Josefina's Fandango Birthday Party!

Before I go into the party details, I will give a little background on the party theme.  Josefina is a chariter in the American Girls Books by Valerie Tripp.  She lived in the New Mexican frontier during 1824 on a rancho.  Isobel chose to have a Josefina's Fandango party because she liked the books and Josefina.  I fandango is a celebration for a special occasiond with family and friends, the ended with dancing.

Isobel wanted to dress for the party like Josefina would have dressed.  She would have worn a full skirt that swirls when you spin around and a shawl or rebozo, and a long white blouse and a woven sash that was tied around her waist.  Her hair would have been brushed with a escobetilla (stiff grass brush), and then braided into a long braid that hung down her back.  This is what I made for Isobel to wore:



Rebozo



The fashion- the best I could do in the time I had!


















To start off we had to make the Invitaions.  So we made dancing slippers.  The information was written on the insoles of the slippers.  You can glue bows on the toes, but with my shortness of time, I just drew some bows on.  This is what I came up with: 

We didn't have a birthday cake, instead we had Flan which is a caramel custard that is a traditional Spanish dessert.  You can find with recipe other places I am sure, so I am not going to take the time to write it down.

We also had New Mexican Hot Chocolate.  in a saucepan, combine 6 ounces sweet cooking chocolate, 6 cups milk, 2 seaspoons cinnamon, and 2 teapoons sugar.  Cook the mixture over low heat.  Stir it constantly until the chocolate melts and the mixture is blended.  Just before serving, use an egg beater and beat until frothy.  Add a cinnamon stick stirrer, if you with.

We also had Feast Day cookies.  Here is what you need:

Ingredients:  1 cup chopped pecans (finely grounded), 1 cup softened butter, 1cup pwwdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 cups flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Preheat oven to 400.  Mix 1/2 c sugar and butter together, add vanilla.  Mix in the flour, salt, and crushed nuts.  With clean, dry fingers, form the dough into 1-inch balls.  Place the balls on the cookie sheet.  bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned.  Put on wax paper.  Place 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a small bowl.  Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar until they are completely covered.  Return the cookies to the wax paper to cool.



Feast Day Cookies



We learned the La Vaquerita dance.  We also played a game that would have been played by the children of that time. 

• El Floron or The Flower:  One player is the Guesser.  The other players sis in a circle holding their closed fists out in front of them.  The Guesser closes her eyes.  One of the players hides the floron-a flower blossom or other small object-in her hand.  Then players chant the lines below as the Guesser tries to guess who has the floron.  If the Guesser is correct, she and the hider switch places.  "The flower goes in the hands, And in the hands it has spoken.  Guess who has it, guess who has it, Or be taken for a fool!"

The Craft:

Josefina made blankets on the loom.  So for our craft we were learning some of the pointer on a loom and practiced on our own mini ones.  Here is how to make your own:



You will need (per person)
1 piece of cardboard
Wool or cotton yarn
4 wooden sticks
Scissors

The Loom
Using a ruler, draw lines 1 cm from the other along both sides of the cardboard. Cut the cardboard along these lines stopping around 1/2 cm in from the edge.
Your finished loom should look like this:

The Warp
The warp of the loom will be created by vertical strands which we will then use to weave our design.
String the yarn through the first slit in the cardboard (top left), remember to leave a long enough piece behind (you will need this to tie off your work at the end).  Once you have inserted the yarn in the first slit on the top, move down to the bottom of the cardboard and pass the yarn through the first slit on the left.  Continue this process by passing the yarn through the second slit on the bottom and then bring the yarn to the top of the cardboard and pass it through the second upper slit.  This should be repeated until you have reached the desired width of your warp.  The front side of your cardboard should look like the picture below (many tight vertical strands) and the back should be empty except for the loops between the slits.

Insert one craft stick on the top and the other on the bottom of your loom under the warp.  We will use them to ease the weaving process and to leave the appropriate edge for the project.  Take a long piece of yarn and tie it onto a craft stick.  The craft stick will act like a needle and help us move the piece of yarn through the warp.
The Weft
Start to move the craft stick through the warp. Remember to go over and under the warp strands until you have reached the other side.  With another craft stick, move the weft up towards the top so that there is no room between the strands.

Adding more yarn!  Your weft can be made of many different colors! All you have to do is make a small knot with a new strand of yarn when you reach the edge. 

Finishing the project

Once you have finished the weft, remove the two craft sticks from the ends of your loom. Start to slide the warp off of the cardboard piece. Make sure that you do slip any stitches.  Cut the loops and tie off.
You are done!

Have a Great Party!!!!