The American Girl's Handy Book: Turn-of-the-Century Classic of Crafts and Activities

by Lina Beard, Adelia B. Beard

Overview

For good old-fashioned fun, nothing beats this 1887 gem! Truly a "handy" book, it shows girls how to make their own amusements, with illustrated explanations that range from hobbies such as needlework and painting to suggestions for planning picnics and playing games. Hundreds of simple and timeless ideas and activities include creating handmade dolls, preserving wildflowers, weaving a rope hammock, building bookshelves, and making gifts for friends and family. The projects, which require only common household items, encourage young imaginations and foster creativity. In addition to traditional arts and crafts, the well-rounded offerings include hiking and other outdoor adventures.
Authors Lina and Adelia B. Beard wrote and illustrated many children's books and were instrumental in founding the Campfire Girls. This volume is a companion to The American Boy's Handy Book, written by the Beards' brother, Daniel. Its sensible, self-assured tone outlines a lively portrait of girlhood that's full of possibilities. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and camp counselors will find it a treasury of inspiration for wholesome, fun-filled activities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486120850
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	04/11/2012
Series:	Dover Children's Activity Books Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	496
File size:	34 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	11 - 14 Years

About the Author

Lina and Adelia B. Beard were sisters with successful publishing careers, first writing for children's magazines, then writing books for young girls. In the early 1900s, they helped found the Girl Pioneers of America and the Campfire Girls.

Table of Contents

PrefaceSpringChapter 1. First of AprilChapter 2. Wild Flowers and their PreservationChapter 3. The Walking ClubChapter 4. EasterChapter 5. How to Make a Lawn-Tennis NetChapter 6. May-DaySummerChapter 7. Midsummer EveChapter 8. Sea-side Cottage DecorationChapter 9. A Girl's Fourth of JulyChapter 10. Printing from Nature's TypesChapter 11. Picnics, Burgoos, and Corn-roastsChapter 12. Botany as Applied to ArtChapter 13. Door-step Party and Quiet Games for Hot WeatherChapter 14. How to Make a HammockChapter 15. (For Little Girls) Corn-Husk and Flower DollsChapter 16. How to Make a FanAutumnChapter 17. All-Hallow-EveChapter 18. Nature's Fall Decorations and How to Use ThemChapter 19. Nutting-PartiesChapter 20. How to Make a TelephoneChapter 21. How to DrawChapter 22. How to Paint in Water-ColorsChapter 23. How to Paint in Oil-ColorsChapter 24. How to Model in Clay and WaxChapter 25. How to Make Plaster CastsChapter 26. China PaintingChapter 27. A Chapter on FramesChapter 28. ThanksgivingWinterChapter 29. Christmas Festivities and Home-made Christmas GiftsChapter 30. Amusements and Games for the Christmas HolidaysChapter 31. New Year's and a Leap Year PartyChapter 32. Home GymnasiumChapter 33. A Decorative LanguageChapter 34. A Few Items on Old-fashioned Needlework, with Some New and Original PatternsChapter 35. Scrap-book and Home-made Book-coversChapter 36. A Heap of Rubbish and What to Do with ItChapter 37. How to Make Attractive Booths at a Fair—A New Kind of Grab-bagChapter 38. Window DecorationChapter 39. Furniture, Old and NewChapter 40. Something about Mantle-pieces and Fire-placesChapter 41. Home-made CandyChapter 42. Saint Valentine's Day