Bitter Betty Blogs

Made By Someone Else Monday: thinking about the week

2009-07-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I have a lot to post about and hopefully I will get to, but life is super busy here at Chez Betty.
Today I have a nasty dental visit to contend with, Jacob's play closed, so he is starting on a cool multi-media canvas, there was a weed vs. flowers battle in the garden (it is a draw, so far), and the fridge needs yet another deep clean.

That is it. I can't cram in anything else.... Unless my mouth recovers quickly and I can go see Harry Potter tonight. I might be able to fit THAT in. ( Snape, Snape, Severus Snape- Dumbledore!)

Tomorrow, I am wishing for more peaches to make more jam with my significant mother, Merideth, from up the street. Because I simply can't part with a single jar of mine, as I am a selfish girl, who really like her jam.

So in the spirit of spirited laziness and a true lack of direction, please enjoy is video. It is for kids... but clearly I am having a 'maturity-challenged' kind of day today.

On Monday, I Never Go To Work,
Except to Scrub The Fridge Out,
Betty

WIP Wednesday: Peaches Loves Basil

2009-07-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

"Oh Peaches, How I adore you!"
"Oh Basil, you make me blush!"

It sounds like a 1920's Love Affair. Peaches and Basil sitting in a tree....
But it isn't. It is this years Experimental Jam Recipe winner! (Yes, I ran my own personal jam contest. I'm eccentric that way.)

I met and schmoozed with a lovely farmer at farmer's market yesterday and got 12 pounds of jam peaches. Jam peaches are like jam strawberries. They are mostly good (the funky bits are easily trimmed away) and very ripe. They must be processed within the next 24 hours or they will quickly become overripe and then, almost instantaneously- compost. But they are the most reasonably priced locally grown organic produce I have ever found. These were a 1.00 a pound! And often they are not advertised or displayed... Hence, the schmoozing with the farmer.

I decided it was affordable enough to experiment with!

I made 2 types of jam in 2 Quart batches. (That is 2 quarts of pre-processed fruit, in case you were wondering.) One features a yummy vanilla, cinnamon style peach jam and the other is my favorite, peaches with lemon and basil infused.

Peach Pie Preserves:

2 quarts of peeled sliced peaches
5 Cups sugar
juice from one lemon
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 vanilla bean opened and scraped
plus vanilla seeds from pod

Cook peaches and 1/2 the sugar for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add remaining ingredients, mix and mash with a fruit or potato masher while boiling. Continue to stir increasingly as fruit cooks. When fruit starts to seem to adhere to pan bottom between stirrings, the jam is ready to can.

Peaches Loves Basil Jam

2 quarts of peeled sliced peaches
4 Cups sugar
juice and zest from 2 lemons
8-10 fresh basil sprigs ( mine were 4-5 leaves per sprig)
3 fresh lemon balm sprigs

Cook peaches and 1/2 the sugar for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add remaining sugar and lemon, mix and mash with a fruit or potato masher while boiling. after another 5-10 minutes put in the herbs. I tied mine with a kitchen twine to make it easier to remove. For a more intense basil flavor I also rolled over mine with a rolling pin to slightly bruise the herbs. Continue to stir increasingly as fruit cooks. When fruit starts to seem to adhere to pan bottom between stirrings, the jam is ready to can. Pull out the herbs, and can as usual.

Basic Jam Canning:

Sterilize jars by boiling for 10 minutes.
Heat canning lids and rings but do not boil these.
Put hot jam into hot jars.
Wipe jar rims and place a lid and ring on each jars, tightening slightly.
Process all finished jars in boiling water bath (2 inches of water should cover each jar) for a quick 5 minutes,
remove with canning tongs and cool.

My 12 pounds of peaches yielded 13 1- cup jars of jam, plus enough extra peaches for a yummy peach and blackberry crisp.

I know.. You want to come over for dinner now.
Well, Okay. Come on Over Already!

Love your Peaches, Wanna Shake Your Tree,
Betty

PS: The Lovely and Talented Jen of the Austin Craft Mafia/Naughty Secretary Club/CraftLab mentioned that suitcase projec t in a really great round up she just blogged about. ( Um.. Now I need to make a minibar...hello?)
Thanks Jen!

And to those I have forgotten to thank before... Thanks now and I apologise. Flakey like a croissant, but deep down grateful to every one who links, comes by or comments. ( Like, Molly, for instance...)I really love you guys. I'd be lost without you.

Made It Myself Monday: An Actual Actor

2009-07-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

What can I say?
He worked hard. He paced it well, stayed in character, hit his marks. Perfectly.

And he can sing.
(Who knew?)

Two thumbs way up for my kid as Rolf in the Sound of Music.

And a huge recommendation to anyone who wonders if they should push their kid out of their comfort zone and into theater.
Do it and sit back and let them amaze you.

Made It Myself Monday: This Jacket May Be Too Graphic For Sensitive Viewers

2009-07-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

Well, at the beginning of spring I picked up a Burda Magazine and this is the third thing I have made from it's pages. I really had sort of thought the graphic wouldn't look quite this large, translated to clothing, but here you go!

I bought the canvas fabric at Ikea and really tried to stay on top of the designs as I cut. Placing, changing and hoping the shapes would still be nice with the darts and all.
The jacket was pretty easy to make but a little boxy ( So far I have found all their patterns a little on the boxy side...) but I altered it by adding a belt, and curving the front corners at the bottom, to match some of the shapes in the print.

It isn't the jacket I would pick for a wallflower shy day... But I guess I'm not really that type of girl anyhow.

Boldly Going Pretty Much Everywhere,
Betty

Work In Progress Wednesday: Original Design Commission

2009-07-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hey All You Sizzleans!

Well, on top of being quite warm, it's been super busy, as summer tends to be, (The lazy days of summer? where did that crock of baloney come from?) so posting is getting squeezed in when it can.

Here is the work in progress today.

This is the muslin and fabric for an original design by me! It is for a friend who wanted an eyelet swimsuit cover up. The design was altered to make it a little less full in the skirt,a little shorter in the sleeves, but basically was pretty much good from the get-go, which made me very proud.

Self taught clothing designer.
I'm breaking my arm patting myself on the back.

So far, I am still not holding up my "Holiday Gift Plan", averaging about a half a gift a week, but swimsuit cover up, and strawberry jam deadlines still trump anything in far off December.

Saving You A Seat By The Pool,
Betty

Thrift Thursday: Madamoiselle Secretary and a Side of Sugar

2009-06-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

First things first. Jacob IS "Rolf" in "The Sound of Music". The part he was afraid to get. They do multiple casts so he also "stage crew" and "party-goer"... But for half of the performances he is the teenage (ironic) Nazi heartthrob, with a romantic duet, and dance number, and all. As a former stage brat... I seriously, couldn't be more thrilled. This is a huge step out on a limb for him. He was pretty well talked into joining the company by myself and his pal Alex in the first place. He had no personal aspirations toward the stage whatsoever. And just in case you were wondering, despite being mildly coerced, he was practicing his song and lines as we climbed down from the top of Yosemite Falls (anything to distract us from the agony of the feet, and legs) and I think, if he can get the dance down... He's going to nail it.

Go, Jake! Trying something new!

Now back to our regularly scheduled blog:

Okay, I was almost done thrifting when...

I couldn't resist posing with it since it matches my pants

I found this. Which I don't personally need, as I am already too big for it. But there it was. And I wanted to paint it and fix it and line the inside with Addison Endpapers papers. And wax it with beeswax. And find tiny pens and pencils and stationary for it. I already own a perfect "to scale" glass lamp for the top. I simply couldn't and didn't resist.

And just in case you hoped to see something Cuter:

My son's buddy Michael brought his new kitten over to meet me. Michael may be my new favorite of my son's friends. How cool was that, to bring me this baby to cuddle? Seriously, what a treat! And it let me practice my photography on a fun subject.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

Hooray for Father's Day.

Fashion Friday: New Vintage Wardrobe Project #22 The Tuxedo Tunic

2009-06-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here it is.... the first from my mind blowing new stash of gorgeous patterns!

Butterick 5814 Misses Cover-up .
I rendered mine is a beautiful handkerchief weight Egyptian cotton.
I had a vision to combine 2 trends from the last couple of summers,

the tunic and the tuxedo (or ruffles) which worked really well, since I didn't need to buy any additional braid or anything for embellishment.

I ended up having to do some pretty extensive alterations to make it fit well, including a couple of long deep back darts.

But I really like the way it hangs much better now.

I do actually wear this as a cover up over my bathing suit..but this isn't that kind of blog... and I like that it is versatile too, so we feature it here as option b.

The ruffles were made seperately, pinked, stitched to prevent ravel and pleated using a ruffler foot attachment. Then I pinned them in place and stitched over the top holding the facings out of the way.

I could have hemmed the ruffle or made little tubes but I wanted the tunic to feel very casual light and breezy and I was running short on materials!

The seams were all finished using the flat felled method.

I love this one. the sleeves are the length I wanted. I feel pretty and comfortable in it and I an thinking of making another that is more tailored out of a light linen with some embroidery.

Sorry to disappoint those of you who thought that maybe I would make something wildly "Mrs, Roper-ish". that would have been fun too.. but my closet has limits and so do I!

Thrift Thursday: Random Bits and My First Summer Book

2009-06-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

The thrift store is still yielding little treasures.

I found an owl and a stamped aluminum bowl with nice detail. I Love that the owl is standing on some books. I should make him my summer reading program mascot.

I found exciting vintage sequins with excellent patina. About a 1/2 cup for a dollar.

And I found a worn old library copy of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park with vellum covered illustrations. I enjoyed it very much but thought it ended more abruptly than her others.
First book in my summer reading program all done and it's not yet summer.

Next book is vintage 1994 David Sedaris short stories. Yeah! Kind of the other end of the comic book spectrum from Miss Austen.

Well I'm off to pick up a carload of boys from the summer theatre program and to find out if Jacob got his dream role as the non-singing butler in The Sound of Music.

Cross your fingers folks! If they make him stretch and cast him as Rolf... he will be inconsolable.

Oh and a big thanks to Craftzine and to Fairie's Gate for featuring some Betty. It get's harder and harder to stay bitter here in blogland!

Tutorial Tuesday: Peek-A-Boo Rick-Rack trim

2009-06-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a tutorial I whipped up while I was making some fresh curtains for my newly repainted kitchen.

Peek A Boo Rick Rack Trim:

This trim is a joining style trim. I used it to join panels for a kitchen valance but it would be really cute joining a contrasting hem on a skirt or the top and bottom of a cute sundress, or on the edges of a tablecloth.

You will need fabric and rick-rack enough for your project, an iron and a threaded sewing machine. Top stitching needle and quilting thread are prefferable but not required.

1)Iron in a double folded hem that is a quarter inch wide on the edge of the materials you want to attach with the ric-rack.

2) Use a small stitch to attach the tips of the points of the rick rack to the outside edge of your hem. This is difficult to pin, so I set my machine to a slower speed and used the pinch and pray* method. (*where you adjust as you go with your fingers and hope it all works out.)

3) Next, I flipped it over and top stitched the other side of the hem using the foot and the stitchline from the rick rack seam as my guide

4) Then I repeated the process, attaching the second piece of fabric to the other tips of the rick rack points
5) And then top stitching the other folded hem edge.

All other heming and construcion was completed after I finished this process. Take your time, and it is as easy as pie.

I do hope someone finds this cute and useful. Let me know if you try it! I'd love to see some more projects!

Stitch on Sisters and Brothers!,
Betty

Made it Myself Monday: I am Lying To Myself

2009-06-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

His name is Sylvester, after the donkey in 'Sylvester and the Magic Pebble'.
One of those "be careful what you wish for" fables.

This is a one of a kind. It is the only holiday gift I have finished so far.... and I make a lot... and I had a goal of being done by my birthday in October. Early October.

Go On.. Get Your mule on.
Japanese Craft Book "Animal Mascots"
ibsn:978-4-391-62420-5

So that means I need to finish about 2 gifts a week, and never fail, from now until my birthday, all other distractions not withstanding...
I will try, but, that goal might be a leeeettle bit too lofty.

Just a leeeeettle.

Hey there Santa! You're getting snow in my swimsuit! I mean I know why I want to get started but I feel kinda Obsessive putting any real pressure on myself here at the beginning of summer vacation. I guess I'll just start with the toys. They always feel like playing anyways.

All Yours (But feeling more Selfish than Elfish),
Betty

Haven't I Seen You Somewhere Before?

2009-06-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

[T]ime is infinite, but the things in time, the concrete bodies, are finite. They may indeed disperse into the smallest particles; but these particles, the atoms, have their determinate numbers, and the numbers of the configurations which, all of themselves, are formed out of them is also determinate. Now, however long a time may pass, according to the eternal laws governing the combinations of this eternal play of repetition, all configurations which have previously existed on this earth must yet meet, attract, repulse, kiss, and corrupt each other again..."

Heinrich Heine

We are all of this and nothing.

Big Wet Kisses from the Deep End of the Wading Pool,

Betty

So Where Ya Been Betty? Saturday

2009-06-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Man... Where do I start. I have been everywhere and up to everything.

Last I checked in here you saw me scrubbing my ceilings. That was fun and productive and all that goody goodness. It was all part of a grand effort that went far beyond a mere spit and polish!

Later that weekend, I retired to Indian Springs in Calistoga to do a little Spa-ah down time with a lovely group of ladies.

Spa Ladies
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo. Kristen Jones Photographer)

I think this is the 7th year ( 6th for me) that this annual get away has happened. This year we took a bike tour of the local wineries to boot.

Bike portrait with basket damage
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

Fine Winery
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

That was a kick and improved the experience of soaking in the geyser heated waters of tranquility.

Indian Springs Pool
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

It was also the perfect time to show off some great New Vintage Wardrobe creations... and I will hopefully have them for the blog very shortly.

I threw a tiny but festive 42nd Birthday dinner for my Mister.

Over the last couple of months we kicked it into high gear on the fix up/clean up front to get ready for our families to gather for Jake's Middle School Graduation. (High School next year???... gulp.) He has now officially survived 3 of the most universally acknowledged as harrowing years of the human experience. I want to thank all of our loving family members who came to celebrate. We love you all, so much.

the Graduate

I'm working on gathering some before and after pics of the many little home improvement projects we took on, but my computer is acting like a neglected boyfriend and is acting out. Falling asleep in the middle of my projects, etc. Perhaps it needs a trip to the computer spa.

Anyway, for those of you who have been leaving comments and asking questions and checking in, I send my smooches and gratitude and I will be getting to the aging pile of emails as well.

Phew.. Well here's to summer! I hope it's a gem!

Here's to Splashing in your Sprinkler,
Betty

WIP Wednesday: Spring Cleaning

2009-05-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, Ladies, that's me... Happily scrubbing the bathroom ceiling.
My life has truth and depth and meaning.
Like a slightly punky Stepford wife.

Fashion Friday: You heard Rumors about My Bloomers

2009-05-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you buy a beautiful handmade vintage sheet at a yard sale...

and you add it to an altered pj pants pattern ( amy butler's lounge pants + knee gathers - quite a few inches in length= fancy bloomers)

and throw in a hankering for some pretty little somethings to throw on under a skirt?

You get my bloomers.

Are you blushing?

Happy Long Weekend,
And Margaritas for All,

Betty

Made It Myself Monday: Flower Child Wear

2009-05-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

Just keep your eyes on the darling daisy in her new birthday out fit. Perhaps she can distract you from the fact that I just don't keep up around here like I should.

I sewed it from a couple of the Portobello Pixies patterns and she loves it so much she wore it to Disneyland. A very fine compliment indeed.

Keep the faith, Craft Faithful, I'll be back on the blog pony, soon.

Cave In At The Craft Cave

2009-05-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

Every thing's calm now, but I have been off line due to a major cave-in at the craft cave.
That last batch of thrift goodies kind of set off some sort of crafty, critical mass, stash avalanche. By the time I heard the rumbling, I was buried under 6 feet of exquisite thrifty craft treasure, I can't possibly live without...all quite shoddily stored, in an inadequate and badly lit space.

Before the end, I would be injured, and it would take Lassie, Oprah, and several volunteers from the staff at Martha Stewart Omnimedia before I could be located.

The buttons are now all sorted by color, into various adorable vintage tins. My life is perfect. I can die content.

It is amazing that if you take a full walk in closet and empty it into a full sized house, (Well, a very moderate full sized cabin, really.) the items will fill the entire house. And then comes the occasionally fun, and usually utterly confounding step, of categorizing and containing an entire house full of artsy and esoteric random "items of great potential". This is daunting.

If I got rid of it, where in the world would I ever find another one of.. whatever these are.

At this stage we lost Oprah, Lassie, and a good 1/3 of the MS gang. I was left with Little Miss "Good Things For Organizing", some little masochist from the recipes cross reference section, and a couple of interns from RISD. Basically, I was on my own.

I know it's really crazy but I kept the old labels on these boxes I thrifted.
They amuse me. They were driving the Martha Stewart Interns crazy.
( click image to enlarge)
I am assuming these were for correspondence, and not anything more horrifying.

However, in just under a week and with a minimum of actual blood loss, we were able to cram a sufficient amount of irreplaceable craft treasures back into the hole I love to hate, and this week the craft is back on.

It's true. I was really injured. and for those of you who are really paying attention That is my right index finger, otherwise known, by bloggers everywhere, as the typing finger.

Seriously though, I really learned a lot from going through all my huntings and gatherings. I learned
A) I'm totally lucky to have such a cool bunch of junk.
B) Organization is not my best attribute.
C) The New Vintage Wardrobe just has to come back, bigger and better than ever and...
D) If your stash doesn't make you stronger, it just might kill you.

this is the first of the new batch of patterns to be sewn.. stay tuned!

Thrift Thursday: Oh I'd Like To Know Where You Got The Notion

2009-04-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

And what to my wondering eyes should appear????

Oh Lordy... Did I ever Rock the New Vintage Thrift Boat, Baby!

50 vintage patterns! 25 cents each.

some in my size

a Tunic! 3 dresses with princess seam! Jackets, capes, handbags, Oh My!

and some little ones.

These I will want to swap. My nieces are getting too big!

(even Toys: Raggedy Ann and Winnie the Pooh circa 67...!!!)

And Oceans of beautiful Notions!

I love love love thrifting for Notions. It is so great to get a zipper for 5 or 10 cents instead of a buck or two.

and the packaging is really fun to admire

my what big eyes you have... and big hooks too!

And the joy of vintage buttons is almost beyond compare.

Extra super thrill for the ones still on cute cards!

There are a few items that are risky. Elastic and bias tapes that have been improperly stored are sometime brittle. But usually they are so cheap they are worth the risk.

And patterns aren't always complete... But some of them are worth it just for the envelopes alone.

This whole beautiful bunch of patterns and notions were from just 2 trips to the thrift store.
If you go thrifting, ask if they have a craft section. You never know what you might find!

Now my biggest question is: what do I sew first!?!

Go On, Get Your Thrift On!

Kiss For Luck,
Betty

Sweaters to Sweden and some sewing

2009-04-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

I have been sewing, I swear!

Sometimes it seems like so long between respectable blog posts with actual finished projects in
them, But today I will deliver some proof that I still really do craft it up here in the cabin.

These little goodies have long been in the hands of their recipients.

This is yet another western shirt. This one was for my punk-rock college roommate, Sue. I just love her to death, and I'm so glad we are still friends after all these years. I love the way it came out. That is now the pattern I have repeated the most.

This little A line mod mini dress was out of Burda Magazine with embellishments inspired by a Japanese craft book called Buttons and Lace. I got the vintage bark cloth from Diana, my thrifting mentor. And the design was created especially for a very spunky 7 year old who lives in the big apple.

Ullis won the book and Needles... Hooray! Crazy about a crafty Svenska Flicka, any day of the week!

I am sorry I haven't been blogging more.
Last week I got toally caught up in making a new tutorial for Sew, Mama, Sew.
Big Big Thanks to anyone coming over from there and to all the great commenters.
You all rule!
I have a piping tutorial I'm working on and I hit the thrifty vintage sewing motherlode. I promise to reveal all! ( Of the thrift, that is.)
And I have some finished New Vintage Fun just waiting for a photoshoot.

And a special shout out to Susan and Mary B. who sent and left me messages that totally made my day!

Craft On, Craftstars,
Betty

Any New Vintage Knitters??? Up For Grabs!

2009-04-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

Well, the tomorrow I mentioned on my last post came and went, but here is the giveaway. At the thrift store, I found a great book of chunky vintage knitting patterns circa 1962 by Bernat! But I still don't have the skills, so holding on to this would be just plain wrong.

I'm with Milo... I also like the argyle.

So it's up for grabs! And I'm throwing in some big, pink, size 15 needles. All you need is the yarn!
Leave me a comment and I'll draw on Thursday!

what a darling couple.. and so cozy looking!

These patterns are all cute, a little bit kitschy, and as always here at the Craft Cabin, they are Kitten Approved.

Come on, you know you want it!!

Peace, Love and Snuggles,
Betty

Workbasket Wednesday: My Pincushion and their Sewing Gear

2009-04-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Time to put your creative caps on Ladies..

Oh I see Miss Workbasket March'55 already has hers on today!

Click on the pictures to enlarge the cute patterns and instructions below.
You can whip up some super spiffy sewing accessories in no time!

And an answer for the "how much cash do you need" lady?

Just how much do you have there little Mrs.?

I'm afraid I didn't do my workbook craft this week, but I did make a sewing accessory...

Yup, it's a very cute, but darn near non-fuctional scenic pincushion. All the little goodies are pins. Even the bunny is glued to a super big forming pin we used to nail into the forms to display tailored shirts, back in my former life.

The base is an orphaned, topless, Wedgewood sugarbowl...Thrifted, of course. Rescued Mohair felt, scavenged stuffing, and vintage millinery and a tiny wooden bunny that I finally found a use for. I painted him. That was fun.

Anyhooo, I plan to be hoppin' down your bunny trail with more fun tomorrow with a Thrift Thursday giveaway!

My all your Fevers be Spring Fevers,
Betty

New Vintage Wardrobe Project #21: The Indoor Outdoor Personality Jacket

2009-04-03T11:00:00.001-07:00

What we have here is Simplicity 6217 from 1965. One of the few "designer" patterns I have.

I put it together from a couple of yards of indoor out door upholstery fabric that I got off of a remnants table, locally. It adds the extra value of being fade proof and mildew resistant.
So very handy for a forest dweller!

This was my first suit jacket and I did modify the design a little to add the single large button at the neck. That would have looked bad with the floor length skirt ensemble but since mine was made to wear with the linen shirt I made and jeans... It worked perfectly for me.

I have to say I love this jacket. I wear it all the time. The heavy fabric was a little trickier to sew. Actually the sewing was fine. It was the turning and pressing that caused the challenges.
I definitely put my tailor's ham and my sleeve board through their paces getting the lines right. Because of that, this has been on my "to do pile" since last summer. But it's in the closet now!
And I can't wait to do my next suit!
My new trick was used to help highlight the large vintage button . I did my first bound button hole using the instructions from Sally Stitch.

And I did my second full lining installation. I am really starting to appreciate the beauty of linings. First, there are practically no seam treatments needed on a fully lined jacket, and second, there is nothing like adding a really pretty lining to make the indoor-outdoor spring jacket super deluxe... Which is after all, my very favorite flavor.

Thrift Thursday: Kokeshi Rescue

2009-04-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

This sweet little baby was face down in the November mud at a yard sale in Jamestown, CA.
She was even a little bit moldy. She'd been out there awhile.

I brought her home and have now, 5 months later, cleaned her up, repainted her original design, and given her a new hair stick.

I think she likes the way she looks.

Tutorial Tuesday: Modern Architecture Dollhouse

2009-03-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

I love this pretty house- on- stilts.
It looks like it popped off the pages of Dwell Magazine.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Oh, will somebody build me this doll house?
And an extra room on my real house for all my toys?
I know this is a bit of a cheater tutorial. Offering only plans, and not even original plans at that... ( Sunset Books, 1973)

But if there is a chance that just one person might make this dollhouse, and might send me photos so I can live vicariously...it is worth my questionable blog habits.
Until that time, Please do forgive me.

Your Devoted Playmate,
Betty

Workbasket Wednesday: Pansy Faced Pin

2009-03-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Greetings Bloglanders!

Here is the next installment in our Workbasket Wednesday Feature here at BBI.
Buckle your helmets and set your way-back machines to 1956!

don't forget! click on the image and it gets bigger and better for printing!

While I didn't quite follow the actual directions ( Umm.. it's really not in my nature. I was born to improvise.) I did make a wee wooly pansy. It photographed a bit more austere than I had hoped,(the outer petals are purple...not black...) since I planned to recommend it a Handmade Holiday Easter Craft. A basket stuffer, as it were. While I doubt most of my young lady friends would put on a lapel pin.. They are pretty committed to their hair clips.

I have submitted it for Bunny Approval. He looks dubious.

slightly puckered puritan pansy

Do, let me know if you make one!

Big Hugs from The Bunny Trail,
Betty