June – basket classes and baskets
These things make me smile… baskets and basket classes.
I was able to spend much of the month weaving and have several new baskets to show for it. July looks like it will be full of proposal and pattern writing and kit preparation, but I promise to post pictures of my new baskets. But we are talking about June now – so
Baskets
I love sweet grass and I love coiled baskets and I love Dianne Stanton’s work – so I was very excited to acquire her award winning piece “Niche’. It is a piece I will treasure.
And this month, the NBO summer issue arrived, the Member’s in Print edition. I was honored to have one of the thirty eight baskets chosen. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was! Read more
Stateline Friends Weaving Retreat 2018
What a wonderful time. First, a big thank you to Pam Feix and Debbie Cates and their host of volunteers. You put on a wonderful event! A great facility, well run, delicious food, and lots and lots of wonderful baskets and basket weavers. It is hard to explain how 400 people weaving, shopping and visiting in one big room can be so much fun – so let me invite you to join us next year in Richmond, Indiana! [April 11 – 13, 2019 www.statelinefriends.com]
Here’s a peak at the SFWR 2018 from my corner of the room …
Look at all those people … Read more
Determining Lasher Length
When I first started weaving someone told me that the length of the lasher needed to be two and a half times the circumference of the basket. So I would wrap the lasher around the basket two and a half times; if it was at least that long, I would start lashing. Unfortunately, I often found the lasher was too short. So I assumed that I had heard wrong, maybe it should be three times around, but that didn’t work consistently either. It was so frustrating to have my lasher run out one or two stakes from being finished!!
So, being me, I started to analyze when I ran out and when I didn’t. Which was correct – two and a half times around the basket or three times around the basket or …?? I took notes, lots of notes. I know, I know, you are thinking this lady is crazy and you are probably right, but I did learn a lot!
Read more
Spring (??) Basket Classes
My March was filled with traveling and teaching basket classes- I put on over 3200 miles, traveled through nine states and taught 18 basket classes. It was busy. It was fun. I am tired. Since all of my miles brought me south of Wisconsin, I was hoping to experience spring. There were signs … wild daffodils in Kentucky, redbud in North Carolina. And I was able to enjoy coffee outside with a dear friend. However, winter was also evident – two days of snow in North Carolina and at least six inches of that white stuff on the ground in the Virginia mountains. All the while my husband kept reporting signs of spring at home. So I came home 🙂
I’ve been home a few days – now that I am settled in, I thought I would share some pictures (well, okay, a lot of pictures – I did teach a lot). Then I plan retreat to the studio to weave 🙂 the best kind of therapy.
My first event was Woven Together in Western Kentucky
New Basket Patterns
Well, I am packed and ready to hit the road in the morning. Woven Together in Western Kentucky – here I come.
It was wonderful to have four months at home and in the studio. I didn’t do everything on my ever growing list, but I did cross off a fair number of items – including a much needed winter vacation to a warmer part of the world!
And now before my travel schedule takes over my life, I thought I would release my six newest patterns. Read more
The Mystery Basket
An Exercise in Creativity
Last year, ten members of my local basket weaving guild participated in the Mystery Basket Project. It’s a great way to encourage creativity. We had several months to weave our project, and I am not exaggerating when I say I stared at the contents of my bag for months before I had my first idea!
In a nutshell here’s how it works:
Participants will be given a number when they sign up. Then they will go through their basket, craft and art supplies and put 10 items in a paper grocery bag. This bag is sealed, labeled with the participant’s number and given to the organizer.
Creative Activities to Practice
I am glad so many of you enjoyed my thoughts on Creativity and Excellence. And now, as promised, here are some of the things you can do to encourage creativity. These are things I do – things I practise. It is not a list of rules, it is a decision to learn and to grow and to make things – this is my life. I hope you will find some of these practices helpful.
Surround yourself with books and patterns, your favorite baskets, art, color and just enough weaving material to make your hands itchy to weave. Books inspire me. A table with a project in process or reed in a variety of beautiful colors make me want to touch. Beautiful things make me smile.
Creativity and Excellence
I have been thinking about this topic for a long time, years in fact. I believe that focusing on excellence, on developing and fine tuning our skills, encourages creativity. In my experience, a lifetime of making things, including twenty five years of basket weaving, I find the pursuit of excellence to be the key to creativity. This principle is also evident when you look at other artists and the progression of their work.
Mastery
Malcom Gladwell has made popular the idea that it takes 10,000 hours to master or become ‘good’ at something. That’s 10,000 hours of work! And the wicker basketmaker’s school in Lichtenfels, Germany (Staatliche Berufsfachschule für Flechtwerkgestaltung) has a three year basket weaving program. That’s right, willow weavers in Germany go to school full time for three years, after which time they graduate and begin their basket weaving careers as Wickerwork Designers.
Fall Basket Kit Sale
I have concluded my travels for the year, and my 2018 travel/teaching schedule doesn’t begin until March of 2018. I have all kinds of ideas to weave up and things I want to do … but first, as promised, I am having another kit sale. It will be short – starts today, November 8, and ends on November 17. Many of the kits I have on sale, I will no longer be making and some kits I only have 2 or three left. When they’re gone, they are gone!!
Shipping, same deal as before: $5 for one (1) kit, 7.50 for two (2) kits, $10 for three (3) kits, 12.50 for four (4) kits and $15 for five (5) or more kits.
Here’s what I have available:
An experiment in 5/5 twill; careful placement of stakes and weavers brings out the arrow design. The rim is overlayed and double lashed with waxed linen. Finished Size of Basket: 12″ diameter x 10″ high.
October Classes and Color
Well, October has come and gone. My month started with a trip west to see family. The Bighorns in Wyoming were snow covered, brilliant colored aspen and birch trees lined the valleys in Montana and the sugar beet harvest was in full swing in Alberta. I was thankful for clear roads and time with people I love.
Then it was home and time for October classes. Read more
Swept Away – the Broom Making book by Karen Hobbs!
The Vanishing Art of Broom Making …
Broomcorn, broomsticks, turkey wing whisk brooms, hearth brooms, kitchen brooms, angel whisk brooms, broomstick cake and more all in a new book by basket maker, gourd artist and broom maker Karen Hobbs. “Swept Away, the Vanishing Art of Broom Making” is scheduled to be released this December (2017). Read more
My Newly Updated Studio
Seven weeks ago, we decided that we needed to re-shingle the roof. No leaks, but it was just time. That decision started a discussion on the chimneys – which lead to the decision to remove the fireplace …which lead to deciding to remove the oak paneling … which lead to deciding to remove a brick wall in the living room … which lead to needing new flooring in our main living areas … which (obviously) got me thinking about new flooring in the studio and dye room and reminded me that EVERY wall needed a fresh coat of paint!
August Basket Classes
It’s the last day of August! My month disappeared in flurry of home remodeling. Not quite done, in September I tear my studio and dye room down and get it ready for paint and new flooring. Not exactly sure where I will put everything while the old flooring is being ripped out and new installed, but I know I will love it when it’s done! I’ll try to take some before, during and after photos for you.
Besides, self contracting and remodeling, I did do some teaching. In early August, a group of weavers in Sussex, Wisconsin invited me to teach. They had three projects going: Twizarr, T Tray and Arrows.
I love your Beaded Ring Basket. They make wonderful gifts. I am having trouible finding the 5/32″ black ash (FO) for rimming. Any suggestions on where I can go to find this?
Hmm that’s a good question. Try Red Valley Splint.
What is the name of the basket you have on your email post – the diagonal plaited basket with two handles??? Love it.
The basket is called ‘Zoe’ I am weaving it and writing the pattern right now 🙂
I finished the four strand braid basket with beads . A bit of a challenge to figure out, the video was great. Live the way the beads went in. A fun little basket.
Great!! Glad the video helped!
Beautiful baskets! Especially love the miniatures on the trees! Thanks for sharing.
I notice the comment about the 4 strand brad basket with beads. I am looking for a basket pattern that uses beads in the basket. What do you suggest? Thank you for the help.
Shirley, I have one basket that incorporates beading in the weave: Beaded Ring Basket
I also know that Susan Coyle has some beautiful basket patterns with beads. I am not sure if she has a web site, but you may be able to find her patterns on basketpatterns.com
I hope this is a good start for you.