The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

‘Before forensics, DNA, and CSI we had dollhouses – an unimaginable collection of miniature crime scenes, known as the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. Created in the 1930s and 1940s by a crime-fighting millionaire heiress grandmother Frances Glessner, the Nutshells helped homicide detectives hone their investigative skills. Despite all the advances in forensics, the Nutshells are still used today to train detectives.’

- Of Dolls and Murder

(via Retronaut)

Brought to you by the letter ...

I've been feeling a bit ill recently, so I went looking for some cheery things and this little clip made me smile.



It's so cute it verges on the mawkish, but I love it anyway.

Ukey goodness

I bought a beautiful uke yesterday!

If I practice really hard this will be me in a few years' time ...



There are loads of really great ukulele covers on Youtube, so I'm feeling very inspired. Off I go now to strum strum strum ...

Decluttering (and thinking about underwear)

I'm endeavouring to do some major streamlining of all our 'stuff' at the moment, particularly in my craft/sewing room and in our garage (oh, and what a lot of clutter there is!). I'll be very happy to give away spare items that others might find useful (such as fabric, craft supplies etc.) as I sort and organise each space, so stay tuned - I'll post details here soon ...

In the meantime, I wonder if anyone has some helpful suggestions for what I might do with my little collection of Victorian/Edwardian underwear?

I think they're lovely pieces, especially as I know a little about the ladies and gentleman who wore them, but I really don't feel that I'm doing them any justice by keeping them in a box at home. I thought that there might be a local textile museum or heritage society that may be interested in taking and conserving them, but I can't seem to find a relevant institution. I've submitted an online query with Museums Victoria, in the hope that they might point me in the right direction (or even add them to their collection of artifacts from Melbourne in the 1800s!) but as yet have not received a reply ....

Any thoughts, my friends?

Handmade Ryan Gosling

This site's bizzare craft fantasies made me smile today.

 

I can read movies

.

.... found via Words and Eggs - I like these paperback 'novelisations' of popular films, created by Spacesick a few years ago:

... retro book-cover design and film nostalgia all rolled into one. Nice!

The party's over ...

(cue Blossom Dearie singing that Comden and Green classic in her trademark lilting, whispery voice ...)

Do you have big plans for 2012? I can't believe how quickly the time seems to pass, and that we stand once more at the beginning of a new year, contemplating the mixed bag of experiences that filled 2011 and hoping that more of our dreams will come true in 2012.

This year is sure to be a big one for us as we have plans for quite a few changes (despite the predicted ending of the world 'n all ...).

What are your goals and dreams for the coming months?

Here's to 2012 ...

I hope you finished the year with a bang, and that the coming months bring you every happiness!