Afterwards

So I just returned from a delightful {sunny} weekend retreat with my quilting buddies, and besides being a lovely time of reconnecting with good friends, I also was successful in at least making progress on the 5 projects I took along. Progress, yes, and you'll see more of all that in the days to come, but finishes? Just one, but boy was it fun.

It was a sweet and useful Patchwork Bucket using the tutorial by quarter inch mark. I thought the bucket would be handy on my cutting table, and it was a perfect use for the Lighthearted little bundle Ayumi/Pink Penguin sent a few weeks ago.

For the record, I made my bucket sized just like Chase did in her tutorial, and let me tell you, 8" diameter by 8" tall is pretty generous! However, a formula is given to make any sized bucket you wish - handy indeed. Seriously though, I was just tickled to be able to use Lighthearted in this project - they just seem made for each other.

Above is the patchwork strip of 2 1/2" (unfinished) squares destined for the sides of the bucket, and below is a view of the finished bottom, considering I used one of my favorite prints from the line there.

I made one little tweak in the tutorial, only because I didn't have the cotton webbing for the handles on hand. I decided coordinating fabrics would be just as nice, and fresh from using Noodlehead's clever method in my Cargo Duffle {check out Step 4}, I paired 2 of the fabrics with batting inside, and honestly, they stitched on {with an 'X'!} just beautifully. Plus I really like the look, so win-win.

The bucket's now at home in my studio, which is making me smile as I get on with that pile of w.i.p.s I brought home with me . . .