Corner View: Repurposed

This week's Corner View topic is to show something in our home that has been repurposed (changed from it's original use, to serve a new purpose. Since I've been using it quite a bit this week, I will share with you my way of organizing sewing and crafting supplies.



This was a two sided tool box, of the sort meant to hold nails, screws, nuts, and bolts. Although, I do now have two different size brass screws stored in the box, mostly the box holds other sight;y more "girly" things.

One side is mostly sewing supplies:



While the other side is full of odds and ends for doll and jewelry making:




The reason I was using the things in the box this week, was that I was working on my first big leather project. I have made little things out of leather in the past, like boots and coats for the bendy dolls or helping Blaze make his moccasins, but this was the first thing I have made for me. I bought two pieces of deer hide at the Medieval Faire and spent the past few days turning it into a messenger bag.

I completed it Monday:



A chain across the back of the bag for hanging useful things:



The left corner of the front flap:



Inside pockets:

Happy 181st Birthday Jules Verne

It was just a happy coincidence that the night before Jules Vernes birthday, we finished reading A Journey to the Center of the Earth from the Great Illustrated Classics books.

I had purchased a copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as an impulse purchase at Michael's craft store back in December, because it was only $3. Blaze loved it and our bedtime stories have been filled with the adventures of Verne since then. After 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, we read Around the World in 80 Days, and most recently A Journey to the Center of the Earth. The former book was a little dry for Blaze's taste, but the latter certainly kept his attention.







I think I should go bake a cake. Why don't I have a cake pan that looks like the Nautilus?


While the cake is baking, here is a silly video for your entertainment:

Favorite Craft Inspiration Sites

While I'm keeping myself very busy with my various sewing projects, I thought I'd share some of my favorite sites for finding fun projects. These are not the sites I go to for homeschooling projects, they are the ones I look at to find projects for ME.

One Pretty Thing ( the link is the pink square found on my sidebar) is an ever changing collection of projects, covering every possible subject.

Threadbanger has sewing and home decorating ideas for people living on a budget. There are videos, as well as blog entries.

Ruffles and Stuff (thank you Sandra for letting me know about this one) has tutorials for simple clothing modifications that can turn any plain old outfit into a stylish thing of beauty.


Be Creative and Have Fun!


If anyone has any great sites to add to this list, please let me know.

Alexander Graham Bell

This week, we read the following books about Alexander Graham Bell:







We also assembled the small telephone-shaped intercom system that came in the back of the World of Inventors, Alexander Graham Bell book.



This kit was a lot easier to assemble than the kinetiscope that came with the Edison book, and it works very well. I've been getting so many calls from Blaze that I understand completely why Bell refused to put a phone in his workshop, for fear of constant interruptions.

How to make Grand Marnier Panna Cotta and a brass cake stand to serve it on (Corner View: Sweets)

Grand Marnier Panna Cotta

1 Cup of buttermilk

2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin

2 Cups heavy cream

1/2 Cup sugar

2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier, orange liqueur

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon orange zest


1. Mix buttermilk and gelatin in a small mixing bowl and set aside to soften.

2. In a saucepan, combine everything except the orange zest. To avoid having to strain the bits of orange peel out of the liquid later on, I placed the orange zest in a tea strainer and used that to stir the liquids in the pan as they heated.

3. Bring the ingredients in the sauce pan to a simmer, then remove from heat.

4. Add buttermilk mixture to the sauce pan and whisk until all the gelatin has dissolved.

5. For dainty individual serving, divide the mixture equally between silicone muffin pans, or a larger family size panna cotta can be made by pouring all of the mixture into a larger decorative mold. I did a little of both; I made 3 individual heart shaped panna cottas, and had enough mixture left over to make one larger one in a copper mold.

6. Refrigerate 2 1/2- 3 hours.

7. To unmold, carefully go around the edges with a small sharp knife to loosen.

Serve with fresh fruit.






The larger panna cotta was served on the new cake stand I just made.
A couple weeks ago I found a brass candle holder at a Goodwill thrift store that I thought would make a nice pedestal for a cake stand, if only I could find just the right tray to attach on top.



A few days ago I found that perfect tray at the Haven Hospice Resale shop.



A little strong water-proof glue later, and I have a pretty brass cake stand.






If you would like to see what other sweet treats are being offered by the other sweet participants of Corner View, please visit Spain Daily and all the blogs listed on her sidebar.

Great Inventors: Alexander Graham Bell

This week we are continuing our study of great inventors, by learning about Alexander Graham Bell. I realize that in chronological order, he should have probably been taught before Thomas Edison, but I had left that choice up to Blaze.

We started this unit by watching this cartoon movie about Bell ( it's part of the same series as the Thomas Edison movie):

The Mud-ieval Faire

Today was opening day for The Hoggetown Medieval Faire. It poured rain, but that didn't stop us from going and having a great time.



There are advantages to going to the Faire in the rain. There are no lines to stand in and, for once, I didn't get sun burned.

The hem of my skirt tried to wick up all the water in the faire grounds, but there ended up being plenty left for everyone else, too.



I wore the same costume I wear every year, but Blaze went as a pirate this year.









Fire in the rain.


Poor sad soggy horse.




Watching the living chess board:


There were some indoor places to go when it rained very hard. There were lots of merchants' tents ( the real reason I love going to the Faire) , entertainment tents, and a dining tent.





The middle-ages was not the only time period represented at the faire, nor was Earth the only planet.



Leaving the faire proved to be a bit problematic. We were the 9th car to get stuck in the mud and have to be towed out, but the tow truck driver assured us that we had made it farther than anyone else before getting stuck. The 10th car was already stuck, long before we were towed out.




The Faire will be continuing tomorrow and next weekend, with a special day next Friday for school kids.