It’s so funny, and captures the playfulness of our relationship.

{Photographer} Tricia Butts – Betty Donne Photography
{Event Planner} day of planner was Cheryl Andrews
{Dress} Allure Couture
{Bride’s Jewelry} My own
{Hair} Kaycee Coghlan at Hair Express in Starkville, MS
{Make-up} Kaycee Coghlan at Hair Express in Starkville, MS
{Bridesmaid Dresses} Their own
{Tuxes} Joseph A. Bank
{Videographer} John David Smith of Jackson, MS
{Venue} Burnt Oak Lodge in Crawford, MS
{Lighting} Big Show Rentals in West Point, MS
{Rentals} Big Show Rentals in West Point, MS
{Florist} Monti King of Flowers By the Bunch in Starkville, MS
{Catering} Cappe’s from Starkville, MS
{Bar} Cappe’s from Starkville, MS
{Band} Party of Four
{Bride’s Cake} Monti King of Flowers By the Bunch in Starkville, MS
{Groom’s Cake} Monti King of Flowers By the Bunch in Starkville, MS
{Print Material} Minted
{Car Service} Leo’s Luxury Limos

It certainly is a magical time of year.  Each December, as trees are wrapped in baubles and tinsel, wreaths are hung and lights are strung, I am always flooded with memories of my favorite Christmas tradition:  baking homemade sugar cookies.  Growing up in Jackson, one of my dearest friends and I made countless batches of warm, gooey cookies, and coated them with icing and Christmas sprinkles.  Every December, we looked forward to filling our homes with the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked cookies.  It was a time to relax, catch up, and truly enjoy the Christmas season.  Even now, my friend and I get our little girls together to carry on our special holiday tradition! 

Delight your children with a new holiday tradition this year – baking and decorating delicious cookies, then celebrating with cookies, cake and milk!  For an extra treat, surprise little ones with a visit from jolly old Saint Nicholas!

If you would like to have Santa come from the North Pole and visit your friends and family this holiday season, contact Santa T at (662)544.7669.

If you need a quick and delicious sugar cookie recipe, we recommend Great Grandmother Doty’s Sugar Cookies from the Junior of League of Jackson’s Southern Sideboards Cookbook: 

    1 cup butter or margarine, softened
    2 cups sugar
    3 eggs
    2 teaspoons vanilla
    4 cups sifted flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and beat until fluffy.  Add vanilla, flour and baking powder.  Refrigerate until dough is quite firm. Roll about ¼ of dough out at a time on a floured board.  Roll about 1/8 inch thick.  Do not overwork dough or it will stick to the board.  Cut out cookies with cookie cutter and bake on cookie sheet in preheated 325F oven about 10 minutes or until light brown.  May be sprinkled with colored or plain sugar before baking.  Makes about 80 (2 inch) round cookies.  Decorate with your favorite holiday toppings!

Christina Foto for capturing these precious moments

Bella Bridesmaids for the lovely little frocks

Fresh Cut Catering and Floral for the dreamy white table setting

Cakes by Iris for the magnificent cake

Table and Chair Rentals provided by Kendall Poole Event Planning 

Santa T for providing a warm and friendly Santa Claus (662.544.7669)

We guarantee this will be a fun tradition to continue each and every holiday season! 

“People come to the Chimneyville Festival year after year because they know they will find something of value.  Everyone is selling handmade, quality items!”
Andrew Young, Owner and Chief Designer of Pearl River Glass Studio. 

The 38th Annual Chimneyville Crafts Festival will be held in Jackson this weekend, from December 5th through the 7th.  Customers will flock to the Trade Mart to purchase impressive handmade items such as pottery, jewelry, glass, wood and basketry.  Pearl River Glass has been selling their stained glass creations since 1977 and looks forward to the event every year.  Young and his company create exquisite stained glass pieces for churches and homes.  For Chimneyville, they scale down and create beautiful ornaments (look for their angel this year!), bowls, flower vases, and many other pieces.  

In 1973, Governor William Waller created what would become the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi.  Governor Waller believed that organizing and nurturing Mississippi craftsmen would help our state’s economy and image.  And he was correct!  For over four decades, the Guild has helped craftsmen make a living from their craft, include Young.  He says, “I graduated from LSU with a degree in landscape architecture.  When I was in school, I took a lot of art classes, and I took a stained glass class.  After college, I decided to open up a stained glass studio instead of what I was trained to do.  I have been doing it full-time since, and now I am doing all of the fun projects I dreamed about!” 

We spoke with Nancy Perkins of The Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi to learn what makes the Chimneyville Crafts Festival so special and the Guild so prestigious. 

"The high level of craftsmanship and the abundance of finely crafted items. There are numerous festivals and shows in the state with excellent craft but not ones where all of the exhibitors are skilled craftsmen who have met the high standards of the Guild. The Festival represents some of the best artisans in the region and the nation."

"As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so the answer is it depends who you ask. Most of our regular patrons have their favorites but they also love discovering new craftsmen. The other reason is so difficult to pick standouts is it is difficult to compare one artist's work against another.  There are such a variety of mediums - glass, wood, clay, metal, mixed media, jewelry and more - as well as different styles, Some craftsmen create functional, some whimsical and some museum quality craft. The truth is we have standout craftsmen to appeal to all tastes."

"The Guild was a pioneer. There were no organizations or associations available for craftsmen and not even recognition that many of these crafts should be valued as an art form. The creation of the Guild gave craftsmen recognition, standards to achieve and maintain, a vehicle for camaraderie with other talented, like-minded people and, most importantly, opportunities to make a living from their craft."

"To be a member of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi means you have shown a mastery of your medium; it is a mark of excellence. Our craftsmen are able to offer their work for sale exclusively in our retail galleries at the Mississippi Craft Center in Ridgeland and our satellite galleries in the Outlets of Mississippi in Pearl and the Arts District in Biloxi. We recommend our craftsmen to those seeking artisans for commission work and custom projects. We pay our members as teachers for craft classes, craft camp and school field trips. They can do demonstrations and sell at any of our facilities and can host exhibitions in the George Berry Gallery. We also share information with our members about shows, competitions, available grants and provide workshop opportunities. And, only our members can participate in the Chimneyville Crafts Festival and other Guild sponsored events."

"Twice a year – March and August, the Guild Standards committee reviews applications for new Guild members. Those applying must submit samples of their work, photos of additional pieces, information about themselves and their work. The review is conducted by the committee made up of two members from each medium who use a numerical system to determine results."

"You cannot find a large selection of exceptional craft work like this anywhere in Mississippi, and few other states have anything like this. The Festival reinforces Mississippi’s status as one of the best producers of fine craft in the country and should be a source of great pride. We have people who fly in for this every year, because they recognize our craftsmen are offering unique treasures that are unique and will stand the test of time."

"You cannot find a large selection of exceptional craft work like this anywhere in Mississippi, and few other states have anything like this. The Festival reinforces Mississippi’s status as one of the best producers of fine craft in the country and should be a source of great pride. We have people who fly in for this every year, because they recognize our craftsmen are offering unique treasures that are unique and will stand the test of time."

Thank you so much, Nancy!  For more information on the Guild and the Chimneyville Crafts Festival, visit their website here or Facebook page here!