Sunday, March 31, 2019

On "Everything Alice": A Book Review


Title: Everything Alice
Authors: Hannah Read-Baldrey and Christine Leech
Genre: Arts and Crafts

About the Book...
An instructional book that presents 50 crafts inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.

What I Think...
This is a fun book that really covers a lot of ground when it comes to the variety of crafts included and the various skill sets crafters might have. Some of the things are very simple like paper doll pages to copy and then paste on cardboard and tips for egg decorating (you know, just in case you feel like making Humpty Dumpty), but it also includes things like recipes so you can have your own tea party, decorations you can make, and sewing patterns for things like  character inspired aprons, an Alice envelop pillows, a March Hare teapot cozy, and lavender dormice (the ones I made are below, though I skipped the lavender)





In the case of each project, supplies are fully listed at the beginning including amount needed, which is helpful in comparison to just being presented with what supply you need (a major pet peeve of mine), and the instructions are presented in an easy to understand manner and when necessary lovely photos accompany them. The only thing I wish was different was that instead of being bulleted that the steps were numbered.  

The book itself is a pleasure to flip through with appealing images gracing just about every page. Most of the crafts are accompanied by the original illustrations and quotes from the Alice books that relate to the items being made or baked. There are also fun little write ups such as how to play croquet Wonderland style, a Tweedles' newspaper page, and other "ads".

To Sum it All Up...
A fun book for those who are fans of Carroll's Alice books and who love to craft! ♥️

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

On 'The Romance of Musical Bon Bons: Concert in Vienna': An Album Cover Story

Introducing a new series of posts to the blog that I'm referring to as "Album Cover Stories," in which I will write a brief and probably silly story inspired by record album covers in my collection! 


Jean and George were frightfully fond of going to the amusement park in Vienna. Every Saturday they would shellac and starch their hair in preparation for the gusty winds they would face on the ferris wheel and set out with joy in their hearts knowing that nary a hair would move as they rode through the sky. 

Following their ride--and with still perfect hair--they would make their way to a little cafe around the corner. Those who saw them there always commented on how in love they must be. However, little did they know that as Jean and George stared into one another's eyes they were each wishing the other would leave so there would be more room at the tiny table the waitress had deemed large enough to leave an entire tea service and dessert platter on.
♥ ♥ ♥