The Rumpelstiltskin Challenge: Nesting Fabric Boxes Done!

Inspired by Five Green Acres' Rumpelstiltskin Challenge (which started about two weeks ago but I am just crashing the party now), I too am digging into my ample fabric stash to make some of those things I  have been meaning to make for months, or in some cases, even years.  Plus, this challenge fits so nicely with the statement on my New Year's Manifest--you know, the one where you use what you already have?

So, here I am, reporting for duty, project number one completed.  And not only did I use fabrics that came from my languishing stack of japanese print canvas fabrics and the rainbow array of Kona solids I have amassed (which I rarely use, but never can seem to resist buying more when I visit Crafty Planet--it may be a sickness for which I have not yet been diagnosed), but I also get bonus points for using the nesting fabric boxes tutorial I purchased some time ago from The Cookie Jar.  Because, you see, I also have this thing about hoarding patterns and projects and crafting books that contain more of the aforementioned--which is why my own personal Rumpelstiltskin challenge this year will be to use my existing store of fabric, as well as some of those lonely unrealized patterns and projects gathering dust on my craft room shelves.

But about the nesting boxes tutorial--I love the finished project.  Colorful,  classic and versatile.  I made it for my 2 year-old great nephew (yes, I have one of those--no, I am not that old, my niece was just that young when she decided she needed to start having babies in high school--but enough of my family's dirty laundry...).  I figure he will stack and play with it now, and use it to stow stuff in later.  For me, this project was simple to make for the most part--with two exceptions: 

1) I have my own issues with working with fusible interfacing--namely, I have a heck of a time getting it to fuse and much cussing ensures.  I am not sure why the fusible interfacing and I cannot play nice together, but I did finally iron it into relative submission, and by the time it was working its way loose from the fabric again it was supposed to be fused to it was already sewn around the edges so it had no choice but to stay put (all tips and suggestions for working with fusible interfacing are welcome, by the way--I used Pellon's Craft Fuse)

2)My other personal challenge came when I had to make the origami fold in order to form the corners of the box--I actually sewed it incorrectly before I worked out what I was doing wrong...but after that, piece of cake, and all subsequent boxes came together much more quickly, with no need for further cussing.   And yes, I would make this again--and probably will make it again now that I have this one under my belt and know how nice the final product looks.

Plus, this project fulfills another one of my New Year's manifesto statements--to make more things rainbow?  Check.

Easy Steps in Sewing for Big and Little Girls

I received this beautiful and quirky old book from my friend, Kendra, as a Christmas gift this year--Easy Steps in Sewing for Big and Little Girls by Jane Eayre Fryer.  The book also has an alternate title found inside on the title page--Mary Frances Among the Thimble People--which alludes to how this sewing instruction book unfolds more like a story where all manner of sewing notions come to life and spend many an afternoon teaching Mary Francis how to sew the most lovely and exorbitant doll clothing--often offering their instruction in rhyme.

You can see some of the book's main characters above--they appear in illustrations throughout the book. You can also see how perfectly rude Mr Silver Thimble can be, calling Tommy Tomato Pin Cushion a "fatty."  Boys can be so callous to one another.

The book was published in 1913 and as far as I can tell I must have a one of the early printings since it is inscribed to Arlyne Ostrom (from Mother), Xmas 1913 (love old inscriptions in books, don't you?).  But the book is filled with instructions on how to do all the basics in sewing--all hand sewing, mind you--as well as how to do things I have never even heard of like felling on flannel, kensington outline stitch, and whipped ruffles.  It also teaches how to darn which I have never done before but seems useful.

And then there are patterns--like this sweet and classic cross stitch that I feel compelled to make now even though I have somehow always felt that cross stitch is mundane and the equivalent of counting holes in ceiling tiles for amusement.  But this pattern charms me...they call it a Grand Sampler on Canvas, which does make it seem a bit more glamorous.  

Oh yes, and then there are oodles of instructions for doll clothes.  Like, a trousseau of doll clothes that one could take on your 12 month honeymoon across Europe with your beloved and dapper husband--pinafores, bathrobes, kimonos, morning and afternoon dresses, petticoats, fur lined capes, automobile coats, bathing suits...

...and even items of a racier sort like rompers, drawers and bloomers.  Oh la la, mon cheri.

Oh yes, and one must not forget the Tippet, Muff and Polo Cap.  You want one for yourself now, don't you?  I mean, that Tippet actually does look pretty sweet to me--I would wear it (albeit with jeans, t-shirt and kick ass boots...)

But the best part of the whole book is that it contains  sheets of delicate and yellowed tissue paper patterns for all the clothes that fold out.  My heart almost broke when I found these as I paged through the book--mostly because almost all the patterns are still there, just waiting to be unfolded and used.  They are glued right into the book so that they reside right in with the instructions for a given piece of doll clothing.  Like little sewing surprises awaiting you with each turn of a page.

And you can count on this, I will report back at some point, having hunkered down and made something from the book--and then I will scan in the pattern and share it with you just in case you might want to make your own tippet too--or whatever.

Update: As it turns out, this book is actually still in print.  You can find a copy of it under the title, The Mary Frances Sewing Book--find it here.

Look What You Made...

Made by Helen Rawlinson--check out the colorful and freeform number applique

Many of you have been busy this past year, making a little something from one of my designs--but not merely making it--making it your own.  I love when you do that--because I do that too, all the time.  

Recently Modern Parents, Messy Kids did a little write up about giving books for gifts and offered a link to my library book bag tutorial in their post--but suggested that people might just want to use a ready made canvas tote to start with and simply applique on the word "BOOKS" and sew on a library card pocket in the same manner I did mine--which is smart.  Seriously.  I see things I want to make all the time (um, if you have not yet noticed this about me), but then sometimes I just do not have the wherewithal to make it as prescribed from start to finish so I work in a short cut, or sometimes I just feel compelled to tweak the design in some way because I would prefer the doll have knee socks and not just bare legs or whatever...and as far as I am concerned, this is what it is all about.  Making something--yes, good--but making it your own--even better.  And I so dig that when you do that with my designs too.  

So, I thought I would share a few photos with you from my Beeper Bebe Projects Made by You Flickr group--of all the ways you have made my stuff your own, in that clever, just-ignore-the-very-detailed-instructions-way you have...

Made by Bee Cah--love the array of hair colors

 Made by CathinCa--love the addition of domino-like dots for counting on the backside

Made by DorisPepsi--strips of felt replace ribbons (take that, Taggies)

Made by skirt_as_top--crazy about the the pouch and the linen-like stone-colored fabric

Have you been surreptitiously making something from one of my tutorials?  If so, please share it in my Beeper Bebe Projects Made by You Flickr group.  I'd love to see what you have made, how you have made it your own, or how you may have even made it better.

New Year's Manifesto

There are lots of manifestos out there these days that you can buy--like this one, or this one--but it seems to me that the best thing you can do at the New Year is to make your own rather than follow someone else's.  

So, this is mine.  What is on your manifesto?

Have a Sweet Christmas

I got my candy making mojo on a couple of days ago and with a little assistance from Mr Beeper.  We managed to produce this assortment of candies over a couple of evenings.  Having personally taste tested all of them, I can vouch for their edibility.  In fact, perhaps they may be a little too edible.

Which is why we have packaged most of it up in these sweet pale blue boxes from Martha and delivered them around to friends and family.  But if you get a little hankering to make some candy for yourself, here are links to all of the recipes we used:

Bourbon Pecan Truffles

Coconut and grapefruit gumdrops

Fleur de Sel Caramels

Mint Marshmallows 

(adapted by adding 1/2 tsp mint extract to the basic recipe and then dipped half in milk chocolate)

Movie Theatre Bark

Nuts and Seeds Fleur de Sel Dark Chocolate Bark

Pistachio, Dried Cranberry and Toasted Coconut White Chocolate Bark

Toffee Fleur de Sel Truffles

Winter Bark

The cookie lollies on top of the boxes were inspired by the look of this recipe--but are actually an entirely different creation.  They were made with oreos that I pushed a lolly stick into, then dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with the red winter berries.

Hope you have a sweet holiday filled with love, laughter and some lovely treats.

Blog Crush: Mini Eco

I am in utterly in love with Mini-Eco.  I think I have seen of the tutorials before kicking around on other blogs, but I never really went over for a visit until now--and I am so glad I did .  

There is much color and light and creativity that emanate from this blog--all the things I love.  And her commitment to inspiring her children with what can be made simply...well, love that.

You have to go see it for yourself because there are so many inspiring and simple tutorials--things I would like to make right now (nevermind that it is 1:00am and I am in a hotel room en route to my in-laws for the holidays).  Like this holiday-inspired scented playdough that I will be making as soon as I get back home...

...or these paper beads (because Beeper was just searching for some beads to make necklaces from the other day)...

...or these Halloween-y shadow puppets that will suit Beeper fine any old time of year given his adoration of monsters...

And there is more there--plenty more.  Really, I just want to make it all with Beeper.  At least I know now what we will be doing over holiday break.  Thanks, Kate.

Go have a look for yourself--here.

Note: All photos are courtesy of Mini-Eco and belong to Kate and her wonderful blog.

Eat This: Grandma Neuman's Cookies

You might be wondering who the heck Grandma Neuman is and what does she have to do with these cookies.  Well, I have tell you I do not even know who the heck Grandma Neuman is other than that these cookies are made from her recipe.  You see, back in the seventies, my brother was a paper boy in a small Minnesota town and one of his customers was this old lady, whom was only known to him as "Grandma Neuman" (small towns, gotta love 'em).  One Christmas, Grandma Neuman gave my brother a small box of these cookies as a thank you  (again, small towns--wish my world in the city was more like this...but I am pretty sure that if we gave our paper boy a box of cookies he would scowl at us)...the cookies came home, we all dug into them, and my mom then declared we must have the recipe and sent my brother back to request the recipe the next time her delivered her paper...and here we are today, still eating Grandma Neuman's cookies every single Christmas.

And these cookies are one my holiday faves--both because of how the recipe came to us, but also because they are simple to mix up, fun to cut out, and are a wonderful simple cookie that falls somewhere in flavor between a sugar cookie and gingerbread.   I guess they are a spice cookie.  And you can see above, the dough is Beeper approved.

This was Beeper's first year that he really dug into the whole cookie making process from start to finish--and you can see the colorful (did I hear someone say gaudy?), and richly festooned (did someone say looks like rainbow vomit?) fruits of his labors.  

But you can also make these with simple white sanding sugar and they are lovely--like these little gingerbread men (that are technically not gingerbread men, I know...) that just got a light sprinkle of sugar and 3 red hot buttons and were piereced before and after baking with a skewer so they could be threaded with baking twine and hung on the tree.  Or, you can just eat them too--because you will want to and they are just plain good in the way something can only be when it comes from an old lady known only as Grandma Neuman to her town.  

You can download the recipe here:

DOWNLOAD COOKIE RECIPE