In My Shop: Two-Faced Friend Dolls & Counting Bean Bags

I've managed to whip out a few sets of counting bean bags and a little gang of two-faced friend dolls.  Two of the sets of bean bags are made with some of those reproduction feed sack fabrics I so love--they have quite a lovely washed-out vintage-y look.   And the dolls are all made with real, authentic vintage feed sack and vintage trims and other recycled materials.  If you'd like to have a look, you find them here, in my little shop. 

Enjoy: Some Projects to Share

Here are a few projects found out and about that I love right now.  Love those bloomers--and the clever sharpie drawings on the plastic bags--so cool.  And those scavenger hunt cards are a must-make since Beeper would lovelovelove them (and I am thinking about what sort of accompanying scavenger hunt bag into which he might deposit his finds I might make...).  And it is raspberry season and the notion of bottling those with some of the mint spilling out of our planters as we speak and some prosecco...well, you know what I will be drinking all of 4th of July weekend...You can find the links to all of the above over in my sidebar, or just go here...enjoy.

What I Bought in London: Tana Lawn

This is Liberty.  Much like Tiffany's, it feels like nothing bad could ever happen to you in place like this.  That is, until you rashly blow your son's college fund on Tana Lawn.  But have a look at this some of the fabric and you will understand how all common sense evaporates...

Tres joli, non?   There was a quilt there that was made from nothing but Tana Lawn and merely touching it I was immediately lost in a reverie of what it would be like to sleep under it, at once silky and crisp, pretty as spring, certain to keep nightmares at bay.  Even with your husband waiting patiently for time without end as you walk up and down the aisles, again, and again, and again, trying to decide which of these little pretties will come with you--even if it does mean a trade school education for your son-- am pretty sure at least some of you can understand why I could not leave London without several yards tucked safely in my suitcase. (and did I mention that you need not even visit London to buy your own?  Find their full selection of fabrics right here...)

Eat This: World's Best Ever Chicken Cheeseburger

These chicken burgers may not look all that impressive, but they are one of the best burgers EVER.  I ate something similar last summer at the Longfellow Grill--but it was a special and they never reappeared on the menu...so I decided I had to try to work the recipe out for my self.

The additions of bacon, and sauteed apples and onions to the ground chicken keep it moist and extra flavorful--and then the smoked cheddar AND the herby-mayo just put it over the top.  I double-dog dare you not love them.

And here's the recipe:

DOWNLOAD CHICKEN CHEESEBURGER RECIPE

Tettegouche Camp

(our little cabin)

(furled fern)

(bedroom light)

(Beeper naps)

(bog board walk)

(little cabin inside)

(canoes)

(dining hall)

(little friend)

(twinflowers)

(mist over the Sawtooth Mountains)

(morning coffee and embroidery)

(hiking path out of camp)

(Mr Beeper and Beeper heading off into the mystic)

(orange hawkweed)

(spider web in the rain)

(dock)

(clothes on the little porch)

(forget-me-nots)

(fog on Lake MicMac)

(unidentified flower)

Some photos from our long weekend up at Tettegouche Camp--a truly extraordinary place (old logging camp turned early environmentalist retreat, now part of the Minnesota State Park system and open to anyone who can manage to snag a reservation) of so much natural beauty and rustic ambiance that the two mile uphill hike in barely matters.

You can see more photos from our stay here, if you are curious or interested or just bored and looking for something to do...

Make This: Monster Slime (and about Beeper's Birthday)

So, no reptiles this year for Beeper's birthday--just monsters.  Which I could totally deal with because I love monsters and always have since I was a little girl (insight into my geeky 12-year-old self: I created a wall-sized monster mural as my 6th grade project).  And I daresay monsters have really found their place in pop culture, between UglyDolls and Percy Jackson and the movie Monsters, so inspiration is not so hard to find if you just do a bit of searching.  Here's what we came up with...

...made these monster cupcakes that look like the lovechild of Cousin It and Cookie Monster--they were largely copied from a cupcake design in this book, but I really only looked at the photo in the bookstore and tried to do something like it at home...

...monster totes made from the tutorial Courtney made for Bloesem Kids, found here (the little monster books inside are from Dover Publications)...

...because it rained and our plans to be outside at the playground for the party were thwarted, alternate indoor activities that would keep the herd of wild 6-year-olds subdued were employed--like the creation of a monster gallery, made using these ready-framed drawing pads that work like sticky notes for you tto slap up on the wall at will (find them here)...

...a homemade monster pinata (made it myself--first one ever--will totally do this again since it was a fun and messy family project, was able to make one much bigger than those found commercially, and it broke open without adult assistance or use of power tools)--got some pointers from Martha here, but here are the 3 lessons I would share: 1) Use the combo of elmer's glue and water (instead of flour and water--which is what is commonly used) as your paper mache paste--we encountered splitting problems due to humidity and I think the glue would have cured this from what I read elsewhere, 2)Make sure you lay your newspaper strips in all directions on the balloon--we did not do this and I think it contributed to the splitting we had to repair later on, 3) and by all means, lay down a tarp when you make the pinata or do it outside because it is messy like you would not believe (but so fun for 6-year-olds).  And the goodies inside?  All from Oriental Trading Company (and yes, all corn-syrupy and likely made in China, but let me tell you finding super balls that look like eyeballs, Sweet-Tarts shaped like skeleton bones, and stacks of plastic vampire teeth in May is not easy, I tell you)...

And finally, the favorite activity of the afternoon--the creation of pots of monster slime.  The kiddos loved this--boys and girls alike.  How could they not love something this un-naturally colored and gloppy with a little rubbery monster sticking out of it?

And now, dear Chez Beeper Bebe readers, you too can create your very own pots of monster slime.  Because a good batch of monster slime is guaranteed to make any old day better.  Like puppies and rainbows and sacks of candy, I am pretty sure there are few things kids love more than this slime.  Inclement weather foil your plans to go to the beach?  Make some slime.  Drop the ice cream from your cone into the gutter?  Make some slime.  Grandma die?  Make some slime (but be sure to add a monster to it as you will need a little something extra for emotional distraction). Slime is, quite possibly, the antidote to almost anything that ails you and your crabby/crying/despondent child...and here is tutorial for you, complete with ready-made labels for you to print...

DOWNLOAD MONSTER SLIME TUTORIAL

And you are welcome.  Enjoy it--just keep it out of hair and the carpet and you are golden.