Rotary's Award-Winning Mad Hatter's Tea Party Hat a Family Affair

Cassandra Graf is not at a loss for arts and crafts.

Her house is full of them.

For that, thank her mom, Denise, whose latest piece of work was set to be on display at the Osprey Observer newsroom on Lithia Pinecrest Road in Brandon.

There, a special place is being set aside for Graf's winning hat at the Fifth Annual Mad Hatter's Tea Party at the Cross Creek Ranch bed and breakfast and event facility in Dover.

The annual event is a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Brandon South and each year it features a "parade of hats" showcasing the talents of craftsmen and artists representing each table's sponsor.

"I just fanned out from the base and went up from there," said Denise Graf, of her winning hat, featuring a deck of cards (or two) rising up from a base straw hat in the shape of a teapot.

Her secret? "Just hot glue and cards," Graf said.

No way, said Millie Coffee, listening in as her friend was being interviewed before the parade of hats.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg for her," Coffey said. "She's a great talent and very, very creative."

As for Cassandra, who got to model the hat in the parade, she said she is thankful to live in a house where the arts are celebrated. Indeed, one whole room in her house, she said, is nothing but arts and crafts.

As for her love of crafts, Cassandra Graf said: "I just like using my imagination in different ways."