The Art of Tablescaping: Deck Out Your Table with the Queen of Theme

by Bugsy Drake, Sandy Yawn (Foreword by)

Overview

You can set your table—or you can ’scape it.

When Bugsy Drake stepped onboard the yacht as Second Stew on Bravo’s Below Deck Med, she showed the world the magic of tablescaping. With the help of some unconventional centerpieces, a few artfully folded napkins, well-placed lighting, and a generous sprinkling of décor, tablescaping is the art of transforming a meal into an adventure that your guests will never forget. Bugsy’s gorgeous, over-the-top themes have captivated guests and earned her legions of devoted fans. Now she’s ready to share her passion and talent for creating unforgettable dining experiences, honed during nearly a decade working on the world’s most exclusive yachts and private islands.

Featuring step-by-step instructions for building your own enchanting events, The Art of Tablescaping is packed full of inventive ideas and design hacks, on-the-job stories and lessons learned. Get inspired by some of Bugsy’s most iconic tablescapes, from rustic outdoor gatherings to glam-as-all-get-out soirees, then follow her tips for getting your own party started.

You don’t need to have the superpowers of a Chief Stew to make a simple dinner party into a lasting memory—just your creativity, a sense of fun, and a few tips from the Queen of Theme herself.

This is a great gift!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781954854208
Publisher:	Girl Friday Books
Publication date:	05/10/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	162 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

The self-professed Queen of Theme, Christine “Bugsy” Drake is widely known for her role as a stew on Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean, Seasons 2 and 5, where her gorgeous signature tablescapes and over-the-top theme parties are often the star of the show. Born and raised in South Africa, she is a seasoned yachtie who began her career in floating hospitality in 2013. She has since worked on a private island in the Bahamas and sailed the seas on some of the world’s most exclusive luxury yachts. Called “perhaps the greatest tablescape artist who has ever lived” by the New York Times, Bugsy always brings her passion and talent for stunning décor to the table.

A Fort Lauderdale native with over three decades of yachting experience under her belt, Captain Sandy is one of the most respected captains in the industry. Sandy knew she wanted her career to revolve around the ocean from a very young age and was not discouraged when she discovered yachting to be a male-dominated field. Knowing the difficulties that come with leading an entire team while providing 5-star service, she makes it her mission to know everything and every department on the boat.

Editorial Reviews

05/03/2021

Drake, a cast member on reality show Below Deck Mediterranean, debuts with an imaginative ode to entertaining and creating themed tables. A “tablescape,” she writes, is “the story you are telling, and it’s the journey you and your guests are taking. It’s a way to transform a simple meal into a lifetime memory.” Drake starts with basics, offering tips for choosing colors, making the best use of a table shape, and working with different textures. Then come her themed celebrations, each of which features a signature drink, color scheme, and a suggested playlist: a tropical getaway party, for example, features mai tais and a neutral, fruit-heavy table. For a glittery carnival, attendees should drink “anything bubbly”and listen to Rihanna, while a gold-heavy ode to The Great Gatsby uses pearls to create texture. Though readers may not build a table around a broken boat propeller as Drake did for a party in the Bahamas, there’s no shortage of tips and tutorials, including one on folding napkins into elaborate shapes, like the rose fold and the cascading triangle fold. Glorious full-page photos and playful typography add some visual fizz. Drake’s fun guide is sure to please hosts looking for a bit of whimsy. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Glorious full-page photos and playful typography add some visual fizz. Drake's fun guide is sure to please hosts looking for a bit of whimsy." ―Publishers Weekly

"The perfect book for anyone who wants to elevate their own table for that next party or just have a stunning book for the coffee table." ―The Portland Book Review

"I loved this book. I'm a new fan of Bugsy (from Below Deck) and due to this book I recently started following her on Instagram. The pictures in the book are beautiful as well as informative. I feel greatly inspired by Bugsy's eclectic extravagance. Bugsy lends an immense amount of time and energy bringing her creations to life and her boldness and free spirit are fascinating. Fantastic find for anyone wishing to create the perfect setting for any fun gathering. Truly a treasure to be enjoyed. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review." ―Richelle Rodarte

"I've always been a fan of Bugsy and her tablescapes on Below Deck Mediterranean. I found the book to have great tips for decorating tables and I can't wait to use them when the pandemic is over and I'm able to have people over again! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book." ―Melissa S.

"I watched Below Deck and have seen the author on tv. I was excited for her to have written a book about what she is so great at!! The book begins with talking about how she became a part of a sailing crew. Throughout the book there are gorgeous pictures of the the author showing different parts of boats and tablescapes. I loved that she shows you step by step on how to come up with a theme and how to transport the guests into what it is. She gives step by step on how to fold napkins for different themes. The whole book has gorgeous pictures where you feel like you are right on the boat with her. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to start doing table centerpieces, or having parties." ―Christine R.

From the Publisher