FRIDA KAHLO'S BIRTHDAY

J-25 This year, the theme of the party eShe is an artist who has made her work her life. Frida Kahlo. Huge pressure coupled with eternal gratitude to my daughter, 9 years old, who chose the birthday theme.

J-25 always. Choice of boxes. I hesitate to do them myself, in relation to Frida, to life, to work... but given what I plan for the future, I fall back on boxes already made and I tell myself that knowing your limits is a bit like knowing yourself! 

J-20 I have the boxes. Louison asks me to fill them out and let her take care of the envelopes. I let her. A few hours later, I recognize on all the envelopes a self-portrait surrounded by elements that seem surreal to me, to hers that are perfectly adequate… Obviously, she masters Frida's work.

J-17 Recovering from the shock of the self-portrait, it's time to focus on what you're going to do. If you are on this page, it means that you have decided to do everything yourself and the good news is that the following list is exhaustive, very thoughtful and should allow you to make your own list. .

J-15 You have to order or buy what you need depending games and manual activity workshops that you have chosen. There is the ready-made kit, if you don't have the time/courage or a whole theme specially organized to make your life easier with all the essentials: A photo booth kit, a large Mexican skull balloon to get into a 100% dias de los muertos atmosphere, a beautiful wreath of flowers (if we don't have the courage to make a DIY), a garland boho pennant, flowery plates, cups and napkins, adorable llama toppers, candles cactus... In short, my happiness is under my nose.

J-15 always. I read Frida's bio just to master everything well. I realize that Frida's bio is actually a thesis. A few hundred pages later, I'm well beyond mastery. I know everything about her, I feel like what's going on in her head is going on in mine. To the point of often hating Diego…

J-10 At this point, normally, I choose my outfit. This time, it will not be necessary, because a change has taken place without my noticing it. I wear wide, colorful skirts that are very tight at the waist, boots, fitted and variegated tops and lots of jewelry. I have the impression of coming out of the Saint-Laurent 77 fashion show. Of course, I stopped plucking my eyebrows and dyeing my mustache. And of course, that's not to everyone's taste. I am Frida.

J-9 I theorize and I realize that organizing a birthday is a bit like appropriating a role. I am going to share this exciting discovery with Gabriella, my partner, who herself loves to theorize.

J-7 Unable to have a parrot, a fawn, a dog, a hen in my apartment, I spend my Saturday at Deyrolle. I try to explain to my husband that the stuffed animal is a work of art and therefore an investment. He tries to explain to me that the cost of the beast is indecent even for an investment.

J-7 Preparation of the playlist, printing of the printables, printing of the list of games...

J-1 In the evening – in my kitchen – I prepare everything that can be done in advance. I make the shortbread dough, I make my cake (a pound cake), I make icing, I cover my cake with icing. I prepare some tissue paper flowers to decorate my cake and to show the girls the result I want to achieve during one of my workshops.

J-1 always in the evening. Now in my living room - I do most of my birthday decoration. Well, there, it thickens. I launch into a crazy decoration. I project myself into Frida's Mexico. That of his childhood. That of village festivals. I imagine a ceiling of garlands. In the center of the garlands, where they meet, I hang a pinata. The star-shaped one. The one that is suspended in traditional festivals.

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⏰ D-DAY ⏰

9h I wake up hearing Louison screaming with happiness. She is stunned by the decor. It must be said that it is frankly surprising! She can't come back. Me, on the other hand, my neck is a little sore. Let's call a spade, a spade: I have stiff neck. At the same time, spending two hours on a ladder sticking garlands to the ceiling leaves traces! I take out my neck brace. I'm still a little more in tune with Frida.

9h05 And like Frida, I take it upon myself. We have two or three things to finish. We start with the surprise bags. They are light, because I have planned lots of workshops with which the children will leave.

10 h I inflate some balloons with helium: a giant cactus, flowered balloons, a calavera, I divert the mexican burro pinata in balloon weight.

11 h Louison makes shortbread in the shape of a flower. When they come out of the oven, I add a calavera or a tagada strawberry to them. I spread sugar paste, Louison transforms it into flowers that she installs on the cake. I add birthday candles cactus. We set the table on our work plan, we keep the table for the workshops. Louison arranges flowers there that are scraps of garlands and installs everything the girls will need for the workshops.

13 h We picnic in relation to the table and the work plan which are already occupied…

14 h We have an hour left. I transform Louison into Frida. I lend her my clothes, I adjust them, I make her up. It's Frida. It's crazy. And creepy. I put on a white shirt with a Mao collar and wide overalls. I am Diego. Hahaha. No one expected such a turnaround. She loved him so much, I can make a little effort.

15 h They are all there. In fact, they are all there. Louison only invited girls. None of them know Frida, so they are not disguised. I welcome them and explain to them how the afternoon will unfold: we are all playing together and we are going to discover the work of an artist through her work and workshops.

15h05 They are conquered from the first minute. It will have been enough that they see Louison disguised so that they adhere. I explain to them that there are women who open the way, who allow them to see and project themselves differently. Strong and powerful women. Women who are idols today. I show them images and I explain to them in a few words the artist's approach. I also explain to them Mexican folklore (by the way, I justify my megalo decor), the desire of artists in the 30s to highlight national know-how (here, I justify the workshops that we are going to do).

15h10 Girls, sit around the table for a first workshop. It's about realizing a flowery shawl. While you are busy making your shawl, I will tattoo one after the other and show you photos of traditional Mexican outfits.

15h35 To stretch our legs a bit and since all the hands are tattooed, let's play Hands stack. The game becomes a performance!

15h40 We are going to do a second workshop which will consist of making a headdress of flowers almost equivalent to those worn by Frida. While you're doing your headdress, I'll make up your eyebrows, put some blush on your cheeks and a little lipstick on your lips.

16 h We take a workshop break. We play at About me Sit on the ground in front of you.

16h10 A new workshop. Frida wore a lot of jewelry, she loved it. Therefore we are going make a jump. It's a great necklace.

16h30 It's snack time. Fortunately, I have everything organized. 

16h45 Take all your accessoiries, we are going to make a photobooth with crown, shawl, necklace, makeup and tattoos! I do make-up touch-ups for those who took off their lipstick while tasting. You are sublime!!

17 h We're doing a round of Frida?! It makes you dizzy you are so beautiful. We make a musical gift ?!

17h15 I see you really want to dance. I suggest you make a choreography. We can try something folkloric. I'll play mexican music for you. Lindo y Quirido for the atmosphere? Don't thank me, it's a gift. I am love and kindness.

17h40 Frida had a passion for her person, because she said it was the subject she knew best. In order to always get to know herself better, she tried to understand where she came from, her origins. She produced a work whose title is My grandparents, my parents and me. There she is. I would like you to make your own family tree. So we will have to make portraits and a self-portrait! You can tap into your imagination to add details that make sense to you. Frida painted herself with symbols that are said to be surreal, but which for her were full of meaning and had a realistic significance.

17h55 The opening of presents !!!!

18 h The parents are all there and surprised to recover transformed young girls. I return them to their different parents. I would like to believe that they are a little more aware of the women they are becoming. I am proud.

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Council of friends

Friend's advice : do not hesitate to consult our blog section devoted to Frida Kahlo. You will find some ideas for birthday events, decorations...