Monday, November 23, 2009

DIY Thanksgiving: Napkin Décor


If you’re tired of using plain white napkins every year for your special dinner, try adding a little color and surprise with this simple napkin decoration. You can keep it monochromatic like we did, or you can layer different complementary colors to add a rainbow to your table.

Materials:


  • White napkin (cloth or paper based on how casual or formal your dining table is)
  • Hot glue gun
  • Colored Paper
  • Scissors
  • Small colored poofs (These can be found at any local craft store)
  • Colored ribbon
Instructions:


1. Cut your colored paper into any shape you’d like. We used hearts here. Cut two pieces for each napkin you’ll be using (e.g. 16 pieces of paper for your table of 8). After you’ve cut all your shapes, take half of the pieces of paper (e.g. 8 of the 16) and set them aside. With the remaining pieces, take your colored poofs and hot glue them neatly on to the paper. We started by gluing the poofs along the outer border of the heart and worked our way inward. Set pieces aside to dry.


2. Fold your white napkins neatly into a rectangular shape. Take your colored ribbon and wrap each white napkin. Secure the ribbon by hot gluing the ends together behind the napkin. Take the pieces of paper you set aside and place them inside the ribbon of each napkin.

3. At your dining table, place your napkins down next to each plate and add the decorated paper (with the poofs) on top of the ribbon, a little offset, so you can see the other layer of paper beneath it. Finish off with silverware and you’re all set.

As always, please don’t forget to share pictures of your creations. Email them to my editor: Karell@prestonbailey.com, or post on your blog and leave the link in the comments.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Solos and Song: Theo’s show


The quiet stage before the show began

Last night was an evening full of song and emotions. Hearing Theo Bleckmann’s voice always strikes a very specific chord in my heart, but last night was made doubly special because I had a chance to be part of it by designing the environment for the entire show. It was a busy day with a lot to set up and small details to get right, but the minute Theo set foot on the stage and began, I forgot all about that and just became entranced with the music and his voice. I wasn’t alone. As I looked out at the sold out crowd in Roulette, I could see people reacting with joy, understanding and many times laughter (Theo tells some great jokes).



He played a diverse amount of songs from his discography, ranging from his newest record Schumann's Favored Bar Songs  (out today from Winter and Winter) to his first record ever released. For his encore, he even played a German version of the famous Beatles song, I Want to Hold Your Hand, with the audience clapping along.



Lighting was the biggest component for décor of the set. Ira Levy helped me design the lighting for the night. As Theo played from song to song, we coordinated the lights to change colors from purple to green to blue and so on. A major part of this was a large canopy I created out of fiber optic strands that twinkled above the stage.  Theo’s next performance will be in Munich, Germany in January. If you’re interested in attending one of his shows, check out his tour page for more information.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Tonight: Theo Bleckmann’s Solo Show



Today’s a busy day; Theo is performing tonight. (The show is sold out!) I am so fortunate that my partner is a world-renowned jazz performer. I’ve always wanted to create a set for one of his performances and today I finally get the chance.

Theo will be performing an intimate one man show at Roulette in Soho and it’s sure to be an amazing experience (if I do say so myself). All the sets and the entire environment are created by me, and I really hope everyone enjoys them. We’re setting up the stage right now. I’ll try to get some before and after pictures to post for you all to see.

More About The Trip & Why I Loved Hong Kong

When I sit here and think about everything I want to share with you about Hong Kong, one thing stands out in my mind: the people there were amazing (and so elegantly dressed too). Being in the service business, I just have to say that I was in complete awe at the level of attention and service I encountered throughout my entire trip. I was touched by the many subtleties that combine together to differentiate between a “good” experience and a “great” experience.

One example of this is when I arrived at the Hong Kong International airport. When we walked up to the Asiana airlines counter, all the attendants stood up and addressed us—even those who had no obligation to attend to us. It’s definitely different (actually, let’s say completely opposite) of what you would normally encounter at JFK International Airport in New York city (you know what I’m talking about New Yorkers).

Another thing I loved: the shopping (check out the picture of me in action). Hong Kong is known as a shopping mecca and it certainly stands up to this reputation. I took the chance to deck myself out on this trip and visit many of the stores Hong Kong had to offer. I also enjoyed the food so much! One great meal was a family style traditional Chinese dinner at Peking Garden. The freshness and originality of the Chinese food was unlike anything I’ve tried here.

Overall, it was a fabulous trip and I can’t wait to go back.
Related Posts with Thumbnails