fabric basket

I love spending time searching the web for tutorials to learn how to make more projects. I stumbled across this tutorial on how to make a fabric basket. The tutorial is for a smaller basket and after making one, I decided it was time to increase the size. (auymills.blogspot.com/2008/05/tutorial-fabric-baskets.html) I wanted a basket to hold my phone books and magazines. As usual, I didn't think it through, wasted a bit of fabric, but also didn't think about the structure of a cloth basket. Where is it going to get it's form? I made a wonderful basket, but it turned out more like a tote than a basket. Back to the drawing board to figure out how to make the sides more stiff so that it can hold books and keep it's form.
I also didn't have enough interfacing for a larger basket, so I substituted a quilted mattress cover for the interfacing. (I always try and figure out a way to use recycled materials in everything I make... and I don't always make sure I have all of the materials before starting projects late at night) If I can find another quilted mattress cover at a garage sale, I think it will come in handy for projects like this.
I love this number fabric. I bought it on sale at JoAnn's Fabric. It was on the sale rack for $4 a yard and I bought it during a half off sale! When I bought it I didn't have any idea what I was going to use it for. I was happy to find this great project to use it for.

What to do with all those Scraps

This winter, after making so many mittens from recycled sweaters for the numerous craft sales I went to, I ended up bags of scraps. I hate throwing those away in the garbage because they do not decompose... or at least not for hundreds of years. I always try and think about what I can make with those scraps. This scrappy wreath was what I came up with. I was able to use a variety of colors and had fun tying all those strips of scraps onto the foam base. My kids even joined in the fun. I think if I trimmed it a little more, it would look even better. Less sad and droopy. I am thinking of making more in different color schemes for different seasons. Making this wreath also allowed my to stop and think about all of the other projects I was working so frantically to finish this winter. Each scrap tells a story!