You decide…
I might be trying to distract myself today.
Ornaments for the 19th Century Inspired Tree
Are you looking for ornaments to make this weekend?
My blog stats suggest several people are looking for 19th century ornament ideas.
Over the last couple weekends, many guests commented on how several of 19th century gifts I had displayed
would make nice ornaments. How right they are!
Check out this short video for a look at some of the items:
Several of these projects are available in my Etsy Shop or on my Blogs for Free:
The Pillow Pin Ball can be made up in pretty silks and velvets or holiday cottons for a tree ornament. Put bows, bells, beads, or tassels on the corners. In my Etsy Shop
The Paper Pieced Pin Ball looks great in silk or cotton. Bead the edges or corners instead of using pins. The directions in my Etsy Shop include other combinations for ornaments.
The Slipper Pin Cushion (not in video) in my Etsy shop can make a very pretty ornament. If hung from the heel,
the toe can hold a small gift.
The Parasol Pen Wiper makes a particularly pretty ornament when beaded with clear glass beads that
catch the lights. – Directions are available in this blog post and video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDCY1dmGZ8w
https://annaworden.com/2020/05/06/community-cast-video-day-54/
The Balloon Bag can be made with pretty silks or holiday cottons. As an ornament, the Balloon Bag can hold gifts as well. Directions are available in this post and a two part video:
https://annaworden.com/2020/04/23/community-cast-video-day-41/
The large stocking needle-book has a great shape that can work as a large stocking ornament. It can be made as a single layer, or made to open like a book with photos or a special message inside. The template is available in this project post: https://annaworden.com/2019/11/01/2019-fanu-holiday-project/
I happen to be a big fan of putting hearts on a tree. So, of course I think the heart pin cushions from An American Girls Book make great ornaments. I included directions in this hearts post:
Last Minute Gift Idea: A Hair Kit
Did December get away from you? Do you need to get a last minute, 19th century appropriate gift before next weekend?
I recommend:
A Hair Kit!
Check out this quick video that looks at what can go into a basic hair kit:
You can pick up the items for a nice hair kit in two stops: Your local craft store like Joann’s or Micheals and your local pharmacy or Sally’s beauty supply.
From you craft store, pick up a paper mache box, small wood box, or period appropriate paper covered box.
From you local pharmacy, pick up the following:
- A packet of plain hair nets
- A couple packs of faux tortoise hair pins
- A pack of hair elastics in black
- A pack of faux tortoise hair combs
- A gift bag and tissue paper to wrap everything in.
Open the packages (except the hair elastics) and put them in the box. You can wrap each item in tissue paper to make unwrapping even more special. Wrap the box in tissue paper, or reproduction fabroc, and place in the gift bag. You can also add a gift certificate for a pomade or a reproduction hair comb to the kits.
Holiday Open House, second weekend
Tired just hit me and hit hard…..
Today, I sat in a stream of sunshine as I worked on a hat for the Bonbon Boy and a garland of candies for him to hold.
Peppermint candies circle his silk conical hat as a series of wrapped bonbons radiate upwards. I was quite pleased with the fit of the hat that slides onto his head without the need for ties.
His garland is a simple string of gold, silver, and copper wrapped bonbons. I had pictured a second garland of peppermints, but found such a garland needed a silver bead to seperate the candies. This may happen next week.
His lack of hands and feet was a concern to several young visitors this week. I am picturing a pair of mittens to solve part of this worry. His feet may need a pair of boots, which are a bigger challenge.
Other than his second garland plus hands and feet, which may need to wait until the right mittens and boots are found, Bennie the Bonbon Boy is nearly finished. I will finish up the last current detail next Sunday.
A Quick Little Booklet
I wanted to have one more little book of handmade gift ideas for the holiday open house program, where I am talking about holiday gifts. I already have reprints of a few other books to display. I just love these two articles from St. Nicholas Magazine: “100 Christmas Presents, and How to Make Them” from December, 1875, and “A Budget of Home-Made Christmas Gifts” from November, 1877.
https://youtube.com/shorts/E3zMH6HoYRM?feature=share
There were a couple, um speed bumps, in making this little book. I had transcribed the 1875 article and began laying it out. I had pictured it with a nice cover, printed on cover stock. The cover stock I thought I had. When I discovered I did not have the coverstock, the idea deflated for me. I printed the 1875 and 1877 as they were in the original publications; shorter, easier. Then went about figuring out what might make an okay cover. Turns out the taller paper grocery bags only have printing on one side, leaving enough paper for a cover. I sewed each section together, then the sections together and the cover on. Since my original editions do not have the covers and the covers for each magazine is lost when bound, I created covers which were glued onto the brown cover. (I anticipate finishing the transcribed booklet when I have a coverstock or nice marbled paper for a cover.)
Both articles give insight into child crafts and gift giving, but also into a few other life details such as wall shields and toiletry habits.
Handmade Gifts for the Holidays
This is a quick video of the samples for this month’s Holiday Open House.
- Pin pockets
- Workpocket aka pocket of pockets
- Parasol Needle-book
- Pen-wipers: parasol, doll head, cat, elephant, frozen charlotte
- Doll pin cushion
- Woven ribbon pin cushion
- Strawberry bookmark
- Heart pin cushions
- Oval pinkeep
- Corded pin balls
- Pillow pin ball
- Paper pieced pin balls
- Pool holder
- Stocking needle-book
- Velvet embroidered needle-book
- Segemented pin cushion
- Tiolet pin cushions
Holiday Reminder: Shop Closing for Shipping Friday, December 10th
This includes all shipable items: Millinery, cats, ornaments, sewing accessories, and pen wipers.
Only digital items will be available through the end of the year.
Retirement Announcement!
After having a conversation last night*, I realized my original Quilted Winter Hood Pattern is now a decade old.
Wow! Time flies.
My first Quilted Winter Hood Pattern was the first pattern I released publicaly. Initially published in print form in 2011, this winter hood got me through a very difficult time. I wrote the pattern while we were “living” on an air mattress in a spare room filled with boxes. The winter hoods I created using this pattern literally paid the bills and got us through. Beyond the financial aspects, this winter hood kept me connected, kept me researching, and kept me creative, while I was emotionally shut down during the situation.
In the past decade, this hood has kept many heads warm across the country and around the globe.
I have decided it is now time to allow my first Quilted Winter Hood Pattern to retire. At the end of the year, December 31st, the pattern will leave my shop.
At some point in the future I will develop a new quilted winter hood pattern focused on the many quilted hoods in my collection.
November Reflections
From Hoods to Holidays, November was packed.
At the beginning of the month, I was focused on the launch of two new winter hood patterns: The Wadded Hood Workbook and The Princess Capote Directions.
I was also focused on holiday shop offerings, both historical and whimsical. I am super excited that all but one of my gift filled pockets sold out so quickly. I am completely smitten with my wool cats.
Each weekend of November, I shared a crafty video over on Don’t Paint the Cat for a A Little Whimsy for the Holidays series. Check those out here.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, I left the 21st century behind for a weekend of 19th century Preparing for Winter. I had a great time talking with visitors about winter clothes.
I was delighted to find, to finally find, the edition of St Nicholas’s Magazine I had been trying to find at a price I could afford. It came just in time for December’s programs. Video
This brings us to looking ahead to December. It has been a while, a long while, since I’ve had a month scheduled this busy. I have the mundane things of getting new glasses, various appointments, and getting the heating /cooling system for the car flushed. Heat is a necessity in NY. I have the seasonal festivities of community parties. I have three weekends of Yuletide Open House where I will be talking about handmade gifts. Oh, and I have work too.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 