As a lover of local farmers markets and summer barbecues, Kiira Turnbow of Eye Heart Pretty Things stole my heart with her Farmer’s Market Inspired Backyard BBQ to celebrate her son Judah’s first birthday! Full of affordable DIY projects and thrifted pieces, this is one of those parties that would be so fun to recreate…  and I just have to say, the vibrant florals in vintage cans, paper bag + kraft paper decor and colorful, fresh food looks amazing… I think I know what I’ll be doing this weekend! ;)

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Playful floral arrangements in up-cycled vintage cans
• Vintage first birthday invitation, red gingham tablecloth & fresh lemonade
• Wheel barrow and egg carton cupcake displays
• Paper bag snack packs + berry baskets filled with fresh fruit & veggies
• Adorable mini confetti cake smash cake with “1” kraft paper party flag topper

PARTY DETAILS, as told by Kiira…

I wanted to put together a festive BBQ for my son’s 1st birthday, inspired by the amazing farmer’s markets that are so well known to California summers. This was a very DIY heavy party, as I needed it to stay low-budget. Finding real, true vintage cans is not-so-easy. So I decided instead to create my own. All of the can labels I found online, printed and glued on myself. I’ve been saving large, extra large, medium and small cans for months. I loved the rustic touch of using vintage egg cartons and berry baskets to give it a true farmers market feel. And you can’t have a party without adorable striped paper straws.

I used brown kraft paper, or recycled brown paper grocery bags to cut, fold and glue packets to hold the napkins & silverware, tiny chip bags, and little food signs folded over sticks. I used pinking shears to trim the edges of the kraft paper to give it the zigzag edge.

I found a yard of tiny red and white gingham fabric, which I cut into squares and folded into napkins and tucked into the paper pouches and tied them with baker’s twine. I also bought several yards of burlap and red and white checked fabric to use as tablecloths, much cheaper than buying a finished tablecloth. The raw edge of the fabric where I cut it added to the rustic feel, so I didn’t mind the edges being unfinished. I created the bunting flags from an old gardening calendar printed with fruits and vegetable graphics. For the invitations, I wanted a bright yet faded look, reminiscent of a vintage paint can or food label. I designed and printed them myself, and I found brown kraft paper envelopes to match the rest of the party. I printed and cut out the red gingham envelope liners myself using a template I traced from the envelope shape.

All the wire baskets and galvanized tubs were a slow collection from thrift stores and garage sales. The flowers are wild flowers from friends gardens. I pulled some fresh carrots out of the garden as table display, and put watermelons from our garden in a big wheelbarrow with ice. The mini cupcakes I baked and placed in the vintage egg cartons. Overall the party was a wonderful summer gathering to celebrate our little one’s first birthday. We were overjoyed to share to occasion with all of our close friends and family!