Wee find: Marbled partyware

Marbled hats, crackers, lanterns – pure joy.

Rebecca Gardner’s marbled partyware for Houses & Parties is a maximalist delight – think riotous colours, swirling patterns, and a sense of gleeful extravagance that turns any gathering into a spectacle. Gardner’s Savannah-and-New York-based brand is beloved for “unnecessaries for devotees of the elegant and unusual,” and this collection is a perfect example: marbled paper party hats topped with giant silk tassels, artisan lanterns, and table lampshades that look like they’ve just tumbled out of a particularly exuberant Florentine stationery shop.

Long-time Wee Birdy readers will remember my cracker obsession – back when I’d hunt down the best of the best, before every brand under the sun jumped on the bandwagon. These days, crackers have become so predictable and serious, with everyone from beauty brands to whisky brands flogging their own versions. But Gardner’s are a breath of fresh air: proper old-school crackers filled with silly, nostalgic treats – think pig snouts, plastic nail tips, and moustaches – just the way crackers should be. And all wrapped in glorious marbled paper and tied with silk ribbon. There are a few different colourways to choose from.

The paper party hats and lanterns are equally covetable and the effect is unapologetically over-the-top. The lanterns are especially clever – they’re designed to be hung from string lights outdoors or from your “chandelier” (ahem) with a bold red tassel for extra drama.

The marbled paper cachepots are perfect for bulbs or fresh flowers, with a hidden plastic liner to keep arrangements looking their best. Picture a cluster of them running down the centre of the party table, each one brimming with vibrant blooms for a joyful, eye-catching display. They would also look sweet potted with bulbs by the windowsill.

There are also three different styles of marbled paper lampshades, each with its own party trick. There’s the classic coolie shade for a dash of vintage charm, the table lamp shade and the versatile pan shade – perfect for scattering along the table or tucking into a reading nook. Mix and match them for a gloriously mismatched look, or run a row of them down the centre of your table and let their swirling patterns and colours set the mood for the whole evening.

Want more party madness? Rebecca suggests you add brightly woven table lamps, a silk seahorse mobile, fish lanterns and dragonfly kites to your “marbellous” setting.

The prices are eye-watering (US$98 for six hats, US$42 for a lantern, US$98 for crackers), but these are objects should be treasured, not tossed – meant for “ballyhooing birthdays, Friday nights, or any occasion, really.” But sometimes, it’s enough just to admire them and dream about the kind of party where everyone leaves with a marbled hat and a wearable pig snout in their pocket.

Feeling crafty and can’t afford US$98 marbled party hats? Here’s how to make your own.

*Please note that this is not an ad and I don’t feature commercial affiliate products. I don’t get paid in any way for this story.

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