I made this: paper hearts

Original image by Esther Orridge 2012

These paper hearts featured quite heavily at the Tea at the Cathedral Event we held last weekend. Not only did we use them to decorate the room (hung in single rows on fishing wire), but all the ladies who attended were given the opportunity to make their own. As a craft, these hearts are ideal as the only implement you need are scissors and a stapler.

I got the idea from a 'how to' on a blog (Unfortunately I can't remember which blog that was!) so I can't claim that the idea is my own. 

Of the 2 crafts available on the day, this proved to be the most popular, so here's a step by step guide to making your own:

You need:
9 Strips of paper about 15cm (6 inches) in length (I cut mine out of an old music book from a charity shop, but maps also make a great option)
Scissors
A stapler
A hole punch (not pictured because I've lost mine - aarrgh!)

1. Take one strip and fold it in half. Use a hole punch to put a hole into the folded end. We'll use this hole to hang the heart up with afterwards. Place the folded piece down onto the table.

2. Take out 2 strips and place them down either side of the folded piece.

3. Gather the other strips of paper and cut about 2.5cm (1 inch) off the top. Take two of these strips and place them either side of the folded piece. Continue this process until you have no more strips left. Discard your scraps.

4. Gather all your strips together in the order that they are laid down. Your pile should go from the shortest to the longest and back again with the folded piece in the middle. Gather them all at one end and staple.

6. Hold the strips by the stapled end. Bend the strips over and secure at the end with another staple.

7. Hey presto, you have your very own paper heart!!

These are so simple to make and not only do they look great hung in rows, but they make great Christmas decorations too! (Did I just say the C word - yeah I did!).

If you try this, let me know how you got on!

Bye


Michelle x 

tea at the cathedral

I came, I saw, I tea partied (or something like that). Saturday was the day of the Tea at the Cathedral Event that I, and several others, had been organising at church. It was a charity tea party to raise funds for our wonderful church building and it was a great opportunity for us women to get together, have a natter and drink copious amounts of tea!

A lot of work went into it as we had a lot of high hopes for the event and didn't want to disappoint. In fact, planning this was the main reason for my blogging hiatus over the past few months.

For their entrance fee, the ladies got their cream tea and their chance to get crafty, a little bit of pampering if they wanted it and a gift bag - what a bargain, eh?

Image by Esther Orridge

With a red carpet and a little bit of live music thrown into the mix too, it turned out to be a great event and a good time was had by all. Even better, we raised a lot of money for the charity in the process!

Many an afternoon (and evening) was spent making the cupcake flags for the gift bags, making paper pom poms, making paper heart bunting and drilling holes in vintage china to make cake plates  - all in preparation for the big day..... phew! More info on how to make those soon....

Image by Esther Orridge

Lastly, a very BIG THANK YOU SHOUT OUT needs to go to Steady Hire Ltd for letting us use their chairs and tables for free! And to Marina at Knittery who shared her knitting expertise with everybody!

AND to the wonderful team of ladies who worked with me to put this event together - you know who you are - I couldn't have done it without you!

Till next year.....

Michelle x 

summer lovin'

Please excuse the cheesy title, but WOW, what a glorious summer it has been! First the Golden Jubilee celebrations and then the spectacle that was the 2012 Olympics. I can't believe that summer is over. But over it is and now the nights are rolling in there seems no good excuse not to flex those bony fingers of mine over a keyboard once more and get blogging.

A couple weeks ago we celebrated the birthday of one of my dear friends with a tea party in her honour. Considering the rain has played as big a part in the British summer as the Olympics itself, we were pleasantly surprised by the appearance of the sun in the sky.

see, those meringues are tiny!

Holdsworth House was the perfect setting for our gathering and after drinks in the garden, were were taken to a private room where we were served with our quintessential English fare. Although I am a lover all all things kitsch and vintage, and am hosting my very own tea party myself next week (more about that in future posts) I have to admit I actually don't like the taste of tea or cream* (I know - shocker, huh?!). 

obligatory vintage china

But fret not - I didn't go hungry. After drinking my own body weight in coffee, I quickly polished off smoked salmon sandwiches, a chocolate muffin and  five a few mini lemon meringue pies. Delicious!!

the aftermath

 It was the perfect birthday treat for my most girly of girlfriends and the perfect send-off to what has been a great summer. If you're interested in booking Afternoon Tea at Holdsworth House, then please click here.

Michelle x 

ps. the only 'downer' to the whole afternoon was the strange picture in the corner of the room. It gave a weird slant to the party, I must say. I tried to look away, but my eyes kept being drawn to it. Bit of a buzzkill to be honest, see for yourself...

I mean, really

REALLY!!

Anyhoo, Happy Birthday Lucy - I hope you enjoyed your day!!

(I know, you can't stop looking at that painting, right?)

Bye for now

Michelle x 

* don't judge me, I have tried to like tea, honest.