EVENT: EID-UL-FITR 1433

TITLE: ‘A FRENCH AFFAIR’

THEME: FRENCH SHABBY CHIC

CATEGORY: SEASONAL – SPRING

HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK:

Inspired by the subtle nuances of dawn, we chose a theme and style that would allow us to create a light, airy, spring ambiance – perfect for an Eid breakfast. The soft pastel colours of teal, orange and champagne were chosen to compliment the honey-golden hues of sunlight and the pale blue sky at dawn. These colours are expressed in the crockery, gleaming tinted glassware and the array of white and pastel flowers. Layered table-linen in complimentary prints along with gleaming silverware creates a luxurious textured feel. French inspired antique crockery and vintage birdcages (containing delectable French pastries) add that charm of a by-gone era. The beaded napkin-weights are a personal finishing touch to each place-setting and serves as small, yet thoughtful, Eid gifts for your guests to enjoy.

French Shabby Chic is a style that is definitively unstructured, light, feminine and homely – well suited to an intimate, relaxed Eid morning spent with friends and family in celebration of the glorious month of Ramadhaan.

 

TUTORIAL: BEADED NAPKIN WEIGHTS

These original beaded napkin weights are perfect for an outdoor table setting, preventing napkins from flying off the table. Your guests will want to take these home, so be prepared to part with them!

YOU WILL NEED:

A selection of coloured beads- we used two coloured beads to complement our colour scheme and a simple silver ‘spacer” bead

Crimping beads

A selection of heavy charms (for the weight)

Fishing gut

A pair of sharp scissors

Small Flat Nose Pliers

Lightweight Cardboard

A pencil

A ruler

A pair of pinking scissors (optional)

Clear Craft Glue

 

STEP 1:

Begin by setting one place setting using you folded napkin and your ‘base’ plate. Measure the length required for your beaded napkin weights. A good length is one that ends about 2cm above the end of the napkin edge.

Add 5cm to your measurement and cut a length of fishing gut.

STEP 2:

Slide a crimping bead onto one end of the cut length of fishing gut. Use the pliers to hold the bead firmly at about 3cm from the edge and squeeze gently to secure in place. Do not trim off the excess fishing gut.

STEP 3:

Begin threading the beads through onto the gut from the end without the crimp. Begin with a colored bead, then a spacer, then the other coloured bead and once again a spacer. Repeat until you have reached the required length.

STEP 4:

Slide a crimping bead onto the string and immediately follow with a heavy charm. Double back the gut through the crimping bead and once again, using the pliers, secure the crimping bead in place. Trim the gut as close as you can to the crimp – this will ensure a neat finish. Set this aside.

STEP 5:

Use the ruler and pencil to mark off squares on the cardboard. 3cm x 3cm is a good size. If you are using the pinking scissors add 1cm to the length of the square for wastage. Cut out two squares per beaded napkin weight.

STEP 6:

Use the glue to sandwich the excess gut between two squares, taking care that the napkin weight is centered on the square. If you prefer, you may use the square on the diagonal so that you have a ‘diamond’ on the one end of the beaded napkin weight.

STEP 7:

Allow the glue to dry. Once dry, rest the “base” plate on the cardboard, allowing your beaded napkin weight to hang freely.