A special thank you to K and E for assisting me in drawing the winner of the Fanciful Utility Thank You Give-Away.
The winner is…..
Duchess!!!
Thank you all for entering my very first give-away. I will get Duchess’s Stash Enhancer packaged up for the post.
I hope everyone has enjoyed a safe Thanksgiving!
During the past week I’ve been enjoying making these cute sewing boxes. They are based on an original French sewing box that was about twice the size. My boxes are 4″ long and 1 1/2″ deep.
With the exception of the red stripe, each box is made from one of the fabrics in my Fanciful Utility Give-Away. If you haven’t had a chance to enter, be sure to do so. The drawing is tomorrow.
Each case can be made from a 6″ by 20″ piece of fabric. This means you can get two out of a 6″ cut of yardage or three out of a fat quarter. They are constructed over pasteboard using the same techniques in FanU. The ribbon at the top is a half inch silk. They close with a double set of lids that fold in. The one in the top photo on the right has a little pocket. I’ve been listing them on Etsy, where they disappear very quickly.
I’m sure you are wondering about the post title. Well, you know how sometimes you have an idea but need a nudge to actually get it done? This is one of those ideas – Showing what actually fits in these sewing boxes or cases. The case I’ve been making is the same size as the center box in the two structured sewing cases in Fanciful Utility. You can fit quite a bit inside these cases. Take a look:
In this box a pair of scissors, two thread winders, a thimble, needle-case and bodkins easily fit. There is plenty of room for wax, a pincushion, pencil, ruler, etc.
More examples to expand on yesterday. This set includes several from Canada. Keep that in mind.
This is a painting I don’t have the title for worth looking at: Painting by Mari ten Kate
A German painting: Painting by Johannes (Hans) Gabriel Jentzsch
Be sure to see this blog as well.
Here is some information on the artist that follows: Blog page: Life in snowy North America
This stems from yesterday’s post. Doll size straw plait bonnet take #2 fits Jo’s head and hair just right. I look forward to decorating her bonnet. I’ll be making Mae’s next. Working with her wide hair while getting a 50 shape will be an interesting challenge.
On Friday I came home to a box on our porch. Inside was something that made me squeal…… 4mm Swiss straw plait.
I had told myself I would not do any millinery until after Christmas. Well, there sat that plait, screaming “play with me, play with me!”
Oh, how it teased!
I just couldn’t take it anymore. I cut off a length of it. Soaked it. And, began to coil the tip of a small doll bonnet.
Ah, finally, a plait in the right proportion to look right to me.
The plait was quite nice to work with. I learned quickly not to work it with my nails as it would split. This plait is actually the width of some single whole straw strips. I sewed in to the evening Friday. I sewed while watching cheese holiday romance movies on Saturday. I wrapped up the last of it as soon as we got back from shopping today.
As I finished, I became more and more excited about just how cute it looked. I kept showing it to DB. It was so cute. Check it out:
Mae was finally going to have her own bonnet.
I got Mae and her box down. Sat on the floor all excited. Unpacked her. Put the bonnet on her head….. and frowned. Porcelain doll hair does not squish. Her hair is so wide, her head is a full 2 inches wider than Jo’s.
Small pout. Okay, Jo can have this one. Get Jo out…..
Again, porcelain doll hair does not squish.
Jo’s hair is big and goes higher on her head by about a quarter-inch.
Pout.
See, here is the problem:
The hair pushed the back of the bonnet up, forcing the cheektabs back.
So, I’ve started another bonnet with the needed changes
This Thanksgiving I want to say “Thank you” to all my Fanciful Utility Fans with a Give-Away!
The winner will receive this “Stash Enhancer” of reproduction fabrics for their future Fanciful Utility projects. The “Stash Enhancer” includes an assortment of period fabrics from my local quilt shop, Chestnut Bay, and a few other things I happen to add between now and the end of the give-away.
How To Enter
There will be 3 ways to enter. You can have up to 3 entries. Here is how to enter:
Added: The 4th way to enter share this Give-Away on your blog or website. Remember to link how you shared here.
When to Enter
Now!
Through Thanksgiving morning.
The Drawing and The Winner
I will draw the winner (likely using the old-fashioned paper method) on Thanksgiving. I will announce the winner that evening right here.
I rushed back to town after work to make it to an estate sale. Once there, I found they only take cash. Sadness.
With the little bit of cash (and every last bit of change) I was able to pick up two things.
This pin
And a the first piece of my 20th century obsession, Rosepoint by Steubenville, pre-silly decal-esque images.
Please look forward to a fun post coming soon.
Have you wondered what is within the pages of
Fanciful Utility: Victorian Sewing Cases and Needle-books?
Whether you call them sewing cases, work-pockets or housewifes, with templates and instructions for 68 projects, the possibilities are nearly endless as you pull from you stash and scraps.
Here are some examples of the pieces that you can make with the directions in Fanciful Utility.
If you have yet to own your own copy of Fanciful Utility, please visit ESC Publishing to order your copy today.
This past month, The Intrepid: Discovering Lincoln’s Balloon Corps premiered on PBS. The video has now been released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
You can order your copy from the Genesee Country Village & Museum.
Do you remember the velvet boot pincushion from the Agricultural Fair? I made a template for it to go along with Fanciful Utility.
This is a particularly fun needle-book to make. The original was a pin wheel done in an off white velvet embroidered with red.
Click for PDF template
I happen to think this boot shape, as well as the bell shape from Fanciful Utility, would make lovely tree ornaments.
Of course, I had to try trimming one out with some fur.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
