It is quite apparent that
Kathy Curry , a 53-year-old
breast cancer survivor, has
found her niche in life.
A little girl at heart,
Curry has always loved
Victorian styles, and
dressing up. She is a jack-
of-all-trades with talents in
ceramics, gardening, flower
arranging, and other crafts.
It was one night 18 months
ago when Curry came up
with the idea of combining
all her interests and hosting
Victorian-style birthday
parties for girls of all ages.
Those who know her
bests say that there could
not be a more perfect job
for her.
"The Lord blessed me
with this idea at two in the
morning and it just took off
from there." Curry said,
"The moment I got the
idea, I was so excited: I
could visualize all that I
wanted to do. It took a
year to get everything
ready. Some of the dresses
and things were donated
and I made a lot of the
ceramic items myself. It all
started with changing my
garden house to a
playhouse."
Curry hosted her first
party last winter on the
coldest day of the year.
She showed her creativity
and tailored the party to
the season by making
penguins out of olives for
the occasion.
Rocking Horse Lane now
offers unique birthday
parties for girls of all ages.
Curry's home is just south
of Oak Grove on Colbern
exit.
"My main thing is that I
notice how different
children's lives are now
than that of my own as a
child, I wanted to create a
place for girls to be just
girls. This kind of birthday
party is different because it
is not so structured, there
is more time for creativity
and freedom," Curry said.
When first arriving at
Curry's home girls are
greeted and ushered into a
room that would complete
any girls' dream. Victorian
dresses of every size and color
line the walls. From short to
long and fringe to lace, the
options are endless. Hats in
multiple styles, shapes, and
decorations grace several
racks, and gloves and jewelry
add the finishing touch.
Every girl creates her own
outfit for the day and Curry
also joins in on dressing up for
Victorian parties, she wears
her own dress and hat with
long colorful plume. Curry
shops for her outfits at
Vintage Vogue in
independence.
"One day I walked into
Vintage Vogue and told the
women that I needed the
most drop-dead gorgeous hat
she had! I have always worn
hats whether they are in style
or not, I love them," Curry
said.
The girls enjoy her outfits
as well. The fact that she is so
involved makes the party
magical.
"I think that I have as much
fun as the girls do
sometimes," she said with a
smile. "and by the end of the
party, we are all friends."
After everyone is dressed
from head to toe, the girls
venture outside to attend a
tea party in a playhouse full of
porcelain dolls, and real china.
On the way, they can stop to
make a wish at the wishing
well or play by the garden.
When looking around at the
serene landscape, it is hard to
believe that it all started with
an old garden house and
empty land.
Before tea time each girl sits
down to design a special
birthday card for the birthday
girl.
Likewise, the birthday girl
makes thank-you cards.
The events become very
personal when Curry
interviews the parent or
grandparent of the birthday
girl before the party. She finds
out her favorite foods, colors,
and activities so the she can
tailor the party to the girls
special interests.
One child was excited to
see her favorite sandwiches
waiting at lunchtime. She
turned to her mother and
asked "How did she know?"
A beautiful playhouse...Kathy Curry sips tea in her playhouse.
Curry hosts unique parties for girls of all ages at her home. Lunch during
the parties take place in the playhouse, and the setting makes any girl feel
like a princess.
by Amber Dowler
Curry prepares all the food for
the luncheon. She makes
flower shaped sandwiches,
fresh fruit cups, sweet parfaits
and tiny teacakes. A lot of the
fruit and vegetables she grows
in her large garden.
During the party, the girls get
free time to play in the
playhouse or outside. A large
dollhouse is a favorite of many
guests.
"I want them to really enjoy
their time here," Curry said.
The girls also take a picture
together before leaving. The
birthday girl gets an 8 X 10 and
each guest receives a wallet
size. Curry's husband snaps the
picture and prints out the
copies during the party so that
the girls go home with their
photo.
Each party includes a tea
luncheon, a cake, petit flours, or
cup cakes and a birthday photo.
Besides the popular Victorian-
style part, Curry also offers
three other types. During a
Cowgirl Campfire Cookout, girls
dress in cowboy hats and
sheriffs' badges, and eat around
a large campfire. At a Garden
Party, girls plant flowers and
pick fresh fruits and vegetables,
and at a Craft Party, girls enjoy
crafts and make their own
ceramics.
Curry says that the greatest
compliment she can receive is a
girl walking away saying, "Well I
know where I am going to have
my birthday party!"
But tea parties are not only
for little girls. Curry has hosted
several gatherings for friends
and family in her playhouse and
outdoor garden.
"I host parties for all girls
from ages four to one-hundred
and four," Curry said. "This is
like my second child-hood, and I
love every minute of it. I could
see myself doing this until I am
80 years old," Curry said.
Curry opens her heart and
her home to make every party
special. An afternoon sipping
tea while wearing an
extravagant hat takes you back
in time and Curry could not be a
more perfect host. Rocking
Horse Lane warms the heart of
all girls whether young in age or
young at heart.
Anyone interested in a party
for any occasion, may call Curry
at 816-625-9584 or go to
rockinghorselane.com. Tours
are available for parents before
the party.
Hats galore!...One of many hat racks sits
in the dressing room corner. Girls can choose
from a variety of dresses, hats and gloves to
dress like a princess.
Stepping back in thyme...Thyme lines stepping
stones outside the playhouse at Rocking Horse Lane. Girls love
playing outside by the garden while attending birthday parties at
Curry’s home.
Rocking Horse Lane...
A sign at the end of Curry’s
driveway welcomes guests to her
home. The sign is personalized for
each party.
Local woman creates timeless birthday parties
The following article appeared in the Focus on Oak Grove newspaper on August 9, 2007
dresses of every size and color
line the walls. From short to
long and fringe to lace, the
options are endless. Hats in
multiple styles, shapes, and
decorations grace several
racks, and gloves and jewelry
add the finishing touch.
Every girl creates her own
outfit for the day and Curry
also joins in on dressing up for
Victorian parties, she wears
her own dress and hat with
long colorful plume. Curry
shops for her outfits at
Vintage Vogue in
independence.
"One day I walked into
Vintage Vogue and told the
women that I needed the
most drop-dead gorgeous hat
she had! I have always worn
hats whether they are in style
or not, I love them," Curry
said.
The girls enjoy her outfits
as well. The fact that she is so
involved makes the party
magical.
"I think that I have as much
fun as the girls do
sometimes," she said with a
smile. "and by the end of the
party, we are all friends."
After everyone is dressed
from head to toe, the girls
venture outside to attend a
tea party in a playhouse full of
porcelain dolls, and real china.
On the way, they can stop to
make a wish at the wishing
well or play by the garden.
When looking around at the
serene landscape, it is hard to
believe that it all started with
an old garden house and
empty land.
Before tea time each girl sits
down to design a special
birthday card for the birthday
girl.
Likewise, the birthday girl
makes thank-you cards.
The events become very
personal when Curry
interviews the parent or
grandparent of the birthday
girl before the party. She finds
out her favorite foods, colors,
and activities so the she can
tailor the party to the girls
special interests.
One child was excited to
see her favorite sandwiches
waiting at lunchtime. She
turned to her mother and
asked "How did she know?"
A beautiful playhouse...Kathy Curry sips tea in her playhouse.
Curry hosts unique parties for girls of all ages at her home. Lunch during
the parties take place in the playhouse, and the setting makes any girl feel
like a princess.
by Amber Dowler
Curry prepares all the food for
the luncheon. She makes
flower shaped sandwiches,
fresh fruit cups, sweet parfaits
and tiny teacakes. A lot of the
fruit and vegetables she grows
in her large garden.
During the party, the girls get
free time to play in the
playhouse or outside. A large
dollhouse is a favorite of many
guests.
"I want them to really enjoy
their time here," Curry said.
The girls also take a picture
together before leaving. The
birthday girl gets an 8 X 10 and
each guest receives a wallet
size. Curry's husband snaps the
picture and prints out the
copies during the party so that
the girls go home with their
photo.
Each party includes a tea
luncheon, a cake, petit flours, or
cup cakes and a birthday photo.
Besides the popular Victorian-
style part, Curry also offers
three other types. During a
Cowgirl Campfire Cookout, girls
dress in cowboy hats and
sheriffs' badges, and eat around
a large campfire. At a Garden
Party, girls plant flowers and
pick fresh fruits and vegetables,
and at a Craft Party, girls enjoy
crafts and make their own
ceramics.
Curry says that the greatest
compliment she can receive is a
girl walking away saying, "Well I
know where I am going to have
my birthday party!"
But tea parties are not only
for little girls. Curry has hosted
several gatherings for friends
and family in her playhouse and
outdoor garden.
"I host parties for all girls
from ages four to one-hundred
and four," Curry said. "This is
like my second child-hood, and I
love every minute of it. I could
see myself doing this until I am
80 years old," Curry said.
Curry opens her heart and
her home to make every party
special. An afternoon sipping
tea while wearing an
extravagant hat takes you back
in time and Curry could not be a
more perfect host. Rocking
Horse Lane warms the heart of
all girls whether young in age or
young at heart.
Anyone interested in a party
for any occasion, may call Curry
at 816-625-9584 or go to
rockinghorselane.com. Tours
are available for parents before
the party.
Hats galore!...One of many hat racks sits
in the dressing room corner. Girls can choose
from a variety of dresses, hats and gloves to
dress like a princess.
Stepping back in thyme...Thyme lines stepping
stones outside the playhouse at Rocking Horse Lane. Girls love
playing outside by the garden while attending birthday parties at
Curry’s home.
Rocking Horse Lane...
A sign at the end of Curry’s
driveway welcomes guests to her
home. The sign is personalized for
each party.
Local woman creates timeless birthday parties
The following article appeared in the Focus on Oak Grove newspaper on August 9, 2007
