Autumn Bunting - Part I

Ahhhh, the colors of fall! It's such a wonderful invitation to a new season. I love the new modern fabrics and prints available today. Traditional is good but something new is so fun too!

Here I've made several triangles about the size of the flags you see at car sales lots and open houses. These are much more enticing and last a long time. You might remember the patriotic bunting I did last summer and it's on my agenda to have one for every season so I can enjoy the colors and patterns for every part of the year.

Ok, I recycled a piece of cardboard and made my measurements.

It's good to mark the correct measurements on your template so you always have your directions right there. And...in theory...it might not get thrown away because there ARE measurements written on it. Another story, another time.

Lay several already pressed pieces of fabric on top of each other with a self-healing cutting board underneath. With a rotary cutter, and a steady hand, cut around your template pressing through all layers. Please pay the money to have a sharp blade on your cutter. It is so irritating to pull your fabric only to find it stuck by little fibers that weren't cut. My measurements were around 7 1/2 inches wide and 9 inches tall. It really doesn't matter as long as they are all cut the same.

Once you have all of your triangles cut, you put two pieces together and randomly alternate where you put each piece. I think I usually have about 18 pieces and that makes about 6 yards.

It doesn't matter if you have duplicate fabrics right next to each other or if you selectively put "random" together. Yes, I meant to say that...random is actually methodical.

Once you have these pieces ready, flip the fabric around to right sides are facing each other, line up your points and begin sewing at one end. No need to pin this together because it's not very big and is not going to be worn (that's when the measurements really matter). Don't sew across the top quite yet, we will sew that in another step.

Sew with a 1/4 inch seam from top right, down to the point, pivot your needle (with the needle in the fabric to keep it in place) and then sew back up to the top left.

Do this with each piece....more to follow on completing this bunting!

Tea Party Delight

What's better than tea for two? ...tea for two little girls!

I love watching little girls play "ladies" in a real tea room being served delicacies on little plates with hot tea!

We've been to the tea room numerous times but this was a first for my niece and we celebrated her birthday, just girls, together and undistracted.

Ok, so we weren't completely dressed for a tea room visit but it was still good...because they didn't even notice! But, when asked what hat they would like to wear, they swarmed the hat basket to pick out the perfect match. So cute!

Here we had an array of choices. I can't even begin to describe these beauties of food the way our wonderful server described them. She threw in lots of adjectives and careful instructions on what was the best way to eat each of them. Then she left and we just tried it all. Who knew food could be so delightfully rich and tasty? ...well I guess the tea room knew!

Ok girls, go slow, I promise the server will not take all your goodies away until you are finished with them!

I have to say the cucumber sandwiches were a real hit, along with the melon balls with mint, and the biscuits with chocolate spread. My mouth is watering~

And here is what satisfaction looks like! After the tea room visit, we strolled outside the gardens and enjoyed the contentedness of a full belly, good conversation, and relaxed environment. So wonderful! Cherish these moments while your girls still want to be around you!