A little more at the bottom of the basket...

For well over a decade my mother's laundry basket has been lined with a large thick white plastic bag that has slumped down to the bottom of the basket whenever one attempts to deposit any clothing into it, so from the moment my mother finally brought it into the house and started using it, after struggling across London with it on rush-hour buses, tubes and trains, her relationship with it was troubled. I think it is these small irksome things that can grind down your spirit on a bad day, when everything is going wrong and even your linen basket seems out to get you.

So making a proper liner that stays in place has been on my list of things to do for a long time...supposedly simple but the hinges were a problem that I hadn't thought of - it needs to be removable for washing, but somehow fitted neatly in place around the hinges at the back...a long strokey beard moment (more metaphorical stroking than literal....or at least I hope so!), some muttering and a necessary amount of furious chocolate chewing and my plan was hatched (I won't bore you with the details, but feel free to make enquiries if you find yourself in a similar predicament and I may be able to save you from the above list of problem-solving aides). But, problem aside, the whole project seemed a little dull and utilitarian...so I decided to sew in a message for my mother to see each time she had worked her way to the bottom of the basket.

A blurry photo - but it says 'Well done Mama! An empty basket.'

P.S: Thank you so much for all your kind comments on my new kitchen - the cup & saucer may look familiar Louise, as I thought that when I first saw it too (I wonder whether there's a childhood book that a similar design was featured in...) - I'd been on the trail of the teacup for some time, after seeing a photo of it and developing an obsession with actually possessing it, and it has only recently found its' way into my happy little mitts...but more on that later in the week as suddenly I feel like doing a whole post on the subject of teacups. I also loved hearing how everyone sorts their books (and am getting the message that colour-coding is a BAD thing! Ian thanks you all wholeheartedly, but has implored me not to alphabetise either!), so thank you again for all your commenty goodness!