LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY PURSE

A while back I found a cast-off, lunch-sized picnic basket at Goodwill (thrift store).  I don't know how old the basket is, but it appears to have been around the block a few times.  I paid $2.50.  Of course, I didn't take any before photos because I was too excited with my new found treasure and wanted to get started with the revamp right away.  You can take my word for it that it was in desperate need of some TLC.

Job number one was to gut the basket, thoroughly clean it, sand down the lid and paint it my favorite color.

Then I went to work crocheting numerous roses.  There are more flowers on the basket than you can actually see because I doubled some of them up to make them appear fuller and give it some various heights.

The flowers would need a platform to be attached to, so I made one using recycled cardboard and a layer of thin foam rubber which I covered with a scrap of natural colored cotton batting.  I used hot glue to adhere.

Next, I added a trim of cotton lace around the edge to hide any batting that might be visible.

After finding the center of the purse, I hot glued the platform to the top.

Around the edge I put some very sweet, pale pink velvet ribbon, just to finish it off.  The ribbon went on very neatly and I tacked it on with two sequin pins at the very back - no glue clumps here!

Then came the fun part of flower arranging.

Each flower is attached with a pearl head pin, some pink some white.  The leaves are also attached with pins, this way if anything should get dirty I can easily remove the flower for hand washing or simply make a new one, repin and send it on its merry way.

All the flowers are crocheted from various cottons such as my very favorite Tahki Cotton Classic, Paton's Grace, and maybe some crochet cottons as well as some embroidery floss.

On the front I added a pink umbrella dangle charm (which I found at Michaels) as well as some pink cherries to give the purse a front and back.

I have been stopped by more people than you can imagine (both men and women) who compliment my purse and want to know where I got it.  I proudly tell them.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new old purse.  It's a real conversation starter.

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube! 

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.

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.

HEART OF GOLD

YOU KEEP ME SEARCHING FOR A HEART OF GOLD

HEART OF GOLD

Neil Young
I want to live,
I want to give
I've been a miner
for a heart of gold.
It's these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
for a heart of gold...

View entire 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.

MR. POSTMAN

PLEASE MISTER POSTMAN, LOOK AND SEEIS THERE A LETTER IN YOUR BAG FOR ME?WHY'S IT TAKIN' SUCH A LONG TIME
FOR ME TO HEAR FROM THAT BOY OF MINE
C'MON DELIVER THE LETTER, THE SOONER THE BETTER

From the archives. Actual plain white mailbox that was purchased at Walmart and then decoupaged with Mary Engelbreit images, stickers, buttons, charms, and ribbon. Feet are made from unfinished cabinet door knobs (Home Depot), which I painted red, polka-dotted and then glued on.

View entire lyrics here.

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.