pauper image: A Baby Shower for Harper!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

A Baby Shower for Harper!

Perhaps you recall a few months back when I posted the DIY tutorial for these cute pennant baby shower invites. Well, there actually was a baby shower to follow! I just haven?t gotten around to posting it (that is until now) because I wanted to make sure that it truly gets the attention it deserves as it was for a very special baby girl named Harper and her mama, Maaike. When we all heard Maaike was expecting her first baby, everyone wanted to throw her a baby shower as she is both a master entertainer and one of the most kind and generous people you?ll ever meet. While a group of us were in the throes of baby shower planning, baby Harper had a different plan and decided to arrive 12 weeks early! Needless to say, Maaike, her hubby Erik, baby Harper, and their entire families had many long and exhausting months ahead of them, but they made it (!!!!) and just before they came home, we were so thrilled to be able to throw this baby shower for them!

Maaike did not want frilly and pink. Her style is mason jars, beautiful flowers, and rustic elements, and we knew Harper?s nursery colors were yellow and red so we decided to go with a pennant theme. I found a book of scrapbook paper in fun patterns and the right colors and used it to make the invites along with this pennant bunting in which I simply used twine to connect each pennant.

Because there were so many people who wanted to celebrate Harper?s arrival, we decided to stick to cocktails, appetizers, and desserts for the late afternoon gathering.

Squat mason jars are perfect dip bowls, especially if you?re on the go.

Remember the wine barrel Lazy Suzan our friend Kim picked up when Maaike introduced us to Newburyport? It was perfect as a cheese platter and the centerpiece of the coffee table.

The vintage soda crates I picked up on my first trip to Brimfield were the perfect way to tote the mason jars we used to serve the lemonade.

I made a pennant bunting for the cake which the bakery made to coordinate with the invites and flags for the cupcakes.

Time to cut the cake!

In addition to the red and yellow theme, we also wanted to make sure that we pulled in some elements from Maaike?s Dutch heritage as it?s very important to her. Tulips, her favorite flowers, were an obvious choice. As baby showers are mostly an American tradition, there aren?t really any Dutch baby shower traditions, however, there is a tradition of serving a special type of cookie called a beschuit met muisjes. With the help of Maaike?s mother, we were able to get our hands on some.

Another Dutch tradition is to write your wishes for a bride and groom and attach them to a tree branch at their wedding. While this wasn?t a wedding, we thought this would still be a fun thing to do by using paper flowers from Paper Source and writing our wishes for baby Harper.

Then it was spoil Maaike and Harper time!

Amy picked up a onesie from one of Maaike?s favorite shops in Key West, Besame Mucho.

Maaike?s niece offers a basket of favorite items that have been passed down through generations of their family?so sweet!

And our friend Jenny brought this beautiful ?Welcome Baby? lilac flower arrangement.

And lastly, we lined the front porch with potted daisies wrapped in tissue and raffia to send home with our guests.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY HARPER!

You are one lucky little girl to have the most wonderful parents, and we all can?t wait to watch you continue to grow into the amazing person we know you?re destined to be!