If I Had My Own Blue Box:

Today’s video finishes up the fan box started yesterday.

This weekend we are making boxes to hold fans. The video is split in two parts….

Small box dimensions:

• Bottom and lid – 3″×8″
• Sides – 2″×8″
• Ends – 2″×3″
• Flap – approx 1.5″×8″
• Finished box – approx 8″×3″×2″

Large box dimensions:

• Bottom and lid – 3″×10″
• Sides – 2″×10″
• Ends – 2″×3″
• Flap – approx 1.5″×10″
• Finished box – approx 10″×3″×2″

For this first Follow Friday, I want to introduce you to Micheal Twitty, author of The Cooking Gene and the blog Afroculinaria. His latest post is a nice introduction to his heart-filled writing style and the evolving story if The Cooking Gene.

Today is Juneteenth. Please take some time to learn about the importance of this day:

• Celebrating Junteenth: Commemoratiing African American Freedom
• “Freedom on the Horizon” This is a performance on Facebook. Follow the link in the description to the performance.
• A discussion on the legal history of enslavement.

Well, today’s video did not go as planned. For the first show’n’tell, I grabbed a box I thought would be easy. When I opened the little paper covered box, I was surprised to see the face inside. I instantly thought of the rebranding announced yesterday for the Aunt Jemima syrup. I thought this was done years ago. So, I was simultaneously surprised it hadn’t been changed earlier and glad it finally was. Looking at the box closer, I saw the lid and bottom had the opposite sides of a topsy turvy doll. I say it made me feel a little better. But, not much. Those dolls have always been unsettling. The whole thing of having a head at each end was/is just plain creepy. The stories I’ve heard over the years just make them more bothersome.

I invite you to learn more about racism in advertising through this virtual tour of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at the Ferris State University.

Resources on Topsey Turvey Dolls

• “The Topsy-Turvy Doll: An Upside Down History” The New York State Historical Society.
• The Racial Symbolism of the Topsy-Turvy Doll” The Atlantic.
• This paper cem up in my search. While not specifically on topsy-turvey dolls, it gives a better understanding of the racial stereotypes in black dolls and advertising. This is the pdf link from the Google search. I need to back track the source for more info amd context. “Racialized Black Dolls: Compilations from Catalogs and Advertisements“
• Also added to my reading list: ”
  Black Girls, White Girls, American Girls: Slavery and Racialized Perspectives in Abolitionist and Neoabolitionist Children’s Literature” by
  Brigitte Fielder

In today’s video, I talk about how I came to write Fanciful Utility and share some of the smaller projects in my Etsy shop.

Today I introduce Violet and talk about my doll collecting.

Given the seasonal transition today represents, as abstract as it feels, I am reflecting on the state of projects.

Okay, so, I sorta just did this with my UFOs list. Well, it is really on my mind. I keep resorting them in my mind.

I needed to go back to my February Reflections to see what the list looked like then

Much of this is on hold or fallen off my attention list. The pink plaid parasol became the brown parasol, which is in progress. The wool petticoat and modern silk bag are complete.

My list of projects has evolved with the circumstances…..

Works in Progress

• Brown parasol
• White sunbonnet
• Birdcage Windsor Chair

Projects in the Works

• Modern dress from a sari
• Modern robe a la bed gown from a sari
• Pink sunbonnet

Projects in the Wings

• Ticking embroidery
• Millinery for me
• Leafy fabric quilt

Projects in My Head

• 1830s dress (this has moved up in the list of interests)
• Crazy straw hat
• Check kerchief
• Stripe fichu

Welcome to the first day of the Summer Video Series!

Today, I introduce the new series and talk about how I got started making millinery.

The Summer Video Series will have a daily format with these theme days:

• Millinery Monday – A variety of milliney topics
• Tiny Tuesday – Sharing some of my dolls and doll projects
• Whimsey Wednesday – Talking about and making pen-wipers, pincushions and such.
• Thursday – Show’n’Tell
• Follow Friday – Bloggers, vloggers, artisans, and merchants you should know.
• Weekend – Projects or topics to be determined.

I plan to title each day’s video post with “Summer Video Series” and a sorta subtitle. This way the series is easily searchable but each day is more easily identifiable. The videos will likely stay numbered over in YouTube.

The easiest way to get daily notifications of new videos and post is to subscribe to this blog. There are two options to the right (or below on some mobile devices.) One option is to subscribe through a WordPress Blog Feed. The other option is to subscribe via email. I know some people are following my videos in YouTube. I understand that may be easier. But, I worry they may miss some content found in each blog post such as additional photos, descriptions, notes, and patterns or templates.

The Facebook groups will remain the same. I may update the name.

I reserved a time to take a stroll through the Genesee Country Village and Museum this morning.

Members are currently invited to reserve a time to walk through the village while the buildings are still closed. Guests are asked to wear a mask, as are all staff. Friendly signs remind us to social distance and not linger or crowd in respect for each other.

I recorded several short Instagram friendly video clips I thought people would enjoy. While it would be nice to combine them all, I haven’t renewed my WeVideo account. These are hand held videos while I walk. So, you hear my mask breathing and footsteps.

Around the village square along Plank Street

The village square from The corner

Up Church Street

Through the orchard toward Jones

Behind Hyde

By Shaker towards the Oxen

The oxen…

Looking up Hill Street

Down to the farm

Back up to the square

A stop at the not-millinery steps….

And a few other photos.

(the squirrel and chipmunk are proof I’ve been inside too long.)

As I mentioned in my video, I had this idea that the pandemic pause would bs a good time to finish up some UFOs*. I was dillusional. I just couldn’t concentrate for the first several weeks. Small projects were the extent of my concentration level.

This left me with the UFOs of the past, um, year… Plus some new UFOs. I am defermined to get some of these completed. Here is a roll call of the UFOs:

Birdcage chair – This project is still in the same state it was in March. The chair needs the pegs cut off, sanding, and painting. I still need to buy paunt2. The chair has done an excellent job holding video materials though.

Wool undersleeves – These were meant for this past winter. I wanted a pair of quick undersleeves I could wear for work. Well, the certainly were not quick. These were finished Monday night during a Zoom meeting.

Wool petticoat – This was a project from December. I managed to get two of the stripes of ribbon on in March, each taking a full evening. It is currently on my lap getting set to the waistband.

Liberty – This doll was started earlier on in the pause. I decided between a fortune teller doll and a patriotic doll. I sorta think the fortune teller could have taken a bizarre twist if I had started that. Liberty’s body, underclothes, and dress have been made for a while. I finished her tiara this morning. She still needs her sash, banner, and tbd other accessories.

Parasol – This project sat for a year, took some turns, started out strong….. And has sat over there on the quilt rack for two weeks. The ruched trim is pinned in place over the lace. I just have to stitch it down.

Three soft crowns – I have been very slowly working on a trio of soft crown bonnets, each of which were to be worn by friends and clients during local July events. I’ve been struggling with creativity, making thier progress delayed. These must get done soon.

Sunbonnet(s) – I don’t know if these technically should count at UFOs since the Sunbonnet Challenge is currently underway. Bit, just for accountability, I am including them. One is a white, semi-sheer. The other is a plaid wool.

Bag or Blanket – This is a modern fabric project that I need to include since the fabric was purchased with the intent of being a “Pause” project. The pretty leafy fabric just cant2 decide which it wants to be.

I think that is every thing….. I think.

*UFOs are UnFinished Objects.

UPDATE

wool petticoat