Photo courtesy of Filigree Fotography

There are certain events that come together and are simply magical – here’s our recipe from over the weekend: Take one wonderful and worthy cause (Early Childhood Alliance building better futures for young children), add one dedicated “picky” committee, a dozen or so willing volunteers, eight generous sponsors, 109 enthusiastic guests, and a co-hostess/co-sponsor extraordinaire (Cheryl Brockmann and A Party Apart). Shake, stir and present — what do you get? A world class, over-the-top, unforgettable Mad Hatter Tea party!

“It was such a beautiful Tea Party and truly felt like we were all transported to another “other worldly” place.” — guest comment

Photo courtesy of Filigree Fotography

83 adults and 26 children rode the elevator “up the rabbit hole” to the 3rd floor of A Party Apart in downtown Fort Wayne and entered into a Mat Hatter “wonderland” environment. Early Childhood Alliance Executive Director Madeleine Baker and co-hostess Donna Emley greeted guests with champagne, pink lemonade and sparkling soda with “drink me!” tags and encouraged browsing in the silent auction area.  Trinity English Lutheran Church youth dramatists, dressed as characters from “Alice in Wonderland,” mingled and signed autographs.

“I don’t know how your committee could have made it any more enjoyable for everyone…adults and the children.  I know the two young girls at our table had a ball, and it was fun watching them too.  The food was great…silent auction had lots of wonderful things to bid on…and fun to see everyone dressed up with hats and gloves.” — guest comment

Photo courtesy of SocialFortWayne.org

After everyone was seated, guests dined on first course offerings of Tweedledee and Tweedledum Carrot Cream Cheese & Cucumber Chive Squares, Caterpillar Chicken Salad on leaves of endive and Cherry Tomato filled with “Eat Me” Bacon Mushroom Spread. Next came Pink Flamingo Soup with a yogurt garnish, Pistachio Grape Cheese Truffles, and a Queen of Hearts selection of breads and scones. The grand finale had everyone grinning with the Cheshire Cat Apple-Peanut Butter-Marshmellow Smiles for children and a trio of sweets for the adults. Adult guests received a keepsake recipe booklet as a take-home gift.

Photo courtesy of SocialFortWayne.org

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who sponsored, volunteered and attended this event to benefit Early Childhood Alliance. Read the guest blog post by Donna Emley on A Party Apart’s blog. Be sure to click on the links below and enjoy the collections of photos showcasing the event, with special thanks to SocialFortWayne.org and Filigree Fotography for allowing us to link to the photo albums.

Have you ever attended a Mad Hatter Tea?  Donna Emley, principal and creative director of EDG, along with Cheryl Brockmann, co-owner of A Party Apart, will be co-hosting the 5th Anniversary Mad Hatter Tea to benefit Early Childhood Alliance (ECA) in downtown Fort Wayne.  Guests are encouraged to “enter into a resplendent Mad Hatter environment, and escape to a world of wonderland, complete with a traditional three-course tea, plenty of curiosities, a silent auction, and a host of other surprises!”

EDG creates the visual brand concept and theme each year for this event, is a 5-year event sponsor, and designs and produces the collateral, including a save-the -date card, unique invitation packet which includes an actual tea bag, event program, ads, and display signage. “This year, for our 5th anniversary, I persuaded the committee to put up with a photo shoot for the save-the-date card, asking them all to dress up as an “Alice-inspired” character,” explained Donna. “The group ended up loving it – and loving even more the attention it has helped garner for the event.”

Tickets are still available, and if you have not attended one of these intimate teas in the past, you’ll be delighted with this unique experience.  Children ages 5-12 are invited and encouraged to attend this year, and many “curiosities” are planned to suprise and delight the young and the young at heart. Other sponsors include Indiana Michigan Power, LH Industries, Parkview, PNC, and Travel Leaders. Your donation will benefit Early Childhood Alliance and prepare young children to enter school ready to learn.

Rinna arrived on Thursday, October 7, for a VIP reception with sponsors and other VIP “Friends”, and then spoke at the Francine’s Friends “Lunch with Friends” luncheon on Friday. Rinna replaced Carrie Ann Inaba, who was unable to keep her commitment due to another opportunity.

The good news – this last-minute change created additional buzz and media “opportunity” all week long, especially when Lisa Rinna was presented with a cardboard cut-out of her husband, Harry Hamlin, at the VIP reception at the Fort Wayne Country Club. Rinna was supposed to be accompanied by her husband, Harry Hamlin, most notably of L. A. Law fame and the newly premiered Harry Loves Lisa, a docu-soap series. But at the last minute, Hamlin needed to return to Los Angeles.

Emley Design Group came up with the idea to present Rinna with “flat Harry” at the VIP reception. Genuinely delighted, Rinna immediately “tweeted” to her followers how great Francine’s Friends and Fort Wayne as a community was, and photos and updates were also posted immediately on FrancinesFriends.org and its Facebook page.

The mission of Francine’s Friends is to make early detection of breast cancer available to every woman in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana.  The Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography Coach travels to various community and business sites to bring mammography screening to every woman, including those who might otherwise not have access or appropriate insurance. In 2010, the coach made its 1,000th site visit, and as of December 30, 2010, over 13,716 women have been screened and over $610,000 to cover the cost of mammograms has been raised through this annual fundraiser. Emley Design Group developed initial identity and branding program for Francine’s Friends in 2005 and its blog in 2010, and helps promote and produce its annual fundraising event in October each year.

The 2011 “Lunch with Friends” is slated for October 14, 2011. More information may be found at FrancinesFriends.org.

Carrie Ann Inaba (photo courtesy of Key Speakers)

Francine’s Friends held a press conference and table captain luncheon on July 7, 2010 at Sycamore Hills Golf Club and announced keynote speaker Carrie Ann Inaba will be this year’s keynote speaker in October. Carrie Ann, most recently of “Dancing with the Stars” fame, will be in Fort Wayne on Thursday, October 7, for a VIP reception with sponsors and other VIP “Friends,”and then will speak at the luncheon on Friday, October 8th.

Last year, over 500 women attended the 5th annual Francine’s Friends breakfast and survivor makeover fundraiser.

The mission of Francine’s Friends is to make early detection of breast cancer available to every woman in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area. The Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography Coach travels to various community and business sites to bring mammography screening to every woman, including those who might
otherwise not have access or appropriate insurance.

On May 25, 2010, the coach made its 1,000th site visit, and as of May 31, 2010, over 11,620 women have been screened and over $475,000 to cover the cost of mammograms has been raised through annual fundraisers. Francine’s Friends is also a recipient of the 2008 Health Care Hero Award, in the category of Community Achievement in Health Care.

Along with Emley Design Group, sponsors to date include PHP Foundation,

To view schedule of upcoming dates/locations, learn more about the mobile mammography program, or details about the October event as they become available, visit www.FrancinesFriends.org. To schedule a mammogram, call (260) 483-1847.

The festival is free and open to the public. There will be three stages of entertainment and local area restaurant booths, art exhibits and art fair, and hands-on activities for all ages, plus much more.

And from 6pm-10pm, be sure to check out DESSERT, a party after the Taste featuring local bands, food and beverages.

Emley Design Group is proud to be a Gold Sponsor for Taste of the Arts for the second year. EDG developed the logo identity and branding program, and helped to launch the event. It created the web site, and designs and produced the advertising, promotional and collateral materials.

Updated information can be found by frequently visiting TasteOfTheArtsFortWayne.org.

The fashion gallery area features an area with the photos of the latest in-store collections, and also an event area with recent in-store fashion shows, seminars and special events in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana. The fashion shows highlight Jophiel models wearing complete outfits, plus all the latest accessories, shoes, handbags and more.

This premier upscale Fort Wayne fashion boutique, owned by Julie Eckert Clancy, specializes in current and upcoming designers unavailable elsewhere in the area. Outstanding customer service, exceptional merchandise and a knowledgeable staff complete the Jophiel experience.

EDG helped design and develop the online gallery area, and  photographs and publishes the seminars and in-store events.

Find out more about upcoming events at www.Jophiel.com or visit them in person at 6410 West Jefferson Blvd., in Covington Plaza (436-8338).

To view the online art rooms, visit www.EyePro.net.

It is listed among such publications as Wired, Time, The New Yorker, National Geographic, The Atlantic Monthly and many more. Emley Design Group has been a long time partner with The Lincoln Museum, designing their logo and various identity, branding and marketing communications as well as developing The Lincoln Museum
website and online store.

“We were THRILLED to our find out our jewelry was going to be included in these exclusive gift totes,” exclaimed Amy Odom, V. P. of Product Design and Marketing for The Glass Café. “This is an amazing list of prospective customers that will be in attendance, and to have an opportunity to put a piece of our glass jewelry in their hands before the show gives us tremendous marketing exposure,” she continued. “The ability to launch at this important industry gift show with the upscale brand and identity, press packets, packaging, and trade show display EDG created for us helped position us as a player and a contender in an environment where it’s all about positioning, branding and getting noticed,” she concluded.

EDG developed the identity and brand position for The Glass Café, based in the Chicago area, and also designed the market launch program for the debut in New York. For more information, visit their website at www.TheGlassCafe.com.