OT - NeedHelp with 60th Birthday Party
clancy
friend's 60th birthday. It's not until September, but I figure it needs
some intensive planning. This girl does everything - sews, cross-stitches,
needle-punches, tole paints, makes teddy bears, makes quilts - knits,
crochets - you name it. What I'd love to do is come up with a bunch of
funny - useful - whatever - things to give her or do for her. I'm going to
get a group of about 10 ladies to contribute whatever - but I'd love for
this to be a fun event, a surprise event - the whole shabang. I want to
start planning now so hopefully it will be a great time. Anyone got some
really neat suggestions? She's absolutely the dearest person you'd ever
meet, so something special is in order.
Sharon (N.B.)
Skyhooks
could be made into one (????). One year, I and other relatives
presented my DF a hot-air balloon ride!!!!! It was something else I can
assure everyone! I only know because I've been on one, too. There's
nothing like it - can't be compared to any sort of fixed-wing aircraft
ride! Something magnificent and awesome! I can only think a hang-glide
ride or a parachute drop would come close to similar???
One important point about a hot-air balloon ride -- be very careful to
take decent ear protection!!!! The noise the gas burners make is
something tremendous! I have very sensitive ears, and those burners are
very close and not too far above the pilot's passengers' heads!
Perhaps the hot-air balloon ride can be made into a "party" (?). Maybe
the attendees can become part of the "chase crew" (?) - uh make that a
"chase procession"!!! With almost any travelling adventure, there's a
particular departure point and an arrival location. I can just imagine
a departure party at the park/site where the balloon takes off, then an
impromtu picnic of sorts at the site of the unknown landing location
(our balloon pilot served champagne in a black bottle dated and
autographed with a gold pen). After all, one can only predict where the
balloon will land -- hence the chase. Besides, it's very difficult to
land a hot-air balloon in a precise spot after all!
The only problem is, a hot-air balloon ride is not cheap. Since my
budget was very tight, I asked relatives if they'd like to make a
party-gift of the hot-air balloon ride and evenly share the cost. My
relatives (uh, not many, the split was about 25% each) were very
enthusiastic to participate. The result was something special, I must
say!
Oh, another problem with this sort of adventure is the issue of
"liability." Be sure all legal disclaimers and release of liabilites
are in place - or something like that! And I state the same :) Usual
disclaimers implied :/
Perhaps a special touch would be to add a stitched piece with a hot air
balloon with a very wide margin - with the margin used for all the
attendees to comment and sign??? Only a suggestion on my part :> HTH.
Good luck to the birthday party & Sweet Stitching!!!
Helen (Skyhooks)
hmardis at uiuc dot edu
"reply to" address antispammed -- frog the xxx.
TFTD:
Sarah Blaenau Ffestiniog
For my mum's 60th, I got her a toy-boy!
--
Sarah. Blaenau Ffestiniog
www.geocities.com/craftschooluk/sas.html
www.picturetrail.com/blaenau
"clancy" <cla...@nb.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:0muq8.934$Lh6....@news-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
PaulaB
south this fall and be my official birthday party planner! In fact, a
friend of ours treated his wife and himself to a hot air balloon ride
for their 45th anniversary and they both loved it so much they plan to
do it again for their 5oth. Sounds perfect! Paula B., with no ideas
of her own :-(
> OK, this isn't a traditional group-thing for a birthday party, but it
> could be made into one (????). One year, I and other relatives
> presented my DF a hot-air balloon ride!!!!! It was something else I can
> assure everyone! I only know because I've been on one, too. There's
> nothing like it - can't be compared to any sort of fixed-wing aircraft
> ride! Something magnificent and awesome! I can only think a hang-glide
> ride or a parachute drop would come close to similar???
>
> Perhaps a special touch would be to add a stitched piece with a hot air
clancy
attack tho' if something like this was planned - she's never been on a plane
and 'never wants to' according to her, so thinking about putting her 'in a
basket?????' - don't think so. Great idea tho'. Thanks.
Sharon (N.B.)
.................................................................
"Skyhooks" <hma...@staff.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:3CAA94...@staff.uiuc.edu...
clancy
wood, then paint them - almost like paint by number. You often see big milk
cans at craft fairs or antique shows with a painting on the side. It's
quite 'country' - can be 'country Victorian' .... I'm sure someone else can
give a better explanation.
Sharon (N.B.)
...................................................................
"Sarah Blaenau Ffestiniog" <fi...@phil-sarah1.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a8ep7e$t3m$1...@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
marsha
my mom and one for a very dear college student who works for me and is
now my adopted "yankee baby" (she's from NY going to school in GA). I
simply filled it with small slips of paper with ways that person has
touched my life, the things I like best about her, things I
appreciate, and good/fun memories. It's sort of an extended gift -
she can read them all at once or one each day. You could use colored
or patterned paper and everyone could contribute. It's not as big and
fancy as a balloon ride (which is on my list of things to do in life,
btw) but it certainly gives the birthday girl a boost!
--marsha
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
an article about "The Purple Hat Society", IIRC, of women who get
together for lunch/tea occasionally, and only those 60 or older are
allowed to wear purple hats...under that age, they're restricted to
pink/lavender. Now I'm sure I don't have the details right, but surely
someone could fill them in! (Maybe it was RED hats?)
Anyway, that could make a great party theme...decorating hats, or a
"high tea" and have everyone come wearing an appropriate hat, and
present your GF with the right color hat as a sign of passage!
Sue
--
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
The Magazine of Folk and World Music
http://www.dirtylinen.com
clancy
from the Dollar Store to glue on them ...... of course, we'd have to have
her hat already done - purple of course. I like this. :-) Thanks
Sharon (N.B.)
"Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen" <su...@dirtylinen.com> wrote in message
news:3CAB2D29...@dirtylinen.com...
Chris Ruser
says...
> Sixty is certainly a "landmark" birthday! Recently our local paper had
> an article about "The Purple Hat Society", IIRC, of women who get
> together for lunch/tea occasionally, and only those 60 or older are
> allowed to wear purple hats...under that age, they're restricted to
> pink/lavender. Now I'm sure I don't have the details right, but surely
> someone could fill them in! (Maybe it was RED hats?)
>
> Anyway, that could make a great party theme...decorating hats, or a
> "high tea" and have everyone come wearing an appropriate hat, and
> present your GF with the right color hat as a sign of passage!
This may be based on the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph - one of the
places you can find it on the web is
http://members.tripod.com/~Labyrinth_3/page59.html
The first line of the poem is "When I am an old woman I shall wear
purple."
At my workplace, whenever anyone turns 60, there is a lunch for them
at which this poem is read, and various gag gifts suggested by the
poem are given to them.
--
Chris Ruser
Nnickee
>What a cute idea - this one I'm writing down. Straw hats with lots of stuff
>from the Dollar Store to glue on them ...... of course, we'd have to have
>her hat already done - purple of course. I like this. :-) Thanks
I seem to remember a poem about getting older and wearing purple...
Ok, found it.... the hat in the poem is red though...
"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which
doesn't go and doesn't suit me; And I shall spend my pension on brandy
and summer gloves and satin sandals, and say we've no money for
butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired; And gobble up
samples in shops and press alarm bells; And run my stick along the
public railings and make up for the sobriety of my youth. I shall go
out in my slippers in the rain and pick the flowers in other people's
gardens and learn to spit. I can wear terrible shirts and grow more
fat and eat three pounds of sausages at a go or only bread and a
pickle for a week I'll be able to hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
and things in boxes. But now I must have clothes that keep me dry and
pay my rent and not swear in the street and set a good example for the
children. I will have friends to dinner and read the papers. But maybe
I ought to practice a little now so people who know me are not too
shocked and surprised When suddenly I am old and start to wear
purple!!!
~ Written by Jenny Joseph ~ "
So why not give her something purple, a *red* hat, a small bottle of
brandy, gloves, satin sandals.............. etc? (Just don't spit
*on* her when you come to that point in the poem.. LOL)
Nnickee
Sarah Blaenau Ffestiniog
which is done on a black background, also on milk churns and other metal
objects, but this seems to be more like painting scenes on them. Thanks for
the info.
"clancy" <cla...@nb.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:GlEq8.1021$Lh6....@news-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
Jelena
> "clancy" <cla...@nb.sympatico.ca> backstitched in DMC 3731:
>
> >What a cute idea - this one I'm writing down. Straw hats with lots of stuff
> >from the Dollar Store to glue on them ...... of course, we'd have to have
> >her hat already done - purple of course. I like this. :-) Thanks
>
> I seem to remember a poem about getting older and wearing purple...
>
> Ok, found it.... the hat in the poem is red though...
>
> "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which
> doesn't go and doesn't suit me;
http://www.wheniamanoldwoman.com/
:)
-- Jelena
Sampler45
>I would love to have a big bunch of suggestions on how to celebrate my dear
>friend's 60th birthday.
I don't know exactly what you're looking for, but last year DH turned 50 and
threatened pain to everyone within ear shot if he was given a surprise birthday
party. So of course I didn't give him one. I gave him 5! The first one was
Thanksgiving weekend, a week before his birthday. All of our children were
home for the holiday and Saturday, while he was at the store, my sister, her
children and my brother showed up. Surprise #1. Surprise party #2 was the
night before his actual birthday, a Friday. I invited all his game playing
friends (they have played board games for over 25 year now) to our house for a
game night, pizza, beer, etc. Surprise party #3 was the next night, his actual
birthday. I told him to dress up and another couple arrived to take us to
dinner at a very nice and expensive restaurant in Philadelphia, Buddakhan. We
had a blast. Surprise #4 was the following weekend. His mother always has a
Christmas Party (Gran's Damn Fine Christmas Party to be exact) and while he and
one of his brothers were at the store, we decorated the house. He was roasted
royally when he returned. Surprise # 5 was later that week when friends we
haven't seen in a few years appeared and we went to dinner with them. He said
it was the best birthday he'd ever had. I now, however, have to watch my back.
I turn 50 this year and he's hinted that its payback time.
Pat in NJ
A pessimist complains about the wind; an optimist hopes it will change; a
realist adjusts the sails.
WIPs
TW's "Wedding Sampler"
Stoney Creek Afghan - "Nature's Homes"
Eva Rosenstad Flower Vase
Skyhooks
sorts of ideas for parties, but limitations of $$$ tend to quash them to
dreams (or at least until I win the lottery big time - yeah - like that
will happen the 2nd tuesday of next week!!!!)
Hmmmm.... I could have fun with this concept of "party planner" -
especially if I were able to spend someone else's (no budget limit!)
money (VBEG!!!!)! Gosh, is there such an occupation - professional
party planner???? I bet there is, but then wouldn't there have to be a
market for the clientelle???
Uh, on second thought, perhaps it's better not to deal with (potential)
tempermental clients???? Uh - I can see it now - my first client would
be "Ivana Ketchup"!!!!! Besides, I have no talent for decorating (but
then, I've never really had the means to try) (GRIN)!
Sweet Stitching!!!
Helen (Skyhooks)
hmardis at uiuc dot edu
"reply to" address antispammed -- frog the xxx.
TFTD: Good things turn up when both corners of your mouth do the same!
:)
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
http://www.suzannecooper.com/newfunnies5/purple-hat.html
I'm not sure which one of these is the source for the group I'd seen in
the paper.
Sue
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
> Hmmmm.... I could have fun with this concept of "party planner" -
> especially if I were able to spend someone else's (no budget limit!)
> money (VBEG!!!!)! Gosh, is there such an occupation - professional
> party planner???? I bet there is, but then wouldn't there have to be a market for the clientelle???
My neighbor's son worked for an "events planning" company when he was
just out of college, and boy, is it hard work! Great fun, because it
pulls together all sorts of creative talents and attention to detail,
but you can burn out fast. They were hired by companies, charities, and
individuals, and even did one of the parties at the Republican
convention when it was in Washington.
BUT...they had to work all day making umpteen million phone calls,
sketches, studying menus, etc., to arrange for every little detail,
while also drumming up new business and making bids on possible future
events, then the day of the event they were the ones who had to crawl
all over putting up decorations, setting up sound systems, etc., etc.,
stay during the event to make sure everything went smoothly, and take it
all down the minute the event was over. He'd often work 9 a.m. through 3
a.m., straight!! Not nearly so glamorous as it sounds!
And of course people arrive to an event, see the glamor, tell the hosts
what a magnificent job they did when all they did was write the check! -
and not give a thought to how much hard work goes on behind the scenes
to pull such an event together.
Sue
GSRox
and red hats. (I believe that the age limit to change from pink to red is at
50.)
Roxanna
Jill_F
could stitch it for her.
Jill
nni...@nnickee.com (Nnickee) wrote in message news:<3cac3bd7....@news.dallas.sbcglobal.net>...
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
a nearby chapter...sounds like my kinda folks!
Sue