Sunday, January 10, 2010

A Madeline Birthday Party

Please note: It is absolutely positively the most flattering honor for me that you may wish to share my blog on The Madeline Birthday Party or "borrow" images or copy or ideas from it, however I must kindly request that you refrain from doing so. If you wish to post any part of my Madeline Birthday Party feature in any way, please contact me at info@katelandersevents.com for my permission. This blog, all of its images and content may not be transferred or shared in any way without my prior authorization. Kate Landers Events, LLC © 2009. All Rights Reserved. Thank you for your understanding!



































































I am THRILLED to feature a "Madeline" Birthday Party I did recently! The party theme was "Madeline in Paris", based off the birthday girl's favorite series of classic "Madeline" storybooks about that charming little redhead in Paris.

Twelve young girls (including the birthday girl) enjoyed visiting our Paris Marketplace custom created for the girls to visit. The Marketplace consisted of four shoppes, The Candy Shoppe, The Book & Toy Shoppe, The Clothing Shoppe and The Flower Shoppe (custom signs were printed up for each in a French Script).

Each shoppe was represented by its own table covered with floor length white linens and a custom made scallop-edged table topper in classic red or a magnificent blue.

The fifth table featured the "Bonjour! Welcome to Paris!" sign where the girls would begin their journey by picking up their darling red suitcase personalized with a luggage tag tied on with a double-faced red satin ribbon. This suitcase would be used to fill up with their goodies from their journey through Paris!

First stop: The Clothing Shoppe!! This shop featured twelve custom made (exclusive for Kate Landers Events, LLC) Madeline-inspired capelets (beautiful blue with a white peter pan collar and double faced red satin bow), each with a gold safety pin attaching the darling custom made tags featuring the shoppe name, location, and the individual girl's name. The Clothing Shoppe also featured custom red double-faced satin hair bows for the girls (also exclusively created for Kate Landers Events, LLC). The most charming custom tags were created for each of these as well, and the girls would look to find the one with their name on it! Now everyone would look like they stepped right out of the pages of their favorite "Madeline" tale.

Second stop: The Candy Shoppe! Nine large clear glass apothecary jars were filled with red, yellow and blue sweets (to match the color scheme of the party, of chourse!), each labeled with a custom sign identifying what candy the jar contained. From yellow gumballs and sugared lemon slices to red ribbon and rock candies--to blue old fashioned swirled lollipops and jelly beans to red licorice twists and candy coated chocolates, the candy shop was a marvel to look at! Each girl was given a personalized clear cello bag and red satin ribbon to tie up their sweets with. Scoops were provided for parents to assist in getting the candy out of the jars.

Next stop: The Flower Shoppe. The flower shop had darling red, yellow and blue tissue pom flowers hanging above to designate its location. The table featured twelve white canvases individually labeled with a custom tag featuring the shoppe name and "Masterpiece by" and the child's name, so everyone would be able to easily identify which masterpiece belonged to which child at the end of the party. Darling pre-made crepe and tissue paper as well as card stock flowers (traditionally for scrapbooking, available through Martha Stewart Crafts) had pre-adhered stickers so the children just needed to peel off the backing and begin to create their floral work of art! Every child was given their own cello bag full of their flowers, pre-counted and sorted the night before to make sure everyone had the same flowers to work with!

Last stop: The Book & Toy Shoppe. Favorite "Madeline" storybooks by Ludwig Bemelmans and a "Madeline" doll sat on this charming little table that featured "Madeline" coloring pages, red blue & yellow cardstock and crayons. Guests were able to color away creating their own "Madeline" pictures to stash in their suit cases and take home.

The Paris Marketplace was also decorated with custom made fabric bunting, a personal favorite and must in my book for birthday celebrations. It featured small red, yellow and blue flags, with red fabric tape to string the flags together and hang. It is amazing what something as simple as 8 yards of fabric bunting can do to really add festivity to a room! Custom bunting, as well as the custom capelets, bows, tags, labels and other decor for this party is all available through Kate Landers Events, LLC. Please e-mail Kate at info@katelandersevents.com to inquire as these products are not available on our website!

After their visit to the Marketplace, the girls were engaged in a game of "Pin the Tail on Genevieve"--a custom designed game for Kate Landers Events, LLC, featuring the cutest friendly pup for this very special party.

The Dining Hall was created to resemble that which "Madeline" eats in--an extra long table, tumblers and plates, cloth napkins and flatware and of course, candelabras! The ten foot long table featured a white diamond-quilted tablecloth and custom blue extra long fabric table runner (custom fabric table runners available through Kate Landers Events, LLC, please e-mail to inquire). Two silver candelabras with red taper candles were placed right next to two beautiful full arrangements of yellow tulips. The place settings consisted of custom white rick rack tricked cloth napkins, fabulous red melamine tumblers and plates, red plastic forks and custom printed red and white place cards (available through our shoppe!).

The menu consisted of French macarons, miniature croissants filled with ham & cheese, and a beautiful fruit display in the colors of the flag of France. A large silver bowl was filled to the brim with crushed ice and juice boxes. Lovely French wine and a variety of fantastic cheeses and baguettes were served to the adults, along with a beautiful tower of cream puffs. Please note: food images are not from the actual party, I did not cater the food for the event, these are images in which the menu was inspired from.

The "Madeline" hat birthday cake--oh, the cake--it was created by Sweet Cupcake Bakery in Boston. It was a large round single tier cake covered in yellow fondant and finished with a red fondant ribbon and bow. It served as the centerpiece of the table--so guests to ouuu and ahhh at its beauty until it was time for the large red twisted birthday candles to be placed in the top and lit for the birthday girl to blow out and make her wish!!!!

I included my favorite invitation for the party, which strongly resembles "an old house in Paris covered with vines," created by Sarah LeClere. I also included an image of a darling birthday party dress featuring scenes of Paris that was just too cute to resist.

I absolutely adored every moment of planning this very, very special event. It turned out to be the classic, charming, traditional, old fashioned and darling event I had dreamed it would be. The best part: the biggest smile on the birthday girl's face letting me know we accomplished our goal: to use the event as a very special way to celebrate the birthday of this darling child!

I hope you have enjoyed this feature, and I can't wait to feature more parties throughout the year.

If there a specific themed party you are planning and would like to discuss, help planning (yes, I can do this long distance believe it or not!) or see posted on our blog? Please leave us a comment, or send us an e-mail at info@katelandersevents.com, we would be DELIGHTED to chat with you!!!!


33 comments:

The Little Miss said...

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh sooooooo SWEET!!!! so special...love it to pieces..Im going to feature this party on my blog! Just so cute!!! if thats ok that is...hehe
xo

Lynn said...

I am blown away, Kate. I know it was fabulous. Congratulations on the success of this darling Madeline themed party !!

Sandra said...

You are amazing!! What a fabulous party! xoox

The Little Miss said...

love ur new background too...a lot calmer!!

Sibi said...

Kate!

Thank you so much for your wonderful e-mail! I apologize for leaving a comment and not returning the e-mail sooner but quite a bit of my e-mail is missing! Can you re send me your e-mail address?


And while I'm here, can I just say that I have never, and I do mean never met someone with such an incredible eye and pure talent as you have for parties! Oh my gracious! I used to be a party planner and so I LOVE and appreciate ALL the details!! You have a gift!!! It is a pleasure to meet you and I would love to connect more when you have the time.

Many Blessings!!!

Ashley said...

one word, UNBELIEVABLE!!
My first visit to your blog and website. Connected through mom of "3 peanuts". You are so very talented. Wow!!

AnnieMac said...

Wow! What a delightful party! You are super talented. Thanks for sharing with us.

3 Peanuts said...

I LOVE this party, Kate! It is adorable. I posted the giveaway tonight. Sending lots of people your way.

Pink Velvet Mommy said...

seriously one of the cutest parties I have ever seen. You missed not one detail!! I would have loved this party as a little girl, and every little girl at this party must have felt very special to be invited!! Well done!!

Love your website!!

The Callender Family said...

I LOVE the idea of a Medeline's Bday party! I think my daughters would really like it as well :-) It lloks wonderful! Great job!!!

testing 1 said...

An absolutely gorgeous party! I wish I had girls, this party is so inspiring? I would love to feature it on my blog.

Unspoken said...

LOVELY! Here from 3 peanuts. Wow, Kim has the bst taste, and I can see why she loves your stuff!

Chesnye said...

I'm visiting from 3 Peanuts and I LOVE your blog!!! Our family will be spending some time in Paris this summer so I just might have to have a "Madeline" party for my daughter on her next birthday!! And the sailboat party is adorable too.
Hugs,
Chesnye

Jennifer said...

Makes me want to have a girl!!!

melissa said...

Kate - this has to be the lovliest little girl party I have ever seen!! Just adorable. Congratulations to you!

p.s. I see some of my friends have found you - so happy!! :)

Laura@The Oily Cupboard said...

that is by far the cutest party idea yet! thanks for sharing

Katie said...

I love, love, love this so much! So creative and sweet and precious! So many wonderful details... I'm going to be 30 this year, and now I want a Madeline party...ha!

Free Pretty Things For You said...

WOW is this fancy or what!!!
Fabulou!!
Your new follower and fan
Keren!

Unknown said...

ooh la la!! what a beautiful party!

Bea said...

This is the first time I visit your blog... and your work is awesome... congratulations on such fabulous ideas...

pve design said...

I myself shall be celebrating a big b-day come March and it is on St.Patrick's day. I would love your take on a grown-up party with an inner child sort of innocence and "joie de vivre!"
Love Madeline and b-day parties at any age!
PvE

lepetitprep said...

I loved Madeline as a child! Such a wonderful idea! I will put this in my "when I have a little girl" file.

Natalia said...

what a fabulous party, great job!

Adriana said...

This theme is absolutely adorable, this is my first time visiting your blog and I’m officially a fan now! This makes me want to have a girl!

Sue said...

WOW!!! Over the top and utterly A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!!

Shawna said...

The cutest part I have EVER seen...love it, love it love it!!!!!
http://pretendpartyandplay.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=36

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

Hands down, best birthday party theme EVER!

Tania McCartney said...

Absolument divine!

birthday party supplies said...

Hello!
I just came across your blog and I've to confess I like it a lot! Just in the right timing . I'm constantly on the lookout for fun and exciting ways to gather friends and family. Great ideas .

Issa said...

awesome theme! It's just perfect for a little girls' party. I love, love, love it!

Kathleen said...

Do you have a photo of the invitation? What a beautiful party!

Unknown said...

Hi there, Ineka from Scallyflags.com.au stopping by as a new liker and LIKE I ABSOLUTELY DO. Found you through Billy Cart Markets and have decided this party is my favourite. Amazing and inspiring. Thank you.

João said...

Very good ideas, lovely colors and inspiring photos