I'm Still Here.....Just a Little Late.

At this minute, the temperature outside is exactly 100°! The humidity is high and I am very lazy. I decided that I didn't want to work on the Clockwork Cottage. I didn't want to stand on my head to paint walls and ceilings. It's just too icky.

I kind of wandered around for a while and then decided that the bottles that I am going to be making from the pens and pencils will need trays to sit upon. I dragged out my "easy" basketmaking stuff. If you want the original directions, go here. http://caseymini.blogspot.com/2008/03/very-easy-basket-tutorial.html Since I was just making tray baskets, I figured that it wouldn't take long......It wouldn't have if I had just made a couple. I wound up making eight.

I used a scrap of Penelope canvas that fit around the woodsies that I was going to use. Instead of gluing first like I usually do, I went ahead and ran the overdyed floss through it first. I normally like to glue the pre cut canvas to the base so that I can make the floss go in a continuous weave.

I decided to try something new. I did all of the stitching. Then I ran some glue over the back of the stitched area, leaving the space in between un glued. It was easier to trim that way.

I let that dry. Then I did the trimming into strips.

Meanwhile I picked out the bases that I wanted to use. I put glue on one side of each one and laid fabric on them. Then I trimmed the fabric flush with the edge.

Here are the steps in case you want to do one.

First the woodsie of choice.

Next the fabric glued and trimmed.

Then with glue on the edge of either the woodsie or the canvas, glue it around the edge and trim the end that overlaps to about 1/8".

Last step is to cut lace to fit and glue inside the rim. Oops! I missed the lace on the green one in the back row.

I can't say that I am completely happy with some of the color choices, but I will make them work with what I put inside. Just to show you, I put some of the pencil points in for size comparison.

I imagine that you are wondering where Tessie is today......Look at the colors.....Does that answer your question? No puce to be seen. She refused to come out and help unless I did puce. Alas....No Tessie. Now I know how to keep her at bay. I am not making the making of the purple ones til last. So there!

See you tomorrow.