what to bring

what to bring

Notes from Julianne:

Do not bring a gift...you may bring family members of all ages...but most importantly, this party will be an informal arts and crafts festival: please bring something you've created.

This is not mandatory. You can say, "My job/child/cause demands my utmost creativity, every waking moment," and be welcomed in with open arms. However, please consider bringing a contribution for an informal art show, the dessert buffet, or the open mic sessions. You are welcome to bring the fruits of a craft you've practiced for years, or the first achievements of one you just decided to try...we'll be celebrating, not judging...

If you bring physical works of art, make sure they are easily transportable. (The room will be relatively secure, but there is no point in celebrating the products of creativity by damaging them in transit.) If you've recently taken an extremely creative vacation, or renovated your home, or completed a huge outdoor sculpture, bring a photo instead! Each item will be leaned against an easel or placed on a shelf (with a little white card just below it of course) so we can all enjoy each other's work.

If your art is wearable, please wear it! Costumes are especially encouraged (I'll be wearing one!) but anything from jewelry to clothes to shoes to hair can be your chosen creative venue. I'll let you clip on your little white card in some way that doesn't damage the effect.

If your art is cooking, or just choosing great food from the bakery case, please bring an offering for the dessert buffet...something that goes with ice cream/yoghurt cake, that can be eaten in the hand. We'll admire these all evening and then eat them at 10:00.

If your art involves performance, please consider offering a five to ten minute portion of it! Let me (Julianne) know in advance so I can schedule the open mic sessions (this will be just like a coffeehouse in some respects, right down to the coffee...and of course the "unplugged"-style sound system...you can choose from several voice and instrument mics, and the church's almost-new Yamaha piano will be available, and there's electricity if your instruments prefer it...).

As described in the schedule, the art show will be assembled as you arrive, and we will be able to stroll through the gallery throughout hors d'oeuvres and dinner (and the open mic if we stroll silently). The open mic will be from 8:30 to 10 pm. At that point we'll have birthday ice cream cake, and triumphantly strike (or eat) the exhibits.

Two frequently asked questions are, "Why are you doing this...and why are you giving your own 40th birthday party?"

First of all, my 40th birthday wish is that I will be able to make more space in my life for creativity. By participating in this creativity festival (or ritual, if you prefer), you will be inspiring and helping me do that.

Second of all, my creative offering for the evening will be the party itself. My East Coast friends don't know that I come from a party-giving family (come and meet some of them!), and that one of my high school jobs was helping to throw this one particular brunch over and over, and that as a (younger!) adult I threw some extremely memorable parties. I'd forgotten this part of my life in my move East, until I threw a 40th party for my husband Rob last year and enjoyed it immensely. My plan for this party includes mostly tried and true recipes for making an evening relaxing yet stimulating, plus two things that I've always wanted to try. We'll see how they go, and do "iterative design" for my 50th, deo volente, if they don't.

Please come if you can! And don't forget to RSVP!