Friday, April 14, 2017

In Your Easter Bonnet


Last year for Easter my grandson took pictures of him and his daughter making Easter eggs. The eggs were made of Play Doh. They were beautiful in the way that only homemade items can be. Beyond that he spent hours with his daughter creating something they could be proud of and that they enjoyed doing together.

It made me think of Easters past. Of course I love thinking of things from the past so I reveled in the memories.

My family did not have much in the way of material things when I was a child. For Easter we had plenty of eggs to color because we had chickens. The Easter bunny left baskets with candy. Mom made a fancy meal. Then we re-hid the eggs over and over all that day.

New clothes were not often bought for Easter. We just dressed in our Sunday clothes like most of the rest of the children where we lived.

I only had one Easter bonnet. Out house had burned and a collection was taken and placed with a neighboring department store for us to purchase new clothes. There was a little extra money and I was able to talk my parents into letting me have my only Easter bonnet.

However we used to make Easter bonnets at school. They are fun and fairly easy to make.

Some of the items we used were disposable aluminum pie pans, facial tissues, crepe paper, and ribbon. Paper plates could be substituted for the pie pans but they are not as sturdy. You will also need scissors, paste or glue, string or thread and something to punch small holes into the pie pan. Paint might be an addition but is optional.

First we made flowers with the tissues. We separated the plies so that each tissue was two. Then we used several layers. More layers make a fuller flower. After stacking the tissues we would pick up the stack in the center and bunch it. Then we tied the center with thread to hold it together.

We trimmed the corners from the tissues so they will not stick out past the rest of the tissue. Then comes the fluffing. Gently separating each tissue and arranging them so that it creates a full soft looking flower. If you cannot find colored tissue you can spray paint the flower for the desired color.

Use either crepe paper or ribbon or both you fasten a band around the hat. Paste or glue into place. Then punch a hole on each side of the pie plate. Pass the ribbon through each hole from the top. It should be long enough to be able to tie beneath the neck to hold the hat in place.

Punch more holes in the pie plate. When you have decided the placement of the flowers you will need to be able to secure it to the hat by putting the bottom end through a hole. A little bit of glue helps keep it in place.

Bows can be made as well as any other decorations you wish to include. After allowing time for the glue to dry completely You have an Easter bonnet fit for any princess.

12 comments:

  1. Such a great memory. Your grandson is making great memories with his daughter. I can imagine her writing stories in years to come as well, like her grandma.

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    1. I would love it if she wrote stories about her wonderful life. Anyone who has beautiful memories should record them somewhere. They are valuable.

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  2. Lovely memories. You had a beautiful childhood.

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    1. I did have a beautiful childhood. My parents loved us and cared for us. Beyond that other family loved us and spent time with us. And even further beyond we usually had people like teachers who were there because they wished to be.

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  3. Tonnes of memory have been with us these many years.
    I let go some of them, and keep the rest inside my pillow, and also in some of the mushrooms.

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    1. I like the idea of keeping memories in your pillow.

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  4. Our family had a little more but not much. Easter was always a fun holiday for me.

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  5. It's fun to think of the past. Because people had less money, they shared in more activities. I always looked forward to Easter because it was the only time I ever
    got candy.
    Thanks for sharing the precious memories.

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    1. Somehow we managed to have art and music along with all our other classes as well as being three grades to a room. I had an excellent education. Now "they" want to do away with all that.

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  6. Making do with the items on hand and being creative in the process are unfortunately forgotten these days. I enjoyed reading about how your Easter bonnet was made, Emma.

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    1. I miss children showing off the projects made in school, church, scouts, 4H, and at home. Their minds are so full of ideas and should be encouraged.

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