Up Cycled Basket with Vintage Trim

Several years ago, I spray painted this basket and set it on my shelf. I was looking at the left over vintage trim from my other project and I had an idea for what to do with it. I made this in to a ribbon to decorate this basket with added pom-pom trim.

I liked the basket before, but now I like it better! I would love it if I could find more trim like this. What is the best option to find unique ribbons and trim when I can't just jump on a plane and go to NYC to shop at the garment district? Do you have a favorite online shop you go to? Any tips? Please do share!

Before and After---Basket handbag---

A few posts ago, I posted this picture and said I was going to make a liner for the basket...


...and I did! I wanted the liner to be washable, so I decided not to sew it onto the basket. This way I can make a few different ones and enjoy the basket.

I have a very small piece of Sea Side Rose fabric left. I'm going to make a small bag to put into my basket. That should be the last of the Sea Side Rose fabric, I'm ready to move on to something else.

Basket Makeover

I am feeling a lot better today, which means... I am back in to sewing! I am working on this quilt and I have another project I want to do.

I made this baby quilt for Rachel, when I was still pregnant with her.



In fact, I start working on this one rignt after I found out that I was having a girl. The fabric I used is one of my most favorite lines from Moda, designed by "Three Sisters" called "Sea Side Roses". In fact I love these fabrics so much that I named the quilt after the line.



I sewed this tag on the back of the quilt, and was going to write the name of the baby when I decided her name but forgot about it. My first two were boys, and I made them a bunch of quilts and blankets. I was so excited that I was finally able to make a quilt for a baby girl! I went to a quilt shop and when I saw these gorgeous fabrics, I almost fainted. They were exactly what I was looking for, delicate flowers, soft colors of pink and greens...sigh

Anyway, I finally decided what I am going to do with the left over fabric. I found this fantastic basket at DI about six month ago. I took off the old lining and cleaned it. I was going to get back to the project when I find the perfect fabric for the lining. Ha! I had it all along.



The summer is half way over but I don't think it is too late to have a sweet basket to go out, right?

My Love For Baskets

I don't know how and when it started, as long as I can remember I've always loved baskets. They are pretty, decorative, useful; I just love looking at them too. The baskets in the pictures are mostly from thrift stores and yard sales. This is not all of them that I have!



After I found about the CPSIA, I was pretty sad about the whole thing. I am still hoping that law will be amended.

I've decided I can do other things too. One of the things I'm thinking of doing is restoring and refurbishing those baskets and sell them on etsy! I blogged about some baskets that I fixed up way back in September 08.



The whole process is fun for me. Finding a basket is like a treasure hunt. Then thinking of its potential is exhilarating. Selling them is like finding a new home for them.

I know lots of my friends like yard sales, if you see something that I might like, give me a jingle!

Basket style bags

One of my favorite things to do is to go to second hand stores or garage sales and find something that will stimulate my ideas. These are the three basket style handbags I had fun recreating and making.



Originally, this was a deeper basket and had a long handle. At first I couldn't decide if I liked it or not, but since I liked the color, I decided to take it home. Usually it takes a few days for me to make up my mind and decide what to do with my new project, unless a good idea hits me rigth away; I don't want to mess it up. I cut off the old handle and a few inches off the top and added a new handle. I used the same fabric as the new handle to finish the top too. This bag is so soft and one of my favorite bags for this summer.

This one had a dome shaped lid with latch but it was broken. So I brought it home and took the broken part off, added new lining and a new top. For the finishing touch I used a glue gun to put decotive trim around the edges. Since the handle is so delicate I don't use this basket as often as I would like to, but every now and then when I go out by myself I take it with me.

The last one, I actually crocheted it. Call me crazy but the material I used to make this was so tough on my hands that I thought I developed arthritis the next morning. I will never do this again. Althouth, I love the result I got. I used table cloth to finish off the bag. I love this bag because it has the primitive/shabby chic charactor I was after.

I think it is a great feeling to take the ideas in your head and actually create something you can see and feel. It is a sense of accomplishment. I am always looking for new projects I can put my heart and hands on.

Everybody, happy creating!