Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A Little Ingenuity & Another Party

A Birthday Party at the Beach!


Welcome back to Hyacinths For The Soul
and Tablescape Thursday.
It's another party!

Last week was spent enjoying the pleasures of the seashore with my friend, Kay. It was five days of summer seaside simplicity: just us girls sharing, stitching, and savoring the delights of leisure time.


The trip happened to coincide with Kay's birthday. So a birthday celebration was definitely in order! I wanted to do a special tablescape, but I certainly hadn't packed my china and silver, nor anything that I would normally use on a table. So I had to rely on ingenuity. I began to scruntize the lovely beach house that was to be our home for the next few days. The dishes were a simple creamy white. Excellent! Food always looks best on white dishes, and white would be an easy color with which to work.


I rummaged through the closet to see what else might be useful. Wow! Ocean blue placemats and coordinating napkins. The napkins were lovely with a seashell print on one side and stripes on the reverse. I couldn't have selected anything more appropriate if I'd gone shopping myself!
So now the theme was set!
(As if it might be something other than a beach theme?)


Oh, just look at this group of enchanting birthday hats in one of the local shops!

Can you guess which one was just made for our party?


Yes, the perfect party hat modeled by the adorable young shopkeeper.
The house was a treasure trove of wonderful beach themed goodies. The centerpiece would definitely include fish! No problem here! I rounded up a few of my favorites.


This was one of a pair. It has a little tea light holder on the reverse so that candle light glows through the blue glass.

And this stunning guy was truly a work of art. Can you see the miniature scene within the glass fish? Sorry, the photo does not do this one justice.

My favorite was this handmade pottery fishy. His vivid colors, big eyes, and wide open mouth made me smile each time I looked his way.

A vibrant yellow Gerber Daisy bouquet was the perfect choice for flowers.
They were stunning in this blue stoneware vase.

I added a large pillar candle pulled in from one of the baths and colorful curled ribbon tossed about to give a festive touch in honor of the birthday celebration.


I think we're ready!
Dinner ~ a light, simple salad with fresh, boiled shrimp.
Nothing better than fresh Gulf shrimp when you are at the coast!
And what is a birthday celebration without a birthday cake?

Winn-Dixie makes a terrific lemon sour cream goodie that was perfect for two on a diet. Yummy key lime pecans were scattered around the sides. The musical candle plays "Happy Birthday" continuously. Another Winn-Dixie find!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAY!
Not bad for an impromptu party table? What do your think?
If you missed the celebration at HFTS last Thursday, click here.
To view a few photos from the Florida Gulf Coast posted yesterday for
Outdoor Wednesday, click here.
I like to read your comments. Please leave one!
Then click here to join Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday and a list of participants with tablescapes to share.
Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

35 comments:

  1. Hello ~
    Very nice table ! I love the colors you picked !
    Food and everything - WOW !
    Kammy

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  2. You did a lovely job making a special table for your friend. Looks like y'all had a great time!

    Christi @ A Southern Life
    http://asouthernlife.com

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  3. Now that's creative!! You are so sweet to make your friend's birthday special at the beach! I want that big mouth pottery fish!

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  4. Kudos to you for being so creative Sarah!

    I love how you pulled everything together into such a pleasing table for the celebration. It's beautiful.

    Oh yum, your food looks wonderful too! Very nice.

    xo

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  5. You are amazing! What great finds at Winn Dixie and at your place...You have a super eye for putting things together with "found" items. What a special birthday for your friend. I know it was greatly appreciated!

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  6. A birthday diet dinner is the way to go:) and I bet your friend appreciated all your creativity.
    Joyce

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  7. Happy Birthday to your friend! I love the tablescape your put together, and I'll have some salad and cake, please!

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  8. That looks wonderful! It all came together perfectly!
    I hope you enjoyed your stay at the beach!
    Thanks for your visit to my blog!

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  9. This is so fun and special...I love what you did here...Happy Birthday Kay...thanks for sharing this....Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  10. What a perfect coastal birthday celebration for 2. The pretty tablescape just completes the atmosphere...Christine

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  11. Sarah,I've always known that you have a great "eye" when it comes to interior design but this little impromptu birthday treat for Kay is inspired! Glad you had fun at the beach.

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  12. I'm impressed! This is such a fun table - you did great -- I'll bet this was a very memorable Birthday celebration for your friend.

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  13. Thanks for visiting! Great tablescape with great ideas...could you pass the shrimp please??
    Happy TT!

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  14. So much fun- I love that handmade pottery fish! Your shrimp salad looks tasty!

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  15. Hi Sarah, your table is lovely and oh, the food looks so wonderful!

    I look forward to seeing you at the Rooster party. Thank you so much for displaying the button.

    Happy Thursday and blessings,
    Barb

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  16. Hi Sarah, great table. Looks like a delicious birthday dinner too. Love the colors and for some reason I find myself humming... what is it ... "Under the Sea"
    Maryrose

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  17. What fun! Celebrating by the sea!
    -The Tablescaper

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  18. Oh Sarah... what a lovely table you created from things you found around the house... it's absolutely perfect. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your friend Kay. Girl time is so special! I hope you both are enjoying your time together!

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  19. How wonderful, I could put myself in your shoes shopping, thank you for letting us share in your birthday party. You did a terrific job!

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  20. What a delightful birthday event...and so lovely!

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  21. The colors were great!! This was a fun tablescape!! Happy Birthday to the birthday girl!!

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  22. What a magical table setting, I just love those fish !!

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  23. Oh, that sounds like fun! Being with a good friend on her birthday and shopping and making a tablescape from found objects! You are one good friend!
    Brenda

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  24. Well my goodness! What an excellent birthday tablescape! Enjoyed all the fun details. You wouldn't know you put this together very quickly, those white dishes and the way you set everything looks just perfect!! Thanks for stopping by my tablescape! Hugs!

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  25. What a fabulous job you did on the impromptu party! Looks great, so does the food!

    Katherine

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  26. Hi Sarah! What a lovely tablescape for a fun beachy birthday...impromptu or not! I love the way you shopped the cottage for your tablescaping needs! Great job! It sounds like you had a wonderful time! Enjoy your weekend...hugs...Debbie

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  27. What a wonderful friend you are!!! The table is so sweet... I know your friend was happy. Stop over at my place for coffee and cake, When you have the time... I signed up to follow your blog while I was here.

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  28. Happy Birthday to Kay! Your tablescape is beautiful. You did sooo well. The blues are lovely..and the fish are perfect! Love the cake too.
    thank you for sharing..and Happy Belated..
    Judi

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  29. Everything looked fresh, cool, colorful, and fun!
    Great post!

    Bill

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  30. It looks like you really had a good time. Your table looked great. And you are a very good friend.
    Sandy

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  31. Sarah...what a darling table! I love all the beachy touches. That hat was hilarious...never seen a party hat quite like that. LOL
    I know Kay felt special with such a lovely tablescape for her B'day! :-)
    Susan

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  32. awesome job! how fun to be impromptu.

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  33. What a fun table for your friend's big day. I can't get those key lime pecans out of my mind...I have never heard of rhem, but they sounds so good!

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  34. I am going to do this in 2 weeks: I am going to the beach with a group of girlfriends and one is having a birthday (actualy it is TODAY!!!! But I will search the house and see what I can come up with for a great celebration!!!! Thanks for the inspiration! Your table turned out beautifully, all the elements are perfect! I know you all had a great time!!!! Pinky

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Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.