Thimbleanna

Oh, The Places We’ll Go!

Those of you who have been around here for awhile might remember that, every January, the school that our boys attended has a fund-raising auction.  I would always go a few hours before the big event and take some pictures because the decorations are always over-the-top fabulous.  Last year I completely forgot about it, although, the theme wasn’t very exciting, so it may have been a subconscious forgetting.

When I heard the theme this year would be Oh, The Places We’ll Go, I knew I had to go check it out.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

Please forgive the darkness of the pictures.  I never use a flash in order to keep as low a profile as possible, because I always feel so awkward walking around taking pictures.  Also, please excuse the random person here and there — the staff were still working on the table settings.

Let’s back up and enter the auditorium through the hall where the attendees enter.  Here’s a very cropped shot of the entrance.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

You walk under the arches into a short little black and white hall and then turn to the right where a few more colors start to appear.  I love the adorable feather trees.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

Once inside, the lighting was pretty dim, much as I suspect it was during the event.  There were adorable, colorful light bulbs hanging everywhere.  Sadly, the colors of the lights are all blown out in all of my photos, but try to imagine all those lights in blues and oranges and reds, etc.  And the coolest thing is that each one of those lightbulbs changed colors every few seconds.  It was so happy and gorgeous!

Thimbleanna: School Auction

There were fun little reminders that the theme represented many books written by Dr. Suess.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

The tables at these events always have fantastic floral centerpieces, so when I first entered, I was surprised to see the giant hats on pillars.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

But, it didn’t take long to realize that those hats were made out of flowers.  Real Flowers.  Aren’t they beautiful?  So perfect for a Dr. Seuss affair!

Thimbleanna: School Auction

And look at the pillars that form the base of the hats.  The red and blue words running up and down them say “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”.  Did you figure out that those pillars are full of water?  With red and blue fish in them?  It’s hard to see the fish in the pictures and the funny thing is that I didn’t see the fish while I was there because I didn’t actually get very close to the tables.  After I left the building, I called MyDadLovesMeBestSister (who would be attending the big soiree in a few hours) and told her that I thought maybe the centerpieces were going to have some fish in them.  I wanted her to try and take a picture once they’d added the fish.  It wasn’t until I got home and looked at the pictures that I realized that the fish had been in the little aquariums when I was there.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

The ceiling and walls were full of jumbo sized characters and scenes from many of the Dr. Seuss books.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

Thimbleanna: School Auction

 

Thimbleanna: School Auction

So, there you have it for this year — I thought it was so much cuter than it has been in the last several years.  I guess I just like the years where the theme is centered around children’s stories, which are a lot more fun than when the theme is an idea or a place. (Haha — I was just looking back over some of the past auction posts and at the end of the last three posts, I commented that I sure hoped they’d go back to a children’s book theme.  I got my wish this year!)   Here’s a parting close-up of those feather trees.

Thimbleanna: School Auction

I’d like to have a bunch of those in the dungeon — they would distract from the fabric disaster that’s happening down there!

XOXO,
Anna

45 thoughts on “Oh, The Places We’ll Go!”

  1. Fabulous! I’ve been a huge Dr. Seuss fan since childhood ~ it looks like the organizers thought of everything! What fun!

  2. First, love the new banner!!
    Second, love, love, love the whole post – I want to go and live in that room!!
    It’s a wet and dreary Monday morning here, so thank you for cheering me up!!

  3. The theme and decorations are amazing – what a lot of effort must go in to creating it. I love your new header by the way. Very cute!

  4. Oh My! what an incredible event! looks like a professional set. What amazing talent. The hat centerpieces are over the top wonderful! thanks for taking us on a tour of this amazing event!
    love love the new header!!

  5. LOVE your new header!!!

    i’m gonna hafta make sure that Auntia sees those red and blue fish – that’s her very favorite Dr. Seuss book (probably because it’s the one her big brother used to read to her) … or maybe not cuz she will decide that she really NEEDS some fish and i do NOT want to have any Burials at Sea in the near future…

  6. Holy smack a doodles – who does all the work and planning – that was amazing and looked like something they would do in Hollyweird. Very very cool.
    Hugs Mrs. Farmhouse

  7. Hooray!!! I love this annual event even thought I don’t attend. I just love seeing the over-the-top decorations! Thanks for sharing, Anna!

  8. That is a fabulous decorating job! The theme is wonderful! I almost forgot I’m not teaching-I started thinking how fun this would be (on a smaller scale, of course) in a library or reading corner?! :) I loved it! :) Thanks for sharing!

  9. How fabulous! What an imagination the committee(?) have to produce such an amazing scene. Hope your fabric disaster isn’t too bad! Love the new header.

  10. Holy Moly!!! I can’t even begin to imagine what the budget is for the event!! It is beautiful and whimsical and creative and just plain fun! ;p

    Love the hats mad of flowers the best! ;p

  11. Oh my goodness, what a Suess Dream come true! I just love ALL Dr. Suess books so this truly amazing. There were some very creative minds exploding there. Wonderful! Love those flowery Cat in the Hat hats. Reminds me of those sweet carnation topiaries.

    Hey, I noticed your LOVE Banner! Good one.

  12. Wow! I bet that was really awesome in person. They have some really creative people working on their events. Love your new banner too!!! xo

  13. WOW that’s amazing!! Is this all done by the kids at the school or do they get professionals to do it? It sure looks professional. What great colors. And your pictures are great, I can’t believe you didn’t use your flash… what setting is your camera then? Because the pics are so great and crisp!

    Must have been a fun night ;)

  14. okay this is my fave them so far… but i grew up with those books. well…. sort of. i had those books in my childhood, how’s that? those centerpieces were so fun. your banner makes me want to cry. love the pink text and stripey fab. okay. i’m supposed to be working.
    off i go, to save the world.
    :waves madly

  15. I’m so glad you checked it out this year… it’s so fantastic! Who creates the decorations? They are so wonderful! Thank you for being nerdy… walking around with your camera. I appreciate your efforts. HUGS! ~Joni

  16. Wow, this must have taken a lot of time, and tons of talent! It looks like a wonderful land of Dr. Seuss, I would’ve loved to see it in person. I have shown your blogpost to other teachers, and we are amazed. Thanks for sharing ~
    :-}pokey

  17. Gosh. I can’t imagine how long that took to do (and what it cost?)

    We weren’t brought up on Dr S but my kids had “The Cat in the Hat”, which always struck me as a bit scary. But you’re making me think that there’s a lot more of his books out there.

  18. anna i heard a motivational speaker last weekend. she said that it was the 24th publisher that finally told dr. seuss yes to “one fish two fish red fish blue fish”. can you believe that?

  19. I forgot to mention to you how much I love your new header. It’s such fun to see what you’re going to do with your thimbles! You are uber creative! ~Joni

  20. Oh Anna, the pictures are beautiful! It brought tears to my eyes because it reminded me of the the musical that my daughter sang in while in high school. She played the character of the kangaroo in “Seusical the Musical”. She was the smallest girl in the cast yet her voice carried to the rafters, and she was GOOD. Well, better than good, she was FANTASTIC! She’s graduating this year from college with a degree in education and hopes to teach elementary. Thanks for the beautiful pictures and a chance to run down memory lane. Have I mentioned before, I love your blog?!?! Have a great weekend.

  21. I love Dr. Seuss. Best quotes ever. I used to tutor little kids in reading and his books were always my first choice. How did I miss this post?

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