A Crafting Adventure: My Moby Dick Inspired Birthday Dinner

Birthdays are a good time, but this year, my birthday dinner was truly an adventure, thanks to a delightful nautical theme that brought the ocean right to our backyard. With a palette of blue and yellow—my favorite colors—the decor transformed our space into a vintage maritime escape.

The setting featured a charming picnic table, adorned with nautical plates and cups that perfectly complemented the theme. Above the table, I hung nautical flags crafted from random ribbon pieces. I cut these into two-inch sections and glued them onto twine, adding a personal touch to the decor. If you love this idea, you can visit my Etsy store for a digital download version to create your own!

I pulled any and all nautical decor I had in home and decorated the tables and bar. One of the highlights of the evening was a giant Styrofoam whale, lovingly made by my dad, suspended above the bar. It served as a whimsical centerpiece that captured everyone's attention. Ten years later - the whale still hangs proudly in my home on the Sandy Hook Bay.

But the true showstopper was the stunning ship mast, another of my dad’s creations. This piece once graced the stage in a production of Alice in Wonderland by the Driftwood Players, but it found new life at my birthday dinner.

For anyone looking to add a nautical flair to their own celebrations, I’ve recently launched a new line of red, white, and blue sailing-themed and seafood-themed digital download decorations. I hope they inspire you as much as they inspired my unforgettable birthday dinner.

Let's Get Crafty!

Dive into the world of automata with our paper ship craft kits, available for purchase at my Etsy shop. Inspired by William Shakespeare's The Tempest, this project lets you sail through stormy seas. Follow step-by-step instructions to bring your rocking ship to life!

Craft kits are available for purchase at my Etsy shop.

Or skip the kit: start from scratch! Check out our previous post for detailed instructions on crafting the project yourself.

Original Tutorial Video

A part of #SceneAtTwoRiver, Katie's Crafting Closet is a monthly series where I get to share crafting projects inspired by past productions at Two River Theater. Here is a family friendly craft inspired by the 2016 production of Shakespeare's Pericles.

Check out TRT's website for other staff member spotlights, artist features, workshops and more!

Katie's Crafting Closet at Two River Theater

A part of #SceneAtTwoRiver, Katie's Crafting Closet was a pandemic series where I got to share crafting projects inspired by past productions and events at Two River Theater. 

And be sure to check out my craft kits, paper decorations and digital downloads at  #TableSettingIsMyLife on Esty.