Entry #3272, February 19, 2014
Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Before you were inspired by – ‘Valentine’s Day Everyday in your Home‘ from Nanette Reynolds. Today, I feature Victoria L. Bass who is a member of the the Facebook Olioboard Fan Room group and she gives creative ideas from taking your winter entertaining into spring with these two beautiful boards: Venetian Carnival & Chinese New Year.
To see all the past Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration members on Pinterest click here.
Olioboard Inspiration #66
Olioboard Inspiration: Spring Parties –
Chinese New Year | Venetian Carnival – Victoria L. Bass
The weather is still gloomy in a lot of places in the northern hemisphere but hey, what an opportunity to have fun indoors! Yes, but with this economic climate? one might ask. Well, it needs not cost the earth.
Here, I have chosen two different themes; one at home and one in a venue. Venue? Who can afford a venue? Well, speaking from the UK, if your party is large enough, say 20 or more, you might find that pubs, restaurants, hotels etc often have function rooms they would let for free on the expectation that your guests would consume drinks/food at their premises. To keep it in budget, I would personally seek permission to bring your own catering (home-made, pot luck…) and then you guys buy the drinks *winks*.
Venetian Carnival
Now as for the themes and boards, couldn’t decide and tried my hand at both Chinese New Year and Venetian Carnival.
As for design, and on the cheap, draperies and textiles in general are your best friend. Inexpensive fabrics can be found everywhere. Remember they are not meant to last forever, just look good in the pictures and on the night. With a larger budget, I would be inclined to invest because these parties could be held year after year and also other uses found (making pillows perhaps?). Think fancy dress, let your imagination go … let the company, music, food and wine speak for themselves and, if at all achievable, ask your guests to dress in costume.
Chinese New Year
Some level of authenticity is required but dollar stores, second hand shops etc can be great sources. Nothing has to be of the upmost quality, it’s make believe after all and you might even get yourself an absolute bargain. Online sites also recommended. For the Chinese New Year theme, for instance I would also recommend taking a look in an Oriental supermarket, if you happen to have one nearby. Paper lanterns, for instance, should be easy enough to get held of.
Keep the food in theme too, goes without saying really. Research a little into the history of your theme so that it shows through.
And on that note, Chinese New Year is ancient and I believe renamed “Spring Festival” after China’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar. In tune with western agriculturally based traditions, this also represents the voyage from winter into spring. Now, the horse, both east and west, stands for activity, strength and victory so I went for powerful colours here.
The Carnival, as with so many western religious celebrations incorporates earlier elements, arguably Saturnalia and Bacchanalia from the Romans but in essence it’s the “last chance” to be extravagant before Lent. Hence pancake day. Eggs, considered a bit lavish once upon a time got banned for this period at least amongst Catholics, so you bake with them to get rid of them and overdose on the overall merriment for one last day until Easter Sunday comes.
Cheers to all!!!
About Victoria L. Bass
A property lawyer now delving into the field of family law living in a small city in the east of England, I have always craved creativity and outlets for my, at times wild, imagination. Designing and writing fiction have been passions of mine since childhood and I vividly remember cutting off figures from catalogues, injecting them with different personalities and drawing houses for them on pieces of A4 paper. As an adult, even when in rented accommodation in my younger years, I always found ways of personalising spaces and experimenting with colour palettes. A few years back I purchased a Victorian cottage, which although structurally sound needs some serious modernisation, and that has been for me a real challenge and very welcome opportunity to put my skills to the test. I would define my style as primarily eclectic and I love combining the old with the new whilst trying to take into consideration the architectural style of the space I am working on. Working full-time in design would be a dream come true for me and I am planning to take up part-time study in this field in the near future.
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