Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Mysteries and Mayhem

the handprint belongs to the recipient of my project
I have had sew much fun just looking at everyone's Nancy Drew Projects! I have been sew amazed at the talent and creativity shown by everyone! Detective Samm and Detective Carol have done a fantastic job keeping us amateur sleuths in line! I think they deserve a promotion!



As I was puzzling over what to make for this hop, I started thinking of mystery stories in general. Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, The Three Investigators, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames, The Dana Girls were all a part of my childhood, and I have a niece that loves to read as much as her Aunt Bobbie. Her favorite books seem to be the same ones I loved.  I knew I was making her a pillow, but I had no CLUE what pattern I would use. Footprints, clues, hidden treasure, creepy passages, old clocks, lilacs – nothing was clicking and then I had a hunch of my own!

“Read read read Thats all I can say”
Carolyn Keene, The Secret of the Old Clock




A Question Mark!  Every mystery starts with a question- Who Done it? The Three Investigators use the Question Mark as their symbol because “they stand for questions unanswered, riddles unsolved, mysteries unexplained." I couldn’t find any patterns on line or even a picture of a quilt with a question mark so I made up my own. 
 I picked up a few clues from my fellow sleuthy bloggers.  Every mystery has clues- footprints and .......
FINGERPRINTS
so I tried my hand  at FMQing some fingerprints into my quilt


I had to play with the color so the  fingerprints would show up in the picture.


Another thing a good mystery has is a secret, whether it is a secret passageway or a secret compartment-

"After Nancy had discovered Fay on deck, and Captain Easterly  had been sure he would not return, the thief had made two visits to the clipper and hidden in the secret compartment of the wardrobe"

the Secret in the Pillowcase
So of course my project had to have a secret compartment too (mine is not as cool as the books behind the painting that we saw earlier this hop, but it is hard to see.) Since this pillow is meant for a reader and that reader has glasses, I added a secret glasses compartment on the back of the pillow- if she is anything like her Aunt Bobbie, she needs her glasses right at hand.



Abby’s Birthday was the 3rd of March, but I didn’t have her present quite finished- we took pictures anyway!
Here is the finished project (without the pillow form)

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."
— Walt Disney
 







Abby forgot to put Samantha's coat on her.
And then I sat her in the snow! :)

I was taking a blog reading break during my Nancy Drew project and Amy, over at Naptime Crafters was hosting Dressing Up Dolly. Mom 4 Reals shared a tutorial for a book bag for an AG Doll- I had a few “too small” HST’s  and squares leftover from the pillow top so I put them together and made Abby’s doll, Samantha a book bag.  What is a book bag with out books? I didn't have access to a printer so I wrote up some handwritten books. I used quotes from Abby's favorite books: The Bible, Little Women and Nancy Drew. I have plans for an Anne of Green Gables books too.  I stitched the bindings on the books with my sewing machine.


My Camera has blink detection and after every picture of Samantha,
it said Blink Detected!
 Reminded me of a Trixie Belden Mystery-
 the case of the Blinking Eye

Abby said that Samntha LOVES her new books!
"They're just the right size!"
Like Madam Samm, I Love my coffee and I love tea too so when I came across a cup cozy in the midst of my sleuthing frenzy... I had to make one- Can't read a good  any book with out a cuppa -

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice





it fits my regular sized cup and...

I added a tab so it would fit through the handle
and be adjustable, however, it barely fits my big cup!  
I still need to sew the velcro on- the glue melts when the cup is hot!

Thank you for stopping by to see all my sleuthy projects- I hope you are having as much fun on this hop as I am! Be sure to hop over to my fellow detectives and see what they have come up with! I have a hunch you will love it!

Thursday, March 14, 2013 

Friday, March 15, 2013 

68 comments:

Judy B said...

Love all your Nancy Drew projects! Thank you for sharing.

sew.darn.quilt said...

Great quilt, Nancy would be proud!

Jenny said...

Great projects. So much fun! I love the little books you made for her doll, they are so precious

Alcea Rosea 31 said...

You have been so busy but I think you really enjoyed making all these wonderful projects. It has been so much fun finding new blogs to follow.

charlotte said...

Great projects. Thanks for sharing today.

Gill said...

What great projects!
Thank you for sharing!

Theresa said...

Super projects, love your pillow with the secret compartment.

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

Great projects! Nice ideas. Thanks for sharing.

krislovesfabric said...

Love your projects, thanks for sharing!

StitchinByTheLake said...

Your niece is one lucky girl - what a darling quilt! blessings, marlene

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

Wonderful projects! Thanks for sharing.

Jeanie said...

What great projects! Abby is a lucky young lady. Great sleuthing!

Mommarock said...

Fingerprints! What a great idea! Although I think most of my attempts at FMQ may be considered looking like fingerprints even though that is NOT what I am trying to make them look like LOL.

Just Quilt It said...

Great ND projects--love your quilt with the swirly fingerprints!

Lyndsey said...

Great projects and I love the swirly fingerprints such a great idea.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

very neat, different projects!!

Thearica said...

You sure got busy with your fabric! Love your projects!

apple blossom said...

great projects thanks for sharing

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Carol Swift said...

I love all the little additions to your quilt...pocket, fingerprint, and all! That little doll bag is priceless! Thanks for hopping with us. :O)

Chiska said...

I love your quilt and the doll book and book bag!

Sparky said...

I just love a mystery..and you had me there....great clues...great projects...

Catherine said...

Very nice project! Fingerprints are cool. Nicely done!

Agnes B. Bullock said...

BRAVO- love what you mad!

Michelle said...

Very nice project!

Linda C said...

I love the "case of the missing birthday present" Who has not had to wrap up a half done project or fabric along with a pattern just so the intended receiver would know you at least had tried to get it done? We always think we have more time to sew and craft than we do!

Well done and thank your lovely model for helping out her auntie.

Michele T said...

Wow! You sure were busy making projects... wonderful too! Thanks for sharing in the hop!! Love the secret compartment for the glasses!!

Quiltsmiles said...

I really love that AG book bag, how original!!

Barbara O. said...

Cute projects!

Linda said...

What great projects!Nancy Drew would be proud!

Vickie said...

Abby looks so proud of her present, she's a cutie !

Unknown said...

Ahh you did the books proud....love the kozy...have a wonderful day.

Tammy said...

Great projects. You have been as busy as a bee. The little books are awesome.

Domestic Bliss said...

oh my gosh... great projects! the pillow has good dramatic use of the fabrics... and the books for the AG doll... those are awesome
wonderful job on everything!!

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

Sweet projects.

The Slow Quilter said...

I was so caught up in the story and mystery clues from the finger prints to the hinded eyeglass pockets. All your projects are great. Thank you for sharing.

Teresa Quilts said...

Such cute projects! Great use of some awesome fabric!

Sallie said...

Love your projects! Thanks for sharing!

Laura said...

Your projects are very cute. thanks for the inspiration!

vicki said...

I really like all your projects. Thanks for sharing. vckise at gmail dot com

Vicki H said...

Love all your projects. What a wonderful idea for the doll books and bag.

Needled Mom said...

Great ideas and a nice job too. I love the fingerprints and secret door.

Kathy H said...

I have enjoyed seeing all of your mystery projects. Very cute.

Calicojoan said...

Oh my, is that fingerprint idea just not the best ever! Who'd a thunk! Nancy Drew and you, of course! :-)

Patty said...

I like your projects, but probably not as much as Abby and her doll. Great job.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you were certainly inspired to create so many projects. Nancy Drew is a far better role model than the fashion obsessed characters today.

Amy said...

Love your quilt and the secret compartment! The question mark is too cute.

jan said...

Great projects!! Thank you for sharing with us!!

My Sister Made Me Do It.... said...

What clever projects. thanks for participating in the Blog Hop!

thepiececorps said...

Adorable! and so are all your projects! Well Done! B-)

BizyStitches said...

Very adorable quilt and what a fun b'day gift. Thanks for sharing your blog in this fun hop.

Tricia said...

Fingerprints!! Just what Nancy needs to find to solve this mystery!! What a prefect B-Day Gift. Thank You for being a part of this hop and for sharing with all of us.

Sincerely,
Tricia

Britt-Inger said...

Thanks for sharing your lovely projects

Loves to Quilt said...

Great little projects. I love your cup holder. It seems that I am always burning my fingers on hot coffee!!

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle said...

Wonderful projects! I'm inspired to make a cup cozy for my regular mug....sew in velcro is just a great idea. I love ceramic mugs to drink from and the cozy will keep it warmer longer! The quilt is lovely with hidden pockets. Sweet little book bag for the doll.
Thanks for sharing.

Marcy said...

Fun projects! Love the secret pocket--great idea for this hop.

Cindy said...

Secret compartment on the back of the pillow....excellent!!! Love the idea. Great projects.

lori said...

U did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow so very cute

Unknown said...

Wonderful projects...great sleuthing! Thanks!

lori said...

FYI The Original Ghostwriter for Nancy Drew was...... Mildred Wirt Benson ....... there were many ghostwriters both men and women...

Corrie said...

Great job! Fun projects...lucky dolls.

sandra said...

Wonderful project well thought out, and lucky niece.

LJ said...

I love the color of your quilt and the question mark was perfect. I'm head-over-heels in love with the AG doll book bag and her very own special books - how neat is that! What a lucky girl Abby is.

OhioLori said...

Love all the projects...but the doll's book Bag & books are soooo creative!!! Loooove it!! Great job!! :

Judith said...

Sweet Projects! Thanks for sharing...Judith, Texas

MoeWest said...

I love your projects! Looks like you had fun with it.

Karrie said...

I LOVE that you added your niece's handprint to her gift. That is so thoughtful, and she'll remember that and treasure it forever! Secret compartments for glasses are the best. I wore glasses when I was younger, so I appreciate that part! I also like how you made your mug cozy. Very clever!

Cecilia said...

Great projects! I love the little books you made. Thanks for sharing.

Suze said...

One thing is for certain - there has to be one very, very happy little girl. She now has an awesome pillow and her doll has a wonderful book bag. So Abby and Samantha should be happy young ladies with their new goodies from their aunt. And you should be thrilled with your coffee cup cozy. Thanks for participating and being a great inspiration. I hope to see you soon in more hops.