4.19.12

This is called the Around Town Tote. It took a couple of weeks longer than it normally would have. I decided to work on it only in the OASIS classroom.  It wanted to be much wider than you see it here in the side view but I was able to impose my will upon it.

With the help of some covered wire I bought on a reel at Christmas time but never used, I strung the long sides closer to each other after I installed the lower rim for the handles. It waited that way for two weeks while we had a week off for Easter.
 I like it natural with deep tan accents and handles but what I had in mind was a warmer color for the reed so the accents and handles would look like they were all part of a finished piece. So, I used plastic wrap and blue painters' tape  to cover the braided leather and then sprayed the tote with an oil-based basket stain.

See how the new color makes it work all together? Now for the liner...

2.2.12

Finished! It should hold two stacks of magazines, side by side. I will no doubt use this for FABRIC! OR YARN! OR PATTERNS!

3.22.11

Here is the bottom of the Tennessee basket. I show it to you because it shows the open weave design that the next basket had.

I retro-fitted this with a sturdier bottom so it can really be used as the market basket is was designed to be.

Here it is drying on the porch after its a maple finish. It took four days to dry. I will not be doing any more basket finishes until we have a long stretch of warm, dry weather.

2.1.11

Basket classes are going well. All I have left on the Nantucket is the handle and flattening the rim brads. The Thursday class moves right along and I have about another hour of work to finish a market basket.

I finished my Boneyard Shawl. See? I like the color balance and the great design.  Next time I need a satisfying, semi-long-term knit, I will use the pattern. The pattern calls for all one piece of yarn--that is, not switching for color. I have seen it in multi-colored yarns as well as solids and semi-solids. I think I would enjoy making it in a heathered natural or some other subtly colored yarn. There was one finished on Ravelry that was of a LONG color repeat and even though the purl ridges did not occur at the color changes, I liked it quite well. This shawl works up in all gauges of yarn, just adjust for yarn thickness regarding needle size and amount of yarn needed.

1.21.11

I am taking basketry classes again and really enjoying it. There will be no silk knitting, though, if my hands get rough. I have a finished small basket from earlier this week which I will photograph when the sun comes up.

We had snow last night but my favorite weather website indicates no more snow until maybe Monday or Tuesday. I expect there will be soup in my near future.

 

Well. The sun DID come up and here is my finished napkin basket. I hope to attend a private class tomorrow. Thursdays are classes designed for seniors. My Thursday teacher invited me to attend a class he teaches at his place of business. I hope I will soon have pictures to show.