FanningSparks – Page 39 – A DIY and lifestyle blog authored by Peg Frizzell.

Agritourism Make Photos Southeast Travel USA

Crowing and Clucking in the Barnyard

Could there be a sound more evocative of a country farm than the crowing of a rooster? Here’s an Araucanus rooster giving it his all for the morning announcement.
Whether you’re a diehard chicken fan or simply curious (like me), the barnyard at Hundred Acre Farm in Madison, Georgia is a great place to visit. This quaint farm setting is home to about 200 chickens plus ducks, turkeys, peacocks, horses, goats, dogs, a donkey and probably others I didn’t even see. The chickens are raised “free range” with the ability to roam from the chicken roost to the green pastures. In fact, you’ll want to drive slowly along the farm’s main driveway to avoid chickens crossing the road to get to the other side (Sorry… I just couldn’t resist referencing that age-old riddle!).
One of the most interesting aspects of the flock at Hundred Acre Farm is the variety of chickens. I’m no chicken expert but according to the folks at the Farmhouse Inn (Thank you Kristen and Crystal!) there are actually about 8 different breeds. I’d like to share some examples in today’s post.
According to the Backyard Poultry website, Rhode Island Reds are “one of the most popular breeds in the United States for good reason. … [they] are great layers of brown eggs and … raised for both eggs and meat.” This showy rooster is a Rhode Island Red.
Of course, it takes some effort to look this good! Here’s the rooster preening himself. Preening is a form of grooming that helps release new feathers from their sheaths, remove debris and pests, and distribute oil over the feathers.
But the Rhode Island Red isn’t the only handsome gentleman in this barnyard. The Brahma chicken, in Light, Dark or Buff colored varieties, is noteworthy for its large size. It is “often described as “The King of Chickens,” says the Backyard Poultry website. Here’s a beautiful Buff Brahma rooster proudly strutting his stuff.
Thanks to the Backyard Poultry website, I’ve learned that roosters serve a few purposes. The most obvious is breeding. “One good reason to have a rooster is that you want chicks! Hens don’t need a rooster in the flock to lay eggs, but they do need a rooster in the flock to lay fertile eggs.” Roosters can also serve to protect the flock, be raised as livestock for meat, or, rather surprisingly, become family pets.
Apparently, temperament varies from chicken breed to chicken breed and from individual bird to individual bird. For instance: “Feathered behemoths are typically very docile, even though they may appear quite imposing. Usually the bigger the bird, the more laid back their chickenality is.” Chickenality? Chickens have personalities? Who knew?
At one point, I spotted a rooster getting a sip of water directly from a water hose drip. It wasn’t clear to me whether he was demonstrating his fun-loving, playful personality or he was simply thirsty!

There’s one variety of chicken at Hundred Acre Farm that clearly stands out—the Poland chicken. Check out these barnyard rock stars! First the Polish rooster and then the Polish hen.

Roosters may rule the roost but hens have an important role to play. As the late Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was fond of saying “The cock may crow but it’s the hen who lays the egg.” In this next photo, Golden Comet hens are checking out the nesting boxes before making their choice for today’s egg delivery. The eggs are collected daily and served for breakfast at the Farmhouse Inn. You can’t get fresher eggs than that!

The egg laying area is off limits to visitors. This guy may not have read the sign but he clearly got the message!
Other female duties include raising the young. This DeKalb Amberlinks mother hen was watching over her chicks in the barn. Hens, are said to, guard their chicks fiercely.
Eventually, Mom led the kids out of the barn…
……and out to the field. Unlike some birds, mother hens don’t feed their chicks directly. Instead they lead them to food and water and call them towards edible items.
While the chickens are busy earning their keep, there are other barnyard residents who merely have to look good like this handsome peacock…

…or look bad like this male turkey! Gosh, that is one scary face!
Luckily, a female turkey sees it differently and finds those fleshy outgrowths on the turkey’s head and throat, called caruncles, rather attractive. At least that’s what I read into this description from Wikipedia “In anatomical terms, the snood is an erectile, fleshy protuberance on the forehead of turkeys. Most of the time when the turkey is in a relaxed state, the snood is pale and 2–3 cm long. However, when the male begins strutting (the courtship display), the snood engorges with blood, becomes redder and elongates several centimetres, hanging well below the beak…”
I’m really glad I was able to visit the barnyard at Hundred Acre Farm. It was both entertaining and educational!

More Info

Special thanks to the folks at the Farmhouse Inn at Hundred Acre Farm in Madison, Georgia! You can learn more about this peaceful country retreat on the Farmhouse Inn website or in my previous post about their River Trail Forest Therapy Trail in the post Shinrin-yoku, Forest Therapy or Deliberate Dawdling?
The Backyard Poultry website provides a wealth of information.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider visiting a local farm or homestead.
2. Delve into the story behind a casual observation.
3. Barnyards can be both entertaining and educational.

Make Photos Southeast Travel

A Bridge of Oconee County

It’s impossible for me to see a covered bridge without being reminded of “The Bridges of Madison County”. Remember that 1992 classic? Robert James Waller’s book and the subsequent movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood? “The film is about an Italian war bride, Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep), who lives with her husband and two children on their Iowa farm. In 1965, she meets National Geographic photojournalist, Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) who arrives in Madison County to photograph its historic covered bridges. They have a four-day love affair that forever changes them.” (from Wikipedia).
The Elder Mill Covered Bridge in Oconee County, Georgia isn’t nearly that dramatic. It is, however, charmingly picturesque, over 120 years old and still operational. It crosses Rose Creek on a quiet country road.

The historical marker tells the story of how the bridge was built in a different location, by Nathaniel Richardson in 1897, and then moved to the current location in 1924.
The Town lattice design, mentioned on the historical marker, comes into view as you walk into the bridge. A network of closely spaced diagonal elements forms the “lattice”.
The lattice is clearly visible in the below photo. Interestingly, there is a series of sequential numbers “16, 19, 18, 21, 20, 23, 22, 25, 24…” marked on the diagonal planks. The Georgia Department of Transportation provides this explanation “The wooden members of the bridge were often cut off-site, including boring of the holes for trunnels, and assembled in place. Builders used a numbering system to allow easy onsite assembly of the bridge pieces in a “pre-fab” fashion; the numbers are still visible on lattice members in many bridges.”
Here’s a closer look at the trunnels, also called wooden pegs or tree-nails, used to connect the lattice planks.
According to Wikipedia, the wooden lattice bridge design was patented in 1820 by architect Ithiel Town. “The design was of great importance because it could be built quickly by relatively unskilled workers from readily available material. The design also avoided the need for the heavy piers needed for stone arches. The design was widely known throughout the world and made Town wealthy.”
The Elder Mill Covered Bridge is “one of the few covered bridges in Georgia continuing to carry traffic without underlying steel beams.” It is a one-lane bridge which can accommodate average-sized vehicles. Motorists are required to drive through a metal frame to ensure their vehicle can enter the bridge safely. The small car seen in the below photo had plenty of clearance.
Some covered bridges have openings, or windows, along the sides but the Elder Mill Covered Bridge is completely closed in. Wooden siding, as shown in the below photo, covers the sides of the bridge.
A short path takes the visitor down to Rose Creek. There are large, smooth rocks and a gently flowing, shallow stream. It’s a pleasant area for wading and exploring. The area is somewhat restricted, however, as it is surrounded by private property. No Trespassing and Private Property signs provide clear instruction.

The Elder Mill Covered Bridge is an interesting site yet it is off the beaten path and has few visitors. I’ll be adding this historic site to my list of a “safe excursions”. I’ll wrap up with one last look back at this gem from the past.

More Info

The Elder Mill Covered Bridge is featured on the Visit Oconee website and included in A Guide to Georgia’s Covered Bridges on the Explore Georgia website.

Today’s Takeaways

1. When it’s safe to venture out, consider short visits to out-of-the-way locations.
2. Get to know your local historical sites.
3. Consider the stories behind the landmarks from the past.

Make Nature Photos Plants Southeast Travel

Shinrin-yoku, Forest Therapy or Deliberate Dawdling?

On a sultry Georgia morning, I found myself strolling along a quiet forest trail. A variety of mature trees provided relief from the bright sun. The abundant greenery was highlighted by dappled shade. The air was fresh, clear and rich with earthy aromas. Birds and insects provided background music. This beautiful place was the River Trail Certified Forest Therapy Trail at Hundred Acre Farm in Madison Georgia. This is the second local destination I’ve found for what I’ve come to call “safe excursions”. There was little need to worry about face masks and social/physical distancing along this secluded trail.
The River Trail is a short walk designed to be taken slowly. It’s not a hike—more of a stroll or an amble. The folks at the Hundred Acre Farm provide a small brochure containing guided activities or “invitations” to dawdle. As the guide brochure explains it: “Forest Therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. In Japan it is called “shinrin yoku,” which translates to “forest bathing.” Studies have demonstrated a wide array of health benefits, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and for stabilizing and improving mood and cognition.”

I’ve been intrigued by forest bathing for some time. In her 2017 book, The Nature Fix Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative, author Florence Williams describes her experience with guided shinrin-yoku in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park in Japan. She explains “The idea with shinrin yoku, … based on ancient Shinto and Buddhist practices, is to let nature into your body through all five senses…”. The first invitation in the River Trail guide brochure starts by asking “Stand still for a moment – what are you noticing? Hearing? Smelling? Seeing?” A convenient bench, positioned at Sign 1, invites you to linger and ask yourself those same questions while seated.

The guide brochure also invites you to “Walk slowly. Look for tiny things – flowers, leaves, pebbles – whatever is tiny.” Of course, the shutterbug in me is always looking for tiny things! Here are a few of the beautiful small things I captured along the River Trail.

At one point, the trail turns to the right and a split-rail fence protects you from a rather steep bank with a pretty, little stream running below.

The guide brochure encourages you to “Allow your eyes to wander over the landscape along and beside the trail. Notice what is drawing your eye.” A fallen tree covered in fungi caught my eye. I consulted iNaturalist, after the fact, and discovered this is False Turkey-Tail (Stereum ostrea). It’s surprisingly photogenic!

This fungi, on the same tree, is Crowded Parchment (Stereum complicatum).

The trail continues down to a wetland meadow which you can cross to see the Apalachee River at Lake Oconee. Then it circles back around and returns to the trailhead. The 8 invitations in the guide brochure were crafted by a ANFT-certified forest therapy guide. The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) is, according to their website, “the most experienced global leader in guide training, and promoting the development and practice of Forest Therapy”. Their mission is “Nurture heart-centered relationships between all peoples and the More-Than-Human world of nature.” The River Trail is the first certified Forest Therapy Trail in the United States.

One of the 3 major strands supporting the ANFT approach to forest therapy is Japanese Shinrin-yoku. This brings me full circle to the practice of forest bathing developed in Japan and mentioned by Florence Williams in her book.
To understand the science behind forest bathing, Williams consulted several experts starting with Yoshifumi Miyazaki. Miyazaki is an expert on the topic having researched, taught and written about the subject for over 30 years. He is a Research Fellow and Grand Fellow, at Chiba University’s Centre for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences in Japan. In fact, Miyazaki coined the term “Forest Therapy” in 2003, when as he reports it, Americans found the Japanese term “shinrin-yoku” too difficult to pronounce.
His research has shown many health benefits result from a deeper connection with nature and spending time surrounded by trees. These benefits include reduced stress, lower blood pressure, improved mood, and increased focus and energy.

Miyazaki calls out that humans evolved in nature and have spent 99.99% of the last 5 million years in nature compared to the mere 0.01% of time, since the Industrial Revolution, when humans started spending their time in the urban world. He maintains the human brain and body, which are made for nature, are being overworked by urbanization. His straightforward premise is that humans need the calming effect of nature to return them to a normal state. His research findings certainly support this hypothesis.
I can’t honestly claim to have realized all the benefits—reduced stress, lower blood pressure, improved mood, and increased focus and energy—from my stroll along the River Trail but it was deeply enjoyable. And whether you call it Shinrin-yoku, Forest Bathing, Forest Therapy or Deliberate Dawdling, I’m definitely looking forward to doing it again!

More Info

Many thanks to the folks at the Farmhouse Inn at Hundred Acre Farm in Madison, Georgia! You can learn more about this peaceful country retreat on the Farmhouse Inn website. Information about the River Trail can be found under Forest Therapy.
Check out the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs on their website.
I also mentioned Florence Williams book, The Nature Fix Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative, in my previous post My Top 3 Nonfiction Reads from 2018.
You can learn more about Yoshifumi Miyazaki and the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences at Chiba University, Japan on their website. I enjoyed Miyazaki’s 2012 TEDxTokyo talk on Nature Therapy. His book, Shinrin Yoku The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing, is available on Amazon.
iNaturalist came through for me again. I couldn’t have identified the fungi without their help. Their web-based observation and identification tools, along with their mobile app, are excellent for identifying plants and wildlife. Check out my previous post Seek to Identify Wildlife with this Fun App. To learn more, access the iNaturalist website.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider the potential health benefits of strengthening your connection with nature.
2. Engage all your senses to get the most of your time in the forest.
3. Forest therapy calls for you to walk slowly, observe and savor.

Decorate How Tos Interiors Make Other Media

Pressed Flower Girls Wall Art

The star of this week’s post is the Rose of Sharon. This flowering shrub, officially Hibiscus syriacus, is also known as Althea or Hardy Hibiscus. It’s a prolific bloomer and has big, showy, pink blossoms.
I tried drying and pressing some Rose of Sharon flowers in my new Fern & Flower Press and couldn’t be more pleased with the results. In this week’s post, I’ll share the wall art I made using these pressed flowers.
It’s best to cut the Rose of Sharon flowers when they are partially open and to remove the stamens before putting them in the flower press. Check out my previous post Fern & Flower Press – DIY Tutorial for details on pressing flowers and making your own super-sized flower press.
Cosmos and hydrangea also have thin, delicate flower petals which dry beautifully. The flowers pictured below took about 2 weeks to dry.

Next came the fun part—creating a pleasing arrangement with the pressed flowers! At one point, it struck me that the Rose of Sharon blooms looked like long, flowing dresses. This triggered an idea to include little dancing girls in the form of folded paper cutouts. The unadorned, simplicity of the cutout dolls counterbalances the fragile delicacy of the dried flowers.

With the design well underway, it was time to finalize how the piece would be hung. I wanted a frame that would be modern and minimalist—something with floating glass and hidden support. So I decided to make one from strips of wood and 11″ x 14″ sheets of acrylic.

Simple ¼ ” pine lattice molding, cut to 4 – 12″ x 1″ strips, formed the top and bottom wooden bars. The wooden bars and acrylic sheets are held together with 4 – 1″ screws, one in each corner, finished with brass cap nuts. Note the cap nuts are intended for lighting fixtures and can be found in the electrical section at the hardware store. I spray painted the hardware components black.
The trick to drilling acrylic, as I learned online, is to drill slowly and work in gradual increments. Starting with a 1/16″ bit and gradually working my way up to a 11/64″ bit resulted in neat and clean holes. Note the holes in the acrylic are slightly bigger than the holes in the wood so the screws can slip through without resistance.
To finish the wooden bars, I sanded them smooth and then stained them with some General Finishes Gel Stain left over from another project. This product produces great results but does require a few steps and a little patience.

While the wooden bars dried, I finished laying out the pressed flowers and copied the design onto a template.
The next step was to glue the cut paper dolls and the dried flowers to the back sheet of acrylic. Using a small paintbrush, I carefully covered the back of each element with Matte Mod Podge. Tweezers were helpful for lifting and placing the tiny delicate pieces. After drying the piece overnight, I used wet cotton swabs to remove smudges and smears.
The final step was to assemble the piece by layering the parts—back wooden bars, back acrylic sheet, thin washers, front acrylic sheet, front wooden bars—and screwing them together through the holes.

A piece of black silk cord, strung with 8 wooden beads stained to match the wooden bars, made an attractive hanger. I simply knotted the cord and slipped it between the front and back wooden bars.
Here’s the completed piece. Now the lovely Rose of Sharon flowers can live on as pretty Pressed Flower Girls!

More Info

For more pressed flower inspiration, check out my newest Pinterest board: Pressed Flowers – FanningSparks Favs.
You can learn more about pressing flowers and making a flower press in the post: Fern & Flower Press – DIY Tutorial.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider pressing flowers to preserve their beauty.
2. Pressed flowers can be incorporated into a variety of artwork.
3. Natural elements, such as pressed flowers, can help bring the outdoors into your home.

Make Nature Photos Southeast Travel Wildlife

Chasing Butterflies

These days it’s a challenge to find safe and interesting destinations for short excursions. It’s critical the location be uncrowded and enforces social/physical distancing. And, of course, it needs to be open and accessible. This week I found the perfect destination for a “safe” excursion at Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch in Eatonton, Georgia. This charming pollinator habitat is, just as the name promises, overflowing with native butterflies and flowering plants. I was the only visitor on a quiet weekday morning.
While it is new to me, Butterflies and Blooms is a well-established community treasure. The area is planted with specially selected native plants to support and encourage native butterfly reproduction. A little online research reveals this site was established in 2017 by a group of enthusiastic volunteers.
Butterflies and Blooms is part of the Briar Patch Trail Park which is a small park with a ¼ mile walking trail, a picnic area, an outdoor classroom, a working honey beehive, an observation platform and a small pond. The park is casual and inviting with lots of natural elements, twig structures and quirky garden art. This rustic arch frames the main entrance and welcomes visitors to the habitat.

There’s a small cabin with old-timey rockers on the front porch.

Comfortable benches and seats are conveniently located throughout the park. I noticed a few single chairs tucked in here and there. I don’t know if it was intentional but this chair provided a front row seat for watching the butterflies around this patch of flowers.

It was such a pleasure watching the butterflies flit around the brightly colored blooms. I managed to get a shot of the gorgeous Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) on a orange coreopsis flower.

I spotted a flashy Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) on a lantana bloom.
The park was overflowing with summer flowers. Here’s another magnificent Eastern Tiger Swallowtail perched on a vibrant zinnia.
Speaking of zinnias, I shared my love for these flowers in a previous post called Zinnias Rock! And More Cutting Garden Tips. I planted zinnias in my cutting garden again this year and they did not disappoint. In fact, we’ve noticed a huge increase in the number of butterflies and other pollinators visiting our garden. I suspect it’s because I’ve been leaving more blooms on the plants and cutting less to take indoors. Also, the butterflies seem particularly attracted to one of the types of zinnias I planted this year. It is a collection from Renee’s Garden called Cool Crayon Colors Cutting Zinnias. This stunning American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) has been a regular visitor.

This gossamery Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) is enjoying the nectar from a vibrant zinnia.
Here’s another species—it’s the striking Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanilla) with its orange-patterned wings.
Here’s another shot of the Gulf Fritillary. It’s moved on to the ever popular purple coneflower.

Amazingly, it doesn’t take much effort to attract butterflies to the garden. Here are some tips for attracting butterflies:
. Ensure plenty of sunlight
. Provide moist or damp areas for puddling
. Choose different plants to attract a wider variety of species
. Try to provide flowers right through the butterfly season
. DO NOT use insecticides or pesticides
. Select both nectar plants and larval host plants (aka caterpillar food plants).
Butterflies need two types of plants to survive. Nectar plants provide nourishment while host plants provide a place to lay eggs and host larvae. For instance, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail can feed on nectar from a variety of plants including zinnia (as evidenced in the photo below) but they rely on a different set of native plants such as Wild Cherry, Sweetbay and Tulip Trees to host their eggs/larvae.

More Info

Aug 13, 2021 Update: Check out the post, A Flutter of Butterflies in the Closet, for a new way to incorporate your favorite butterfly photos into your home décor.
You may enjoy my previous post, Zinnias Rock! And More Cutting Garden Tips.
You can learn more about Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch in Eatonton, Georgia, USA on their Facebook page or Instagram account. The 2019 article, In the Garden: Butterflies & Blooms, in the Lake Oconee Living Magazine provided additional background and perspective on this butterfly habitat.
Aug 5, 2020 Update: Many thanks to Virigina Linch for this additional information about Butterflies and Blooms: “We originally began this pollinator project in 2013 on a city property that was sold. We were asked to move to this location as the walking trail was installed but not many people were using it as it was barren of anything of interest. The trail is 1/4 mile and we are planting inside and outside the loop. We moved to our current location in 2017. It is maintained by volunteers, is a master gardener approved site, listed on the Rosalyn Carter Butterfly Trail, certified Monarch Way Station 9045 (we tag migrating monarchs each fall), certified by the Xerces Society, the North American Butterfly Association, among other designations. We have the larval host plants for 40 species of butterflies and skippers established in the habitat. Our motto is “Plant the larval host plants and the wings WILL come.” as well as “Help spread the wings”.”
Check out Renee’s Garden website to learn more about the Cool Crayon Colors Cutting Zinnias seeds I mentioned above.
To learn how you can help to bring back pollinators, check out the Xerces organization. I also referenced Xerces resources for my previous posts Insect Hotels for Bees and Other Pollinators and AirBee-n-Bee House DIY Tutorial.
The North American Butterfly Association website is packed with information about butterflies. The Butterfly Gardens section includes advice on starting a butterfly garden, habitat management and a butterfly garden certification program.
I continue to be impressed by iNaturalist. Their web-based observation and identification tools, along with their mobile app, are excellent for identifying wildlife including butterflies. Check out my previous post Seek to Identify Wildlife with this Fun App. To learn more, access the iNaturalist website or find the “Seek by iNaturalist” app on Google Play or the App Store.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Small, lesser-known, local sites can be ideal for safe and interesting excursions.
2. Look closely to fully appreciate the extensive variety of butterflies.
3. Consider attracting butterflies to your garden by growing the plants they need.

Fiber Make Tutorials

The Ultimate Picnic Blanket – DIY Tutorial

What makes a good picnic great? A pleasant natural setting, agreeable weather…

…tasty food and drink, a leisurely pace and a few key items for comfort. Enjoyable company even if it’s only your own. Nowadays, a location that is safely distant from others. Amusing ways to relax… kayaking, bird watching, reading, exploring, taking photos, watching the sunrise, playing games… or simply napping.

A thoughtfully designed picnic blanket is one of the key items for comfort. A picnic blanket should provide a protected place to sit—keeping moisture, bugs and pokey things at bay. It should be durable, easy care and machine washable. It should be lightweight and easy to carry. It should be generously-sized. And if it’s pretty and attractive that’s even better.
I think the picnic blanket featured in today’s post delivers on all that. Plus it’s easy to make with the step-by-step instructions provided below. Why not give it a try?
Supplies Needed
The following supplies will be needed to make the Ultimate Picnic Blanket:
. Decorative Cotton Fabric 2 yards of 45” wide A simple 100% cotton in your choice of pattern, color and design. I chose a large-checked gingham in red and white.
. Waterproof Backing Fabric 1 ¾ yards of 58” wide This is the secret ingredient of this picnic blanket. I chose a dark maroon-colored, coated taffeta which is a lightweight coated nylon. It’s designed for rain gear, tarps, tent flies and other camping gear. It’s machine-washable in warm/cold on the gentle cycle and partially machine-dryable on low. I ordered the coated taffeta online from The Rain Shed (see More Info below).
. Belting – 30” of 1” wide cotton belting This allows for 2 carrying handles. My original version of this Picnic Blanket had only 1 handle but it gaped open and was cumbersome to carry.
. Thread
. Iron-on Vinyl aka Heat Transfer Vinyl (optional) I purchased 1 – 12” x 24” sheet of white HTV and 1 – 12” x 12” sheet of yellow HTV for the daisy design shown but used only about half. There are various brands of heat transfer vinyl but I recommend Siser Classic Easyweed. Embellishing the picnic blanket with daisies is, of course, completely optional.
. Parchment Paper Used to apply the Heat Transfer Vinyl
. Beaded Trim (optional) The beaded daisy trim shown below is from the InBloom Bead Designs line from Hobby Lobby. It was a clearance section score from a few years ago and, unfortunately, doesn’t appear to be available. I used it as a fun accent on the carrying handle. Any type of trim, such as tassels, pompoms, or brightly colored ribbons, will work equally well.
. Paper Used to cut out design motifs
Tools and Equipment Needed
The following tools and equipment will be needed:
. Measuring Tape or Yardstick
. Scissors or Rotary Cutter with Mat
. Cutting Machine or Scissors I use a Cricut Explorer.
. Iron
. Sewing Machine
. Small Scissors or Snips for cutting threads
. Fabric Marker I love the Pilot FriXion Marker
. Straight Pins
. Seam Turner or Craft/Popsicle Stick.
Step 1 Determine Design. Determine the style and design for your Picnic Blanket. Select appropriate materials. I choose a classic red-and-white check with a cheerful daisy motif. My main fabric is 100% cotton in a large red-and-white gingham check. The backing is a maroon-colored coated taffeta. I chose to embellish the blanket and pillow with vinyl white and yellow daisies. A beaded daisy chain provided the perfect accent.
Step 2 Cut Fabric   Cut the following 4 rectangles of fabric:
. 1 – 45” x 57” rectangle from the decorative cotton fabric for the Blanket Top
. 1 – 15 ½” x 12½” rectangle from the decorative cotton fabric for the Pocket Front
. 1 – 45” x 57” rectangle from the waterproof backing fabric for the Blanket Backing
. 1 – 15 ½” x 12½” rectangle from the waterproof backing fabric for the Pocket Backing.
Step 3 Layout Design Cut out design motifs from paper and pin in place on the Blanket Top. Adjust until the layout is pleasing. I chose to position daisies in all 4 corners of the Blanket Top; each corner has a different number and arrangement.
Step 4 Adhere Vinyl Daisies The daisy motif is made from heat transfer vinyl (HTV). HTV can be purchased in sheets or rolls. It can be cut with a cutting machine (such as a Cricut Explorer) or cut with scissors. HTV is an iron-on vinyl, which is available in a variety of brands and colors. Siser Classic Easyweed HTV brand seems to have the best reviews and, after working with it a few times, I would recommend it as well. If you’re not familiar with HTV, here’s a short explanation.
HTV has two layers; a layer of clear shiny “carrier” and a thin layer of colored vinyl (white and yellow in this case). The electronic cutter cuts the design in the thin colored vinyl while leaving the carrier layer intact. The carrier layer is used to position the design on the fabric and then removed after pressing. When cutting HTV, it’s important to place the HTV with the thin colored vinyl side UP on the cutting mat. This means the clear shiny carrier layer is facing down.
Step 4a) Cut Daisy. Use the cutting machine to cut the daisy from white HTV. Leave the center of the daisy intact. Use scissors to trim a generous border around the daisy so it’s easy to manipulate. Remove the excess white vinyl leaving only the white daisy on the carrier layer. Repeat this process to cut a circle for the flower center from the yellow HTV.
Alternatively, use scissors instead of a cutting machine. Cut out the white daisy flower and the yellow center with scissors cutting through both layers of the HTV. Adhere to the fabric in the same way described below with one exception. Because the carrier layer will be the same size and shape as the colored vinyl, the carrier layer will not stick to the fabric. Instead simply remove the carrier layer and place the colored vinyl directly on the fabric, taking care to position in the desired location.
Step 4b) Pre-heat Fabric. Pre-heat the Blanket Top fabric by pressing with a hot iron set on cotton (or whatever setting is appropriate for the fabric being used). Do not use steam.
Step 4c) Place white daisy. Press 2 seconds. Hot peel. Position a white daisy on the Blanket Top in the desired location with the white vinyl facing down and the sticky side of the carrier layer stuck to the fabric. Use hands to smooth into place. Cover the carrier layer with parchment paper. Press the hot iron down firmly, moving around very slowly, for 2 seconds. Lift the parchment paper and remove the carrier layer from the daisy (being careful of the hot surfaces). The white daisy should be attached to the fabric.
Step 4d) Place yellow center. Press 2 seconds. Hot peel.
Position the yellow flower center on top of the white daisy. Place it with the yellow vinyl facing down and the sticky side of the carrier layer stuck to the white daisy. Use hands to smooth into place. Cover all HTV with parchment paper. Press the hot iron down firmly, moving around very slowly, for 2 seconds. Lift the parchment paper and remove the carrier layer from the yellow center (being careful of the hot surfaces). The yellow center should be attached to the white daisy.
Step 4e) Press 8 seconds. Cover all HTV with parchment paper. Press the hot iron down firmly, moving around very slowly, for 8 seconds. Let cool.
Step 4f) Repeat for all daisies.
NOTE: The coated taffeta of the Blanket Backing should not be pressed with a hot iron so HTV can be adhered to the cotton fabric of the Blanket Top only.
Step 5 Attach Blanket Top to Backing   Lay Blanket Top with right side facing up and top edge along top of work surface. Position the Blanket Backing over the Blanket Top with right side facing down. Align all edges. Pin edges taking care not to puncture the main section of the coated taffeta fabric with pins; instead place pins inside the seam allowance. Prepare to leave three openings when sewing the two Blanket pieces together.
. 1 opening will be used for turning the blanket right side out. It should be about 6”-8” long and positioned along the center of bottom edge.
. 2 openings will be used to insert the belting for a handle. They will be positioned along the top edge. Measure from the top left edge and mark at 17”, 19”, 22 ½ “, and 24 ½”. One unsewn gap should be between the 17” and 19” marks. The other unsewn gap should be between the 22 ½” and 24 ½” marks. Slide pins into these sections as a reminder not to sew here.
Sew around the Blanket with a ¼ “ seam allowance.
TIP: The slipperiness of the coated taffeta fabric can be a little tricky to sew. Place the decorative cotton fabric on the bottom and the coated taffeta on the top to make it easier to feed the fabric through the sewing machine. A non-stick presser foot is also helpful.
Step 6 Turn Right Side Out Pull the blanket through the opening to turn it right side out. Use seam turner to push out seams and corners. Press for a crisp finished seam taking care not to overheat the coated taffeta on the Blanket Backing. Sew the opening closed. Topstitch close to edge all around the Blanket skipping the two small openings left for the belting (from Step 5). Here’s how a finished corner looks.
Step 7 Prepare Pocket Gather pieces for the Blanket Pocket including the decorative cotton fabric Pocket Front and the coated taffeta Pocket Backing. Cut 2 pieces of 1” belting each measuring 14”. Adhere HTV daisies to Pocket Front following method outlined above in Step 4. Use the zigzag stitch on the sewing machine to overcast the ends of the belting and prevent fraying.
Step 8 Attach First Handle to Pocket Lay Pocket Front right side up with top edge along top of work surface. Measure and mark 5” from both outer edges.   Take one of the pieces of belting and center each end over a 5” mark. Align ends of belting with the top edge of the fabric inserting ¼“ of belting into seam. Ensure belting is not twisted; same side of belting should be on the inside edge of both ends. Lay Pocket Backing, with right side facing down, on top of the Pocket Front. Align all edges. Pin.
Sew all around the Pocket edges with a ¼“ seam allowance leaving a 4-6” opening along the bottom edge. Turn Pocket right side out. Use seam turner to push out seams and corners. Press for a crisp finished seam taking care not to overheat the coated taffeta on the Blanket Backing. Sew the opening closed. Topstitch close to edge all around the Pocket.   Reinforce handle with a second row of stitching.
Step 9 Attach Pocket Lay out Blanket with Blanket Backing facing up and the top edge along the top of the work surface. The openings for the belting (from Step 5) should be along the top edge. Measure and mark 13 ½ “ from top right along the top edge. Repeat about 11” down from top edge. Position Pocket, with Pocket Front facing down, on top of Blanket Backing with top edges aligned and right edge of Pocket at 13 ½ “ marks. Pin along seamlines.
Sew around sides and bottom of Pocket leaving top edges open. Backstitch at top edges to reinforce.
Step 10 Attach Second Handle to Blanket   Lay Blanket Top facing up with top edge along top of work surface. The Pocket should be at the top of the work surface. Insert ¼” of belting into the openings (from Step 5). Take care to align second handle with the first handle. Ensure belting is not twisted; same side of belting should be on the inside edge of both ends. Pin in place.
Stitch top edge of Blanket across handle ends. Take care to stitch only the Blanket layer keeping Pocket pulled out of the way. Sew a second row of stitches to reinforce handle. The two handles should match and line up across the top of the Pocket.
Step 11 Attach Trim Attach your trim of choice, beads, tassels, pompoms, ribbons, etc, with thread or string. It should be easy to remove before washing the Picnic Blanket. Simply tie a loop at the end of the string and then slip the trim through the loop and tighten.
Your Ultimate Picnic Blanket is ready to use! To fold the Blanket for easy carrying to your next picnic:
1. Hold up the Picnic Blanket, a corner in each hand, with the handles hanging down from the bottom edge.
2. As you fold, keep Pocket to the outside. Bring hands together to fold Picnic Blanket in half. Fold again. Fold Picnic Blanket in half horizontally. Fold again.
3. The folded Picnic Blanket should now be the same size as the Pocket with the Pocket on the outside. Insert hand into Pocket and grab Blanket at the bottom of the Pocket. Turn Pocket inside out pulling Blanket into Pocket. Smooth Blanket pushing out corners from inside.
It’s that simple!

You may want to take a few extra minutes to make a small pillow to match your new Picnic Blanket. Check out the post, Basic Pillow DIY Tutorial, for step-by-step instructions to make a decorative envelope pillow. Simply substitute fabrics and embellishments to match your Picnic Blanket and follow the construction process.

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The Ultimate Picnic Blanket debuted in the Sunrise Breakfast Picnic post. Picnics were also featured in the posts: Picnic Under the Wisteria and A Colorful Backyard Picnic.
The coated taffeta fabric used for the Picnic Blanket Backing can be purchased from The Rain Shed. Look under Coated Fabrics in the Fabrics section. The Rain Shed has lots of difficult to find supplies and materials for outdoor activities. They even sell patterns for cool things like gaiters, rain chaps and umbrellas.

Today’s Takeaways

1. A picnic is an ideal way to enjoy the outdoors.
2. The Ultimate Picnic Blanket could make your next picnic more comfortable.
3. Even a simple handmade item, like a picnic blanket, is an opportunity to get creative.

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