5.11.12

A gift of batik fabric from a generous friend, some time spent hand sewing and watching Netflix on my computer...

...Around the Town Tote lined and finished!

4.18.12

It is supposed to be an apple basket but you can see that it has decided to become something else. the sides were to be vertical to make a smooth surface to insert the pegs for the swing handle.

I should have known. At the beginning, it could not go together fast enough and yet it resisted my attempts to shape it early on. It was as though it had its own purpose in mind and could not wait to fulfill it.

This is what it SHOULD look like when
it becomes an apple basket but I am thinking it may want to become a potato basket...with handles incorporated into the rim.

1.26.12

It is Thursday, so I am at OASIS, finishing my hearth basket. This one with the blue and purple colors, in fact. I haven't decided which basket will be next. 

Chair caning is going well and my caning teacher will be teaching a class on a jar quilt. I have tentatively signed up for that as well as a Celtic weave quilt class--kind of like baskets and quilts mixed--and a paper pieced teapot square class, too.

I have not run out of things to do.

11.11.11

The newest basket is finished. Diane Simoneson guided me through setting up a twill and following a pattern for an Indian style chevron.

 

Look at that rim treatment. I would rate it a 7 of 10 in difficulty. It sure was a challenge. I look forward to some chair caning classes and another basketry semester beginning in January.

5.1.11

Three of my finished baskets. If you look closely, you can see one that is NOT finished. Since the photo was taken, I did finish it.

1.22.11

Nantucket basket making today! I have always wanted to take a Nantucket class. Probably because I always wanted to own a Nantucket basket but never could afford to buy one.

I expect we are making the very simplest of the round variety today.

Even years ago as a child, the one I wanted was an oval lidded purse with seashell design. Everywhere I saw Nantucket baskets (EVEN on Nantucket), the seashell lidded purse was easily twice as much as I could part with. There were some tiny round ones I could have bought, in the Carribean Islands, and they LOOKed authentic, but I never would settle for less than what I wanted when buying baskets. I will not mind making a basket of any size--I will not mind making one of any kind! But to think that today I will begin to learn a new style is pretty exciting.

9.9.10

Aunt Lola's Baskets

To the left is what I think might have been a summer purse or summer work basket. It has plastic yellow lining and is woven of some sort of paper product and rope with wood splats, wood lid and bottom. The hasp and handles have plastic "leather".





These nesting baslets have yellow barkcloth. I think sets of these were sold in threes but I'm not sure.


This is one of my favorites. It is a yarn basket and has a hole in the top. Yarn is inside and draws through the hole. The yarn stays clean and out of kitty's reach. If the project is small enough, it can be stored in the basket. I have seen smaller ones and even bought one but it was missing the woven handles. I think this is a basket made by the MicMac Indians for trade.

Why baskets? I have always loved them, collected them, and enjoyed making them. I hope to be on the list today for an OASIS basketry class. I am required to take the very beginning class before taking the more advanced classes even though I have taught the more advanced ones!

P.S. Didn't get in the class. Maybe someday I will tell you what class I AM taking