Work in Progress Wednesday

I sort of kept to my Wednesday rule (to begin nothing new) today, though I did rather bend the rules, perhaps.  

A while back I decided to look for some baskets to turn into themed sewing baskets, and on Monday, on a trip to a local garden centre, I finally acquired a couple.   So that was my 'work' started, and today I wanted to get it finished!

They were pretty cheap, so I didn't mind that although already lined, I wanted to re-line them.  

I managed to recycle a linen anti-macassar for the lining of one...

I made the most of the embroidered motif and, though you can't see it here, I also managed to keep the nice hem-stitching for the edge.  I later added some narrow stripey ribbon and a bow to finish it off.

The second one has a quirky cottage lining - I'm nearly out of this fabric now and may be forced to buy some more!

Once the baskets were re-lined, I wanted to make some complementary sewing accessories to go inside.

I covered the lids of two tins (for buttons or pins) and made two bottletop pincushions, then selected from previously made needlecases.

 I may make a scissors case for each basket - I know I have a pattern somewhere and I think it would be a nice addition - but otherwise I think these are pretty much finished, so at least they won't be hanging around next Wednesday, stopping me from getting on with the cross-stitch and the tapestry!

Winter reaches Hampshire

Although we have not reached the snowy depths of last winter, which saw Mr U-t-B skiing to work...

...and some amazing natural ice sculptures...

...it is cold and snowy enough here today to decide to snuggle beneath this...

...sit close to this...

...pull a pile of almost finished projects close to hand...

...along with a few supplies...

,,,and get cracking!

I often seem to get side-tracked from projects just when they are almost done - seems silly, but I guess it is the lure of some new idea, or perhaps because when I have an idea I just HAVE to get on with it asap or I might well forget what it was!

First finished were these.

More bottletop pincushions in festive colours

 Now at this point I must apologise for the fact that you may well have felt the need to flip your head to the side for that photo.  Don't know what is going on today, but the computer/camera/Picasa/Blogger (don't know who the culprit is - so many to chose from, all unfathomable) keeps rotating my photos without me doing anything!  Very frustratingly I have now spent AGES re-downloading them (crashing the computer once in the process) but it is still doing it!

Last ditch attempt is to take photos again, even if that does mean the nth climb down, then up, two flights of stairs.

YAY!  Success at last!

So second to be finished was a mini-matchbox cosy, and then a needlecase cottage.

Then this...

Sketch book slipcover

And last (so far), this little lady...

Russian Doll Brooch

Now to return to the quilt, the burner and the rest of the pile!

A spot of shopping and some miniature sewing

 Last Thursday, I drove down to Worthing to deliver my school's 98 shoeboxes to the depot of the wonderful Link Romania charity which we support.  It was a shame it was such a horrible day weather-wise, as the route took me through some oh-so-pretty villages where I might have got out to stretch my legs had that not been likely to result in me being drenched, if not blown away!

However, all was not lost!  As I passed through Storrington, I noticed large and interesting Oxfam shop.  So on my way back I popped in! I picked up a huge woolly cardigan, three red place mats with sweet cross-stitched ducks in one corner, a tray cloth with some very festive looking berries and these two coffee cups.

They were behind the counter, so I hadn't had the chance to look at their stamps - I just liked them.  The lady behind the counter wondered if I had heard of Susie Cooper...

A bargain, in spite of the name!

Friday saw a trip to Guildford.  Shopping really isn't my 'thing' (unless in charity shops or car boot sales!), but Miss U-t-B had a half day at school and asked if she and two friends could go shopping for something to wear to the Christmas Disco. I wanted to find a little something for one of our neighbours who recently gave birth to a lovely baby boy, so drove them in and went for a mooch around.  

I found this for the baby...

Then this dreamy-looking book, which is a good read so far!  Yes, it is Cath K paper!   I hope they'll do more like this!

Then I couldn't resist these polka dot vintage-style decorations from Paperchase.

Saturday saw a trip to the local haberdashery for a selection of fairly mundane supplies.  but nearby is the wonderful 'Sailor Boy' charity shop.  Look what I found...

A £2 bargain!

Over the weekend, when I wasn't tidying the house in preparation for Miss U-t-B's birthday celebrations next weekend, I finally got round to making some bottletop pincushions.

 The Tyrolean colourway...

Pinks and lilacs...

Mossy green and yellow...

 Snowy theme...

Fiddly, but fun!  In fact quite addictive!  Will have to be stern with myself and move onto something different before the house is overrun!

Finally, a quick reminder - my mini-giveaway ends today!  Will be putting names in a hat later on - but there's still time to enter - here - if you wish!  everything is wrapped and ready to go...