The paintings for this book were done in oil and egg tempera on gessoed D'Arches satin finish watercolour paper. Beginning with a coloured imprimatura (a thin layer of reddish ochre paint wiped on with a rag) the paintings were built up in alternating layers of egg tempera and oil glazes.

Throw it out! cries Joseph's mother. So Joseph runs to his grandfather with his favourite blanket. Grandpa can fix anything. From the tattered blanket, Grandpa makes a handsome jacket. With a few passes of his needle, a vest becomes a Sabbeth tie. And snip! a ragged handkerchief turns into a brand new button. But when the button is lost, what's to be done? Even Grandpa can't make something from nothing.