Saturday, July 25, 2009

What's in YOUR WorkBasket?

The title reminds me of that commercial that became popularized by the comedian, David Spade, for the Capitol One credit card commercials! You know, the one where he works for the credit card company that answers "no" to any question, no matter what it is, LOL! The tag line that became famous from that was

"What's in YOUR wallet?"

You can (if you want to) watch the video of that commercial that launched a thousand "What's in YOUR wallet"(s)!
Thank you, Elven6

So, what's in MY wallet?

Well, not much. You see, I tend to spend any extra change that I happen to have on hand on tatting thread, tatting shuttles, and tatting books to fill my work basket, LOL! I think a more appropriate question for me would be

"What's in YOUR Work Basket?"

Do you have a Work Basket? You know, a sewing basket, trunk, fishing tackle box, or any other container full of odds and ends for your favorite craft? What do you keep in it? You may have noticed that my favorite craft is tatting. I happen to have an actual basket FULL of thread just for tatting!

~*~

See?
It's full of LOTS and LOTS of thread!
This is not even the half of it.

***

Can you spell:
"T-H-R-E-A-D A-D-D-I-C-T-I-O-N"?
LOL!I have just a little one (thread addiction, that is)!

***

Speaking of Work Baskets, this treasure box
actually contains WorkBaskets!
You see, it was custom built by my Grandfather
specifically to house the WorkBasket Magazines
that my Grandmother collected!
She was an avid needleworker. She loved to
knit, crochet, and even tat!
*
WorkBasket Magazine was a needlework
magazine that published tatting, knitting, crochet
and other patterns. It is no longer in print.
*
Just look at those beautiful joints on
the corners of the box! This was handmade!
I love it!
(And, NO, I did not put those water rings
on the top of the box! LOL!)


Fortunately, my Mother gave me this fabulous
collection of WorkBaskets after she taught me to tat.

I now have a wonderful vintage WorkBasket
Magazine collection ranging from
the 1950's to 1969 when my dear
Grandmother passed away.
I think they are fabulous!
Just look at these vintage covers!
They even have fun vintage
tatting patterns in them!
I have even added to it whenever I
find one at an antique store!


***


What is interesting about this is that I
haven't shown my WorkBasket collection
on my blog until now!
Yet, somehow, my bloggy friends have
picked up on the fact that
I LOVE vintage WorkBasket mags!


***


For instance, recently, I went over
to support a new scrapbook blog
put on by Lindsey of Two Crazy Crafters.

Lindsey is a very talented scrapper!
Her new blog is called
Lindsey's Paper Scraps.

In a gesture of bloggy pal support I went
over to her new blog and it just so happened
that I was the very first to comment on
her first blog post there!

Just look what she and Twyla sent me
as a thank you for being the first commenter!
Isn't this the cutest card EVER!?!
I just love how she used a vintage image
over some cute scrap papers!

Oh, NO!
It didn't stop there!

They also sent me some
vintage WorkBasket Magazines!
Can you believe it?

It's so cool because I do not
have these in my collection yet!

I was most excited about this
particular issue!

It has this pattern in it!
I've seen my friend, Jenni, from Australia do
this one and the photograph of her doily is
very beautiful!

Thank you so much, Lindsey and Twyla!
I LOVE the gifts you sent me!

***

Another blogger who surprised me
was Angela from The Country Cellar.

She sent me this apron that I won.
I mentioned it before here.
When it arrived she surprised me with some
goodies tucked in that pocket you see there!

One of them was this little treasure!
It's a WorkBasket Magazine
that had tatting on the cover!

Thank you, Angela!

It just so happens that I didn't have this one, either!

***

Let's not forget the WorkBasket sent to
me by Deborah of The Painted Nest!

~*~

Well, whatever it is that you're doing this weekend, whether it's filling your work basket or using up your stash, thanks for stopping by! I love your visits! Speaking of visitors, my visitor counter made it to the 50,000 mark today! Woo Hoo! I captured a screen shot of the special moment to share with all of you!
Photobucket

Ha ha! Okay, so if you haven't had a chance to enter the giveaway I'm having to celebrate the momentous occasion you can click on the button below and comment on that blog post to enter and if you have an active blog connected to your commenting profile...then, you'll be entered! You have until Midnight PST on July 31, 2009 to do so!
blog button,blog giveaway
Have fun during the rest of your weekend! I'd love to hear from you! Comments are always welcome here on TattingChic!

Thanks again,

XOXO

51 absolutely fabulous things were said:

Shirl said...

Hi, stopped by to say hello. What a cute post. I have a huge workbasket of finished cross stitch waiting for something to be done with it. Lately I've been sewing them into something rather than framing them. Your handmade card is soooo cute and how sweet of your friends to send the the Workbasket magazines. I have a few of them from my Mother in Law. Your box made my your Grandfather is a real treasure! Apron is so cute too! Still have not tried the tatting, I've been thinking about getting a teach yourself to tat book. LOL
Have a great week, Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage

IsDihara said...

Congratulations on reaching 50,000 visitors! RE: your collection of Workbasket magazines... Ohmygosh, my knees got weak seeing that antique, handmade storage box. I too, have a collection of Workbasket magazines...we should compare and possibly trade!

Oh, and no, I don't have a workbasket per se. I store my tatting threads in a 5 gallon popcorn tin. And they don't all fit, LOL!

Maggie R said...

I LOVE your blog....
Speaking of baskets.I have so much stuff there is no basket in the world I could use!!!
I do so many things which is the problem..Oh how I envy you gals that only concentrate on one art..sigh..
I am busy trying to de-stash and sell some things on my Etsy, I have barely skimmed the surface....but it takes so much time I could be creating!!!!
Ho Hum...
Thanks for a delightful break away from my work..
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie

Janiel/ janny said...

Congrats to you for the number of hits!!! That is wonderful.... I have to tell you that I just love to come here a readyou fun and sometimes silly posts. You are just so cute with your writing and it alway gives me a chuckle. :o) I remember those old magizines. My mother and grandmother use to get them and I bet if I went down in the basement of Mom's I would find a few of them LOL..
Thanks for the smile you put on my face with your post today! hugs janny

Unknown said...

Hi Shirl! I'm glad you stopped by to say hello! I'll bet your cross stitch projects are cute. I wonder if you sew them into pillows or not. I've done that before with a cross stitched piece! Thanks for all the sweet things you had to say.

Hi Isdihara! How cool that you have a WorkBasket collection, as well! We'll have to entertain that idea sometimes when I have more time. Right now, I'm afraid I do not have any duplicates and if I do I may send them to my niece if she wants them. If it turns out she doesn't want them then we'll chat about it sometime, okay?

Hi Maggie! I'm so glad you stopped by today! I know what it's like to have a ton of crafting stuff! BTW, whoever said I only do ONE craft, LOL! I only BLOG about one craft, tatting! I also do cross stitch, knitting, some crochet, scrapbookking, card making, calligraphy and a myriad of other things! Tatting is the only one I feel like I have enough info and expertise to actually blog about! Speaking of all those other things...I also have the stashes that go along with them... LOL! The basket I showed here is just a drop in the bucket (so to speak) of my tatting stash.

Janny, thank you SO MUCH! You totally made my day! I'm glad you like my post and that it made you chuckle! That is really important to me! It's good to laugh and make others laugh, too! Please visit often!

Anonymous said...

This was so fascinating. I love your work basket it is useful yet very pretty. My Grandmother does tatting. It is her needle art of choice. She sends me pieces she has made for me to use in crazy quilting. It is so delicate and beautiful. I know you'll will be making so many pretty things from all the magazines you have gotten. I love the homemade magazine box. Wood things are pretty anyway but ones that are family heirlooms are just that much more special. How fun you got magazines that you did not have in your collection. Thanks for sharing your work basket!!

Angela said...

You are welcome. That box is amazing. What a heirloom!!!!! Have you written inside it the maker and date?

Melissa said...

Awesome! But what's that? You weren't excited about the 14 day pickles??? Heeheehee

Anonymous said...

I love WorkBasket magazine too. I only have a few I collected wot the crochet patterns. My mom had a subscription when I was growing up. One can see how much your grandfather loved your grandmother in the finely cut joins he executed at the corners.

Riet said...

Ohhh woww,what beautiful all,

Hugs Riet.xx

Anonymous said...

My grandmother used to get that work basket magazine!! that was so neat to see it because that was very popular back then...I have a work basket, my mom bought me one at K-mart some years back. I keep some of my cross stitching stuff in it otherwise my cats like to get alittle too nosey with my threads...have a nice weekend! hugs, Jennifer

EnlightenedByAngels said...

Now why didn't I think of using a basket?! I have at least 10 very adorable baskets sitting around. . . I have been using the plastic bag from the store that I bought the thread at. There are many holes in the bag from the scissors dropping through. That's it! I am emptying out one of my baskets and decorating it, and putting my tatting in there. Yours is so CUTE! Loved reading this post! (ok, I love reading all your posts) (Now that I've mentioned love. . . I also love You)

((HUGS))
Your Niecey Pooh

Unknown said...

TattingChic, What a wonderful post. I love the box that your grandfather made it is truly special. With all the goodies you have been receiving lately your mailman must hate having to come to your house. Congratulations on your 50,000 comment.

Linda said...

You do have a wonderful stash of thread ....but it's a healthy addiction, always room for more.

I love your Workbasket box it is a treasure for sure...and all the books, love them.....hugs, Linda

sewmuchfun4 said...

Can you catch T-H-R-E-A-D A-D-D-I-C-T-I-O-N? Because I read through your entire post and I kind of remember a WONDERFULLY CRAFTED BOX and some cool magazines, but what sticks in my mind in crystal clarity is a sweet basket overflowing with oodles of threads followed by the magical words "This is not even the half of it." My hands are shaking as I type - I NEED MORE THREAD!
Ann

Snap said...

Does having a whole closet full of projects to do count as having a work basket?!!!! I keep anything I'm working on in a tote. The totes that come in the mail from different places (someone wants a donation) come in handy! I remember the Work Basket Magazine. It was one of my favorites.

Unknown said...

Hi Ann Flowers! That is so sweet that your Grandmother send you tatted bits to use on your CQ squares!

Hi Angela! Thanks for visiting. No, I don't have that written on the inside of the box. There seems to be 2 different versions of how the box came to be. One is that Grandpa made it special for Grandma...the other one is that he never made anything like that, how could he have made it? So, he had to have HAD it made for her. Both sources are know to be compulsively dishonest so I just go with the story that sounds the sweetest, LOL!

Melissa, LOL! You are going to have to help me out, here! The "14 Day Pickles" comment is totally lost on me!!! That said, it's good to have a visit from you!

Hi YarnJourney! Aren't those joints amazing! I've always admired them. I took woodshop when I was in Junior High School so I can especially appreciate the craftmanship!

Thank you, Riet!

Hi Jennifer! It was very popular way back when, wasn't it! I feel very fortunate to have inherited her lovely collection!

Dear Niecey-Pooh,
I think that your idea of transferring your tatting thread, beads, and shuttles (and scissors) from a holey plastic bag to a cute basket is fabulous! I hope you show us all pictures of it when you are done!!!
Love,
Aunty TattingChic
P.S. I love you, too! (((HUGS))), back!

Hi Clyde! Thanks, I love that box just as much as I love the WorkBasket Magazines it contains. I often wonder what the mailman thinks with my getting mail from all over the world! LOL! Thank you!

Yes, Linda, I couldn't agree more about the "healthy addiction" part, LOL! Tatting, or any other hobby, is a healthy coping mechanism and I'm grateful to have all of my "healthy coping mechanisms"!

Ha ha! Ann,you make me laugh! I totally understand the "shaking hands" thing at seeing threads! Now, there are metallic threads from England that I have to have (and a shuttle winder). That is right after I get the Turkish threads, of course! LOL!

Hi Snap, Totes work! Oh, let's not even get into the closet issue! I used to have a "craft closet" and a "fashion closet". Now, I just have one closet and it's a battle to the death to see who will win...the clothes or the crafts, LOL! I am into both!!! LOL!

rochambeau said...

Dear Tatting Chick,
I like what's in your basket especially! If I were to have a basket, it would need to measure:
10 feet x 18 feet & that's a hard size to find!

Happy Sunday~
xox
Constance

Cindy said...

You are one lucky 'chic' - I am envious of your Workbasket magazine collection! And as far as a container to hold my crafty projects (and fabric and thread and patterns and glue and ink and . . .) I need a whole room. [And not a particularly neat one, either] I love the handmade antique box.

Veronica said...

Holy smokes my work basket is never ending. Always over flowing and when it over flows it over flows all over the floor.

LiLi M. said...

Well I have a wire basket filled with fabric and yarn that I am going to use soon/ are using. And I use baskets for swaps. Gather everything and more for one person in a basket, that's handy too. Your basket is so cute. Have a great Sunday!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh my goodness...all those lovely vintage tatting treasures! I tell you, I could kick myself for letting my mom's supplies get lost! I would send them to YOU because you would have enjoyed them! Thank you for visiting with me today! I feel soooooo relaxed, thanks to my lavender filled day! Now I am off to do a lavender foot soak! Have a beautiful day my friend! Anita

Unknown said...

Hi Constance, I definately need a work room,too! Unlike yourself, I do not have that luxury...everything is crammed in a closet on shelves, and other surfaces, LOL! You are lucky to have a "work basket" that big! :)

I need a whole room, too, A Happy Bluebird! If you have one you are very fortunate, indeed! Thanks for stopping by!

LOL, Veronica! I know exactly what you mean!

Thanks, Lili! Baskets do come in handy for lots of things! They make lovely containers for gifts, too.

Hi Anita! Oh, don't worry too much about your Mom's supplies! I've got plenty! Enjoy your luxurious lavender foot soak! Sounds very relaxing!

Lori said...

hee hee...i loved those David Spade commercials...cracked me up...what great gifts from your friends...they knew just what you would love and appreciate!!!

Thelma said...

Love your collection of threads! And I would love to be able to tat one of those butterflys on that doiley..so beautiful!

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

A better question for me would be... what's in your workbaskets... there's no way I could survive with just one!

Lucky you, to have a wonderful collection of WorkBasket magazines! My mom used to subscribe to it, but they're long gone!

Teresa said...

Congratulations on turning over 50,000 on the counter! Your blog is such a delight that it is no surprise.

I have some of my threads in baskets at home and my newest threads in a drawer here- they'll get combined when I get home on Saturday.

Your box is such a treasure!!!!

shabbyfufu said...

I always enjoy my visits here and learn new things every time!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

I'm so happy you liked and didn't already have those Workbasket issues!!!
We really love your comments! Especialy my first one!!

Have a happy week, Lindsey

Lelia said...

Lovely post. My workbasket is a picnic basket from ??? I think Longaberger. I bought a basket for a wedding present & somehow got carried away. Found something for my SIL & ended up getting a basket for free (yeah, right) But I kept it.
I call it the basket of NAY (not another year)
I pull out whatever is on top & just work on it until it is done
Some of the stuff I've had a very long time & never wanted to part with it.
So, that is my basket story.

Unknown said...

Hi Lori! I agree, the marketing team on those commercials definitely knew what they were doing at that time! Glad you liked the vid.

Thank you, Thelma. It is a pretty pattern, isn't it?

LOL! Diane, I don't think there are many of us that have been tatting for a while have just one "workbasket", LOL!

Thank you for your congrats, Lady Doc! How fun that you got some new threads! Thank you for your nice comment about the box. It is a treasure, indeed, to me!

Thank you so much, Shabbyfufu! I always enjoy your visits and comments so keep 'em coming, friend!

Oh, Lindsey, I didn't just LIKE the WorkBasket mags...I LOVED them! I have really been hoping to find that one with the butterfly pattern in it for some time! Thank you so very, very much! You spoil me!

Oh! A Longaberger basket! Well, LA DEE DAH!!! Only the FINEST for our Lelia! I just ordered something from them earlier this year and can you believe it WASN'T a basket? LOL! It was their darling pottery sleigh that comes on a wire sleigh trivet...the wire part is the runners of the sleigh! It's really cute.

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Tatt Chic,
I love your workbasket with all the threads. I have a workbasket that sits right next to my favorite chair in the family room. It holds whatever I am working on at the moment. Right now it has several crewel projects, crocheting, napkins I am working on in cross stitch, embrodiery pillow cases and etc. All these things I do when I am not painting. Just can't sit still.

I love your workbasket collection and the wood box your grandpa made. WOW is that a treasure. I remember my mother getting workbasket magazine.
Lovely gifts you received too. And I love the apron.

Have a great week.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

Kathleen Grace said...

How wonderful to have that beautiful box that your grandfather made! Your thread addiction is like my fabric addiction, always another color/pattern to add:>)

Rue said...

You always make me giggle :)

I think it's so wonderful that you have carried on this family tatting tradition and that you have the magazines from your grandmother and the box your grandfather made :)

Sweet gifts too! Bloggers are some of the kindest people in the world :)

Right now I have a box of bills that I need to deal with LOL

xo,
rue

Tatskool said...

Congrats Chic, your post is too full of things to take it all in. I have a Workbasket collection of 4 sent to me by friends. I had never heard of them before.
Having just been inveigaled into shown some tatting space now you want me to show my workbasket!!! I have a workbasket, woven in willow when she went to basketry classes,by my mum but its still crammed with her things, including her unfinished tatting.

The Victorian Parlor said...

Hmmm...I don't have a work basket per se or even a work space like so many bloggers posted last Friday but I do have a work closet:). It's filled with vintage linens, lace, and old bottles.

Blessings,

Kim

Sally Kerson said...

I know that commercial from this neck of the woods - well I mean from this country! Don't have a work basket, cotton, if its lucky gets put into plastic boxes. However I have a wooden sewing chest. The magazines must be fascinating especially the patterns. Happy Monday!

Tracy said...

Love the box your grandfather made! I would treasure that thing forever! Great magazines too!

NeereAnDear said...

I have a HUGE work basket full of sewing... another of thread... another of beads ... another of embroidery....you get the picture....

I will have to check ... but I do believe that I have at least one of those magazines.... what a fantastic collection you have there.... way too neat!!!

Congratulations on reaching your 50 mark.... that must be so exciting....

I love all the goodies you have received.... that apron is downright darling... how lucky you are to have such wonderful friends to send you such lovely gifts.... especially finding vintage magazines for you... how neat is that?

LOTS OF HUGS

JO

laura_rose said...

Hi TattingChic...Thanks for dropping by my blog, your comments always make me feel like a real friend has called :) I LOVE your mag collection! What a wonderful reminder of your Grandmother. I hope you have made lots of treasures from such a wonderful resource! My work basket is more like a work house...way beyond basket or room...has even overflowed into car :)

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Tatting Chic, Today at work I was finally able to get onto your blog. At home my compter freezes and disconnects. I have not reason why. Any your "Work Basket Mag" are very neat. Lucky you to receive such lovely gifts. Hugs Judy

Unknown said...

Hi Cel Mar! ha ha! I love your visits and hearing what you have to share. You always sound so sincere and involved in your commenting and I appreciate that! I can believe that you are always keeping your hands busy in something making something beautiful!

Hi Kathleen! Just when I think my thread addiction is out of hand (which it is) I remember my friends who have fabric addictions or yarn addictions. Those addictions take up much more space and it seems like there are many more choices! While there are a LOT of threads out there, only some of them can be used for tatting (i.e. crochet thread and tatting thread)

Thanks, Rue! I'm glad to make you giggle! I am glad to have carried on a lovely piece of my heritage. Ugh! Don't we all have that "box o' bills"? LOL!

Hi Tatskool,
That is really neat that you have a basket woven by your Mum! How sweet! It even has some of her tatting in it, you say? That is a precious treasure.
Oh, about this blog post: (LOL!)
DISCLAIMER: The question "what's in your workbasket" is a hypothetical question used in order to segue from the commercial to the WorkBasket magazines in a creative manner. It is in no way intended as a demand and bloggers reading this post maintain the right to decide how and when they will respond, if at all. This blog post has been in the making for many weeks since the first Workbasket was received from a bloggy friend and this was the best time to post it. It is in no way intended to be in connection with or competition against Krystledawne's challenge post asking us to show our tatting corners. LOL! END OF DISCLAIMER.
;) LOL! ((Hugs)) hope you have a great week!
DISCLAIMER FOR THE DISCLAIMER: this is a joke, this is only a joke, had this been a real disclaimer...well, I don't know...but it was only a joke! ;)
...okay, now that I think of it...the disclaimer was real, only the serious and legal tone was a joke. Okay, now, that's enough of that! LOL!

Hi Kim! I really loved the "where women create" blog posts and really wanted to participate, too! Unfortunately, my little creative space is not presentable at the moment, LOL! Maybe next year! :)

Hi Sally! Hey, plastic containers work well for thread! They count! I had no idea they showed that commercial across the pond, LOL! That's cool. I mostly showed that for my international friends because I don't know how many people know it, LOL! I always cringe when someone makes a joke leading into a blog post without explaining it somewhat....since not everyone is going to get it, depending on where they're from. :)

I do treasure that box, Shabby Addict! Hope you are feeling better! Thank you.

Hi Jo! You must have a fabulous workbasket. Yes, those magazines are kinda neat. I am fortunate to have such sweet and thoughtful bloggy friends, for sure!

Hi Laura_Rose! I really appreciate your very sweet comment! It made my day! Thank you. I think most of us need way more than a "workbasket"! Those of you with a work room or studio are so very lucky! I totally understand about the whole "overflow" thing! LOL!

Hi Judy! That is such a bummer about your computer! I'm so glad you came to visit, though! It sounds like maybe your computer has a virus or a whole bunch of coookies and needs to be cleaned! I know when my computer does that when I do a "sweep" with my "Webroot" brand it cleans up a bunch of cookies and once in a blue moon it snags a virus and then my computer runs good as gold again! I do it at least once a week and sometimes a time or two in between! This here internet is crawling with cookies and bugs!

Tatskool said...

DISCLAIMER!!! Huh!! It's a plot!
Love your blog.

Susanne said...

That wooden box is a treasure to have.
No workbasket with tatting to show but I have a few of those magazines and I love them.
That apron is so cute. Once again you've been very lucky.

Barb said...

Hi Miss TattingChic,

You have some wonderful vintage treasures. The basket full of thread is a tatter's delight.

The workbasket made for your grandma is a real treasure. And those magazines... you are very lucky my friend.

hugs,
Barb

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Oh I don't have a work basket yet but boy do I want one!

How lovely of Twyla and Lindsey to send you so many lovely things

Victoria xx

Jessica Rodarte said...

Have I already told you that I love the way you tell your stories? I think I have. ;) David Spade is hilarious even when he's not trying to be or he's such a natural. Have you seen Emperor's New Groove? Funny. I consider my entire scrapbooking desk my workbasket, and it is always full of scrap crap. It's a tiny little desk, so I think it qualifies as a workbasket, hmm? ;) The longest comment! lol. Still working on you know what. :)

paperbird said...

Thank you for visiting my creative space and for your sweet comment. If I had taken a picture of my closet you would have seen several work baskets! Lots of little projects I am hoping to finish soon.
Congratulations on reaching 50,000 visitors. You are fun to visit!

Unknown said...

I know, I know, Tatskool...it turned into a novel, LOL!

Hi Susanne! That is cool that you have some WorkBasket mags! Thanks for stopping by!

Hi Barb! Thank you! I do treasure the gifts from friends and the box of WorkBaskets! I am very fortunate in those ways, for sure! :)

Hey, Victoria! I wonder if Cath Kidston makes workbaskets! Say, if she doesn't you could take a darling basket and spray paint it pink or something and then line it with some cute CK print! That would look fab and be perfect for you!

Hi Jessica! LOL! I'm still working on you know what, too! I haven't had anytime during my work week, but I plan to jam on that this week end! I'm so glad both of us are behind, LOL! WE WILL PERSERVERE! LOL! We will get it done and it will be fun...hey that rhymes, LOL! I have never seen that David Spade movie. Honestly, I can only take so much of him, LOL! I don't like too much snarkiness! Sometimes he's a little TOO snarky for me. whispers: "There sure is a lot of LOL's in that comment...hmmm...you must make me chuckle!"

Hi Paperbird! Well, maybe you can show the closet full of workbaskets some other time if you really want to, LOL! I like your workspace! Thanks for the congrats!

rochambeau said...

Happy Tuesday Tatting Chic.
Hope all is well in your neck of the threaded woods~
xox
Constance

Unknown said...

Thanks you, Constance! I always appreciate you checking in! :)