It stands to reason that people who value creativity often have creative friends. The interchange of ideas is always a pleasure, as is the opportunity to provide helpful manpower. I recently had such an opportunity when I helped my friend, Cathy, set up a Mardi Gras party that she designed all of the decor for, including 20 wonderful Mardi Gras centerpieces.
The day began with the loading of the decorative components that she’d been amassing for weeks months. It’s amazing how much you can fit in one small a few vans. Ok, and a car or two. Cathy had done a trial run of most of the centerpieces in her home, but they needed to be transported to the venue and the hope was that most of the elements would stay close to in tact. This being March, of course it was a lovely spring snowy day.
As anyone with experience doing floral centerpieces knows, it’s compelling how many flowers you need to make much of a statement. In this case, the floral pieces were only a fraction of the total, yet the flowers filled two huge plastic bins.
The selection was culled from the early spring availability, further limited by the Mardi Grad colors. They were set in water filled vases when we arrived at the venue to be arranged a bit many hours later, after the other centerpieces were set up.
Once everything was transferred in, we laid everything out on long temporary tables. Cathy checked each one against her brief very detailed list, while I and another friend, Cindy, helped gather the missing items.
Next it was my job to direct the placement of the items around the room, with attention paid to the distribution of color and varying heights and textures of the centerpieces. We worked as a collaborative group utilizing our varying skills and talents, but the centerpieces that follow were all designed by Cathy herself.
Feathers were central to several of the pieces, lending height and drama to the ballroom tables. Many of the centerpieces were set on mirrored discs encircled with votives or small floral offerings in decorative glassware.
One of Cathy’s specialties is floral arranging and she did a fabulous job with the centerpieces that highlighted the gorgeous flowers.
Another thematic element featured in several of the centerpieces was the use of horn instruments inspired by the jazz music of New Orleans, the perfect imagery for a Mardi Gras party.
Beads, as well as glittered ornaments and feathers in Mardi Gras colors helped set the scene.
The purple, green and gold lent a flamboyant and festive tone. You can see a fleur-de-lis wall hanging peeking behind this centerpiece.
Perhaps the piece we all loved the most was this candelabra topped with floral orbs.
Masks, another element typifying Mardi Gras, were utilized as well. And always, beads everywhere.
The set up took an entire day and included some smaller arrangements and decor that would be used in the cocktail area and bar. After working for several hours, some of the beads, hats and feathers found their way to another use…
My talented friends, Cathy on the left and Cindy on the right. The event was a huge success and a good time was had by all. I will be featuring more of my talented friends’ work from time to time and you can look forward to Cindy’s upcoming food blog which will be launched very soon.
Linking with BNOTP, Dwellings Amaze me Monday, A Stroll Thru Life Tuesday, The Scoop, Savvy Southern Style Wednesdays, The Vintage Nest Share Your Style, From My Front Porch to Yours, LWSLThriftyThursday, Jan Olson Thursday, Shabby Nest Frugal Friday, Romantic Home Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Crafts a la Mode Weekends
So festive! I especially love the sax centerpiece.
Thanks for visiting, Bev! I definitely liked the musical instruments best, as well… 🙂
Bev! I love all of your work! I am planning on doing a Mardi Gras themed 50th Birthday Gala for ME in January… I love the plumes.. is there a specialty website or location where these can be found or ordered????…. Also the Sax and trumpet.. I LOVE!!!!!.. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated!!!
Hi Iris! I assume you meant to address that to me (Lory)? You can try Papermart for feathers. They have lots of colors. The musical instruments are real and my friend collects them. You might try a vintage market. Good luck with your party and Happy 50th!!
I sent you an email about your center pieces, because I am interested in some of your musical instruments for a party that I am about to have. Please answer.
Elsie
Hi Elsie! I answered your email, so perhaps it went into your spam folder. I mentioned that the musical instruments were from my friend’s personal collection that she keeps hanging in her living room, but you might try an antique shop or a place that carries vintage props. There’s a place in NY/NJ called Golden Oldies but if you live elsewhere in the country, any vintage market has a shot at carrying similar pieces. Hope that helps!
These are all fantastic! 😀 Love the centerpieces. I like the ones with pink thrown in the mix with the traditional purple, gold, and green
Thanks, Ricki!! It’s a fun palette to work with… 🙂
Love the sax!
I think the instruments are the most fun, aren’t they? Thanks for visiting!!
Fabulous centerpieces….that saxophone is a standout! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks!
Perfectly Mardi Gras! I especially love the saxophone! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks, Jann! And thanks for hosting… 🙂
Beautifully done! Thank you for sharing! I’m also hosting a Mardi Gras themed party and you have definitely given me inspiration to create something as magical as you did! Blessings and much success to you!
Hi Lory, I just found your page. I also love your work. I would like to replicate the plumes in a vase. I know it depends on the size of the vase but, could you tell me how many purple ones were used in the tall clear glass vase replica? I am a retired music teacher and I used my instruments to make lamps. Thanks for your help
Thanks so much, Mary! And welcome… 🙂 The way the plumes were done was to add them to flower foam so they would get the height and showy display. Can’t remember how many. Maybe a few dozen? How fun and meaningful that you used instruments to make lamps!!
where did you/your friend get the saxophone?? Please reply! That thing is awesome and I would love to use it for my party! 🙂
She collects vintage instruments from antique shops.
Hello
Ive been looking for the saxophone. Is there any way i can purchase just the saxophone? I will need about 10 of those. If it is possible to purchase what is the cost?
Thank you for your time.
In the post I talk about how my friend collects vintage instruments from antique shops. That’s where it came from.
Where did you find the stand for the sax?
It belongs to a friend of mine.
Where did you get your supplies from. We have a corporate event in March and our theme is Mardi grass and I needs supplies to create our centerpieces
The instruments are a friend of mine’s that’s she’s collected from antique markets. Everything else came from various online and local shops.