Picnic Basket Time! #Giveaway and Some Red,White and Blue Inspiration! (Winner Announced!)

We missed winter altogether here in California.  It feels a bit disorienting.  The weather is in the 80's, the sky is clear, the wildflowers are abundant.  It's as if the whole forest said we aren't going to get much water, this might be our last year we better pollinate everything we can and quick!

It is however, perfect picnic weather here, the grasses are still green and as I said, it's lovely out.  With that in mind, I am pulling out an old basket my mother picked up for me years ago at Big Lots which is a bargain store out here.  You could go to your local thrift shop or watch the yard sales or maybe you have one sitting around like I do!

French Meadows Reservoir

My plan is a pretty lining, create a top for it and head out next weekend with my husband for a picnic in the mountains perhaps up to French Meadows Reservoir.

There are several fabulous tutorials online for lining a basket, my personal favorite is this one from The Polka Dot Closet

She has cleverly given instructions to create this liner with minimal sewing involved!  Yes that's right!  And her liner can be removable. She has fashioned hers from a plastic table cloth, which makes it pretty easy to wipe clean.  It's hot glued into place...how easy is that?

But wait!  She also has instructions for you to make a removable liner if you wish to use fabric and have it be washable!

She also tells you how to stain your basket if you want to have that Shabby Chic effect.  Very sweet.  I'm still auditioning fabrics, I may find something that just fits the bill.  I'll be sure to share the finish when I'm done.

This month I shared on my Facebook page, several links to quilted items that are red, white and blue...it's a great time to be thinking ahead about your projects so they are done in time for the Fourth!

The little table runner under the basket at the top of this post is just a simple split rail fence.  You stitch four 2 inch x width of fabric strips together, measure the width of your strip set and cut your blocks that width. Make as many blocks as you want. Turn them back and forth in a layout that pleases you and stitch them together, a couple strips around the entire thing and you have your table runner!

I found this link from Paula Deen for a lovely lemon scrub I think you will enjoy. Easy to make, would make a great gift for a friend, but heck, just spoil yourself, you deserve it! 

This easy for beginners quilt reminds me of the first quilts I made with my mom when I was in high school.  We had a cabin up at Lake Tahoe and we made 12 quilts that year, one for every bed! This pattern is fat quarter friendly, so gather up your pretty bits and you will have this one done in time for your picnic! Here's the link: http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/bed-quilts/red-white-and-blue-bricks

Another beautiful and simple to make table topper!  This one is posted at All People Quilt. Again, make as many blocks as you need for the length of your table!  Link Here: http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/table-runners/star-spangled-banner

Don't let this frighten you, it's not a hard one at all, goes together quickly and really easy for a beginner to get great results! Link Here:http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/table-runners/red-white-blue-table-runner

Beautiful napkins are a must in a the picnic basket.  This little tutorial walks you through the simple process to make your own co-coordinating spectacular napkins!  Link here: http://nicolesclasses.com/sewing-101-mitered-napkins/

Need a little check list for what to pack?  Link here: http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/entertaining/everyday-celebrations/picnic-packing-checklist

I'll be adding some more links soon, so check back!

THE WINNER OF THE 5 YARD FABRIC GIVEAWAY IS 

SUSAN WELLS MCNALLY!

Susan, please contact me via my Facebook page to let me know what your choices are and where you would like them sent, you can message me privately there. 

https://www.facebook.com/SisterOfTheDivide

And, if you haven't gone by to say hello to my little sister Janet on her new Facebook page, here is the link: Janet Harrer Jewelry Designs  Remember to LIKE her page, COMMENT that you were sent by Sister of The Divide, and SHARE her page with your friends.  NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. At the end of April, I will pick one lucky winner who posted a comment on her page and you will WIN 5 yards of fabric, your choice, mix or match from our Etsy shop.  Don't miss out!