Mad Hat

I was asked to post a picture of my MAD HAT for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party - well here it is. I took my hat seriously (tongue in cheek) and created a "tea" hat that is definitely MAD.

I used a Dollar Store base - it was a hat with pig ears, nose and eyes on it. The shape and colour were what I was after and it had an elastic chin strap. I pulled off the "features" and was left with a great shape - I modified it slightly for my head.

I then searched for anything that one might required at a tea party - pearls, gloves (I found some lacy children's gloves at the $ store), a "gold" bracelet, a ring, a broach, sugar cubes, I glued a child's teacup to the saucer and added a small teaspoon and glued that to the hat, added some tea bags and a tea ball, a veil and bits of frou frou.

And here it is.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

I don't know whether I am just a kid at heart or "completely mad" but I finally had my Mad Hatter's Tea Party. I had wanted to do this last year but never got it together - could only manage a wonderful lunch on the patio. BUT this year - I just knew I had to do it.

To force myself to do it, I decided on a date and sent out the invitations - I had so much fun creating a poem and the invite that I knew this party was going to be fun.

RULES
(oh yes there ARE rules – there are always rules OR it’s off with your head)

You MUST BRING –a tea cup – after all it is a Tea

You MUST WEAR A HAT –it is a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Mad attire would be appreciated but if not, at least wear clothes

Bring a chair – there will be some but if you really want to sit, it would secure a spot

 

Beautiful Grandaughter - Queen of Hearts

And then to the decorations  - I started off with wild and crazy ideas but settle on only a few. We have a wonderful yard - so it did not take much to set the stage so to speak. I also enlisted the help of my wonderful sister and my step mom - my caterer extraordinaire and my beautiful granddaughter.




Sister - who came as the March Hare

Wonderful Step Mom,
Caterer who makes my parties amazing

 

Now what is more appropriate than croquet and what did Alice get to play with but a flamingo - had to have - had to have the card soldiers too - for the wickets. Such fun.

 

 

 

Card Soldiers were on duty to show the guests to the party. I had to stop at 3. Making them was just too much fun and I was becoming obsessed.

 
 
Here is my favourite soldier - he is painting the roses red. You see I really could go MAD.  

I setup two long tables on the road to the back field, layering on table clothes and adding chairs. I had my credenza setup for the food and an antique table setup with the plates and beverages. It was a perfect day - sun streaming through the trees really set the party stage.

Had to have a Drink Me sign on the Lemonade

And of course it is all about the time

Just happened to have a looking glass

Now all I need are the guests and here they are in their some beautiful and some funny hats.

 

 

 And of course we play croquet.

 

 

TenFold Quilt Show

Amazing, just amazing to see the culmination of our first project hanging all together. We had our opening Friday evening and we were so happy that so many came out to see our wonderful creations. The show is at Sybil Andrew's Cottage until June 18th, so if you get a chance go and see it.

Here we are - Tenfold

This grouping of work explores our interpretation of a variety of themes. The criteria for these pieces was:

• they had to be 12" x 12" or 48" in diameter
• to incorporate a new technique
• must be quilted - meaning it had to have a top, a middle and a back

 Birth - Theme was chosen because the word told of what were were - a newly formed group starting on a new adventure, with new friends and many possibilities.

Group - Theme was chosen because the word came to mind after Birth i.e. the birth of our group

Temptation - Theme was chosen because the word evoked an image almost immediately, and yet upon reflection opened up a wide range of possibilities, a malleable word to interpret.

Gold - Theme was chosen because "it was at the time of the 2010 Olympics - thinking of the significance of gold throughout our lives; gold stars/medals for achievement, wedding rings, golden handshakes, anniversaries, golden years etc.

Old Meets New - Theme was chosen because the idea that something as old and traditional as a quilt has remained with us through the decades, replicating timeless piecing with new techniques that allow us to still enjoy the beauty of those traditional blocks.
















Rendezvous - Theme was chosen because "I liked the word." It means a place appointed for an assembling or meeting.

Me - Theme was chosen because the word just "popped into my mind at the last minute and I thought it would be a great way to get to know everyone"


















Solitude - Theme was chosen because we live in such a busy, noisy world. We all need time alone to find inner peace. I thought it would be interesting to see where others might find that peace and solitude.

Magic - Theme was chosen because the word "conjured" up many pictures: top hats, rabbits, wands Harry Potter, nature, love, children - the entire world around us. I wanted to see how this would be interpreted.

 The conversation around the show was fabulous. A lot of speculation on who did which piece. I just loved it and I loved that most of my family and friends were there to see our efforts.

I Must Be MAD

I must be mad - MAD I tell you. We discussed this the other day and HE said, after the carpet layers left for the third time of trying to make it "RIGHT", HE said "this almost makes you want to rush right into the next renovation." I looked at him over my glasses and said I could easily sit the next one out. HE said " that is not an option." So I am back to collecting ideas for the NEXT reno AND the one after that.  I confess that I spend countless hours dreaming and planning. I look in magazines and browse the web.

I promise - pictures are coming - we have the trim up now but I am the hold up - I am filling and prepping for the final paint and touch up. Then the doors will go in. I also need to buy the "bits", the "jewelry" as I call it. You know the new soap dish, towels, trays for organizing the drawers - yes I have drawers. We never had drawers in this bathroom. There is an abundance of storage.

I have been holding up "the show" on our reno as I have been playing with Antic's Theatre on the spring production of Fawlty Towers: The Germans. The run ended last night. We had so much fun and so many laughs. The run was extended to 5 nights. Amazing to see such a following for this troupe.

Now what you have to know is this stage is only about 10 feet deep and with that we cheat and give the illusion that we have a kitchen and an upstairs with many rooms - after all this is a hotel - Fawlty Towers.

view of the lobby, entry to the kitchen and office

hospital room, dining room, and bar

Over the years Antic's Theatre has done many episodes of Fawlty Towers as well as a few of Norm Foster's plays and always the illusion of space wins comments from the audience. My granddaughter was amazed when she got a tour of the "backstage" and there were no rooms. She was convinced there was a bedroom complete with a bath. Clever lighting and good directing makes this all believable for the audience.
Eleven years ago, Anne, encouraged by Lorna started dinner theatre in our little town and it has grown from an audience of 40 to sold out houses of over 100.
Anne hand picks her plays and her actors and it seems to be a winning combination.

Anne gets the vision and her husband Don, creates the set and the magic begins.

Our patrons - Anne (the director/producer) Lorna (mentor/friend)

Sybil (Marg) and Basil (Dan)

cast of The Germans