A Tisket, A Tasket at the Library

I love libraries. I love the bookish smell of them, the quiet, the anticipation of stories to be told and mysteries to be revealed.  At our little town library, I especially love the August fundraiser . . .

 "A Tisket, A Tasket". 

Any member of the community can create a themed "basket", donate it, and watch the bids increase as the Silent Auction progresses through the month of August. Isn't this "Fairy House" basket beautifully done?

 Here are the "rules" (Just in case your library, school or club would like to replicate this idea!)

My partner in crime friend and I have had so much fun thinking up themes, scouring our "stashes" and making baskets. . . .12 of them this year!

There are about 60 baskets (any container counts as a "basket") at the library already and they are so much fun to browse through. I'm amazed at the creativity of my fellow book-lovers.

Some of the themes on display include Quilting, Movie Night, "Mom, I'm Bored" (kids' crafts). Martini's, Lobster Dinner, Book-Lovers Basket, Pretty in Pink, Glitzy Home Office, Vintage Christmas, Grandma's Kitchen, and a "Campfire Basket" with S'more supplies, popcorn,  and a book of scary ghost stories!

I could bid on them all!

Now I'm kind of sorry that my baskets are finished. In addition to the fun of making them, they are a great way to down-size my craft room, kitchen, and hidden-away collectibles. It's nice knowing that things I love, but no longer need, are going to people who will enjoy them.

This is a such a fun project and the money raised will be used to buy new books.

What could be better than that?

This post is linked to:

Flaunt It Friday #412 at Chic On a Shoestring
Happiness Is Homemade 234 at Bluesky at Home
Sundays at Home at Little Farmstead
Amaze Me Monday #277 at Dwellings

Home Tour: A Coastal Maine Farmhouse

Last week we were camping in mid-coast Maine when a dear friend invited us to Sunday brunch at her ocean front 1880's farm house. A beautiful active woman in her 80's (who still models!), our friend is known as a fantastic cook, so we couldn't wait to go.

What we didn't know was that she is also an interior decorator extraordinaire with a home that belongs in the pages of Country Living magazine.

When you step onto the side porch, the first thing you see is this old blackboard, covered with the words of a favorite poem about life by the sea. The old camp chairs are in the side entry, just outside the kitchen. I love that they are numbered!

 The little kitchen is filled with vintage cooking utensils, fresh flowers, herbs and antiques. 

Our friend is an artist at heart. She sees everyday objects as beautiful. On the way to the living room, we pass this old door hung on the wall . . . a piece of art.

She works on her watercolors in front of a big window looking out at the Atlantic Ocean . . . beautiful even on a foggy morning.

And decorates on a shoestring, using her creativity to transform flea market (and roadside!) finds.

The old iron beds in the guestroom are positioned so that they look out at the ocean.

  I could spend a week cuddled under one of those quilts listening to the sounds of the sea.

In the corner of the living room is a writing desk, an old table really . . . covered with books, notes, sketches, family photos, and yet another view of the ocean beyond.

Every corner of this home tells a story . . . 

And welcomes you to sit for awhile.

Breakfast was served on the old screened porch, with the ocean just outside.

The jam is home made and the Nasturtiums are from the kitchen garden.

No words are needed to describe this view!

I loved the little yellow playhouse hidden in the side yard.

It is surrounded by native wildflowers, which are listed on a board on the side of the playhouse!

 Here's a peek inside!

And this is the house from the driveway. There is a lighthouse just up the road.

The straw hat bird house on the door of the old garage bids us "Goodbye", although I really wished I never had to leave this place.

As the blackboard by the door says,

"I go down to the edge of the sea,

How everything shines in the morning light!"

Indeed it does.

This post is linked to:

Style Showcase #42 at Savvy Southern Style

Talk of the Town #136 at Knick of Time

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Flaunt IT Friday #412 at Chic On a Shoestring

DIY Salvaged Junk #439 at Funky Junk Interiors

Happiness Is Homemade #234 at Bluesky at Home

Sundays at Home at Little Farmstead

Amaze Me Monday #277 at Dwellings

Tips for Stenciling Flour Sack Towels

I haven't picked up a stencil brush in about 25 years . . . since about the time that country geese, ceilings covered with dusty baskets, and stenciled walls became overused died.

Recently though, I've been exploring different media for stenciling.

Flour Sack Towels make are a perfect material for stenciling and fit well with today's farmhouse decor.  They're simple, organic, and inexpensive.

My little "craft group" is planning to get together and make some of these soon, but I wanted to try the process first before attempting to teach it to others.

So . . . I've been stenciling like a crazy woman for the past three days . . . and really enjoying it!

I've learned a lot too. I actually read the directions on the back of one of my stencils and tried using fine grit sandpaper under the towel to hold it in place while I stencil . Works so well!

I also learned that the cost of repositional spray adhesive is well worth it. It holds the stencil flat so that no paint "bleeds" into the fabric and leaves absolutely no mark on the fabric when removed.

This is really fun!

I've purchased a few stencils (with 50% off coupons, of course) but have cut most of them myself  after printing templates from the Internet.

I just enlarge or reduce the printable as needed, outline it in Sharpie, place Mylar over it, and cut with an Exacto knife.  That's how this Maine lobster was born!

It's important to use good textile paint (I got mine at Amazon). After stenciling, allow the towels to dry for 24 hours before ironing for 30 seconds on the reverse side to set the colors. Now they are machine washable!

  Old craft, new use. 

I can't wait to stencil more towels to use for for fall and Christmas gifts

I've think I'm getting addicted to stenciling again!

This Post Is Linked To:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life
Amaze Me Monday #276 at Dwellings
Happiness Is Homemade #234 at Bluesky at Home
Sundays at Home at Little Farmstead
Amaze Me Monday #277 at Dwellings