Let me take you on a roadtrip tonight halfway
across the United States and back to visit
all of the hometowns of my friends in the
Crafty Girls group.
We are gathered for the first time this summer
at Joanne's again in her beautiful back yard and
her huge gazebo. She has set the table for
us celebrating our home states.
Pack your vintage suitcases and come along.
(Notice the vintage state of Wisconsin hankie that
she has sewn onto a pillow - my home state!)
Each place setting started with a road map
place mat to anchor the stack of plates, featuring
the lady's home state plate. I love her use of
these vintage state plates. We had several from
Utah.
Isn't the plate from Oregon great?
The napkin rings were oversized tires tied up with a
travel ticket.
Chargers were black with gold rim metal platters
from various states.
The centerpiece was filled with fresh flowers - as if
picked along the roadside. Banners between two chippy
garden towers were made out of postcards from the lady's
states and hearts made from maps.
The back of each garden chair was adorned
with an airplane folded from a map,
and a postcard from that state,
along with a car, so we could travel in style.
Of course, we need to don a pair of sunglasses.
Joanne doesn't miss a detail, so each placesetting
had your initial done up as a souvenir magnet
featuring a roadmap with your hometown. Mine
happened to be the longest trip!
We each got a cookie featuring a postcard from
our home state too! They were so fresh, they were
bending in the summer heat. Amy made the adorable
and delicious cookies.
Of course Joanne decorates the huge shed turned
into gazebo with the travel theme.
I love these road trip hearts made into a banner.
Tonight's party was in honor of Jann's birthday.
Jann has a wonderful blog at
Go and meet her if you haven't already
become friends with her! So fun to have
a real blogging friend!!!
I made the cake, which I will tell you more about in
my next blog!
After the fun and festivities, we sat down to work
on a crazy quilt pin cushion, demonstrated by Brenda.
This is her sample! We all had fun starting to embellish
ours, but the project will have to be finished at home.
Thanks for an amazing party Joanne. Everyone
contributes to the dinner or craft, so thanks to
Laura, Jann, Brenda, Natalie, Karen and Amy too.
Of course the birthday girl doesn't have to do anything
but smile!! Happy birthday Jann.
I will be posting this with
















