Dear Missi, With my new digital camera I took pictures of the lace bowl that I entered into our local fair. Please excuse the color as I am still digitally challenged, and maybe email attachment challenged if this does not go through. LOL The bowl was stitched on a double layer of blue organza with a layer of Clear and Melt on top. I have since stitched a sample with the stabilizer between the two layers and am very pleased with the results. The judge was intrigued with the concept (I eavesdropped) which means I'll (we'll) have to come up with something even better next year...GRIN Although the fair is small, it is always nice to come home with a blue ribbon. Thanks for the opportunity:) FYI - You may recognize Shippensburg as being the small town whose baseball team played for the Little League World Series title a few years ago. Fran Chamberlin

I used Robinson Anton 40 rayon in New Gold...The instructions called for the same thread in bobbin as top thread (40wt rayon), so I wound them individually on the machine. It took about 1 full bobbin for each petal and then about 2/3 of one for the bottom. I used the Janome for this project...had to resize down 1/2 inch for the 4x4 but I think it still turned out really nice. Vanessa Behymer . Bekki Elegant and Country Designs for all of your needs. http://www.needledreams.com

For Those wanting 4 x 4 This From Dawn Here is a pic of my bowl. I resized in Embird and decreased it by 1/2 inch. I used 1 layer of Aqua Magic. I would be honored if I could test sew your bowls you are working on now. Just let me know. Thank you very much. Dawn Email Dawn mrsh@grics.net

From Niki This sounds crazy but works. If you dissolve 2 packages plain Knox Gelatine in 1 cup of water and soak your basket parts in it and let dry, they will be stiff without attracting ants. Stretch the parts out flat to dry , or shape the basket to dry. My mother used this when sugar was rationed during WW2. to stiffen her lace curtains. I am posting you privately so you could judge for yourself the effectiveness of this. I also use it to stabilize decorative stitch rows on washable fabric, paint it on with a brush, let dry then steam press fabric and sew. Nikki Overton

From Fran Chamberlin I stitched all of your lace bowl (except for adding the bottom) Sunday night and was delighted with it. On Monday I showed it to a few fellow stitchers and thought you might like to know some of the comments. First let me explain that I used two layers of a pretty blue organza topped with Clear and Melt as a stabilizer but did not melt it out. I am thinking of putting the Clear and Melt between the layers next time. Probably won't be as shiny but will let more of the color show through. As to the comments, all were very favorable and many of the ladies asked for your web site. Since the bottom was not attached yet, it made a very nice lamp shade:) Also suggested was as a little bonnet for a baby. Someone wanted to know if it could be made larger, too, hint, hint:) It just so happened I was checking my Embroidery Billboard email and clicked on Sonia Showalter Designs. She has lamp shades done in segments but made with fabric. As a variation of your concept, would it work to stitch the outline of the petal, place fabric like organza down, and finish it like an applique? Would this be enough support for one of your excellent lace motifs? What about a Christmas motif or your excellent butterflies? Sometimes because of time constraints, I look for neat projects that don't take as much time to stitch hence the use of filmy fabric. One last comment, next week is our local community fair and I am definitely going to enter "our" pretty little basket/bowl. I will let you know the results for sure:) As I send this I do not know if my non-stitching husband's address will appear (cannot figure out how to remove it..) but if you wish to reply, please use either my earthlink or yahoo address. Thank you for all your wonderful designs.

I would like to put forward a couple of suggestions for petals. I would love to see some with Christmas or winter holiday designs, done in a separate color would be fantastic (or at least that option, so it would be two colors). Some ideas that I think would be nice, holly leaves and berries, snowflake(s), snowman, "Christmas" tree, angel. I would also love to see some petals with hearts that could be used both at Valentines and any time. Some with wedding bells, doves, intertwined rings and ribbons would be nice. Baby designs on the petals would also be appreciated. Perhaps a rattle, block, diaper pin, cradle, pram, etc. And it would be really fun to have some with Halloween designs, such as a witch, bat, jack-o-lantern, ghost. It would be tons of fun to be able to mix and match petals to complete a basket with different Halloween designs. Thanks for taking the time to read these and consider these suggestions. One more request, a variety of top edges for petals, even if it's just for plain ones. Obviously you can't create each design on the petal with a different top edge, that would just get out of hand. Perhaps though a few plain petals with different top edges to change to look of the basket Charlotte in Michigan

I had a brain wave---and I am going to share it with you. These lace baskets could be used to hold bouquets of flowers at a wedding. You could put the basket together except the bottom. It could be attached at one side only and pushed inside the basket while it is being used to hold the flowers. The stems would protrude through the bottom of the basket, so the flowers can be held as usual. Then later when the flowers are removed, the bottom could be finished, in place, and you have a lovely souvenir of the wedding. I hope you like my idea. Beth Chapman

A Purse done by Piper