Burlap Basket

I have been slow to join the "Burlap Bandwagon".

I love all the projects I see, but the neutral color of burlap just doesn't fit with my primary color scheme.

Yesterday, I had no ideas for a new project so I went out to my creative space (sounds so much nicer than garage) and looked around.

For the month of August, I have not allowed myself to buy supplies and have challenged myself to "use what I have".

In April, I purchased this piece of burlap because I love anything with the alphabet and it just sat in a box.

I went to my Pinterest boards for inspiration and came up with these bags- the first bag is called a Flower Girl Basket.

Once I decided on the project, it was relatively easy:

1.  An oval container was used to form the basket

2.  The fabric was wrapped around the container and the edges were pinned

3.  After sewing the seam, a bowl was placed inside to hold the shape

4.  The bottom edges were pinned down

5. The bottom down was sewn down

6.  A liner made from a drop cloth remnant was sewn in when the top edge was hemmed

7.  A rectangle of cardboard makes the bottom stiff

8.  The basket is an outdoor plant container so I simply folded down the lining without finishing it off

9.  A burlap flower from Paper Source was attached with wire after holes were punched with an awl

10.  A cute little paper sticker covered the center of the flower

11.  Realizing that the paper would deteriorate quickly outside, I replaced the paper with a Tim Holtz metal tag

12.  A trip to Home Depot provided flowers

1 hour of my time . . . no money spent . . . a new container for plants.

But, I couldn't stop there - I made a quick little heart banner.

Little hearts cut out with pinking shears and filled with batting, colorful buttons were used to attach the layers and the garden window is refreshened.

I finally snapped a photo of Little Lulu - she is usually full of steam in the garden and too hard to capture.

The inspiration on the the left . . . my rendition on the right.

As I mentioned in this post, 

inspiration gets you started, but ultimately, it is about tailoring projects to who we are and how we live.

If you haven't checked out my Giveaway, click here to enter.

. . . . . . . . . . 

 I am joining these parties -

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Silver Pennies - Sunday Link Party

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

Creative Home Expressions - Creative Home and Garden Hop

Fox Hollow Cottage - 10 Terrific Burlap Ideas and Link Party

Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home - Amaze Me Monday

Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase and Party

Rain on a Tin Roof - Give Me The Goods

Alderberry Hill - Make the Scene Monday

3 Quick Projects

Between workmen in our bathroom (not a fun way to spend $$$$) and Little Lulu, I knew today would be spent at home.

 Last night I looked for inspiration for projects that would not take much time and would fit with my August mantra of "use what I have".

This cute little vignette at White Lace Cottage became my first project of the morning.

We eat on small plates for most meals (portion control) and I have lots of different colors of dishes.

We are always rummaging through the cupboard to choose a plate in the morning so this little dish strainer is perfect for holding plates and bowls for our morning fruit and yogurt.

A roll of webbing I found in my parents' garage earlier in the summer

combined with a birdcage frame I found at TJ Maxx months ago became the second quick project.

I simply stapled the webbing to a piece of cardboard and attached the key with wire.

I love the bench beneath the trees in the garden all dressed up with pillows and a banner, but the banner and the pillows are now covered with sap from the trees.

I spent too much time embroidering the banner to see it destroyed so a change in the bench became project #3.

This Moda fabric is a favorite and I only have a skinny strip left, but I was able to cut out hearts for a banner.

I placed batting in between 2 hearts, sewed the hearts together and connected the hearts with ribbon.

I washed and dried the banner so the edges would fray.

A simple basket with a plant is a much more practical choice than the cushion which I can grab from a cupboard if I want to sit and relax - unlikely with Little Lulu!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

I am joining the following parties

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

Ivy and Elephants - What's It Wednesday

Rooted in Thyme - Simple & Sweet Fridays

No Minimalist Here - Open House Party

The Pin Junkie - Friday Link Party

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday