O Wild West Wind

O wild west wind, thou breath of Autumn's being...

I know Fall is truly here when the blustery days begin. It was wonderfully gusty today, though our wild autumn winds are east winds, sweeping down the Columbia Gorge, and not west winds, as in Shelley's poem.

Speaking of poetry, you're bound to be battered with it this month. My kids all knew what was coming when the leaves began to color and the temperatures to drop--Mom would go on a poetry rampage. They're all grown up and moved away now, so I'll just have to pester you with it! But not just yet.

In the post before last, I committed myself to finishing projects--at least two--before starting any new ones. I'm happy to say this has been the prod I've needed. Let me show you what I finished this week.

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!

Some of you more intrepid readers will recall I mentioned this craft almost a year ago, in this post:

http://redletterdaybags.blogspot.com/2011/11/etsy-treasury.html

It's a little box made from old Christmas cards, a craft that popular decades ago. On rare occasions, I still find examples of it in antique stores. I've seen similar boxes, and also a few baskets and bowls made from cards, but not many. Let me share some of the steps with  you.

For me, the hardest part is choosing the cards. I want them to be somewhat complimentary in terms of color and theme. Each piece of the box is composed of two cards, so to make this box, 12 cards were required.
Each piece must be cut out from a pattern, placed back to back, and then I punch holes in them, trying to making them as evenly spaced as I'm able. Next comes to crocheting: three stitches in each hole. (Think shell stitch.) I was fortunate enough to have a big spool of gold crochet cotton, so I used that.

Once I've got the basic pieces put together and trimmed with crochet thread, it's time to join them with good old needle and thread, using a matching shade. When the box is shaped, the lid is attached.

Now I'll open the box and let you peak inside.

Kind of fun, huh? My daughter-in-law was watching me stitch the pieces together and she remarked, "You could make kits and sell those on Etsy." I had thought maybe of putting the boxes up for sale--there may, after all, be someone else like myself who is captivated by trifles--but I hadn't thought of kits. Or maybe just the pattern and detailed instructions...  hmmm....  It's a thought.

Anyway, I was so happy to have finished this thing! I've got a bunch of them cut out and ready to sew together, but I just never seem to get around to it.

I was so pumped up from completing this project, that I whooshed around and finished a few more. I mended my beautiful brown vintage coat with the mink collar (I never even got to wear it last year because it needed to be rehemmed and a button replaced, the kind of task I can put off endlessly). I made a cord for a child's winter hat so I can put it up for sale finally, and I sewed up several bags that had been cut out and then abandoned back in the spring.

It's a good feeling to see these neglected projects finally getting completed and cleared away.