GOING TO THE CHAPEL OF LOVE

Not me - this purse!

This purse is on its way to merry old England, London to be exact, for a bride who is soon to be married. It was knitted with thousands of teeny-tiny off-white pearl seed beads. The interior has a silk lining and vintage gold braid trim. Hope she loves it!

S.W.A.K.

ENGLISH TEA

With all the bead-knitted purses I've made, you can probably imagine that I have quite a stash of leftover beads, and I do, but not enough to make another purse out of any one particular color. So, what to do, what to do... How about embellishing? Can you guess what I'm making?

S.W.A.K.

LUCK BE A LADY

1,521

That's the number. I had no idea there were that many Conversation Hearts in the jar. I usually purchase one or two bags each year and add them to the collection. After the holiday, they all go into a Ziplock bag and get stored in the freezer until the following year. We never eat them - just like to look at them. So, if I have checked the comments correctly, the winner is La Tea Dah of Gracious Hospitality who guessed 1,486 - only off by 35 hearts. Congratulations!

Now remember, I've already had a few bead-knitted purse giveaways and I plan to do more, so be sure to check back often. Spring is right around the corner and I just love the color blue (hint, hint).

S.W.A.K.

CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE

This may be coming soon to a mailbox near you! Pink pearl bead-knitted purse and a chocolate bar charm to boot! Here's all you have to do to enter:

Guess how many small conversation hearts are in the jar - yep - that's it. Make a comment and put in your lucky number.

Feeling like you could use a little extra luck? Then paste the conversation heart giveaway image on your blog with a link back here. Come on back and tell me you did it and then go ahead and make another guess.

If you can't figure out how to post the icon, just go ahead and blog about it with a link to my site and let me know, and you can take another guess that way too.

Now you don't have to have a blog to enter, but leave a way for me to contact you should you have the correct entry.

Since it's hard to tell the exact size of the jar, I'll give you a little info - it measures approximately 10" from top to bottom, including the lid, and the circumference is about 20". The jar is about two-thirds full.

Contest closes Sunday, February 14th, Noon EST. Winner to be announced sometime before the close of Valentine's Day. Closest guess wins.

So what are you waiting for? GUESS!

S.W.A.K.

MARTHA MY DEAR

I can hardly contain my excitement! I just found out that two of my Valentine ideas are listed on Martha Stewart's website under Your Best Valentines - Yes, that's right - I said TWO - Woohoo! And the best part is that there are only 13 (actually 12) picked as the best ones - so that makes it even better - I've got 2 out of 12 listed! Wait, wait - there's even a link to my blog in the bead-knitted purse description!

Here are the two links to her site where my Valentine ideas are - Valentine Heart Lollipop Flower Basket and Have A Heart Bead-Knitted Purse.

Thanks for listening - I just had to tell someone!

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - I'm going to be having a Valentine giveaway - so check back soon and I'll let you know what it is going to be.

P.P.S. - Last year Frannie presented this bead-knitted purse to Martha when she visited Stew Leonard's in Norwalk, CT for a book signing.

BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS

And yet, another bead-knitted change purse - this time in aqua with a silver-tone frame and butterfly charm.

Speaking of beads...

Look what I found today - these gorgeous pink silver-lined seed beads! I was at Braswell Galleries today (it's a gigantic warehouse and they have all kinds of vintage - you name it, they've got it) and there they were, just waiting for me. There is just enough to make another change purse. I'm thinking Valentine.

S.W.A.K.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

...AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This vintage-inspired, bead-knitted change purse is hand-knitted with size 11/0 seed beads and size 8 pearl cotton thread. I call the color of these beads "vintage pearl". The purse is attached to a brass-tone kiss-lock frame with additional pearl seed beads. I have also added a brass colored pocketbook charm to one side of the frame. The change purse is not lined, but coins do not fall through the knitting. Purse is finished off very nicely on the inside as well. Click on the photo for a close-up.

S.W.A.K.

CHERRY CHERRY CHRISTMAS

Have A Merry Cherry Cherry Christmas

Tonight I'm going to show off this sparkly lime-green purse. The purse is attached to a silver-tone kiss-lock frame. I have also added a charm with two pink cherries and green leaves that match the bead-knitting. The change purse is not lined, but coins do not fall through the knitting. Purse is finished off very nicely on the inside as well. Click on the photo for a close-up.

Check back tonight for another bead-knitted change purse - a vintage pearly color.

S.W.A.K.

WHITE WEDDING

It Was A Nice Day For A White Wedding!

Last weekend was Jenny's wedding and Frannie was one of the flower girls. (Jenny from birtyboutique0i0 is my niece and Frannie is her youngest cousin). Here's the purse I made for Jenny's special day.

I made this bead knitting pattern up myself, although there is a purse that looks similar to it in the Somerset Wedding publication. I tried to find that pattern, but it was never available, so I just did my own (the very first bead-knitting pattern I've written - the first of many to come). Very proud of it and the beaded fringe that I strung by hand. It also has a nice satin lining with little rhinestones all around the interior frame edge to hide the stitching. I even attached a tiny diamond ring charm to the top of the purse. Hmmm, I wonder if Jenny ever noticed it. I completed this purse about 3:00 AM the morning of the wedding - nothing like waiting until the last minute. :) Hey, I work best under pressure!

I've got lots of pictures to show you, including the wedding favors and Frannie's flower girl headpiece that I made. Stay tuned.

S.W.A.K.

PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG

I've been busy with this commissioned piece. Aqua blue seed beads with silver-tone frame and chain.

Aqua blue lining and rhinestone trim. Yum!

View lyrics here.

S.W.A.K.

I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU

Hold Me Close, Hold Me Tight
Make Me Thrill With Delight
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
With All My Heart

This one has Thimbleanna's name on it. She was the lucky winner of the Baby It's Cold Outside giveaway. It is made from crystal clear beads, white thread and a silver-tone frame. with a kiss-lock closure. It also has a cute little heart locket charm attached to it.

S.W.A.K.

View complete lyrics here.

BABY, IT'S REALLY COLD OUTSIDE!

I'm talking single digits. But that's not why you tuned in, is it? You want to know who won the beaded purse, don't you? Well, the Grand Poobah herself (Frannie) has spoken, or should I say chosen, and the winner is: Hey, Thimbleanna, Come On Down!

S.W.A.K.

SOCK IT TO ME, BABY!

Okay, maybe I'm dating myself with that expression, and maybe these aren't really socks, they're stockings (although you could call them Christmas socks), but this was only song that came to mind that was even remotely close. And, yes, I know Christmas was several weeks ago, but I just got around the untrimming the tree today and I wanted to show you these stockings before they were put up in the attic until next Christmas. So here goes:

Stocking that was made out of a vintage, unsalvagable quilt, circa 1900. My husband gave this to me years ago. I still have the tag of authenticity on it.

I made this one, some years back. It is pieced and quilted by hand - I even applied the binding by hand - why? I don't know. It's just the way I do most things. Too bad you can't see the quilting in this. I guess the thread matches too well. But, hey, you can get a good look at my quilting stitches on the quilt in the background.

Here's a gem. Hand-knit by my sister, Roxanne. A gift from Christmas 2007. Soft and luxurious!

SOCK IT TO ME, BABY!
Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels

Sock
Oh, I'm so ready
Sock
Come on now, baby
Sock it

Honey in the beehive
Honeybunch, ha
Every time you kiss me
Hits me like a punch
Ready ready, ready, ready, ready
Ready or not
I want, yes I do, what you got
Sock it to me baby, baby
Sock it to me baby, baby
(Gotta) Sock it to me baby
Sock it to me, baby
Sock it to me, baby
Sock it

(Listen and View Complete Lyrics Here)


ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT TO ENTER

S.W.A.K.

OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL(S)

Frannie and her American Girl dolls: Lauren, Samantha, and her newest doll, Julie, from the 1970's. I love the snowy chic oufit Lauren is wearing. Thank you, Janet, for the Christmas quilt. The winner from the Peppermint Twist giveaway is PamKittyMorning. Did you have a great Christmas everyone? Sharon, I'm making you a card. Everyone, have a Happy New Year!

FRANNIE S.W.A.K.

The above was Frannie's very first post. Hope you enjoyed it. My niece, Jenny, at Birtyboutique0i0 has just started her own blog. Won't you take a moment to wish her a Happy New Year and welcome her aboard? Don't forget to come right back here and enter the Baby It's Cold Outside giveaway!

You knew this was coming, so here are the lyrics. You can listen to this vintage audio here.

OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL
(1911)
Music by Nat D. Ayer
Lyrics by Seymour Brown

Hon-ey dear, Want you near,
Just turn out the light
and then come ov-er here,
Nes-tle close Up to my side,
My hear-t's a fire
With love's de-sire.
In my arms, rest com-plete,
I nev-er thought that life
could ev-er be so sweet Till
I met you, some time a go,
But now I know I love you so.

Oh! you beau-ti-ful doll,
you great big beau-ti-ful doll!
Let me put my arms a-bout you,
I could nev-er live with-out you;

Oh! you beau-ti-ful doll,
you great big beau-ti-ful doll!
If you ev-er leave me
how my heart will ache,
I want to hug you but I fear you'd break

Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, you beau-ti-ful doll!

Prec-ious prize, Close your eyes,
Now we're goin' to vis-it
lov-er's par-a-dise, Press your lips
A-gain to mine, For love is king

Of ev'-ry thing. Squeeze me dear,
I don't care! Hug me just as
if you were a griz-zly bear
This is how I'll go through life,
No care or strife When you're my wife.

Oh! you beau-ti-ful doll,
you great big beau-ti-ful doll!
Let me put my arms a-bout you,
I could nev-er live with-out you;

Oh! you beau-ti-ful doll,
you great big beau-ti-ful doll!
If you ev-er leave me how my heart will ache,
I want to hug you but I fear you'd break

Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, you beau-ti-ful doll!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE!

Be sure to check out the other great giveaways at Whirl Into Winter hosted by Quilting With Debi.

S.W.A.K.

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

HEY, THIMBLEANNA, COME ON DOWN!
Okay ladies, here's your chance to win your very own bead-knitted purse. Take a look at those four pictured on the right - that's right - you could be the lucky winner - except that yours will be made out of crystal clear beads and white thread (I'm thinking ice and snow). I'm also going to add a little charm to the side, but I haven't decided which one yet. You know you want one! (Even Jennifer Paganelli and Martha Stewart are the proud owners of one.)

Here's what you have to do to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me what your New Year's resolution is. You must state a resolution or you won't be entered. If you don't have one, make one up.

2. If you don't have a blog, you must leave an e-mail address so you can be notified if you win, otherwise, you won't be entered.

3. Open to U.S./Canada residents only.

4. Keep it FUN!

Now go on over to the Whirl Into Winter giveaway event hosted by Quilting With Debi and enter all those other contests. On January 15th, at 8:00 PM eastern time, Frannie (who else?) will pick the winner.

You know I'm a sucker for a good song, so here are the lyrics to Baby It's Cold Outisde (my favorite version is with Tom Jones and Marianne Faithful):

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE
Words and music by Frank Loesser
As Performed By Tom Jones

I really can't stay
But baby, it's cold outside
I've got to go away
Ah, baby, it's cold outside
This evening has been
Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice
I'll hold your hands,
they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry
Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor
Listen to that fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry
Oh beautiful, please don't hurry
Maybe just a half a drink more
Why don't you put some
records on while I pour
The neighbors might think
Oh baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink
There's no cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how
Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell
I'll take your hat,
your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
Mind if I move a little closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried
What's the sense of hurting my pride
I really can't stay
Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside
I simply must go
Oh, baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no
You know it's cold outside
This welcome has been
I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm
Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious
Oh, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door
Like waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious
Eww, your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a cigarette more
Never such a blizzard before
I've got to go home
Ah, baby, you would freeze out there
Say, lend me a comb
You know it's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand
I thrill when you touch my hand
But don't you see
How can you do this thing to me
There's bound to be talk tomorrow
Making my life long sorrow
At least there will plenty implied
If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay
Get over that old out
Ah but it's cold outside

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

S.W.A.K.

MELLOW YELLOW

(It even has a an adorable little slice of cake charm attached.)

Donovan
Mellow Yellow
I'm just mad about Saffron
Saffron's mad about me
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me
{Refrain}
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
I'm just mad about Fortean
Fourteen's mad about me
I'm just mad about Fortean
She's just mad about me
{Refrain}
Born high forever to fly
Wind velocity nil
Wanna high forever to fly
If you want your cup o'er fill
{Refrain}
(So mellow, he's so yellow)
Electrical banana
Is gonna be a sudden craze
Electrical banana
Is bound to be the very next phase
They call it mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
Saffron -- yeah
I'm just mad about her
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me
{Refrain}
(Oh so yellow, oh so mellow)

S.W.A.K.

It's alright, all night, it's alright
It's okay, all day, it's okay
You'll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist
Yeah, yeah

If you don't want to make a Cookie Swap post, why don't you e-mail me your favorite Christmas cookie recipe and I'll copy it into my "The More The Merrier" Christmas Cookie Swap. I know you've got a favorite! (CuteStuffInside at hotmail dot com - and please be sure to fill in the subject line with "Cookie Swap").

THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!

P.S. - Get on over to Jennifer Paganelli's blog and check out her Christmas Trees post - you'll see a great holiday card holder made by Marnie out of Sis Boom fabric - notice the photo in the holder on the table (yep - that's Frannie peeking out at you!).

SKY BLUE

And yet, another purse...

Mary Engelbreit Photo Books
(where I keep pictures of everything I create)

With an Eiffel Tower charm

S.W.A.K.

Well, you like it like this, the PEPPERMINT TWIST

The MORE The Merrier (Hint, Hint)

JEN, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!

Before I put this into the mail, I just wanted to show everyone what Jen (who has waited ever so patiently) won in my First Annual Halloween Contest/Giveaway. Jen, this was made with love and I hope it was worth the wait! Enjoy!

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - For anyone else interested, I have several more of these bead-knitted purses made and they're just waiting to go into their frames (in a variety of different colors) - they are even more beautiful in person and make lovely gifts - oh, so feminine, not to mention, one-of-a-kind, and I would doubt that anyone else already has one. I'll be posting them soon - just so you know! E-mail me at CuteStuffInside@hotmail.com if you'd like one created in a specific color - the price will vary depending on the frame.