Last week Julia walked into our bedroom wearing a plastic kitchen funnel on her head and singing “Happy Birthday.” Two of her buddies have had their second birthdays in the last couple of weeks, hers is just around the corner, and she’s way into the concept. The party hats seem to have made a particularly strong impression.
We’re planning Julia’s birthday parties (one for her California fans, one in New York), so I thought I’d support her new interest in festive millinery and make some fun party hats for her and her guests. I found some undecorated, brightly colored paper hats ($4.99 for 12 at Party City, 38 West 14th Street in New York, or online at www.partycity.com) and picked up some large sequins, beads, pom-pom fringe and feathers at M&J Trimmings in New York’s garment district (1008 6th Avenue or online at www.mjtrim.com). Then, I got out my trusty hot glue gun (available at nearly any hardware store) and went to work.
They’re probably not ready for the Royal Enclosure, but they’re pretty cute (if I do say so myself), and Julia likes them (“Oooooh, Birthday!”). I think in a couple of years it might be fun to feature the hat-making as a party activity, with adults squirting the hot glue, of course.
