Basket Weaving??

I found some really pretty variegated blue cording that I want to use to make a little basket.
I also have some raffia. I need a simple pattern and instructions. I've never made a basket before.

I like this photo at About.com because it looks simple? I have experience with Leslie Shepherd's tutorials and so far I'm not too impressed. Maybe someone else has an idea?

This is the second part of Leslie's tutorial. Not so simple.

If anyone has made a beginner's basket, please let me know how you did it. I just want something simple that I can use to hold logs next to my fireplace. Nothing fancy. Easy?

I've heard that basket weaving is one of those skills we were supposed to learn somewhere along the way. Guess I missed that class. Come on Casey, help me out here!

Sweet Dreams!
Kathi

Dollhouse Renovation Day 5 - Painting and Repairs

The painters arrived late this afternoon to paint the living room. Two rather scruffy little guys came with ladders and buckets of yellow paint. They threw some paint on the walls, primed the trim and then headed out.

Seems like they were in a big rush - something about a frogger band that was playing down the street? They said they would be back tomorrow to finish up. They were only here for about an hour. It got too dark for me to see if they did a good job.

Before they arrived I checked out the front door. I'm going to paint that. I don't trust just anyone to do that right. I tugged on the door, lifted it up and down a bit but it wouldn't budge. I want to take it down so I can properly sand and paint it. I don't want to break it either.

Since I couldn't figure out how to get the door off the frame, I searched for a tutorial and found this video. Isn't it wonderful that you can Google anything and find what you're looking for!



The batteries in my camera are too low for me to take any photos of the work in progress but I'll post some tomorrow. I really need to see this paint job in broad daylight anyway...

Sweet Dreams,
Kathi

Construction Zone

I went to Lowe's yesterday to get some paint and flowers. I finally got my mailbox garden planted! It's been SO hot and dry here but I'm hoping the seeds will come up and the flowers will grow! I got some primer for my furniture projects too. I have WAY too many projects! My dollhouse is just one of them!

I wandered around the store for a while looking for dollhouse supplies. Didn't find much but I did find a little saw and dremel kit that I think will be very helpful when I start making furniture.
I'm wondering, how do you work on your pieces? Do you have a special table or workbench? How do you secure the wood when you cut it? I don't want to cut off my fingers!

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Check out this workroom! Wouldn't you LOVE to have a space like this!? I know I would!

Courtesy of dollhslvr @ Home and Garden Webshots

I also stopped by Michael's. Oh my! A miniaturist's paradise! I was so disappointed that they didn't have any of those little hutches that everyone is talking about.

Photo courtesy of Doreen's Dollhouse Miniatures

The girl there told me they recently removed their dollhouse section. So sad! If anyone knows where I can get these please let me know!


So I'm wishing and hoping and planning and dreaming! One of these days I'm going to actually do something constructive!

Blessings, Kathi