diff --git a/doc-src/content/help/tutorials/configuration-reference.markdown b/doc-src/content/help/tutorials/configuration-reference.markdown
index 0f6475e9..101a0fe4 100644
--- a/doc-src/content/help/tutorials/configuration-reference.markdown
+++ b/doc-src/content/help/tutorials/configuration-reference.markdown
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ to avoid crashing the watcher in the case where the file has been removed.
 
     on_stylesheet_saved do |filename|
       Growl.notify {
-         self.message "#{filename} updated!"
+         self.message "#{File.basename(filename)} updated!"
          self.icon = '/path/to/success.jpg'
        }
     end
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ to avoid crashing the watcher in the case where the file has been removed.
 
     on_stylesheet_error do |filename, message|
       Growl.notify {
-        self.message = "#{filename}: #{message}"
+        self.message = "#{File.basename(filename)}: #{message}"
         self.icon = '/path/to/fail.jpg'
         sticky!
       }
diff --git a/features/step_definitions/command_line_steps.rb b/features/step_definitions/command_line_steps.rb
index 26bd9bd1..5127af25 100644
--- a/features/step_definitions/command_line_steps.rb
+++ b/features/step_definitions/command_line_steps.rb
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ end
 
 Then /^the following configuration properties are set in ([^ ]+):$/ do |config_file, table|
   
-  config = Compass::Configuration::Data.new_from_file(config_file)
+  config = Compass::Configuration::FileData.new_from_file(config_file)
   table.hashes.each do |hash|
    config.send(hash['property']).should == hash['value']
   end
diff --git a/lib/compass/compiler.rb b/lib/compass/compiler.rb
index bccb6489..086e1d3b 100644
--- a/lib/compass/compiler.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/compiler.rb
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ module Compass
       end
       duration = additional_options[:time] ? "(#{(css_content.__duration * 1000).round / 1000.0}s)" : ""
       write_file(css_filename, css_content, options.merge(:force => true, :extra => duration))
-      Compass.configuration.send(:run_stylesheet_saved, File.basename(css_filename)) #run callback
+      Compass.configuration.run_callback(:stylesheet_saved, css_filename)
     end
 
     def should_compile?(sass_filename, css_filename)
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ module Compass
       formatted_error = "(Line #{e.sass_line}: #{e.message})"
       file = basename(sass_filename)
       logger.record :error, file, formatted_error
-      Compass.configuration.send(:run_styesheet_error, file, formatted_error) #run callback
+      Compass.configuration.run_callback(:styesheet_error, sass_filename, formatted_error)
       write_file css_filename, error_contents(e, sass_filename), options.merge(:force => true)
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration.rb b/lib/compass/configuration.rb
index f094570b..3fa3e9ef 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration.rb
@@ -43,6 +43,6 @@ module Compass
   end
 end
 
-['adapters', 'callbacks', 'comments', 'defaults', 'helpers', 'inheritance', 'serialization', 'paths', 'data'].each do |lib|
+['adapters', 'comments', 'defaults', 'helpers', 'inheritance', 'serialization', 'paths', 'data', 'file_data'].each do |lib|
   require "compass/configuration/#{lib}"
 end
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/callbacks.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/callbacks.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index 2f034ee9..00000000
--- a/lib/compass/configuration/callbacks.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-module Compass
-  module Configuration
-    module CallbackMethods
-      extend ::Sass::Callbacks
-
-      # on_sprite_generated
-      # yields the filename
-      # usage: on_sprite_save {|filename| do_somethign(filename) }
-      define_callback :sprite_saved
-      # on_sprite_generated
-      # yields 'ChunkyPNG::Image'
-      # usage: on_sprite_generated {|sprite_data| do_something(sprite_data) }
-      define_callback :sprite_generated
-
-      define_callback :stylesheet_saved
-      define_callback :stylesheet_error
-
-    end
-
-    class Callbacks
-      extend CallbackMethods
-    end
-
-  end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb
index 91dec02a..2dcfdca0 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb
@@ -135,6 +135,16 @@ module Compass
         relative_assets || http_images_path == :relative
       end
 
+      def run_callback(event, *args)
+        begin
+          send(:"run_#{event}", *args)
+        rescue NoMethodError => e
+          unless e.message =~ /run_#{event}/
+            raise
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
       private
 
       def assert_valid_keys!(attr_hash)
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/file_data.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/file_data.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..af628752
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration/file_data.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+module Compass
+  module Configuration
+    class FileData < Data
+      extend Sass::Callbacks
+
+      # on_sprite_generated
+      # yields the filename
+      # usage: on_sprite_save {|filename| do_somethign(filename) }
+      define_callback :sprite_saved
+
+      # on_sprite_generated
+      # yields 'ChunkyPNG::Image'
+      # usage: on_sprite_generated {|sprite_data| do_something(sprite_data) }
+      define_callback :sprite_generated
+
+      # on_stylesheet_saved
+      # yields the filename
+      # usage: on_stylesheet_saved {|filename| do_something(filename) }
+      define_callback :stylesheet_saved
+
+      # on_stylesheet_error
+      # yields the filename & message
+      # usage: on_stylesheet_error {|filename, message| do_something(filename, message) }
+      define_callback :stylesheet_error
+
+      def self.new_from_file(config_file, defaults = nil)
+        data = new(config_file)
+        data.with_defaults(defaults) do
+          data._parse(config_file)
+        end
+        data
+      end
+
+      def self.new_from_string(contents, filename, defaults = nil)
+        data = new(filename)
+        data.with_defaults(defaults) do
+          data.parse_string(contents, filename)
+        end
+        data
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/helpers.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/helpers.rb
index 2f037d8a..00afa6e7 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration/helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration/helpers.rb
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ module Compass
           config
         elsif config.respond_to?(:read)
           filename ||= config.to_s if config.is_a?(Pathname)
-          Compass::Configuration::Data.new_from_string(config.read, filename, defaults)
+          Compass::Configuration::FileData.new_from_string(config.read, filename, defaults)
         elsif config.is_a?(Hash)
           Compass::Configuration::Data.new(filename, config)
         elsif config.is_a?(String)
-          Compass::Configuration::Data.new_from_file(config, defaults)
+          Compass::Configuration::FileData.new_from_file(config, defaults)
         elsif config.is_a?(Symbol)
           Compass::AppIntegration.lookup(config).configuration
         else
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/inheritance.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/inheritance.rb
index 24de6b4d..da12b5bc 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration/inheritance.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration/inheritance.rb
@@ -144,8 +144,6 @@ module Compass
         def method_missing(meth, *args, &block)
           if inherited_data
             inherited_data.send(meth, *args, &block)
-          elsif Callbacks.respond_to?(meth, true)
-            Callbacks.send(meth, *args, &block)
           else
             raise NoMethodError, meth.to_s
           end
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb
index afdf4fc5..3e7fcc80 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb
@@ -2,100 +2,75 @@ module Compass
   module Configuration
     # The serialization module manages reading and writing the configuration file(s).
     module Serialization
-      def self.included(base)
-        base.send(:include, InstanceMethods)
-        base.extend ClassMethods
+      def parse(config_file)
+        raise Compass::Error, "Compass.configuration.parse(filename) has been removed. Please call Compass.add_project_configuration(filename) instead."
       end
 
-      module ClassMethods
-        def new_from_file(config_file, defaults = nil)
-          data = Data.new(config_file)
-          data.with_defaults(defaults) do
-            data._parse(config_file)
-          end
-          data
+      # parses a configuration file which is a ruby script
+      def _parse(config_file)
+        unless File.readable?(config_file)
+          raise Compass::Error, "Configuration file, #{config_file}, not found or not readable."
         end
-
-        def new_from_string(contents, filename, defaults = nil)
-          data = Data.new(filename)
-          data.with_defaults(defaults) do
-            data.parse_string(contents, filename)
-          end
-          data
+        open(config_file) do |f|
+          parse_string(f.read, config_file)
         end
       end
 
-      module InstanceMethods
-        def parse(config_file)
-          raise Compass::Error, "Compass.configuration.parse(filename) has been removed. Please call Compass.add_project_configuration(filename) instead."
+      def parse_string(contents, filename)
+        bind = binding
+        eval(contents, bind, filename)
+        ATTRIBUTES.each do |prop|
+          value = eval(prop.to_s, bind) rescue nil
+          value = value.to_s if value.is_a?(Pathname)
+          self.send("#{prop}=", value) unless value.nil?
         end
-
-        # parses a configuration file which is a ruby script
-        def _parse(config_file)
-          unless File.readable?(config_file)
-            raise Compass::Error, "Configuration file, #{config_file}, not found or not readable."
-          end
-          open(config_file) do |f|
-            parse_string(f.read, config_file)
-          end
+        if @added_import_paths
+          self.additional_import_paths ||= []
+          self.additional_import_paths += @added_import_paths
         end
-
-        def parse_string(contents, filename)
-          bind = binding
-          eval(contents, bind, filename)
-          ATTRIBUTES.each do |prop|
-            value = eval(prop.to_s, bind) rescue nil
-            value = value.to_s if value.is_a?(Pathname)
-            self.send("#{prop}=", value) unless value.nil?
-          end
-          if @added_import_paths
-            self.additional_import_paths ||= []
-            self.additional_import_paths += @added_import_paths
-          end
-          issue_deprecation_warnings
-        end
-
-        def serialize
-          contents = ""
-          (required_libraries || []).each do |lib|
-            contents << %Q{require '#{lib}'\n}
-          end
-          (loaded_frameworks || []).each do |lib|
-            contents << %Q{load '#{lib}'\n}
-          end
-          (framework_path || []).each do |lib|
-            contents << %Q{discover '#{lib}'\n}
-          end
-          contents << "# Require any additional compass plugins here.\n"
-          contents << "\n" if (required_libraries || []).any?
-          ATTRIBUTES.each do |prop|
-            value = send("#{prop}_without_default")
-            if value.is_a?(Proc)
-              $stderr.puts "WARNING: #{prop} is code and cannot be written to a file. You'll need to copy it yourself."
-            end
-            if respond_to?("comment_for_#{prop}")
-              contents << send("comment_for_#{prop}")
-            end
-            if block_given? && (to_emit = yield(prop, value))
-              contents << to_emit
-            else
-              contents << serialize_property(prop, value) unless value.nil?
-            end
-          end
-          contents
-        end
-
-        def serialize_property(prop, value)
-          %Q(#{prop} = #{value.inspect}\n)
-        end
-
-        def issue_deprecation_warnings
-          if http_images_path == :relative
-            $stderr.puts "DEPRECATION WARNING: Please set relative_assets = true to enable relative paths."
-          end
-        end
-
+        issue_deprecation_warnings
       end
+
+      def serialize
+        contents = ""
+        (required_libraries || []).each do |lib|
+          contents << %Q{require '#{lib}'\n}
+        end
+        (loaded_frameworks || []).each do |lib|
+          contents << %Q{load '#{lib}'\n}
+        end
+        (framework_path || []).each do |lib|
+          contents << %Q{discover '#{lib}'\n}
+        end
+        contents << "# Require any additional compass plugins here.\n"
+        contents << "\n" if (required_libraries || []).any?
+        ATTRIBUTES.each do |prop|
+          value = send("#{prop}_without_default")
+          if value.is_a?(Proc)
+            $stderr.puts "WARNING: #{prop} is code and cannot be written to a file. You'll need to copy it yourself."
+          end
+          if respond_to?("comment_for_#{prop}")
+            contents << send("comment_for_#{prop}")
+          end
+          if block_given? && (to_emit = yield(prop, value))
+            contents << to_emit
+          else
+            contents << serialize_property(prop, value) unless value.nil?
+          end
+        end
+        contents
+      end
+
+      def serialize_property(prop, value)
+        %Q(#{prop} = #{value.inspect}\n)
+      end
+
+      def issue_deprecation_warnings
+        if http_images_path == :relative
+          $stderr.puts "DEPRECATION WARNING: Please set relative_assets = true to enable relative paths."
+        end
+      end
+
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb b/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb
index 45343df9..d4a2fb8b 100644
--- a/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/sass_extensions/functions/sprites.rb
@@ -123,8 +123,9 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
     # Generate a sprite image if necessary
     def generate
       if generation_required?
-        save!(construct_sprite)
-        Compass.configuration.send(:run_sprite_generated, construct_sprite)
+        sprite_data = construct_sprite
+        save!(sprite_data)
+        Compass.configuration.run_callback(:sprite_generated, sprite_data)
       end
     end
 
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ module Compass::SassExtensions::Functions::Sprites
     # saves the sprite for later retrieval
     def save!(output_png)
       saved = output_png.save filename
-      Compass.configuration.send(:run_sprite_saved, filename)
+      Compass.configuration.run_callback(:sprite_saved, filename)
       saved
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/sprites_spec.rb b/spec/sprites_spec.rb
index 9f2b2f12..94349518 100644
--- a/spec/sprites_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/sprites_spec.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ describe Compass::Sprites do
     @images_src_path = File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'test_project', 'public', 'images')
     @images_tmp_path = File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'test_project', 'public', 'images-tmp')
     FileUtils.cp_r @images_src_path, @images_tmp_path
-    Compass.configuration.images_path = @images_tmp_path
+    file = StringIO.new("images_path = #{@images_tmp_path.inspect}\n")
+    Compass.add_configuration(file, "sprite_config")
     Compass.configure_sass_plugin!
   end
 
diff --git a/test/compass_test.rb b/test/compass_test.rb
index ed3b8581..4e1bad00 100644
--- a/test/compass_test.rb
+++ b/test/compass_test.rb
@@ -23,8 +23,11 @@ class CompassTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
   def test_on_stylesheet_saved_callback
     saved = false
     filepath = nil
-    Compass.configuration.on_stylesheet_saved {|filepath| path = filepath; saved = true }
-    within_project(:blueprint) {  } #requires a block but we don't need to pass anything - sdavis
+    config = nil
+    before_compile = Proc.new do |config|
+      config.on_stylesheet_saved {|filepath| path = filepath; saved = true }
+    end
+    within_project(:blueprint, before_compile)
     assert saved, "Stylesheet callback didn't get called"
     assert filepath.is_a?(String), "Path is not a string"
   end
@@ -122,17 +125,22 @@ private
     end
   end
 
-  def within_project(project_name)
+  def within_project(project_name, config_block = nil)
     @current_project = project_name
     Compass.add_configuration(configuration_file(project_name)) if File.exists?(configuration_file(project_name))
     Compass.configuration.project_path = project_path(project_name)
     Compass.configuration.environment = :production
     args = Compass.configuration.to_compiler_arguments(:logger => Compass::NullLogger.new)
+
+    if config_block
+      config_block.call(Compass.configuration)
+    end
+
     if Compass.configuration.sass_path && File.exists?(Compass.configuration.sass_path)
       compiler = Compass::Compiler.new *args
       compiler.run
     end
-    yield Compass.configuration
+    yield Compass.configuration if block_given?
   rescue
     save_output(project_name)
     raise