Thursday, March 14, 2013

Nancy Drew's mystery block

Thank you for stopping by my blog!  I've never done a blog hop before, but I was inspired by the fabric.  In fact, I've had the idea for this block rattling around in the back of my head for maybe ten years.  It was just waiting for the right fabric to bring the idea to life.

The "block" is really a series of blocks.  Foam blocks, to be exact.  Eight of them.  Bought a piece of foam at Joann's, and had the shop teacher at the high school cut them down to perfect cubes (thanks, Kent!)  Cubes were 2" on each side.



I covered one single block in fabric, just to check how much ease was needed, and how big of an opening I would need to stuff the foam back inside after sewing the cube on the sewing machine.
The prototype block: inside surfaces

Bad news. I felt, after stitching a single block, that the overall project was going to need to be mostly hand stitched.  And I'm not much of one for hand sewing.

Made a prototype of the interlocking blocks out of cheery scrap fabrics in my stash.  Discovered a couple errors in my calculations and was thankful that I had not made such errors from a limited supply of Nancy Drew fabric.




So I ordered a Nancy Drew charm pack from the closest store to me.  Never have used a charm pack before.  Didn't quite know what to expect, and really really wanted to get an idea of the scale of the prints: would the pictures show up on 2" blocks?  Even the silhouettes?

Ok, enough stalling - time to unveil my creative baby.  Here it is, seen in its closed position.
There are six sides to a cube.  Lots of opportunity to showcase the delightful variety of Nancy Drew prints.
Top - Sides - Bottom of block

Did I mention it moves?

That's the beauty of this design.  The fact that the cube opens up to reveal three interior scenes.  And one of the scenes is scrambled when you first see it - but unscrambles when turned a different direction.  Oh, the possibilities!



I know you can't see the interior scenes well from the video, so here they are.  Had to do some creative fussy-cutting to use the charm squares.




The silhouettes gave me the most trouble.  Wanted to use the blue-on-white, but of course those pieces didn't showcase Nancy the way I would have liked.

(Oy, such a perfectionist I am.  It really gets in the way sometimes.)

I want to outline the figures here so they show up better.  Maybe after I finish the actual hand stitching of the blocks (note the pins - drat).




Second interior scene - don't you love this fabric?
And my favorite interior scene: the "message" from The Secret in the Old Attic.  It gets scrambled and then unscrambled as the block is manipulated.  This idea was the whole inspiration for signing up for this blog hop.

Thanks to Madame Samm and Carol for leading and cheering on this hop!

Have you visited everyone else?  What is your favorite project?

Friday, March 15, 2013 
 Rainbows. Bunnies. Cupcakes. (that's me!)

56 comments:

  1. So fun! I think this is most creative project I've seen this hop.

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  2. Your Nancy Drew blocks are adorable! Thank you for sharing.

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  3. Amazing idea and so much fun. I love puzzles of all sorts. It will be worth all the hand sewing.

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  4. What a great idea, so creative.

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  5. This is a fantastic idea!!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  6. Interesting use of the charm pack! Very creative.

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  7. What an interesting way to use the charms. Sew cute.

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  8. YES! Great job on your puzzle blocks! I loved these as a child...yet they are timeless! I hope you plan a complete tutorial so we can all create our own puzzle block! :)

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  9. That is truly an amazing project! Such a clever idea.

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  10. now that is a lot PUZZLE. I wouldn't even know where to begin....even as an adult that wee child in me says let's play...

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  11. This is very inventive.....I wouldn't have the patience!! Great job

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  12. Oh my.....it's almost like a Rubik cube! Very creative! Thanks for sharing!

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  13. Such a great idea!!! Thanks for sharing in the hop!!

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  14. uhhh I have a KIT like this in baby fabrics, I really SHOULD be making it!! very cool blocks

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  15. Oh, how fun!!! I love it! Who wouldn't love to play with something like that!

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  16. Cool! Sort like a version of rubik's cube--move one thing and it all changes till you unscramble the mystery!

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  17. Wow what a wonderful way to display all the fabrics. I don't think we ever had a game before...great idea.

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  18. This is such a fun project..love it! I've never seen cubes like that before, but I think they'd make a fun toy for kids. Thanks for hopping with us! :O)

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  19. That`s fantastic! Wow! Good for you!

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  20. This looks like a fun cube :) Thanks for sharing it today!

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  21. How clever! At first I thought they would be stacking blocks which would be great for a baby. Then I saw how they were a puzzle. I think we might have had a wooden one like that when the kids were small. Just a wonderful idea and so much fun.

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  22. Great idea! How fun that would be for the kids! Thanks for sharing.

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  23. oh... that's amazing and it totally fits with Nancy Drew! good job!!

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  24. Amazing! Very creative. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. You are so smart. How in the world did you figure this out?? Great job. I LOVE it. I guess the best was saved for last!

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  26. I made blocks similar to yours many years ago when my daughter was a baby. I used felt and make dice. They were not easy, but are a classic and you have created another classic with the ND fabric and the special scenes/sayings-much more difficult-Wow! Your project should win "The Most Unique" award. From California, thanks for sharing!

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  27. VERY clever and you did a great job on them.

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  28. Wow! That is so creative! Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed all of the projects that were made, but have to admit that I really liked the quilts.

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  29. AMAZING! Boy you really did a great job! Those blocks are sew cute and CLEVER! Thank you for sharing!!

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  30. Oh so clever! Thanks for hopping!

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  31. Very creative. Thanks for shareing your project with all of us hoppers.

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  32. wow that's amazing. Great job. Thanks for sharing your video too.

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  33. Oh congrats on making those blocks as those are quite difficult to make as I know from personal exiperence. Thank you for being part of this blog and sharing your wonderful blocks.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  34. how fun these blocks are! I love the message to be unscrambled!

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  35. What creative & cool blocks!!!! Wowie!!

    I've loved soooo many things on this Hop....not enough room here to list!!! LOL Tho I am soooo lovin the Totes!!! :)

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  36. What a great idea! This would be great for little ones.

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  37. What a great idea--I love this. It would make a perfect gift. (I have several baby gifts to make!)

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  38. What a great icea with the cubes. And a wonderful gift. Thanks for sharing

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  39. Now that is just plain fun!! That a great idea!

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  40. Can't believe my eyes. How did you come up with the blocks. Cute idea.

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    1. The blocks were patterned after a cube I got at a conference once, advertising a textbook publisher (they always have the best swag at teacher conferences). The blocks were made of wood, and covered with a laminated paper that formed the hinges. Of course, it got a bit worn out with only minor use--which was when I wondered if I could "improve" the original by making it out of fabric.

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  41. Love the cube idea, that for sharing.

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  42. For goodness sakes, that's the most creative use of ND fabrics, yet! What fun and what a mystery!

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  43. Brilliant! and a very fun idea! I love the secret message.

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  44. A puzzle is just the perfect way to showcase Nancy Drew fabrics. I love the way the fabrics create different patterns when opened. You and the shop teacher make a very creative pair. Thanks for participating and creating a truly unique project that is very inspiring.

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  45. Wow...so clever! I love the secret message. Cool project.

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  46. I really like your project...secret messages are so cool. Thanks for sharing. vickise at gmail dot com

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  47. What a great project...and a great finish! B-)

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  48. What a fun project! Loved seeing what you put together and the secret within!

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