back-tack: finished product

I know I still have a whole month to finish up my back-tack notions holder but my raw materials were just too enticing (especially the super soft gray wool) and I had to jump on it. It was really fun to picking out things from my stuff to match up with what Alison sent me. I had picked up this dark brown purplish basket to make another little sewing basket bag. I thought maybe it'd go with my b-t stuff or I'd make it for something else. It matched perfectly! I did a little sashiko embroidery action on the wool, used the beautiful floral fabric and ribbon Alison sent and made this basket bag as my notions holder.

I made a funny little pin cushion to go inside. I had this sample of pippi knee socks yarn that Cheryl sent me that was just the right color scheme so I was trying to figure out what to do with it. I ended up knitting it into a little patch that I used as the bottom of this pincushion. I had this fantastic super thick fuzzy wool felt in deep eggplant purple that totally matched the floral fabric so I used that for the top along with some ribbon Alison sent and some cool Japanese fabric that Eireann just sent me. I was going for something like the kimono quilt design with some sashiko embroidery on the sides. Tim thinks it looks like a bar of soap. For the pins I glued some pretty glass czech beads onto some straight pins.

I used the rest of the felt to make this needlecase. The beautiful fabric covered buttons are from my back-tacker, the gray polka dot fabric is vintage kimono fabric that I had from Amy. I just love how it all came together.

I did a little wonky sashiko on the inside too.

Now for what to put inside. I'm going to send along the rest of the beautiful fabrics Alison sent me that I didn't use - except the rest of the Liberty and the gray wool - those I'm keeping for me! :) I've also chosen some fun (I hope) notions and crafty supplies from my collection. And then this afternoon I went to the bead store and filled one of those little wood bowls with some really pretty beads - vintage Czech, German and Japanese, glass and porcelain. My b-t'er gave me an 'anything goes'. I hope these sing to her.