Take Me Out To The Ballgame

The birthday dinner for my sister and husband has rolled around again! You might remember a post from last year which included my father, and the three different place settings that I created. Since this year's dinner was for just the two of them I thought it might be a little easier. Perhaps I could find common ground.  I thought and thought. Well, they both love baseball...  Of course...BASEBALL!

I had to keep it simple. Flowers?  No...because (like crying) there aren't flowers in baseball. Candles? Hmmm...I had to think about that one. 

What represented baseball that I could use as a centerpiece? I was a little bit out of my "league".   And then it came to me.

  

A scoreboard! A quick Google search of scoreboard images gave me the information I needed to create an Excel scoreboard.  It took a little while, but I created a scoreboard that represented both my sister and my husband.  The ads represent things they both like. There was even a nod to my sweet Daddy with the NASA ad. And...I got to download a new font! (Yes, I am a font junkie.)

             

For me keeping things simple can be a difficult task.  Should I create a tabletop baseball diamond with runners on base? What would I use for dirt?  In the end I did keep it simple.  A quick trip to Party City to look at baseball party favors gave me the accents I wanted. I reused a picket fence base to hold the scoreboard.  I was a bit disappointed that neither my husband nor my sister like Cracker Jacks. Instead I put together faux popcorn bags. (Gotta love shred!)  And I did add some small tea light candles.

 

The one thing that gave me the most trouble was what drinking glasses to use?  Yes, I can be that picky.  As I finished setting the table it FINALLY came to me...Coca Cola glasses!! And I already have some at my house!  

Mission accomplished. While I could have gone overboard I didn't, and both of them loved the table.

Happy Birthday, Darlings!

Manna and Quail

Last summer I was asked to design a centerpiece based on a scripture from the book of Exodus.  I was to be one of several who designed a centerpiece for a church women's conference.  I chose Manna and Quail for several reasons; but mainly because a design popped into my head as soon as the Bible story was mentioned.

I used much of what I had on-hand. A glass-less picture frame served as a base on which to build the centerpiece. The frame not only contained the (desert) sand on which the story would be told, but also made for easy clean-up.  I borrowed two decorative quail from my mother, along with the stoneware pitcher that held the feather and stem arrangement. I did purchase a few silk stems, as well as the fabric for the table runner and cloth.  Panko bread crumbs served as the Manna that was "gathered" into two thin, wooden "baskets".

Everything came together and told the story well. 

Don't be afraid to use what you already have on hand.  Not every centerpiece must be completely brand new. And it's fun to see the items used and know the stories behind them as well.

See you next time!

Looking Forward To Spring

The past couple of months have been less than traditional.  Much of the holiday season is a blur, and the celebration of my mother's birthday wasn't much of a celebration.  My father was very ill and passed away a few weeks ago.  I haven't felt much like setting tables, creating centerpieces, or blogging...until I ran across some pictures today of a table setting I actually created for Mother's Day several years ago.  

This centerpiece included some sparkly butterflies I had gotten on sale after Christmas that year.  For some reason my father fell in love with these butterflies and would have been extremely happy if they had been a part of every centerpiece I have done since then! Really? Former football player and sparkly butterflies? 

I have used the butterflies since then (happy Daddy!), so when I saw these pictures I smiled and my thoughts turned to Spring...the promise of new life and new beginnings.

This post is for you, Daddy!  May heaven be filled with sparkly butterflies.  I love you.