Linda Hansson - Vintage Parties A Guide to Throwing Themed Events – from Gatsby Galas to Mad Men Martinis and Much More

Contents

Foreword

We love vintage everything just as much as were completely and madly in love with inventive and extravagant celebrations. Preferably parties with an exciting theme that we can indulge in and throw ourselves into completely. To us, there are no boundaries to how far you can take a theme. Nor are there any limits to the decorations and treats that you can make for your party.

This book is filled to the brim with just that. Nifty tips for how to create a unique partyby thrifty meanswith a particular focus on vintage and flea market finds. Be inspired by a bygone era, dust off forgotten hand-me-downs and possessions, make a toast with pastel-colored lemonade, munch on wonderfully tasty snacks, and invite your good friends to many a happy surprise. Play games or use props to trigger your guests creativity; doll yourself up in a bargain evening gown or a festive bow tie and youre all decked out for a theme party. All in accordance with the philosophy: environmentally friendly, beautiful, and kind to the wallet.

Prepare yourself for an unforgettable party that will be inventive, unique and, of course, completely and utterly wonderful... Welcome to our Vintage Parties!

L INDA H ANSSON L OUISE L EMMING E MMA S UNDH

Spring Fling

When the cherry blossoms are blooming, the grass is as green as can be, spring calls are echoing in the forests, and the seedlings are ready to make their push out of the soil, thats when the emotions of spring are the strongest. What could be better than to invite your friends to celebrate spring? Let the newly born splendor of the season be your guide, be inspired by delicate lace and the era at the start of the past century, and youre on the trail of those tingling spring emotions. Set the table with the first vegetables of the season in an empty greenhouse , display your gardening tools as props, and let all the ingredients of spring play the lead in this vibrant spring fling.

In April when its still a bit chilly outsidethe covered-up look inspired by turn-of-the-century fashion is perfect. Ankle-length dresses, bright stockings, and walking boots for the ladies, and jackets, trousers, and bowler hats for the gents. Whats more, the fragile nature of spring is a perfect match for the beautiful, bright creations that were all the rage in the beginning of the 1900s . Be guided by bright hues, crisp white , and complex lace. The best accessory for your spring fling? Parasols , of course! So beautiful and oh so beneficial for sun-sensitive winter skin.

Tip!

Keep a spray bottle with water on hand if the linen tablecloth gets wrinkled. Place the cloth on the table and spray abundantly with water at the same time as you press out the wrinkles with your hand. Suddenly the cloth looks like its been newly ironed. This is one of the best and simplest household tricks we know of!

Charming seed bags

Set out on a flea market adventure and browse china and crystal glasses of every kind. For a couple of dollars per piece, you can collect a whole set of plates, side dishes, glass, cutlery, and napkins. If you cant find linen napkins, simply sew your own from washed flea market fabrics or simply old linens.

Mix and match on a whim and make a unique table setting for each guest. You can use pressed linen cloth, lace curtains, or pieces of fabric remnants that can be sewn together into a larger piece of cloth.

Seed bag place settings

Top off your tablecloth creation with place cards in the form of homemade seed bags. Tear out or photocopy pages from antique books or old encyclopedias. These often contain beautiful illustrations and engravings of all sorts of flowers. You can buy such books for next to nothing at flea markets and yard sales. Glue along the length of three of the papers edges and attach it to the description page of the chosen flower (where youll also find instructions on how to care for it), which then becomes the rear side of the seed bag.

Put some seeds in the bag and staple along the top. Do you want to conceal the staples? Fold a circular doily into a half moon and attach it to the top edge of the seed bag. Done!

A place card, soon a dazzling flower, and then a memory for lifeall in one!

More decor?

Circle a lace or silk ribbon around the seed bag and finish by tying it into an ornate bow. Ribbons can be found in craft stores, online, or even in Grandmas sewing kit. Browse and play and let your spring fling style evolve from there. There are no rules here.

tie a flower wreath

MAKE WREATHS FOR YOUR GUESTS AND THEYLL FEEL LIKE KINGS AND QUEENS. FLOWER WREATHS ARE ALSO BEAUTIFUL PARTY FAVORS, AND THEYRE COMPLETELY FREE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

What to do

Pick flowers of different lengths, colors, and shapes. Start with the flower that has the longest and most firm stem. Place this one as the core and then coil the rest of the flowers around it as illustrated in the picture to the right.

Once youve looped a flower around the core stem, place the looped flowers stem alongside the core stem. In this way, youll make the wreath longer and thicker and it will become strong and elegant.

When the wreath is big enough to fit your or one of your guests heads, continue to coil it, but now secure the flowers all around the wreath by sticking their stems in between the loops to anchor them. Finish by fastening flowers with shorter stalks between the coiled flowers; this will help to hold the wreath together, but will also lessen the spacing between the blossoms and will conceal the stems.

Tip!

Use ivy or clover flowers for the frame of the wreath. These flowers are perfect to tie a wreath out of, since their stems are so rigid. After that, your creations appearance is only limited by your imagination. Birch twigs are really beautiful, but unfortunately insects feel the same way about them. If youre afraid of bugs, skip the birch twigs.