All My Children

A birthday table makes a charming and practical focus on this special day. Family tradition prefers to use the same piece of furniture every birthday: a coffee table, chest or sideboard would be suitable.

A festive ‘birthday cloth’ covers the table which bears cards, presents, flowers and maybe the birthday cake. In some countries the cake appears at breakfast time, in which case the birthday child (or adult) waits outside the room while the family gathers around the table. When the cake candles are alight, a little bell is rung to give the signal for the door to be opened and the birthday song to begin.

The family dining table could also become a birthday table with one carefully decorated place setting and the best china. Surround the plate with seasonal flowers, leaves or berries, add a birthday candle and a card and, as a regal touch, arrange a birthday `Throne’. This is easily done by throwing a cloth or muslin veil over the chair and adorning it with stars, flowers, streamers or balloons.

If there’s a throne, then there ought to be a crown: cut a grand one out of gold card or make a garland of flowers.

Birthday tree

A fresh or gold-painted branch stands on the birthday table. It bears small gifts, ribbons, sweets or biscuits. Sometimes it bears only ribbons — one for each year, but the last one waits to be tied on by the birthday child himself.

Birthday crown

A birthday crown can make a child feel special, (some genuinely dislike wearing anything on their heads, so don’t insist that it is worn…).

The head can be measured discreetly a few days before the birthday. For a ‘queenly’ effect, drape pastel coloured muslin over the head before crowning.

You will need:

Stiff card 14cm x 60cm in gold or preferred colour

Scrap paper approx. 18cm x 60cm (join two pieces together if necessary)

8 paper clips and stapler

Scissors and glue

Sequin 1 cm diam. in child’s favourite colour

Fold scrap paper in half bringing short sides together.

Transfer crown pattern to folded scrap paper and cut it out.

Place paper pattern on stiff card and secure with paper clips. Cut round pattern.

Glue sequin to top centre of crown.

Birthday garland

A simple plait in raffia or cloth makes the base for a birthday garland which can be used repeatedly. Decorate it with ribbons, feathers, leaves, berries, fresh or dried flowers. All items are threaded into the plait and removed when no longer needed.

You will need: (for a head garland)

3 lengths of cotton fabric (8cm x 80cm)

Or, 26 strands of natural raffia approx. 80cm long

Scissors and large darning needle

Optional: Pinking shears

Fabric garland

(The strips of cotton fabric may be torn or cut, preferably with pinking shears.)

Sew strips together at one end.

Begin plaiting, taking care to fold in and conceal the cut edges of the fabric.

Work fairly loosely until plait is about 50cm long.

Sew all ends together to join the circle

Raffia garland

Take 24 strands of raffia and tie together in a knot at one end.

Divide strands into three groups of eight and make a simple, but not tight, plait.

When the plait is about 50cm long, tie ends tightly with a single raffia strand.

Trim both ends of plait and join by binding neatly with a single strand of raffia. Sew in loose ends with darning needle.

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