Design Ideas

Where do ideas for designs come from? They can come from a number of different places. Sometimes you are inspired by a place you are visiting or that you pass by each day. Sometimes your inspiration comes from a beautiful object that you own. Other times you may be inspired by a need.

Today's project was inspired by a Red Hat project. We are going to have a traveling tea party. We have a teapot and a pair of cups and saucers that will be passed around among our members. The member who has the teapot will draw the name of another member who will be her guest for a tea party. Since I have been asked to be in charge of this project, I decided that it would be nice to create a "tea party in a basket". I found a basket that would hold the teapot and the cups and saucers. I added two red napkins and decided that a matching plate for serving cookies would be a nice addition. Then a package of doilies and a laminated card with directions printed on it complete the basket. By having all the necessities in the basket, all the hostess has to do is invite her guest, set a pretty table, plan her menu, brew the tea, and have a pleasant visit with her Red Hat Sister.

The plate is a bisqueware plate. I painted it with regular acrylic paints. The design is adapted from the design on the tea set. It if finished with several coats of a good varnish. This plate is not food safe and is not washable. However, it can be used to serve cookies or other dry foods and can be wiped with a damp cloth. Placing a doily on it before putting food on it is a good idea.