As I’m sitting down today to plan this year’s Thanksgiving, I took some time to look through my old pictures to remember the designs from years past. Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holidays for me. As I mentioned yesterday, I use this day to hand out my family’s Christmas presents. I love being the first of the pack to hand out my gifts, and I look at it as a way to kick-off the gift giving season!
When I think about designing my Thanksgiving event, I approach it similarly to how I design for my clients. I enjoy transforming empty raw spaces into something unexpected, so this is where I usually start with my Thanksgiving dinner. My family is so big that the past two years I’ve held the dinner in my studio space.
Below you’ll see a picture of the space as it normally is:
Here’s how we transformed it last year:
I get great pleasure from seeing the looks on my family’s faces when they walk into the room. The element of surprise is signature for me. It’s a labor of love to design this event for them every year, and I make sure to invest the time needed to get everything just right.
I focus on using readily available, recycled, and accessible materials. You can definitely make something glamorous with materials and objects you find all around you. It’s all about how you put the elements together that makes the impact.
PREVIOUS
George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Sarah Nicole
November 3, 2009
WOW!!! You are a genius! Absolutely beautiful as is all of your work. Do you ever have any workshops or seminars that you do? I am very interested in event planning and the many things that go with it.
Lynda
November 3, 2009
Hi Preston, I adore your work it is absolutely beautiful. I created one of your centerpieces for my September wedding this year. It was the floating rose and it was beautiful. Thanks for the video presentation.
Kindle Marie
November 6, 2009
You inspire me…I am glad I found you! Thank you for sharing
Kell & Nick
November 17, 2009
Preston..This is amazing! I too love transforming my dinner table into something spectacular for my family and friends that join us for thanksgiving! I can't say mine is as elaborate as yours but you always give me great inspiration! This year we are moving 4 days after Turkey day…so I am going with the Less is more theme..I can't wait to see what I come up with! Should be interesting!