HOW TO...
-- Make a no-sew Princess Hat
-- Make a necklace from a chandelier prism
-- Stitch a Victorian Christmas ornament from vintage textiles
-- And enjoy saying, "I made it myself!"
-- Make a no-sew Princess Hat
-- Make a necklace from a chandelier prism
-- Stitch a Victorian Christmas ornament from vintage textiles
-- And enjoy saying, "I made it myself!"
Three Ways With...
an antique chandelier prism
Hang it from a chain for a pretty pendant; tie it on a Christmas package; or simply dangle it like an icicle from your tree.
Some quick dollhouse crafting
Make a Colonial-style fireplace from a wooden box. You will need:
one wooden box without a cover
some black paint
some tiny "iron" pots from the miniatures section
a chopstick or slim dowel
beach pebbles
and a glue gun or super-glue.
Paint the inside of the box and the chopstick-dowel black. Trim the chopstick/dowel to fit inside the box. String the pots on the dowel, then secure it inside the box. Cover the outside with pebbles, let dry and place in your Colonial kitchen.
one wooden box without a cover
some black paint
some tiny "iron" pots from the miniatures section
a chopstick or slim dowel
beach pebbles
and a glue gun or super-glue.
Paint the inside of the box and the chopstick-dowel black. Trim the chopstick/dowel to fit inside the box. String the pots on the dowel, then secure it inside the box. Cover the outside with pebbles, let dry and place in your Colonial kitchen.
Even quicker:
Make a candle and candlestick from a birthday-cake candle and a round silver bead.
An old scarf with fringe can make a pair of "velvet" drapes.
And really, who wouldn't want a butter "churn" made out of a wooden butter mold stamp?
Not so easy, but worth it: making a dollhouse settee from a strawberry rake. First I scrubbed it and stained it, then glued a medallion on the front, then I made a cushion from light blue brocaded fabric. It has pride of place in Mrs. Cole's morning room.
The No-Sew Princess Hat.
Make a royal statement in the no-sew princess hat, for your little princess or yourself! You will need:
1 large piece of foam or stiffened felt
1 yard of something silky and shiny
1 spool of wide satin ribbon
Several pieces of pastel gauze or an old scarf
Glue gun
Stapler
Sharp scissors
1 large piece of foam or stiffened felt
1 yard of something silky and shiny
1 spool of wide satin ribbon
Several pieces of pastel gauze or an old scarf
Glue gun
Stapler
Sharp scissors
1. Fold your felt/foam into a cone-like shape. Leave a hole at the top.
2. Trim the ends to be even.
3. Staple it into a cone at top and bottom.
2. Trim the ends to be even.
3. Staple it into a cone at top and bottom.
Below:
1. Cut five or six strips of the silky stuff, 18-20 inches long, 5-6 inches wide.
2. Coat the cone in the silky material. Poke it down into the hole at the top, fold it under and use a few judicious staples at the bottom. Repeat until cone is covered.
1. Cut five or six strips of the silky stuff, 18-20 inches long, 5-6 inches wide.
2. Coat the cone in the silky material. Poke it down into the hole at the top, fold it under and use a few judicious staples at the bottom. Repeat until cone is covered.
3. When your hat is covered with silk, satin or whatever, cut strips of satin ribbon and cover the places where the strips overlap, or where they gap. Hot-glue the ribbon inside the top and inside the bottom. Keep until all the joining spaces between strips are covered.
Above right: When you have all the ribbons attached, run a final strip of ribbon horizontally along the bottom of the hat, and fold it inside. Secure with hot glue or superglue.
Hot-glue your gauze or old scarf to the inside of the top, to make a trailing veil. And rule with style!
At left, my sister-in-law with the hat she made for her granddaughter this spring.
Hot-glue your gauze or old scarf to the inside of the top, to make a trailing veil. And rule with style!
At left, my sister-in-law with the hat she made for her granddaughter this spring.
A bench from a salt-and-pepper set
Here’s
a fun project that I came upon by accident.
I was browsing in an antique store when I saw this 1940s-style souvenir
of Franklin, New Hampshire. It was
shaped like a bench, with two wooden salt shakers in the seat.
It said
“doll bench” to me, and I immediately removed the shakers. I still needed to
fill the two holes and cover up the picture of Franklin. I sewed two cushions out of burlap, covered
the holes and the sign, and I had a settee!
I think it was a pretty good save, and will go nicely in a dollhouse parlor. I think I’m going to use it in my Colonial Tavern. Now I just need to think of something to do with the salt and pepper shakers.
I think it was a pretty good save, and will go nicely in a dollhouse parlor. I think I’m going to use it in my Colonial Tavern. Now I just need to think of something to do with the salt and pepper shakers.