Tuesday, February 7th, 2017 will mark the 150th birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder. This sounded like the perfect opportunity for a celebration, A Town Party Happy 150th Birthday Laura Ingalls Wilder!
A Town Party Happy 150th Birthday Laura Ingalls Wilder
Birthday parties were not a common event during the time of Laura’s childhood. Her own family would only host one party and she wrote of just two other parties in the eight book series. In Little Town on the Prairie Laura attended Ben Woodworth’s birthday supper party and of course Nellie Oleson’s birthday party in On The Banks Of Plum Creek.
Today’s soiree is inspired by Nellie’s town party.
Drawing by Garth Williams.
Table Decor
I settled upon a pink color palette as Laura often wore pink ribbons in her hair. “Then Laura saw her own pink ribbons on Mary’s braids.” (On The Banks of Plum Creek)
The ribbon table runner, with its pale pink ribbons, is a nod to this.
From Laura’s writing, we know that the children at the party played with special toys afforded only by the well to do. There is a scene where Laura reaches out to touch the beautiful blue silk of the dress on Nellie’s doll.
Antique Dolls
This occasion seemed like the perfect time to bring out a few of my grandmother’s antique dolls.
Eleanor Ingalls aka “Grandma Jingles” ran a doll hospital for many years and these are a few of the beauties that she repaired.
The Menu
At Nellie’s party lemonade was served in glasses.
The white cake was served on china plates.
Each place setting contains a cake filled teacup.
The teaspoons shown above were a gift from my great~great grandfather Landford “James” Ingalls (Pa’s brother) to his son, my great-grandfather, Andrew Jackson Ingalls, on the occasion of his marriage to my great-grandmother, Emma Soelle.
The interior of the case reads Henry Buckstruck, Jeweler, 11 East Seventh St., St. Paul, MN.
Each place setting also contains a small “tussie mussie” party favor.
Over on the sideboard sits a collection of antique Bavarian and French china in various shades of pink.
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Pink China
In the 2017 January/February issue of Victoria magazine, there is an article on Laura Ingalls Wilder and includes a photo featuring her various dish and china patterns.
Some of you may recognize the plate below which I found at an estate sale. I would dearly love an entire set of this china, as it is so pretty.
I hope you have enjoyed Nellie’s Town Party.
Tomorrow we will be celebrating Laura’s actual birthday with a Country Party.
Happy Birthday Laura!
Laura
Oh, Laura! It's so pretty! I don't know where to begin! Is it all the pink? Maybe. I love the dishes, both the pink and white and the more floral ones. And then those fabulous dolls. Now those are treasures to hold onto. And of course the food looks wonderful.
I can't tell you how much I am adoring this series of posts!
Wow, this is amazing. The tablesetting, the dolls, everything. What a fabulous re-creation of her birthday party.
How beautiful and touching! Your table is just exquisite and those dolls! The look so well cared for they must have been truly loved.
So pretty. You have some great treasures and history.
Everything is so beautiful! I would love to be at that party!
Such a precious tablescape.
How wonderful Laura! Happy Birthday to her!
Happy Birthday Laura Ingalls, you were born just one day after and a little more than a century before me !
What a treat this party, dear, Darling Laura, I'm far sure that your so beloved ancestor would have loved it so so much … even if it was given inside Nellie's Holleson's home 🙂 !
WISHING YOU THE BEST OF WEEKS,
SENDING MUCH LOVE
XO Dany
Hi Laura, I enjoyed your pictures so very much. My older sister is a big Laura fan and I will be sure to share your link with her also. Sending my love to you and yours.
Hi Laura, Happy Birthday to Laura Ingalls. Everything for the party is very special. I know she would be very pleased. Your table is gorgeous and the dolls you share are beautiful. So enjoying your birthday tribute.
Have a wonderful week. xoxo
What a beautiful birthday party! The antique dolls and teaspoons are very special heirlooms. I have a book called Little House Parties (a chapter book) that has both Nellie's party (The Town Party) and Ben Woodworth's (The Birthday Party). I'm really looking forward to all your posts this week as I'm a big fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Thanks for inviting us! We're having a fabulous time!
Happy birthday to Mrs. Laura Ingalls Wilder!
Kelley~
Laura,
Thank you for giving a birthday party to your namesake. One is never too old (even 150) to enjoy a birthday party, especially one as beautiful as yours.
Judith
Thank you dear Victorian Girl for your kind comments! I hope you enjoy the entire series.
JoAnn how I wish you could have been at the party too. It was a jolly event of many who love Laura.
What a rich history you're carrying out in all your related posts, Laura! Wonderful dolls from your Grandma Jingles' hospital. One of my Panoply sisters ran a doll hospital for many years. 🙂
Little House was my favourite TV show growing up and my favourite series of books 🙂 Your Nellie Oleson party table is so pretty – I can envision the table surrounded by young prairie girls sipping lemonade and savouring those scrumptious sweet delicacies 🙂
I love your detail to the descriptions from the books. Everything is so special and elegant. You can't go wrong with pretty pink table. I am a little partial to pink. lol) The dolls and pretty tussie mussies are so sweet!
Thank you for sharing a peek at the lovely party. 🙂
What a delightful post. I love your table and the beautiful dolls are truly a treasure. Each element of the table is so pretty and the food looks delicious. I hope you find more pieces like your china plate. That would be exciting. Truly an enjoyable party to view today. The little cake in the teacup is so cute. I like how you mixed the old china with the new. Very pretty.
So petty, and I love the tie-ins to Nellie's party as well as some of the family history.