Featherstone Quiltworks

Yesterday I showed you a very unexciting empty basket I was working on, and last night I made a second one.  In a matter of seconds, they look like this:

(in my best infomercial voice:)  But Wait!  There’s More!!! 

Remember the flannel boards teachers used, back before we had all the new electronic wizardry?  By using a nice furry flannel as the background of my basket wall hanging, then cutting out simple felt shapes to put into the basket, my Basket of Blessings pattern was born.  I made two examples:  one with basic black and a wonderful basket-weave fabric FQ I found at Jo-Anns, and the second one features a pieced basket made from a fun stripe (also found at Jo-Anns). 

Imagine all the different cut-outs you could make…smaller Easter eggs with your children’s names on them, shamrocks, hearts, red white & blue flowers, apples, pumpkins, poinsettias, snowflakes, and this list is only limited by your imagination.  It literally takes seconds to whip off one set of felt shapes and press something new into place.

This would be fun to do with children, too, and include them in the process.  Coloring books are a great resource for simple shapes, although mine were so basic, I drew them freehand before cutting them out.  Also think about all the applique’ books and patterns we have that have basic shapes.  Such possibilities. 

Also, although you can’t tell from the pictures, the baskets are open at the top so that the felt shapes can be tucked down into the “basket” for a little extra security.

So tell me what you think, and if you like it, be sure to bookmark me so you can come back for the upcoming tutorial.  Also, don’t forget I have a give-away starting tomorrow (Wednesday, March 24th)!

–Sue