tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50816485996907108572026-01-19T18:01:59.455-06:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-77422586775915050972019-06-07T21:54:00.001-05:002019-06-09T10:50:17.073-05:00

You can find "Doris and Daisy" in my Etsy shop, Elusive Bobbin Studio. Click here for a video featuring the creation of this doll. Doris loves bright colors in her clothes  and on her toes.  She takes Daisy to the park for some fun then kicks off her shoes to enjoy the sun.   var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-24393110250862761152019-06-05T06:06:00.000-05:002019-06-07T21:56:10.916-05:00

"The Peddler" - SOLD This will always be one of my favorite dolls.   The first time I saw a peddler doll was in a collection of antique dolls given to me by my great aunt.  It was simple with a wooden egg-shaped head, not as fancy as the other porcelain dolls in the collection, but she was my favorite because of the trinkets in her basket.  I saw my second peddler

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-43012243786879608192018-11-28T09:01:00.000-06:002019-06-07T21:55:23.839-05:00

It's been an eternity since I blogged here. Life got crazy, my figurative bobbins got all tangled into a horrible mess, and there may have been a health crisis or two. However, it's time to pick up the pieces, rewind those bobbins, give this blog a spruce up, and get going with new things.  The best of those new things...  I have an Etsy shop!  The Elusive Bobbin Studio is

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-40732843288942045152015-09-11T13:30:00.000-05:002015-09-11T13:31:17.274-05:00

In an effort to organize our meals, I've come up with this menu planner.  It prints on a whole sheet of paper.  Is folded in half with holes punched on the unfolded edge and placed in your mini sized binder. Each week as you make your menu on the right side of the planner, you use the back of the previous weeks menu (on the left) for writing your grocery list.  When you

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-20905482357320643822015-09-04T10:58:00.002-05:002015-09-11T13:31:06.940-05:00

In Pt 1 of my DIY planning adventure I chose a size, what needed to go into my planner, and started gathering materials.  Now lets put those material to use and print a few things to into the planner. Every planner really needs a calendar, so lets start there.   If you do a google search for free printable calendar, there are plenty to choose from, even mini sized ones like

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-13712103979856661482015-09-02T10:32:00.002-05:002015-09-11T13:30:52.774-05:00

As part of my New School Year Resolution to get organized, I decided I really need a planner of some sort to keep up with...well, everything.  But, I refuse to spend big money on a ready made planner that's not designed for my lifestyle, so I'm going to try to DIY one.  As I go, I'll share my process Step by step, show you what I learn along the way, and add links for free printable

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-24634811808090250852015-08-25T14:50:00.000-05:002015-09-11T13:30:34.476-05:00

Jan. 1st usually has the market cornered on resolutions for most people, but not me.  Not this year.  No, this year, I'm getting a jump on the New Year's resolution by making a New School Year Resolution.  That resolution is to get and keep my "stuff" (with regards to kids, and house) together. My big kids started middle school this year.   It's a big deal.   Up

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-40088560673612681602015-08-05T11:59:00.001-05:002015-08-05T11:59:24.724-05:00

Today is the first day of school.  Do I really need to say anymore?

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-72853890309624769502015-04-10T15:02:00.000-05:002015-04-10T15:02:20.619-05:00

I LOVE Strawberry Rhubarb pie!  So when I saw some beautiful fresh Rhubarb in the produce section right beside strawberries on sale, I knew pie would be on the menu. This pie is a step away from the traditional strawberry and rhubarb version.  It adds pears, fresh ginger, nutmeg, lemon zest and a pinch or two of cinnamon.  The result is amazing as long as you like

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-37927300923346846922015-03-26T08:26:00.000-05:002015-03-27T07:57:59.234-05:00

In case you didn't like Shampoo Cream, here is another hair cleansing option from The Era Formulary:  5000 Formulas for Druggists, printed in 1893.  This one for a "Sea Foam" and is found with other Sea Foam options on p. 194. FYI, Sea foams don't suds up like modern or not so modern shampoos, or soaps.  However, the ammonia and Alcohol are sure to cut any grease from

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-23500523574528169582015-03-22T09:13:00.000-05:002015-03-26T08:24:53.223-05:00

The History Compared to our Victorian ancestors, we wash the dickens out of our hair.  The idea of a daily washing would have seemed at best, ridiculously excessive, and at worst, dangerous to great great great grandma Flora. In the 1850's and 60's, and to some extent, the 70's and 80's frequent washing was also counter productive to creating a fashionable style. That is

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-40049737242983993422015-03-14T11:07:00.001-05:002015-03-14T11:07:30.483-05:00

If your following my blog day to day, you might find it odd to see a post on cold cream right after a post on choosing a design for a new bed, but it takes time to decide, plus I have a cold and until it's gone, I don't foresee "getting my build on".  So to honor said cold in hopes it passes quickly here's a bit about cold creams.   Origins Cold creams can be traced back to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-68551208122275445962015-03-12T09:26:00.001-05:002015-03-12T11:17:27.809-05:00

Spring is almost here, and I can't wait.  It is the perfect time to get outside and start new projects.  This year, the project topping our list is a new bed.  Years ago when we first got married, we received a 4 poster queen sized bed complete with mattress set as a gift.  It was a "starter model", but we loved it, especially since it was free. Flash forward too many years

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-29723085560717713932015-03-09T19:42:00.002-05:002015-03-09T19:42:37.422-05:00

O.K. this is the last "Dental Cosmetics" post.   I promise.   Today we're delving into the world of Cachou Aromatise/ Mouth Pastiles/Pastilles/Breath fresheners.   In old formula books these recipes are sometimes found in the perfumery section rather than with tooth powders or other mouth cosmetics, as their purpose is to purify and perfume the breath.   It seems

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-52076460942632402152015-03-08T10:39:00.000-05:002015-03-08T10:41:24.827-05:00

I've got one more dentifrice for you.   This one comes from  The Druggist's General Receipt Book. 8th ed. p. 258 by Henry Beasley printed in 1878 in Philadelphia and currently available on Google books for free download.  Two variations are listed in this  book:     Deschamp's Acid Dentifrice  4 parts chalk 1 part baking soda 1

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-19594668625319577642015-03-06T14:22:00.000-06:002015-03-06T14:22:15.664-06:00

What do you do when your about to be six year old declares that he wants a Minecraft birthday cake (for the second year in a row), but it has to have a school bus? Give it to him.  And let him lick the spatula of course.  It's his birthday after all. In the spirit of full disclosure, I've been sitting on these pics since before Christmas, which just goes to show how busy it

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-48822893599212145332015-03-05T13:27:00.000-06:002015-03-06T13:28:00.900-06:00

formula 1350 from The Era Formulary Here's another Dental cosmetic for you.  It is used as a gargle and goes by the name "Saccharine Preparation".   Who knew saccharine has been around for so long.  It was discovered in 1879 by Constantine Fahlberg and soon found it's way into everyday products.  The two recipes bellow are from p.129 of The Era Formulary.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-89493279723729683732015-03-02T09:44:00.000-06:002015-03-02T09:49:18.764-06:00

Continuing the Victorian Vanities series, here's another dental product for you.   How about a stick dentifrice?   This is an authentic 1893 recipe taken from The Era Formulary 5000 Formulas for Druggist. You can find this book free to read online at google books.  If you want to look it up, it's formula 1342. Note:  I made

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-88249431271027800572015-02-28T16:15:00.002-06:002015-03-02T09:53:55.202-06:00

It has been far too long since I did a proper post, so let's have a clean start shall we.  But, let's do it with a twist, and maybe a nod to dear old great great great grandma.   Do you know how she got a clean start?   Charcoal toothpaste.  Just Joking.  It's quite likely that great great great grandma didn't start her day by brushing her teeth.  

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-79428673841922128322015-02-04T12:57:00.003-06:002015-02-28T16:17:06.092-06:00

On Feb 21, 2015 I will share a 75 minute presentation which I have titled "Victorian Vanities" at the 2015 Southeast Regional ALHFAM Conference.    I've done a couple of presentations in the area of cosmetics before, but they were either comparatively brief at 15 min. or lasted 90 minutes, but covered hairstyles and head coverings as well as cosmetics.  

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-14214654697328865052015-02-02T09:15:00.001-06:002015-02-28T16:18:26.429-06:00

On Friday, I was working on a cake for a friends daughter, and promised to  post an update with pictures, and here they are. From the first swipes of icing to the piping of pretty borders  and cutting out the fondant decorations on top this was a really fun cake. And although I was able to do most of the work at home, those big chocolate

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-85383776169772279692015-01-30T16:10:00.002-06:002015-02-28T16:18:55.058-06:00

I took a long break from blogging, but that doesn't mean I was goofing off.  Nope, It's been crazy busy here, but not too busy to help out a friend who needs a Birthday cake for her little girl.  So today's F.F.F. (Fun Food Friday) is all about that cake. My friend and her daughter really liked this cake from  Disney Living Online, but wanted to personalize it a bit.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-53336092910430603392014-12-02T14:08:00.003-06:002014-12-02T14:08:31.421-06:00

O.K., so I'm not really on vacation, but I'm taking a short break from blogging.  This break started with a tummy bug a while ago, which made typing at a keyboard unfathomable.  But since it has been gone, the holidays have kept me busy and away from my monitor.  But don't worry, I'll be back with new posts in a week or so.  Til then, Happy Holidays to you all. var _gaq =

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-5465456575541174532014-11-07T13:00:00.000-06:002014-11-07T20:51:04.967-06:00

Last night I stumbled upon a fascinating Korean cooking site maangchi.com.  I was going to make and share a recipe from the site as this week's F.F.F. but sadly, the international grocery store that I love, didn't have a few of the key ingredients.  Already running late to see a friend, I couldn't try another store, and not wanting to alter the recipe, I put it "on the back

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081648599690710857.post-86629858839240687582014-11-03T08:48:00.001-06:002014-11-03T08:48:58.594-06:00

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