Artful Adventures Photography

This past weekend I hosted a day of crafting and Afternoon Tea at my house.  There where 13 of us.  Our craft day was called “Heart of a Tinker”.  I taught a soldered heart necklace class, and a coffee filter rose garland class.  The day started bright and early at 10am.  I hoped to have more free time to take a few more photos, but unfortunately that did not happen. lol We started the morning with the coffee filter rose garland class.  The ladies where served a light breakfast of coffee and pastries.  My sweet sister n law came over to help, and she made delicious strawberries with cheese cake filling, topped with a blueberry.  YUM!!

My sweet new kitty Cabby Cat hung out with us most the day.  I think she had her picture taken more than anyone else. lol

I wanted beautiful decorations, but I also wanted to be as thrifty as possible.  You can really come up with some neat ideas if you take the time to shop around, and stalk pintrest of course! I visited the thrift shops and built up a collection of random pieces of milk glass.  Most I got for less than a dollar!  Then a couple days before I purchased some flowers from a local grocery store.  Most of my vintage lace table cloths where also found at thrift shops.  I made a vintage book page table runner by laying random book pages out and then using shipping tape to attach them.  Quick and easy!!  On the porch I hung romantic mesh curtains that I purchased online from Ikea.  They are about $4 a panel!  Not bad!  They come white, so I tea dyed them for a softer color.  The rods they hung on only cost a couple bucks at Walmart.  For name tags I purchased a pack of cheap frames and turned them into chalkboards and embellished them with a flower.

All of the supplies where provided for both classes.  I embellished galvanized tin buckets with tea dyed rose fabric, lace, and roses for a little bit of country charm.  The buckets where filled with lace, and flowers for the girls to craft with.  Each of the ladies also brought either a few flowers, or lace pieces to share.  For the jewelry class I embellished paper mache boxes with vintage papers, glass glitter and a parchment rose.  Among the milk glass and roses where mason jars filled with the most DELICIOUS lollipops I found on Etsy!  They came from The Groovy Baker.  I purchased Pink Champagne, Strawberry Lemongrass with Black pepper, and one with rose water and vanilla.  WOW soooo good!  The Strawberry with black pepper was a big hit!  I decorated the house with all my favorite burlap and lace things, and special art from dear friends.  The dream wall hanging was made by my friend Molly, and the blue and cream hanging wall pockets, and the blue and cream bunting banner where made by my special friend Bryanna.

While everyone worked on their projects, myself, my sister n law Kassandra, Molly, and my friend Jeanne started to work on lunch.  I did lunch buffet style so that everyone could continue to craft at their table while lunch was being prepared.  Tea sandwiches, french macaroons, cookies, cupcakes and scones where served.  There where three different teas offered from my favorite tea room Camellia Rose.  I also cheated and purchased my scones from them as well.  Mixed beautiful china plates and tea cups where offered, and soft pink linen napkins where rolled into roses.  I also served a sweet strawberry sangria.  After lunch we exchanged a wall pocket swap that we did.  I was so bummed I did not get photos!  Probably because I was too busy going through my swap goodies. lol I did manage to get photos of what I received, but not any of the others, or what I made.  The one to the left below was from Carol Hobbs, and to the right was Karen Hillman.  It was such a blessing to have everyone over!!  I might do this again one day.  We had lots of fun!