bunny bucket

I should have posted this like two weeks ago, but whatever, I haven't got the foggiest idea how today is my mom's birthday (Happy Birthday, Mom!) and last week was like Valentine's Day, right?  And tomorrow it will be Easter?

So here's a seasonal project, done on time!  I was lucky enough to test the Bunny Bucket pattern for Australian designer Helen Stubbings, whose embroidery designs I have long admired.  My photos are horribly washed out (it was too sunny!) but the colors are really rich and bright and I had a great time stitching the bunnies, flowers and dragonflies.  Embroidery is so soothing and magical for me.  I had a lot of success with my satin stitches this time, too, miracle of miracles.  I usually struggle with them so much, but this time it was simple and relaxing.  See the dragonflies?

 
The frill around the top of the bucket makes it nice and girly, and while my girls requested colorful embroidery, the original design is stitched in one color and uses a faux applique method described in the pattern.   For my embroidery fabric, I chose a batik leftover I had and the lining, frill and handle are lime green with tiny gold dots.  There's a circle of plastic in the bottom (from the lid of an old ice-cream container that was holding Legos) for stability, and the embroidery was done in a single strand of DMC Pearl Cotton #8.

 
For a while I was stumped because I didn't have any boning to use for the handle, and I knew cardboard would be too flimsy, but can you guess what I finally figured out to put inside my turned-out tube?

Good excuse to eat up all those Mini Lemon Bites.  I just cut a strip from the side of the container, and it worked like a charm.  The sewing machine needle went through the plastic with no problem.  Do you think a double thickness of two layers would be pushing it?

And here's the real reason (aside from the fact that I'm just not a very good photographer)that I don't have very good photos of the Bunny Bucket.  We went to pick up Rebecca from school a few minutes earlier than usual so I could use the grass in front of the main building to pose my bucket, but Jessie really only wanted me to take photos of her with Puppy.  I should have just let her put Puppy in the Bunny Bucket, but I didn't think of it until just now.

Comments

[Beth]

It's so cute! Your embroidery looks fantastic.

[D Spack]

You lucky girl! you won over at OFransson! Have fun with those squares!

[Liz]

What a cute bunny bucket! Love the fabric you used. It was perfect. I know what you mean about satin stitch. Mine usually gathers all up. I must be too uptight. LOL

[Ali]

Love the bunny embroidery - I'm off to check it out...

[ET]

Thanks, i had a special birthday dinner with Philip on my birthday. we have to order food at Carol's house, you know why. ha ha. Actually, Philip is a very easy going baby.Miss you guys.
The basket handle is very creative. Nice work. love, mom