SING WE JOYOUS, ALL TOGETHER

Simple banner made from vintage French music sheets and gold beads, glitter, chipboard, card stock, pearl beads and star trimmings.

Close-Up. I even made a little pearl loop on each side for hanging.

FA LA LA, LA LA LA, LA LA LA

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CHERRY BOMB

Taking the time to squeeze in a post. Donut pincushions - felt, beads, wooden balls, floral wires, crepe paper ruffles, cupcake liners, mini pedestals, teacups, magnets, and a little glitter. Time's up!

S.W.A.K.

KICK IT INTO GEAR

That's what I needed to do - Kick It Into Gear. Ever go through one of those slumps, nothin' seems to "get your motor running"? It think my "lightbulb" has been on energy saver lately; maybe it was the summer heat - made me feel sluggish. But summer's over now, right? And you know what that means - I have to put away my straw purses - who made up that rule anyway?! But rules are rules, so off they go - and that's what motivated me. You see, I wanted a new purse, and I've been looking around, but I haven't found anything that said "buy me!" Everything looks so heavy and dark, and let's face it, winter is a long season. I want to carry something that's cheerful, happy and sparkly. I figured the only way I would get all that in one purse was to make it myself. So I did. It started out with, you guessed it, two placemats (I can't believe I actually made a placemat purse), but hey, don't knock it unless you've tried it, right? Well, I've had these two placements for months, maybe even a couple of years, I forget, but I always thought they were so pretty - and I had never used them. (Lightbulb gets a little brighter.) Hmmmm... hey, I've got some vintage purse handles (I've always wanted to put a new purse on those) - (brighter still). Oooo,! Oooo! - I've got some super jumbo rick rack (brighter, brighter). Eureka! - leftover sparkly beads and a vintage button with rhinestones to boot! (Put on those sunglasses!) Ready for the reveal?

Now, I don't know the exact age of these purse handles, but I think they have to be at least 75 years old. They belonged to Ethel Pekar, who was a very lovely woman. She worked for many years as the secretary to the President of the Frisbie Pie Company*. There was a fabric purse attached to the handles, but too old to use, so I gently removed it and carefully packed it away. Ethel must have owned this purse before she was married because the label she attached to the inside handle has her maiden name typed on it. I would never dream of removing this. I will think of Ethel every time I look inside.

You know, I was almost tempted to leave out the polka-dots, but I just couldn't help myself.

So what gets your motor running?

Before I forget, Frannie wants you to see her "gear":

Backpack

Lunch Box

Frannie has just started the third grade, so that means we have been purchasing a new backpack and lunch box for four years now (if you saw what they looked like at the end of a school year and then five weeks of day camp, you'd understand why we have to replace them each year). Well, each year we purchase a Hello Kitty backpack and lunch box - never any other character - not to mention HK pencils, folders, note pads, etc. We also have (had) HK purses, shirts, shorts, dresses, hats, gloves, sneakers, shoes, socks, jewelry, hair ornaments, unmentionables, toys - did I forget anything? One year we even had a HK birthday party.

Hello Kitty - don't leave home without her!

S.W.A.K.

*The Frisbie Pie Company was founded in 1871 by William Russell Frisbie in Bridgeport, Connecticut, when he bought and renamed a branch of the Olds Baking Company. It supplied pies to Connecticut retailers and restaurants, including the Yale University campus. Yale students discovered that the pie tins, inverted, had an airfoil shape which enabled them to be thrown in various trajectories by a skilled person. This eventually evolved into the Frisbee trademarked flying disc and many imitators. (Wikipedia)

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.

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.

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.

GETTING STARTED WITH BEAD KNITTING

If you can knit, you can do bead knitting! It's that simple. All you need are seed beads, needles, thread, pattern, and purse frame. But I'm going to warn you, it's very addictive!

1 Hank of Size 11, Silver-Lined Seed Beads

First, let's talk a little bit about the beads. There are lots of sites where you can order beads. I mostly purchase from Fire Mountain Gems, mainly because they have a large assortment and their prices are good. They'll also send you a huge catalog that you can drool over! Seed beads come in a wide variety of sizes, but most patterns call for size 11. They are also available in lots of colors and finishes. I just love the silver-lined beads because they really sparkle, but you can also get them in lustre, polished, translucent, matte, metallic, pearl, etc. If you opt for the translucent beads, you must be careful as to what color thread you use, because that thread will show through the beads and might alter the color of your finished piece. IMPORTANT TIP: Make sure you purchase beads that are sold by the hank! You do not want to buy loose beads because then you will have to string each bead individually - that could take forever - but hey, whatever turns you on. :) When you purchase by the hank, you can easily transfer your beads from the hank to the knitting thread.

1 Pair of Size 0000 Double-Pointed Needles

Next up - needles. Okay - you need to get used to knitting with these needles - you have to develop a callous on your left pointer finger (if you're a right-handed person). These needles are size 0000 and are very fine. The pair shown in the above photo was purchased from Bag Lady. They are inexpensive, but you need to put some rubber point protectors or small little corks on the ends to keep your knitting from falling off. If you'd like to make them more decorative, glue some pretty beads on the ends.

Size 8 Pearl Cotton Thread

Onto the thread. Most patterns call for size 8 pearl cotton (or crochet) thread. I know of three brands: Anchor, DMC, and Finca Perle Cotton (the Finca Perle Cotton is available at Bag Lady). These threads come in all sorts of scrumptuous colors. You can either pick a thread to match your beads, or something complementary or contrasting. Your choice.

Patterns

Moving right along - patterns. There are lots of bead knitted purse patterns out there, you just have to look for them. Try Bag Lady or Barb's Bags for starters. It goes without saying, that for a beginner, simpler is better. After a while you'll create your own patterns, believe it or not! :)

Purse Frames

Last but not least - purse frames. If you're going to make a beaded purse, you have to have a purse frame to go with it. Silver-tone, gold-tone, silver-plated, gold-plated, antique finish, simple, ornate - whatever suits your fancy. I like them all. You'll find some very nice inexpensive frames and some extremely expensive ones too. Two on-line suggestions for purse frames are, again, Bag Lady and Lacis. If you're making an heirloom piece, go all out and get a really nice one. Most of them have holes around the frame where the knitted piece is sewn onto. We'll talk about how to do this in a later post.

Make A Loop

Now it's time to transfer the beads. Start by gently pulling out one end of a bead strand and then make a loop near the end. Refer to photo above.

Transfer Beads

Now, take the end of your thread and insert it into the loop, leaving about a 2" tail. Pull the loop taught. Gently slide the beads from one thread to the other. You did it! Now do this again about seven more times. It's best not to transfer more than 8 strands of beads at a time because you don't want to weaken the knitting thread. Keep pushing the beads down the knitting thread and leave a generous amount of plain thread for the beginning knitting.

In almost any pattern you find, there are several rows knitted at the beginning and end of the purse that do not have any beads in it. This is because you need a section of plain knitting to attached to the frame. You can see in the above photo that I have already knitted about 14 rows. Four rows were just knit, then the pattern began. It goes like this: k3, (s2, k2)* across, ending s2, k3. That means: knit 3 stitches, slip 2 beads, knit 2 stitches (repeat across), slip 2 beads, ending the row with knit 3 stitches. Now wasn't that easy? :)

Sliding Beads Up To The Needles

The next row calls for slipping 3 beads. In this photo you can see where I knit the first 3 stitches and I'm now getting ready to slip 3 beads. Take 3 beads and slide them up to the end of the thread closest to the needles.

Next, insert your needle and knit the next two stitches. Don't knit too loosely, as your beads may slide around too much.

Here's what it looks like from the back. Actually, the front and back are exactly the same. Now follow your pattern and keep going. Most purses are worked in one piece. Work the pattern all the way to the bottom, then reverse it and work it all the way back to the top again. You might find an occasional decrease or increase at the edges, but mainly the pattern takes its shape from the amount of beads you slip. One more tip - when you run out of beads, make sure you have enough to complete a row - never end in the middle of a row because you won't be able to hide your threads - then cut your thread, leaving a nice tail, transfer more beads to the thread, attach to your knitting and continue on. You're going to love it! :)

Here are some of my current purses in progress:

This was my second purse. It is completely knitted, but I haven't attached it to a frame yet. I believe these beads have a little sheen to them, but they are not silver-lined. This purse also has a bead knitted gusset for each side to give the purse a little depth. It measures about 7" long.

Here's a blue one. It is a different pattern from the black. The beads are silver-lined. It's about 6-1/2" long.

White bridal purse. It's made with pearl beads that have a polished finish. The top of the purse has a bead between each stitch. This is my own pattern (I told you it's possible to create your own after you get the hang of it). I'm not exactly sure how long it will be yet. I'm also going to put beaded fringe on the bottom when it's complete. Can't wait!

Yellow silver-lined change purse - really sparkly! Knitting is done - have to attach to frame. A very happy color!

Olive green, polished beads. Change purse - knitting complete - needs frame. These beads have a real vintage look to them.

And there we have it! When I get the Halloween contest/giveaway purse knitted, I'll show you how to attached it to a frame. I'll bet you can't wait! :)

S.W.A.K.

YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!
ONLY 9 GUESSING DAYS LEFT

I DID IT!

I did itI I cut into my Grand Revival Design fabric by Tanya Whelan. I'm making an Amy Butler "Frenchy Bag", remember? This is where it's at:

These are the front and back panels. I opted for beaded fringe. Couldn't help myself. I found the perfect beads at Knitting Central in Westport, CT. The only problem was I couldn't figure out how to attach them without some of the ribbon showing. So, after one try, I decided I didn't like it and took the ribbon off. What I ended up doing was dismantling the beads and sewing each piece of fringe on individually. I still have to do the other panel.

This is what it looks like on the inside of the front panel. I marked off where I wanted to put each piece of fringe, then, using a beading needle and some kind of special beading thread, I restrung each piece and knotted after each addition so if one fell off, the rest would stay put. Yes, it was tedious! But well worth it, I think.

This picture shows the front panel, the piece I cut out for the lining (blue fabric), and the pink and green pin stripe which will be used for the pocket. I can't wait to finish it!

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - Don't forget to enter your guess in the Halloween Contest/Giveaway!

BEAD KNITTED CHANGE PURSE

I LOVE making bead knitted purses. I have an addiction to it. I love the feel of it and I love all the colors beads come in. You can get silver or copper-lined beads, transparent, opaque, rainbow, metallic, high-luster pearl, etc. My favorite beads are the ones that really sparkle! People are always amazed when they see me working on a project like this. I tell them they can do it too. If you can do a simple knit stitch, increase and decrease, you can make a beautiful bead knitted purse. The most difficult part is adjusting to the very thin needles, size 0000, and transferring the beads to the size 8 thread. The purse here is made with size 11, silver-lined seed beads. It is sewn into a silver colored frame with a kiss-lock closure. How about that? Frannie's shoes match the purse. She loves sparkly things too!

S.W.A.K.