My Divided Basket

We had a class last month at basket guild and I built this divided basket.  It was an interesting technique to learn as I had not previously made this type of basket.  My goal is to make at least 12 baskets this year...  with at least a few new techniques.  It's the third month and I'm on my third basket, we'll see how it goes.   

Egg Baskets and a New Project

I made the bigger egg basket over the last 12 months, meaning that I started in Dec 2010 and finished it in Jan 2012.  Most of that time, of course, it sat in the basket cupboard not being worked on...  the smaller one I finished in one afternoon last week.  The big one has a 18" oak rim and the smaller one has a 6" oak rim.  The big one has a braided god's eye that I took apart and put together at least 4 times before I got it right.  The smaller one has a traditional god's eye...  Both have twill handles and rims made of cane.  I have resolved to make at least 12 new baskets this year.  One a year just isn't enough to justify calling myself a basketweaver...     

This is a new project that I am starting soon.  I love the outline stitch, find it very relaxing to do and really just love these bird designs.  The problem...I hate to trace these detailed patterns on the background fabric.  I usually use a lead pencil, I trace lightly and my lines disappear, or I don't trace enough of the detail and my design doesn't look right.  I just purchased some Transfer Ease, a product that you run through your printer to copy the paper design on the water dissolvable interfacing material and then embroider over, followed by a cool water rinse to dissolve the interfacing.  I'm going to try it, since I hate tracing, but if you have a better way, I'd love to hear about it.  Thanks!      

baskets

This is a basket that I made last Saturday during basket guild. The antler was from my friend, Martha, who died last year. Martha had a whole bag of them and her daughter gave them to me. I took them to guild and each of us made a martha basket last week. Mine is made of deer antler, smoked reed, brown leather, oak rims, a piece of fox fur, and some pheasant feathers. My basket is going to R's cabin to hold the tv remote. That seemed like an appropriate place. This photo is the makings of my new quilt project. The woodcut pattern I found on line. It is from a midddle ages manuscript. The woodcut also had a tree and a girl in a cloak standing next to the birds, but I just wanted the birds, so I blocked out the rest of the image. The fabrics will be used in the quilt. I hope to have it done in a few weeks, but the male's feathers have 5 colors on them and since I'm hand appliquing, it might take a little time. I did find a fabulous border fabric in gorgeous blues, so it should be pretty stunning when completed. In the meantime, I have lots of other stuff planned too. I have volunteered to help with the state quilt chapter meeting next weekend. I am going to quilt guild this Friday and we are doing the Gee's Bend exhibit at FIA. It will be interesting. I have also signed C and I up for a shaker basket workshop in April, and I will also be taking the guild quilting workshop in April. And another quilt class in June. I am working on my denim tablerunner and hope to get a photo of it next week at weaving. I am going to make a quilted tablerunner with the left-over apple fabrics and maybe a couple garden baskets for the silent auction for the Master Gardener's Association annual meeting in April, and really want to go out to the Maryland Fiber Festival the first week in May. I am attending the fiber arts guild meetings once a month and we are making paper this month. I also am going to order some heirloom tomato seeds and start those for my garden this spring. Lots of plans. We will see.

Gift Basket

This is the hand thrown glazed clay basket that I received today at Basket Guild during our annual gift exchange. Isn't it fabulous? The leaves, berries and curlicues on the side of the handles are made of clay too. N has been taking pottery classes for some time and it really shows in the details. N also weaves with me and does baskets at guild. All of her things are just as beautiful as this. Thank you N. The brown things in the basket are some kind of cone from a conifer tree. We weren't sure what kind it is, but they are pretty cool, very flat and rose shaped. If anybody knows what they are, let me know. These came from the collections of a friend that wove baskets with us and passed away a few months ago. I so much enjoy the gift exchange because I now have baskets from most of the guild members who are also dear friends. I love seeing my friends baskets on the shelf.

I see that some of the internet quilt groups do this kind of exchange too. They call them an advent exchange. I would do that too, but I need to get better at quilting first (unless I could just send cool fat quarters and buttons, that would work).

K will be here soon. She is interviewing locally and will be in town tomorrow. I can hardly wait to see her. I miss the kids so much. I made peanut brittle and fudge yesterday so she can take some back. And we went to Lansing today, had coffee with C, and bought some food for D. Next week is exam week and I wanted to make sure that he had easily made food so that he had time to eat this week. It's easier with C at home right now, I can make sure there is turkey and ham for sandwiches and fruit in the refrigerator, but it's harder when they are away. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that interviews for K and exams for P, C, and D (and neices and sister) all go well. And E will be here in a couple weeks too. How incredibly fortunate we are.

Baskets and a crazy quilt square

These are the baskets that I finished at basket guild yesterday. All are cane and made on the same mold, but the one with a handle is a nantucket style basket with a nailed rim and free swinging handle and the other two are made of dyed cane with waxed linen lashing. The black one is a twill weave and the other two are tabby weave. The nailed rim was harder to do than a traditional rim, but I'm sure I could get much better with a little practice. I like using waxed linen for lashing because I think it gives a more contemporary look to the baskets which I like. Though it probably isn't obvious here, even though they were all made on the same mold, they are really 3 different sizes. It's funny how that happens.

I also decided to start another crazy quilt square today. Class is next week and I haven't done anything since before the last class, so I need to get started. I really like using the crosstitch pieces that I have done. They provide a focal point for the square and I like the words on the squares. This one was pretty dull colored so I added the bright pink border and put it together using a blanket stitch. The butterflies, both crocheted and embroidered, were purchased from garage sales. I have started ribbon flowers on the bottom left and feather stitch with a rayon floss on the bottom right. I machine stitched the background together before I started the hand work, so it's not all hand done, but it's going to be close enough for me.

It was also my birthday on Friday. My hub and I went out for breakfast and then he drove me all over the county to 3 quilt shops looking for just the right fabrics for the CWBQ. He and the dogs took walks and slept in the truck while I fingered all the fabric. It took all day, but I found enough to get started. Then we went to dinner at one of my favorite mexican restaurants and came home and drank a glass of wine. Nice day. Yesterday, we had dinner with C and D, and then had breakfast with P and T this morning. I also had calls from E and K, my friend R, and my brother and sisters. I have the best family ever. And to top it off, we have had fabulous weather this weekend, in the 60s and sunny. Unusual for my birthday, since early November is usually rainy and cold. It has been a really nice weekend.