The Mysterious Handkerchief Box

Two small boxes, wrapped in matching snowmen paper, sat below a tiny Christmas tree at Grandma G.’s home last year. Both were labeled, ‘Rebekah or Mel’. Grandma informed us that we would have to decide who gets what box.
After a quick wrestling match, complete with a few well-placed uppercuts, my sis-in-law Mel chose her box first as I nursed my bloody nose.
Once I had recovered, I removed the snowmen paper, revealing this mysterious box.

Grandma had no recollection of where she purchased the box, how long ago she had done so or who had made it.
Mel’s box was quite similar, but the shape was more rectangular. Her box was labeled, ‘Gloves’.

Other than the hinges you see here, the box was entirely made of wood which was exquisitely decorated.

There is no ‘maker’s mark’ on the box anywhere. I have investigated it thoroughly. (They don’t call me Nancy Drew for nuthin’).

The inside lid of the box is almost identical to the outside lid, sans the hand painting.

It’s so delicate, so unique. Grandma even included two handkerchiefs which still live inside the box.

I would love to know the history behind this mysterious box-the maker, the possible time period it was created and how it was crafted.
If you know anything about this handkerchief box, please let me in on your secret. This curious kitty is dying to know.

Recycled Sweater Mittens

I love wintery mittens and needed a pair to accompany the Sweater Scarf I had recently created.
Using the sweater scraps leftover from the scarf, I was able to make two adorable, matching mittens.

I lined my mittens with a darker sweater material, leaving the vibrant lime green material on the outside for prime cuteness.

Here’s the two pieces together in action. I can’t wait for the weather to turn colder so that I may sport these around town.

This is what you’ll need for you very own pair o’ mittens:
Two old sweaters
Scissors
Seam Ripper (for mistakes…which I typically make)
Straight pins
Tape measure
Thread and Bobbin to match
Sewing Machine

I am sure there is a more technical way to create mittens, but I had a pair of stripy mittens that fit my hands well.
Using the stripy mitten as a template, I lined it up on the body of the sweater. I wanted the ribbing of the bottom of the sweater to be the opening of my mitten (where it would hit my wrists).
With the fabric doubled and with right sides out, I pinned the stripy mitten to the sweater fabric.

I cut around the stripy mitten, leaving a 1/4” seam allowance, creating two pieces of material with the fabric right side out.

Using the recently cut out pieces from the lime green sweater, I pinned one to the wrong side of the lime green sweater, with the fabric doubled.
I cut out two more lime green pieces, creating four pieces altogether.
I then cut out two darker green sweater pieces, with right sides out, but allowing for a 1/4” seam allowance around the entirety of the mitten.
I turned the darker green sweater inside out and cut out two more mittens.

I now had eight total pieces; four darker green and four lime green.
When viewing the pieces going in the same direction, you should now have two of each color with right sides out and two with wrong sides out.

Sew together two matching pieces with the thumbs facing the same direction and with the material wrong side out. You should end up with four total mittens.
Turn the set right side out that will be the outside of your mittens.

Insert the inside of your mitten into the outside of your mitten.

Fold over and sew the extra 1/4” of the inside of your mitten onto the bottom of the outside of your mitten.

I harvested embellishments from the original sweater and hand sewed them to the front of my cutesy little gloves. Which then reminded me of a whale…which then made me take this photograph…which you are now forced to endure.

Here’s a look at the entire ensemble which has made me happier than a hot pig in a cold mud bath.
Weird analogy, I know. But that’s just me-weird.

My Robe, My Chicago

A hotel room that offers a robe invites my weary soul in, covering me in a luxurious white fabric that is too impractical for me to actually own. It’s that little bit of home that is missing when I’m on tour. And since Biceps cannot sleep in a room that isn’t the temperature of the North Pole, a robe is a much welcomed amenity.

The Hotel Sax is situated right on a little river that runs through downtown Chicago. It is near everything your little heart desires. (The hotel did not pay me to say any of this. In fact, they would probably prefer not to be associated with such “kind” as myself….)

Slithering into the hotel lobby in our grungy tour clothing, doubled with my ripped suitcase eaten by the bus bay door; we felt out of place.
A bit under dressed. And a little dorky.

We hopped into the first available elevator, averting our eyes from the other normal humans-the ones without backpacks stuffed full of bagged salads and boxed wines.

Just on the other side of our door was the oasis we needed. I drank in the small, but tastefully decorated hipster room. I did not drink the ten dollar bottle of water ‘offered’ to us from the mini bar.

The mirrored nightstand added that whimsical charm you don’t often find at a hotel. Plus a little bit of humor when one is shooting such things in a frenzy.

I love a hotel bathroom with a little va-va-voom. Typically, we encounter a tan explosion with a little more tan for contrast. This bathroom not only had the ‘voom’-it came complete with the ‘va-va’-wonderful soaps, lotions and thick towels.

And after a long hot shower, I opened the closet door hoping against hope for what I really longed for.
And Hotel Sax did not disappoint.

“Handmade” Goes Straight to my Heart

There is nothing better than receiving a handmade letter.
Not an evite. Not a text. Not an email.
I am talking about a piece of paper covered by an envelope, written with familiar handwriting, decorated by familiar hands.
Here are a few of the most creative, the most meaningful letters I’ve received.

Biceps and I hosted my BFF’s birthday party this year. And what does that little stinker do? She not only made this awesome ‘thank you’ note, but brought us a lovely bottle of wine.
This note still hangs on my fridge.

A bow-tied, binary code spouting robot was the focus of this thank you postcard from my baby brother.
I love his bent antenna and the flower that he’s sort of holding. It’s the detail in the ‘artwork’ that really counts.

A thick envelope overtook my tiny mailbox. Curious, I immediately tore open the seal and gazed upon a beautifully done wedding invitation. This creative invite came complete with an antique key tied by a fuzzy red piece of yarn.
It must have cost the couple a fortune to mail these out.

When I flipped over the invite, a page from an unidentified novel was sewn to the back. So clever, so cute, so different. Just like the couple.

Biceps crafted this two tone love note years ago-just because. Or maybe it was due to the fact that I had made him a chocolate cake with chocolate icing and topped it with bunny tracks ice cream.
But, I really can’t remember.

Another note from my Baby Brother that has gained a permanent position in my ‘Forever Keep’ file.
Besides the cut out letters creating the creepy ransom note look, it appears innocent enough.
But wait for it…

…ah, there it is. The weirdness of my Baby Brother prevails once more.
For the record, I have never made him ‘moonshine’.

This is another little love note from Biceps on my-you guessed it, twenty-fifth birthday.

I certainly wasn’t expecting that. What a sweetie. So sensitive to my paranoia of getting ‘old’.
I told Biceps that sometimes a store bought card is not a bad option.