Nancy Drew Books: Scary Things Kids (& Adults) Do #18

Veronica & The Hidden Staircase

"Spoiler alert!" Not only did Nancy Drew find the hidden staircase in Hidden Staircase, but little did you know, she also found that pest Veronica had beat her too it and had already scrawled her name on the wall sticking it to Nancy once again! Or something like that. I think that's how it happened anyhow...

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew 2007 Movie Collectible Find

Nancy Drew 2007 Movie Collectibles

I recently found a new version of the Nancy Drew movie press kit from the 2007 movie. On eBay I found the kit shown above right--it's the International Press Kit version. It's basically the same as the regular one on the left, except it's got International on the cover, on the booklet inside, and the back has some variation of picture formatting and the credits are different to a degree:

Jenn:)

Bookbagz - Nancy Drew Bookbags

Bookbagz - Nancy Drew Bookbags

You're going to love the Nancy Drew bookbags from Bookbagz! They are the newest licensee to sign on with Simon & Schuster! Visit their website.

Here are sample Nancy Drew bags - I ordered the Hidden Staircase version:

 

 

 

 

 

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew Bags in the Drewtique

Nancy Drew Fabric Bags in The Drewtique!

Sleuth Nancy has sent all sorts of sleuth-tacular bags for The Drewtique in various styles and fabric patterns using the new Nancy Drew Get a Clue fabric from Moda.

There are several styles of totes and book bags with fold-over flaps. Long handles can be used as a sling type bag or worn over the shoulder. Bags are lined with different fabric from the line than the outside which makes for a neat contrast. Bags can be custom ordered too.

Here are some examples, see more at The Drewtique:

 

 

 

 

 

Jenn:)

Cooking with Nancy Drew: Italy & Spaghetti

Tour of Italy - Nancy Drew Style &

Sicilian Sausage & Pepper Spaghetti

Take a tour of Italy with Nancy Drew and enjoy some pasta while you're at it! Here are four Nancy Drew books where she travels to Italy for some excitement and mystery and delicious Italian food:

#65, The Mystery of the Winged Lion

Nancy travels to Venice and Murano and gets involved in a mystery involving a kidnapping, a glass making formula, and a gang of thieves.

#78, The Phantom of Venice

Nancy visits Venice and Murano again in this mystery and finds herself mixed up in another mystery involving glass making! 

Files # 73, Rendezvous in Rome

This mystery is book 2 of a trilogy of mysteries and takes place in Rome. Nancy gets caught up in intrigue while searching for a jewel thief.

Girl Detective #15, Framed

When an Italian prince visits River Heights, there's sure to be trouble! Trouble involving stolen art that leads everyone near the end of the story to Italy to solve the mystery. Nancy visits Milan and Lake Como.

Sicilian Sausage & Peppers Spaghetti

Begin by chopping and slicing up onions and bell peppers. I used yellow onions and baby bell peppers in yellow, red, and orange. These are sweeter and less bitter than green peppers. You can often find them in the grocery stores in bags now in a variety of shades.

Saute in olive oil until softened and caramelized around the edges. After a few minutes, add in minced or chopped fresh garlic.

In another pan while sauteing the onions and peppers, saute rope sausage (I used 2 beef for 4 to 6 people) that you've sliced into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices. Sausage will cook down and begin to turn brown around the edges. Once the sausage is ready, drain the grease and add in the peppers and onions.

Now to make the sauce! There's homemade and there's quick and dirty and then there's souping up a jar of Prego when it will do in a pinch! Once you soup it up, it's not Prego anymore, it's much more like homemade. If you're not using some tomato puree and crushed tomatoes, substitute a jar of Prego. Then add to it, a large can of tomato sauce. And spices. I use a mixture of sweet basil, oregano, and Italian seasonings. 

I add by taste and sight, probably about a teaspoon or two of each. The pinch or two of white above is sugar to add just a slight sweetness to curb any acidity from the tomatoes--add more to taste if you like. I like a tangy spaghetti sauce.

Don't forget to give it a little kick! Cayenne pepper gives it a bit of flair. I put in a few shakes-probably about a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon. Do this to taste because a little can sometimes go a long way! Let your sauce heat up and simmer for awhile while you boil your pasta. I use thin spaghetti but regular will do and penne is always good with this sauce.

Prep Time: Probably about 5 to 10 minutes of chopping, 20 minutes of cooking. Quick and easy! Enjoy with a baguette of Italian bread while you run around chasing thieves and enjoy gondola rides with Nancy in Italy.

Jenn:)

Cover Image of Winged Lion from http://www.nancydrewworld.com

Series Books: Scary Things Kids (& Adults) Do #1

That's No Picture Cover!

Some little crafter cut up some Penny Parker dust jackets and pasted the images of Penny onto the covers of these books! Penny Parkers with a dust jacket routinely sell from $20 to $60+ depending on book and condition. The last two volumes can command over $60 and upwards of $100+. Naked books, maybe a few dollars. Naked books with pasted on cutouts? $12.84.

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew Get a Clue Fabric from Moda

Nancy Drew Get a Clue Fabric from Moda!

I have quite a bit of the Nancy Drew Get a Clue Fabric Line from Moda for sale in The Sleuth Shop! Some of my favorites include:

If you're wondering what to do with the fabric and just want to collect it, I recommend getting a fat quarter bundle as it has 21 fat quarters representing the fabrics in the line and also one of the panels.

Here are some ideas from Sleuth Lea:

 Scrub Top using Nancy Drew Faces/Blue

 Scrub Top Back using Blue Endpapers

Scrub Pocket using Get a Clue Logo Strip

 Checkbook Cover - Outside

 Checkbook Cover - Inside

Here's a cute bag Lea's friend made using the 

Blue Nancy Faces/yellow magnifying glass material.

Jenn:)

The Scoop on Nancy Drew Diaries

Nancy Drew Diaries Scoop

UPDATE: It appears that this series is not written in 3rd person as has been originally planned, but is in 1st person. Haven't seen it...yet!

Check out my Nancy Drew website page on the new Nancy Drew Diaries in the "Nancy Drew News" section and the page in the "Nancy Drew Books" section. They are similar right now, but the news page will get more updates as the series debuts as to any format info, promotional items (if any) and all those little things that turn up plus other changes as it progresses--plus I will highlight those here at the blog too.

The new series comes out in February with 2 titles - Curse of the Arctic Star and Strangers on a Train.

Then in May, we'll have Mystery of the Midnight Rider and Once Upon a Thriller in September. 

 

The main changes in the series as compared the former Girl Detective series are making a return to some of the things from classic Nancy like:

Books being in 3rd person.

Covers are now illustrated by an artist

Stories are longer at now over 200 pages

Titles are more mysterious (curse/mystery/thriller...)

The girls use their brains/wits more to solve mysteries than rely on technology

These are some of the changes. I'll have more in an upcoming Blog when I'll be posting a review and doing some giveaways courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Jenn:)