Thursday, June 9, 2011

Tablescape Thursday: Black & White in Flight

You made my enemies turn their backs in FLIGHT.....
Psalms 18:40 (NIV)

To give  myself a little break from tablescaping this week, today I'm going to share with you a simple little dessert table I put together in April for a surprise party for my dad!

{I must warn you that the photo quality is not very good.  The restaurant was quite dark, & silver just doesn't photograph well with a flash!}
The party was to celebrate not only his 60th birthday, but also his retirement from the Air Force Reserves.

Here's a pic of my dad with my mom, me, & my sister on the day of his retirement!  So proud of him!

We held the party in a room at a local restaurant, where we were given one small table to use for desserts. 
Of course, I had to dress it up a little!


In keeping with the colors of our invitations, black, white, and touches of silver were used.

The silver serving pieces make a nice contrast to the black table covering.

A photo-board, using black & white photos of my dad from various stages in his life, captures important times & people in his life.  Sitting atop a black easel, it serves as a focal point and backdrop for the desserts.  {Later it became a treasured keepsake for my dad!}

  Two cake servers of varying sizes sit atop a rectangular platter to add some dimension, as well as provide more serving space.




Black and white cookies, made by my husband and me, represent both his birthday and his Air Force retirement. {If you are interested in seeing other cookie designs we've created, click here. For the recipe, click here.}


White cupcakes from a local bakery rest on a coordinating two-tiered server on the opposite end of the table.

A couple of silver airplanes {borrowed from my dad's study} add more interest and continue the theme.

  One rests atop the cake platters......




....... while the other sits nearby on the table.

I even found a little airplane napkin weight.



I love you and am proud of you, dad!

Silver Serving Pieces - primary from Target
Napkin Holder, Napkin Weight, & Small Cake Platter - by Mariposa
Silver Airplanes - Hobby Lobby/TJ Maxx
{To see other tablescapes using the same items, click on the links above.}

I'm linking with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday & A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday.

11 comments:

  1. What a lovely way to honor our troops! So masculine yet inviting. I am sure it was a hit.

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  2. How lovely it all turned out. I'm sure your dad appreciated this very much. congratulations to him for his years served, his retirement and his birthday. many blessings, marlis

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  3. Oh I'm sure your dad must have been so pleased! This is all wonderful and looks like a great celebration.

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  4. This is perfect. Those plane cookies are so cute. Great theme all in black and white and silver.

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  5. This is all so precious! Well, manly, too, with the B&W & silver (HA!) :)
    What a blessing to celebrate a dual occasion!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Hugs/blessings,
    Lana In Italy

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  6. Congratulations on your father's milestones. I love the silver theme and all you did to honor your father. Your cookies are elegant and so pretty. I admire all your cookie designs from past posts. Such a great idea. I need to make some for an upcoming event I am co hosting...baby shower themed broadway .I think it is a hard theme but not my first choice. Shae you are also so pretty and happy in i your lovely family photo! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. A great dessert table for his special birthday! Thank you for sharing...Blessings My Friend,

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  8. Congrats to your dad and thank him for his service in our US Armed Forces. I too was a "military brat" and loved every minute of it. We traveled and met so many great friends. Your tablescape was wonderful and what an honor to be able to do this for your dad. The photos were a great addition. My father recently passed away and was buried at the Florida National Cemetary...I am so proud. I have written a short post in his honor. Please come check it out at - http://flyawayhome-4am.blogspot.com/2011/03/true-love-of-my-life.html

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  9. Love everything: The color scheme, the incorporation of the silver planes and the combining of the round and rectangular serving dishes! Thanks to your dad for his service. We've covered all branches except Marines in our family now. My dad was Navy in WWII, my FIL was Army in Korea, my daughter's FIL is retired Air Force and my SIL is active duty Coast Guard. We love our service men and women!

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  10. What a wonderful party! I bet he appreciated it so much... :)

    ~Liz

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  11. Fabulous party! I love black and white, I just did at TTT a blk. and wht. tablescape too. The plain cookies are so cute and all the others as well. I'm sure you all had a great time, specially hubby. Congrats. You're all pretty ladies, hubby looks so happy sorrounded by his girls! Hugs. FABBY

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