Blooming Affaire 2008

June 6 & 7, 2008

Another blooming success for Chabot College Foundation's 4th Annual "A Blooming Affaire, Tour of Tables and Design", fundraising event held on June 6th and 7th. The event organizers were delighted to present a weekend of spectacular colors, fabrics, flowers and table top designs reflecting the theme: The American South.

On Friday evening, guests were treated to the sounds of Tommy Bro's All-Star Dixieland Jazz Band, accompanied by Hog Island Oysters, Pink Lady specialty drinks and hors d'oeuvres by Miraglia Catering. On Saturday, featured honored guest speakers Gary Wright and Susan Soares of Southern Living at HOME and Southern Living Magazine  made a presentation on Southern influenced designs as well as tips on entertaining, decorating and organizing in the home and garden. Lunch was catered by Patrick David's Catering.

This year's recipient of the Gladiator Award was Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele. This tradition recognizes individuals who have a connection with Chabot College and have also had a dynamic impact on the surrounding communities. Ms. Steele has been an exemplary supporter of Chabot College and the Hayward community.

A Blooming Affaire” was chaired by Chabot Alum Tamara Papazian and coordinated by a host of community members who share a passion for interior design and who believe in the value of community college education. The event netted over $20,000 and proceeds will greatly benefit the Chabot College Fine Arts, Interior Design and Nursing Programs, as well as other campus needs.

Thank you to all our sponsors, donors and volunteers for your generous support.  We hope that you will join us again next year as we go “Hollywood”. We anticipate another sell-out crowd and stunning table designs.

Aerial views

 22 Tabletop Designs

Splendor By The Bayou
Family and friends share a beautiful Southern spring day alongside the Bayou under a luscious canopy of flora, delighted with the abundance of wildlife that is singing, splashing and flittering about.

Kat Ott-Davis, Creative Spaces
***People's Choice Award ***

Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil: A Savannah Story
The voodoo priestess tells the story, “Now, you know how dead time works. Dead time lasts for one hour … from half an hour before midnight to half an hour after midnight. The half hour before midnight is for doin’ good. The half hour after midnight is for doin’ evil. Seems like we need a little of both tonight.” This table design reflects the contrast between good and evil while still blending well together to somehow make you wonder where one ends and the other begins. Southern Belle beauty is depicted with soft pastels and silver enhancements, while deep colors and gold display the foreboding elegance of evil. Statuary exemplifies the gothic element that continues to live in Savannah today. A Savannah Story was on the New York Times Best Seller List for four years.

Phyllis Moroney, Eden Medical Center
***Chancellor's Award***

Georgia Peach
Known for its relaxed Southern hospitality, the "Georgia Peach" is a descriptive phrase for the women of the south, also known as Southern Belles. The juicy Georgia peaches are in many ways famous for their flavor and also their vibrant color. The state of Georgia holds festivals and events honoring this delicious fruit. The doll represents the beautiful women of the south. The houses represent southern hospitality. The magnolias symbolize delicacy. The color brown emphasizes that Georgia has a plentiful amount of luscious peaches.

Barbara Daher, Interior Designer Instructor, proudly stands at the table created by the Chabot College Design Club: Victoria Peters, Pak Yeung, Tarannium Saeed, Jyotsna Tewari, Brenda Adams, Elaine Torres, Alan Chen, Torchy Mitchell, and Haseena Arsala

Sweet Home Alabama honoring Dr. Celia Barberena
“In the South, perhaps more than any other region, we go back to our home in dreams and memories, hoping it remains what it was on a lazy, still summer’s day twenty years ago.” – Willie Morris. This table is as mix-matched as Grandma’s family tree. The pink Depression-era glass that she collected way-back-when, sits on top of Momma’s rose plates with clear teacups and saucers and Mason jars to drink your “sweet tea.” The lace doilies came from a trip to the State Fair and the fine off-white napkins were a mail-order item. Using Aunt Nora’s table-topper quilt, Momma tied it all together and Grandma crafted the centerpiece from an antique birdcage and her candy dish chickens, with a last word, “The chickens have come home to roost.”

Blooming Affaire Committee/Suzanne Pershing

Luncheon Under the Sweet Magnolia’s             
Peek through the old, ornately scrolled, wrought iron gate … the guest list is posted just inside. You will see backyard dining at its finest under the sweet magnolias. Inspiration for this table design emerged while reading an article in the 1997 Southern Accents Magazine, describing an 80th birthday party given in honor of Edna Lewis, the “First Lady of Southern Cooking” and orchestrated by her friend and protégé, Scott Peacock. Describing the elegant affaire, Peacock shares his knowledge of Southern life … “People in the South used to not worry about matching things, and there were no rental companies, you borrowed what you needed from friends and neighbors to add to what you already had.” Peacock states that he learned many lessons from Ms. Lewis – the life lesson being – “The pursuit of purity and integrity and the immediacy of good food and good life.” Influenced by the article above and in the tradition of Scarlet O’Hara, we literally tore down the drapes for our table
setting!

Barbara King & Alana Hay, ValleyCare Health System
***President's Award***

Mardi Gras Dogs
Capturing the excitement of the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration through
color and glitz, this table has “gone to the dogs” as our canine friends get into the
act with their masks and beads and sparkles piled high!

Jane Church, Edna Danaher & Judy Young, Chabot College Faculty/Staff

Gary Wright, Southern Living at HOME and Southern Living Magazine

The Regal Mississippi: Riverboat
This tablescape is an abstract representation of a Mississippi Riverboat. The most famous early riverboats traveled the rivers of the midwestern and central southern United States, on the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers. Powered by burning wood, with iron boilers drafted by a pair of tall smokestacks belching smoke and cinders, and twin double acting pistons driving a large paddlewheel at the stern churning foam, Mississippi riverboats graced the Mississippi shore in the early 19th century. This floral centerpiece also depicts some of the characteristics of the river, including live fish, the State of Mississippi flower, a reference to the musical history of the state and the casino element associated with riverboats. Images of the more famous riverboats have also been included as part of this design. Enjoy the fantasy of the Regal Mississippi.

Designed by Dayne Nichols, Chabot College Student Trustee for Melinda Matsuda, Chabot College Vice President

"Everyone should have a secret garden.........."

Designed by Kat Ott-Davis, Blooming Affaire committee member and owner of Creative Spaces

Tamara Papazian, Chair of the Blooming Affaire Committee and Richard Hong,
Director and past Chair of the Chabot College Foundation