Hello sweet friends! Today I am joining my talented friend Cindy of County Road 407 for another round of the Design Challenge. If you are visiting from Thistle Key Lane let me say “Welcome to Storybook Cottage!” Didn’t Michelle’s blueberry hand pies look yummy? This month is a Yankee Doodle Dandy of a theme! I am so excited to share A Little House Independence Day Party.
A Little House Independence Day Party
This month our inspiration image is this Victorian era postcard.
The image was perfect for this fourth post in the ongoing Lessons With Laura ~ Summer of ’69 series. Today I am sharing a Little House themed patriotic celebration that is perfect for all ages.
It was inspired by chapter 8, Fourth of July, in Little Town on the Prairie when Ma says, “Today would be a perfect day for a Fourth of July picnic.”
In the story, a very young Grace Ingalls has to stay at home while Carrie and Laura go to town with Pa. My own Gracie girl likes to stay at home too.
The table is set with a gingham tablecloth and a variety of well loved vintage dishes.
Pa loved tea. So I brought out the teapot and the cozy made from a vintage doily and patchwork scraps.
The festive napkin rings took less than 5 minutes to make.
I simply used scraps of paper and a few printables.
An easy step by step tutorial is available in this week’s video. You can watch it HERE.
Just right click on the images to save them to your computer. Then simply print them out on your home computer.
Free Lemonade
In town the girls enjoy free lemonade and Pa brings them smoked herring to eat with their bread and butter.
I opted to serve fresh berries, carrots and an heirloom tomato salad.
A few crackers, meats and cheese, along with some bakery store cookies, made for a quick and easy feast.
Firecrackers
Above the sideboard hangs a flag made from vintage fabric scraps.
A cute faux fireworks centerpiece pays homage to the free firecrackers that Laura and Carrie received as a gift.
Victorian Papercraft
Did you know that creating papercrafts was an extremely popular activity in the Victorian era? Magazines such as Godey’s Lady’s Book always included several crafts in each publication.
These faux firecrackers are so fun and easy to make. It is a perfect summer activity for people of all ages.
This craft also has a step by step tutorial in this week’s video.
Here are some Victorian era images to use in your crafts.
Two week’s ago I wrote about the festive image of Uncle Sam that was first used in 1869. This was the year the Ingalls family left the big woods for the prairie.
My New LHOTP Patterns
I thought my guests might enjoy donning some pretty prairie attire made from sprigged calico for our party.
My official Little House on the Prairie pattern line will be debuting in just a few short weeks.
Two of my guests LOVED the sprigged calico pinafores in the Half Pint design.
Sweet party favors included LHOTP pioneer paperdolls and wee little baskets filled with yummy candy from the mercantile.
Here are the printables that I used for those.
This Week’s Video
This week’s video features three step by step craft tutorials as well as some patriotic front porch decor to adore.
If you wish to view the video in a larger format just click on the black box in the lower left hand corner that says Watch on YouTube.
Up next is Bluesky at Home. You will love Carol’s centerpiece.
Have a red, white and beautiful day,
Laura
More Patriotic Decor To Adore
THis is just delightful, Laura, and I hope to carve out time to check out the video. Thanks for the printables, too. You covered all the bases and I know your guests loved the delicious luncheon tea! Happy Fourth Celebrations1
Great ideas for 4th of July, Laura. And thank you for sharing all the sweet patriotic printables. Can’t wait to use them. Have a wonderful 4th.
Such cute ideas! I collect antique holiday postcards and the patriotic ones are some of my favorite images.
Oh my goodness, Laura!
What a fun post and all the tutorials!! Back in 1974 and the year I was 12, when we moved from Hawaii to Northern California, we took a drive up to where we eventually would move: to Shingle Springs, and we visited Sam’s Town, a place with many old covered wagons (now uncovered, but some in Sam’s museum). We also toured Old Folsom that year, and learned about the gold miners and such from the California Gold Rush time period. Well, this girl was THRILLED to get a new red calico dress from Sam’s and I must have had a calico bonnet but I don’t remember it much. Maybe my mother took it to her classroom play box for the kids in her class, but I wore that dress until it no longer fit me. When childhood turned to adulthood and the magic of dressing up disappeared. I remember being so sad that “playing” was no longer there! I was 15 that year.
Your table is beautiful with the patriotic napkin rings and the glorious scrap flag above your buffet. Lovely!!! And I would definitely wear a bonnet today to one of the DFW meet-ups! 😀 Pinned a bunch for you. <3
Happy 250th hugs,
Barb 🙂