I Excel at Futzing

I had an entire day to finish all my rag baskets, but managed to spend the majority of hours doing other stuff -- none of which I can account for -- and this left just enough time to complete one. The basket in the background was finished a few days ago and I forgot to photograph it.

In case you'd like to see what the fabric looked like before it was torn into one inch strips... Oh, btw, I cut and sewed the colored circles to make the grapes that embellish these baskets.

Hummin' Along

Finishing rag baskets is going smoothly. I might even be done this weekend, then I can begin work on the last series of purse hooks.

Front and Back

Both sides of a rag basket...

Finished Baskets

Most of the time I'm satisfied with what I've made. Other times the work is nearly perfect, which isn't quite good enough. Do I attempt to rework the piece until it's just right? Or leave it?

I love mixing textures in the same fabric. This came out just right.

The rosebuds are my favorite. The best detail is barely visible at the top edge of the basket, a rose hip.

Texture

My eye doesn't detect pink in this fabric, but the camera sees it in the lighter tones of the dye... or maybe it's my lighting. The rag basket and the flowers are all from the same piece of silk, there are many gradations of color.

Coming Together

This is the part I love, fussing with the flowers, finding just the right placement, and pinning them into place. Beads and other sparkles will be added. Almost all the baskets have flowers now. I'll be working on stems and leaves too. With luck, all rag baskets will be done by week's end (fingers crossed and wishful thinking).

Happy Birthday wishes to Masami in the land of the rising sun! Have a wonderful day, my dear friend.

Efy Tal

This beautiful necklace was made by Efy Tal. I met Efy at Old Town Saturday Market in San Diego and I wanted nearly everything she had for sale. I think she's there every weekend. Her work is delicate and feminine. See Efy's website for more gorgeous jewelry or in stores along the West Coast.

Tiny Flowers

Another case of my bulletproof handwork: too much Fray Check. It's visible in each flower where it dried stiff, but the green calyx I'll make later will cover it up.

This was my first attempt at little buds. A nice thing about making flowers is, as in nature, they are perfectly imperfect.

Have a safe and happy Independence Day. Happy Birthday, USA!

Selvedge Edge Flowers

A few more flowers using the same technique: 7-8" length of selvedge edge, 1/4" wide, fold in half so it's even skinnier, tie 5 overhand knots approximately 1" apart... With upholstery-weight thread, push needle through halfway between knots -- make it like an "M" shape with overhand knots as petals tips... Whip around center and tie off. Voilà! a five-petaled flower!

The Details

Maybe no one but me will notice, but I don't care. Details are nice.

Gold threads were cut from the back of a woven obi scrap. Three pieces were tied together, folded in half, then a tiny bead was slipped over the six threads. These are stamen.

Selvedge edges folded in half under the heat of an iron become a five petaled flower.