Longaberger Redeaux

If you have read my last several posts, you'll know that I went to the LB and the OC this past weekend. SERIOUSLY? IT'S ALREADY BEEN A WEEK?  When did that happen?

While two of the ladies made these large and wonderful bags with some serious killer fabric (see Karen's blog for thee bag), I wanted one too. But I kept hemming and hawing over the fact that I really use my large boardwalk basket for my sewing. 

After several minutes of vacillating (re: whining and h & h), Karen said, "Just make a new liner for the basket and be done with it." 

Wha? 

Could I really do that? Take out the original liner and change the whole look of the basket? 

Why yes, yes I could!

A mini tutorial of the journey!

My basket. Isn't she pretty?

My liner allllllll seam rippered up. I was fussin' about cutting it, but I can sew it back together if I want. And some of you out there can make a pattern without cutting....good for you!!! 

When I grow up, I will be able to do that too, maybe, probably...okay...not-so-much. 

I used the pieces as a pattern. Add 1/4" seam allowances. 

I forgot to do this in the little scoopy areas. 

It still worked, but a bit smaller cut-out would've been nice.

All my pieces. Now sew them together like you undid them,

but really low on one side, leave an opening for turning.

In this case, I made two becasue I didn't want to fuss with binding.

Put them right-sides together, add the little tabby things or ties or however the liner ties (or doesn't depending on your basket) and sew all across the top.

Taaaa daaaaaaaa, the inside

Taaa daaaaaa, the outside!

I am loving the remake!!!  What item do you have and love that needs a little facelift so it can be like a new, fresh, first blush kinda love all over again?

Mmmmmmmmmm, the smaller version of this basket, that I use as a purse, sooooooooo needs a freshening............what fabric do I have in my stash............ see ya!

I'm a winner!!!!

I got a " I make someone happy" award!!

Really, does it get any better than that? 

Thanks Karen!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Cherry Blossom Time

My daughter is in to all things oriental ( I'm told that term is passe`) She's been wanting some wall art and today it finally happened!!
Ms. Pearl came over and taught Sophie a few things about painting and next thing ya know, a wall mural is born!!

 

The Dot   L-O-V-E-S   it! 

It's even better in person!!

THANK YOU PEARL!!

Payment for a job well done!!

 A bag of plums, plum jam, an embroidered (yes, by me) tea towel and biscuits and gravy.

A paltry sum for her talent!!

Two More Embroidery Projects Under My Belt!

 I am really getting in to redwork...so much so that my sewing machine is gonna get pretty upset with me; probably mess up its tension settings on me or something! LOL

I call this one Mikey.

 He's the companion towel to the girl one I already made. I am getting pretty good with the outline stitch. French knots, however, need some serious work.

This one I did today; took about an hour. It is for the lady who was painting a cherry tree in my daughter's room..... it will be in a later posting....like tonight or tomorrow! LOL

My back stitch needs work too. Although, it is the best stitch for sharp corners and zig zaggy lines. 

By the end, it was starting to look okay.

I am not yet ready for finesse work, but I can keep right on practicing a little every night with the redwork sampler and the sublime stitching sampler. :-)  And tracing coloring book pages that I find online.....how fun is that!!  I have a friend (Denise) who is about to start giving me the booboo face for a lab tea towel. 
Yes, I have found a coloring page for that already....but I am out of tea towels. Joann's and a coupon....here I come!!

Are your balls protected?

Mine were outta control! 

Loose and bouncy, never staying put........................it had to be stopped!

My friend Karen knew just what to do....

make a ball sack!

I have recently discovered the joys of perle cotton and ball bubbles.

A basket of balls

Ball bubbles and balls in bubbles

The beginnings of the ball sack. I can't remember the pattern number, but if you can get a close-up shot, you could probably read it on the pattern piece. It is Karen's pattern, after all.

The completed ball sack.

Inside

My balls, safe and sound.

Go ahead and say it, that fabric is way past fab!! The ball bubbles are awesome sauce.

The fabric is Alexander Henry and I got the balls and the bubbles at http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/

My balls are all contained and safe from the perils of  loosey-goosey storage.

Now.....................where do I put my floss? 

:-)  I couldn't help getting a little cheeky. 

The First Annual Crafty Chicas Weekend

Yes, that was a hint that this should be an annual event! (snicker, snicker)

Denise and I headed down to So Cal to meet up with some killer blogger buddies..Karen and Amy.

I was so busy having fun, I didn't take near enough pictures.

Sooooooooooooooooo, a short photo adventure:  

 First shopping stop...M and L Fabrics. OMG This was just one little corner.

It was so overwhelming I only bought two fabrics. Jeepers!!

The quilt show portion of the Long Beach Quilt Festival was okay. PIQF is usually much better and has much more to offer for your viewing pleasure. This was really the only quilt I thought was something I might consider doing. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of beautiful quilts, the Baltimore Albums were stunning, but nothing that really spoke to me, ya know?

First two quilt show purchases...... A giant fat quarter bundle of Long Live Vintage by Adorn it. 

I have three words for ya:

To. Die. For.

The second is a package of repro charm squares. We all bought one and we are doing a patriotic themed block swap. We will have some nice sized table runners when we are through!!

Second purchase, and I spent far too much here, was at the http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/ booth. I am totally getting into embroidery and I was about to order all this online...but yeah...no shipping!!

I bought a sampler and a few perle cotton balls and some ball bubbles (more on this in a later post), needles and some printable solvy so I don't have to trace!! I can hardly wait to learn more than the outline stitch, back stitch and straight stitch....all of which need some serious work!!

The ride home (Amy's house). This is an oil derrick island. 

Not some schmoozy rich person's private island. I know, right!

Unpacking the goods

Still unpacking

Ironing Amy

Denise making mug rugs

Karen, the bag making queen!

The Crafty Chicas

The trip went sooooooo fast. It ended too soon. We need to do this again!! Soon!!!

Thanks, Ladies.......it was a totally awesome 4 days!!!

I'm back!

Spent a loverly long weekend with some great blogger and real buddies...now they are ALL real buddies!!
Back to my regular life today!!! 
And I've got some bbblllooogggiiinnnnnnnnng to do!! :-)

check out http://sewmuch2luv.blogspot.com/ for more deets. She had her computer close at hand!! :-)