fairy party

Cute woodland fairy party here.

40th birthday

Adult parties tend to be not nearly as thought-out as the kiddie fare (perhaps a less appreciative audience?), but this 40th birthday bash is an exception. Katy threw her music-loving, basketball-playing, 40 year-old husband one heck of a birthday party back in November. A couple of snaps above. 

What she did:

-collected 40 images and created 4 posters- one for each decade of his life- to hang up around the living room.

-had former students (from their teaching stint in the Caribbean) film groups of their classmates wishing him a happy birthday. They emailed the videos, which she put together into a movie...which she surprised him with and played at the party.

-because so many of his friends now live in other cities, she asked everyone who couldn't come to the party to send an email with a personal message and photos, which she compiled into a big album.

-those who were at the party signed sheets of paper fitted to the album size, that were later included in the back of the album.

-for each guest in attendance, she made a 2 cd mix of his favorite 40 songs (the 'top 40')- 20 slow and 20 fast- which were given out at the end of the night.

-at the end of the night, everyone moved into the basement (where his turntables are set up) and he DJ'ed!

I love the thought and care that was put into this party! For more pictures, go to Katy's flickr set here.

paris candy shop birthday

Annmarie of near-Boston, Massachusetts sent me this adorable 'Parisian Candy Shop' party for her daughter Lucy's 4th birthday. Everything is just as I imagine a little girl would dream of...pink, fluffy, light-goodness. 

The cake is a masterpiece (Annmarie was inspired by this one); and the paper cones the girls used for treats are a favorite of mine as well. I bet those little ones were on quite a sugar high...

parade of pirates

I'm enthralled by this Tampa-based pirate party! Read more here.

garbage truck party!

Sometimes my scattered brain does not file things away as it should. Today I just remembered that I never posted this super cute garbage truck party! What a fun theme for a 2 year-old (or any age, really).

From Lucy: "Liam really wanted a garbage truck cake and theme (he's obsessed with them) and yet I really wanted to be stylish and semi-eco, too. Nathalie (of the apple party) was one of my inspirations. Like you, I was horrified at making the cake from scratch- especially a three-tiered one, but everyone was too in awe of the flashing lights to notice the actual cake (wires were hidden in between the cake segments and a battery pack was in the back)." 

Thank you, Lucy! More details on the party and the 'eco' aspects here.

As always, I love sharing the parties you creative lovelies have come up with. Send your photos to me at: hickspapergoods(at)yahoo.com. 

1 party down, 2 to go...

Last night was fun. A dinner for 10 women, all of whom I enjoy being around. I tried to time things so that I actually got to spend some time with my guests. Everything I fixed required different timing (basil and goat cheese chicken, haricots verts, roasted potatoes, rice), however, so while I did get to chat some- I spent more time in the kitchen then I would have liked. The potatoes took wayyyy longer then they were supposed to, but it all turned out fine in the end. We ate like Europeans and dined at 9, but no one seemed to have a problem with it. The top two photos are the only ones I managed...of the drinks set-up, and some of the apps (ricotta and goat cheese spread with sun-dried tomato salsa).

Right now I'm in the midst of setting up for our playgroup. We'll be celebrating November birthdays. My friend is bringing the cupcakes, and I'm in charge of drinks and snacks. I've included a couple of snapshots I've taken while trying to figure out the setup. This is good practice for my son's birthday at the end of the month. I got some big red balloons blown up at Party City this morning, and filled little party cups with baby snacks (mini vanilla wafers, goldfish, cheerios). I also saw my chance to use a favorite vintage dish of mine-- the children's silhouette bowl, above. I've filled it with graham crackers. 

Tonight I've got another dinner with some great ladies- my 'book' club, though we seemed to have dropped the book-reading part, and simply focus on drinking wine. Our carbon monoxide detector is currently going off and won't stop (though there's definitely no carbon monoxide in the house), so I'm off to deal with that!

mirrors and marrakech

Another party I'm loving...

via my marrakech

barbara bestor dinner party

I love seeing how others entertain. This dinner party thrown by of-the-moment Bohemian Modern architect Barbara Bestor is no exception. I loved her home in Domino, and really enjoy seeing how her latest creation looks!

via LA Times via Remodelista

party roundup

Some favorite parties from the past couple of weeks...

from top: ballerina inspired party at Miette via Nesting; fairy party from Simply Lovely (2 + 3); mouse birthday party (4 + 5) from the Princess and the Frog; 1930's New Depression party (6 +7) via Cup of Joe; rainbow birthday party via BloesemKids; pumpkin carving party (9, 10 + 11) via Eddie Ross.

Happy Halloween...have a great weekend. -s

high vs. low

I've come across two French-themed birthday parties this week...for a one year-old and the other for a two year-old. The one year-old party is a bit over the top and must have cost thousands and thousands of dollars. The other is still gorg (check out that cake!), but on a much more modest scale. Which do you like? Personally, a party on that level for a one year-old makes me gag (even if they do have the money!), but that's just me. I really adore the two year-old's party, however!

2 year-old party via Black Eiffel

1 year-old party via Whatever Dee Wants via B.lush

a tutorial for the vines...

Here is a similar concept for the vine how-to for the Wild Things party. From Martha, of course.

in case you missed it...

I love this whole dinner concept from Jordan of Oh Happy Day. A 'secret' dinner party in the 'middle of nowhere'. I'm thinking of totally copying this idea- it's so fabulous! The invitations really make it over-the-top special. Click here for the details.

party in pink

I was going to wait to post these beautiful baby shower pictures from Los Altos-based photographer Loren Weltsch until next week, but I just couldn't postpone- I think it's the perfect party to send you into the weekend. 

Let me count the ways I love this idea...

1) The look is very high-style, but I also think it is easily achievable. Pretty outdoor setting? Check. Lanterns in varying shades of the same color? Check. Simple flower groupings (with my absolute favorite flower- the peony) in varying shades of the same flower? Check. Things the 'average' person can do? Absolutely!

2) I'm often asked about 'themes' for parties, and I think there is no easier and prettier 'theme' then a color story. As long as you stay within a restricted color palette, you can easily mix a variety of shapes and patterns for a cohesive look. This party illustrates this concept so well! This same look could be achieved for the fall with varying oranges or yellows, with seasonal flower groupings on the table (mums, daisies, etcetera).

3) I love the way circles and dots are used both literally and in abstract ways. The invitation circles mimic the lanterns, the dot tags used on the food markers, even the cookies mimic the roundness of it all. 

4) I think rectangular tables are always prettier and easier to set-up - and I love the counter balance to all the roundness of the other elements.

Loren's photographs also make this party look even more special, so if you have it in the budget, a photographer (or even a friend who is good with the camera) will make your party memories last!

Thank you for sharing, Loren! Have a great weekend, everybody.