Thoughts of a Grasshopper

I wish I could tell you where I saw a video tutorial for these baskets but I came across it from a place I don't usually go and I didn't bookmark it. These baskets are super fast and easy to make. The tutorial said to use 6 strips that are 6" x 3/4". I used 5 with those measurements, for the 6th paper strip, I added 1/4", maybe a little more. This strip I used for the rim of the basket. I covered the whole strip of the basket rim with tape. Mount four of the strips side-by-side on this strip. After the four strips are attached, take the first strip and place it next to the fourth. Repeat with the second. After you have done the third and fourth, this is what it will look like. Connect the rim piece and attach the handle.

This was my first attempt at using the scallop trim border and corner punch together. It took a couple of tries but it isn't too bad. Check it out, I actually used a wheel. I have so many but I'm not a wheel person. Stamps: Vintage Vogue CS: VV, Soft Suede Ink: Soft Suede, VersaMark, Pretty in Pink Misc.: Ribbon, scallop trim punches, Detail White EP, dimensionals

Kathryn recommended this to me and having enjoyed Snowflower and the Secret Fan, I was anxious to read this. I wasn't disappointed by this one. I didn't want to put the book down and ended up reading until the wee hours of the morning several nights. The book follows two sisters in Shanghai whose family loses everything. Their father arranges a marriage for each of them within the same family. While they went through with the marriages, they don't plan to go to America but it ends up being an escape from their father's settlement of his debt and to escape from the attacks from Japan. By the time they are reunited with their husbands and their family, they have added a daughter to the family. There are many chapters on the relationships within the family, jealousy, secrets, war, cultures and then some. Without giving away too much, I have to say the ending was a bit of a surprise as I didn't consider Sam's reaction an option. As a result, you are given May...