February 2009 Newsletter--Bun Basket

Basketmaster’s Weavings
February 2009 Newsletter, Issue 4

Dear Friends,

I hope 2009 has been treating all of you well. Have you been able to stick to your New Year’s resolutions? I’ve been doing pretty well about my resolution of ‘Keeping ahead of the game.” Because of this things have been running relatively smoothly in our home which is a very good thing. If you’ve been following my blog you saw that I did a room makeover for Mike’s office. That was a huge task and I must say that I’m glad it is behind me. Mike is enjoying his work space and I am enjoying having my own desk/table in the loft where I can work on my basket weaving and scrapbooking without having to move his papers. This semester I’ve also started homeschooling our middle child, Emily, through Rio Rancho’s cyber academy. What a huge difference and we are already noticing how much more she is learning. Emily is a happy camper being at home with me and we are working on many activities through 4H and various homeschool groups in the area

On to basket weaving. The basket this month is a bun basket. It is just the right size, with rounded corners to hold a package of hamburger or hotdog buns. Just look at the interesting base on this basket and the cross stitching on the outside. This is a beginner basket so no weaving experience is necessary. Cost of the class is $25 and this includes all weaving material needed to weave one basket. Additional kits are $10 and I will have a variety of colors to choose from.

As always, I’m not someone who likes to send attachments with my e-mails so please look at my blog to view the picture of this basket if it does not show up in your e-mail. The link to my blog is below. Just click on it.
February Class Schedule and Kit of the Month

The approximate finished size is 8” in diameter and 3 1/4” high.
Class Dates and Times
Friday, February 13, 6:00pm– 9:30 pm
Friday, February 20, 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Saturday, February 21, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Again, I provide all the weaving material. What you need to bring are the following:
Tape measure
Dish pan or large bucket to hold water
Old kitchen scissors
Old bath towel
A dozen or so spring type clothespins
A small flat blade screw driver
A great attitude and a smile on your face ;- )
Please wear old clothing to class

Class size is limited. Please call or e-mail me early so I may reserve your spot. Reservations are taken on a first come first serve basis. I will form a waiting list as needed. At this time, all classes are held in my home in Cabezon, 5 minutes west of St. Thomas Aquinas church. I will send all students specific directions.

Other upcoming news…..I will be at Holy Family Church with my baskets doing a craft show on February 8th from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The address is 562 Atrisco S. W., Albuquerque, NM. If you are in the area, please stop by. There will be some wonderful handmade crafts and homemade baked goods.
Question of the month:
Nancy, Can I schedule a private basket weaving party with you at my home?
Answer: You bet! I am happy to go to other locations. I’ve taught classes in other homes, churches, business conference rooms and so on. I do ask for a minimum of four students when I need to pack up my supplies and take them elsewhere but I am happy to do so and the price stays the same.

Please always remember, that if I’ve failed to mention something in this newsletter that you have a question about, just call or send me an e-mail and I’ll get right back to you with an answer. As I told you last month, I love weaving and I look forward to sharing my joy and enthusiasm of it with you. Here is my contact information:

e-mail: basketmaster_nancy@yahoo.com
blog: http://basketmasterweavings.blogspot.com/

Baskets of Blessings!

Nancy

Snowman Market Basket and Upcoming Craft Show

Here is another fun snowman basket. It is an elongated market basket with a "D" handle. The interesting thing about this basket is notice how I wove the hunter green stripes. I skipped a stake at one end of the basket to create a larger weave. This allowed me to insert a small piece of maple underneath the green. I used a rub-on snowman on the maple. The maple can be removed and replaced with other pieces and designs as the seasons change.

One more thing. For those of you in the Albuquerque area, I am getting ready for another craft show on Sunday Feb. 8th from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm. It is the "2009 Valentine's Arts and Crafts Fair" held at Holy Family Church, 562 Atrisco S.W. in Albuquerque, NM. If you are looking for some handmade gifts and are in the area, this is your place to be on Feb. 8th. Be sure to stop by my booth and let me know you read my blog.

Happy Weaving and Blessings,
Nancy

A Baking Cookbook Freebie!

Over at the Prepared Pantry, http://www.preparedpantry.com/

they are giving away a free 250 page baking e-book. Everything on their site looks so yummy I signed up to get my baking cookbook. They e-mail you one chapter a week for 8 weeks.

Hugs,

Nancy

Making Memories is posting live at CHA!

Making Memories is at CHA and they are having so much fun on their blog. Be sure to check them out right now at http://makingmemories.typepad.com/
They are broadcasting LIVE from CHA in Anaheim, CA and are showing some of the great new scrapbooking must haves. Plus they are giving away some awesome prizes!
Love,
Nancy

The Seed Manifesto

I first learned about The Seed Manifesto through Kimberly Wilson's 'Tranquility du jour' podcast at http://www.kimberlywilson.com/ I found this list of principles to be beautiful. I added a few of my own principles to the list in addition to the original which can be found at http://www.seednetwork.com/seed_advice/the_seed_manifesto.phtml The original list was exceptional, but as time has gone by I've discovered a few that I want to add and have included on my own list. I keep this list printed out and posted by my computer for me to see every day. I hope you enjoy and benefit from it as much as I do.

Love,

Nancy

The Seed Manifesto

I …………, affirm that I will

Put God first

Constantly plants seeds as well as pick the blooms

Keep the space and time to stay in tune with my higher self Never let go of the big vision

Be in charge of my choices

Put my values, including integrity, compassion and love, at the centre of my enterprise

Remember the three R’s: respect for self, respect for others, responsibility for all my actions

Believe in myself so others will too

Keep humour and laughter as vital ingredients of my business plan

Get up early in the morning

Make every day matter.

Not neglect my personal relationships, loved ones, and friends in any way

Manifest abundance in all areas of my life

Keep clutter to a minimum

Recognize my gifts and delegate the rest

Look at difficult situations from all perspectives

Welcome in mentors and mentor others in return

Be a team player

Light candles every day and surround myself with fresh flowers

Give people more than they expect

Talk slowly but think quickly

When I lose, don’t lose the lesson

Know my industry

Keep improving my technology skills

Smile when picking up the phone

Remember my body is my most important tool – stretch, exercise, breathe, go for a walk, dance

Every day try and read a poem, listen to an inspiring piece of music, look at a wonderful painting or go into nature

Drink six to eight glasses of pure water every day

Listen as well as talk

Learn the rules then break some

Know there is nothing more sexy than confidence

Remember that no-one, not even I am perfect, but I’m doing the best I can

A Wall Basket and Jazzercise

Ok, these are two totally unrelated things, but hey, that's the way it goes some days. This is a sweet little wall basket that uses a notched handle in the back. It is great for holding incoming mail or the dreaded bills.

My reason for posting Jazzercise is because I joined 3 weeks ago and they are having a nation wide event on Jan. 26th only. You can come in with me and your sign up fee is waived as well as your fee for the month of Feb. You do have to commit to pay for the following 2 months though. As for me, I don't get anything from Jazzercise by bringing you. What I do get though is your company at my classes! It is a very nice group of women. So if you are in the Rancho/Albuquerque area and have thought about it, send me an e-mail and we can coordinate getting together on that day. For those of you in other areas, you can contact your local Jazzercise for full details. One more thing, my local Jazzercise is starting a "Take it Off" program in Feb. and it runs for 3 months. It is their version of the Biggest Loser. (that is my favorite tv show right now). I have hopes to take off 10 pounds and if I take off 15 that would be PERFECT!
Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

Tip Technique Tuesday--Making a Music Box Basket

This is a music basket that I made for my Mother-In -Law. It has an actual music box built right into the base. The base is a double wall. You weave two separate bases. I used a 1/4" paper hole punch to punch a round hole in one of the spokes. This is where your winding mechanism goes. Place the bases together, sandwiching the music box between them. Off set the spokes and then twine a couple rows to twine the bases together to each other. Upset the spokes and continue to weave your basket as desired. The sunflower design is paper ribbon that is placed over 1" reed and woven into the basket with the 1" reed row. It is also important that you use basket feet to hold your basket up off the winding mechanism. Otherwise your basket wouldn't sit flat. Do take note that it is only the base that has a double wall. The sides are a single wall.
Happy Weaving,
Love,
Nancy

Metamorphosis Monday--My Old Craft Room...Mike's New Office

Hi Everyone! I am participating in Metamorphosis Monday hosted by http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

I am also participating in 11th Heaven's Homemaker Monday hosted by

http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/

This Friday is my sweet husband's birthday. As a surprise for him I did a room redo of his office. This room used to be my craft room/his office. I have now moved out most of all my craft items to the loft and basically he now has the room for himself, with the exception of the closet. That still stores many of my craft, sewing, and painting supplies.

This is a painted wooden sign I picked up at a craft show years ago. It is now hanging on the door to his office.

Before

After

Note the shelves in the background. They are just some old garage shelving that hold all my basket weaving supplies. The yellow, green and blue plastic drawers are full of reed.

All the reed is hidden now behind a screen I made using extra curtains. They are held in place with velcro. Still a little storage for me yet Mike doesn't have to look at it.

The paint color is Bear Burnt Almond from Home Depot. The furniture is from Sam's Club. The ceiling fan is from Lowes. The lamp on the desk is also from Lowes. The picture frames are from Hobby Lobby. The curtains and rod are from Walmart. Everything else is items that we already had.
To pull this off, Mike's parents came in for a surprise visit for him. Mike was traveling this entire week in Washington and had no clue this was happening. When he left on Monday I got started clearing out the room and painting it. When his parents arrived on Wednesday we went and picked up the furniture and spent the remainder of the week putting it together and hanging the curtains and ceiling fan. My basket weaving supplies are still on shelves in the room, but I bought extra curtains that I hemmed and applied velcro. I attached the curtains to the shelves to make a screen so the basket weaving supplies are no longer visible.

Mike was so surprised and happy. He loves his new office.
Love and Blessings,
Nancy

A Cool Photo

Nothing basket related today, just a cool photo of me taken at Explora, the Albuquerque Children's Museum. Here I am looking through a mirrored prism while my children take my picture.
Yesterday I went to a wonderful scrapbooking crop that Naomi hosted. Thanks Naomi. You can see her work here. http://www.naomiockerman.blogspot.com/
At the crop I worked on my recipes. I made a pretty altered recipe box to hold them. It is so nice to have all my recipes organized where I can find what I want. It also helps make menu planning a snap as I just pull out the recipes that I will be making over the next week. I have them all in protective photo sleeves so I can just take them to the grocery store with me to get my ingredients.
Tonight we are having chili in the crock pot. Yummy!
Have a blessed Sunday,
Love,
Nancy

Technique/Tip Tuesday--Making Basket Curls

The above picture is the January kit of the month. I've had people ask, "How did you make those curls?" "Are those curlie Q's made from reed?"
Yes, those curls are made from reed. I used 11/64" flat reed and rolled it around a 1/4" dowel rod. Soak the read well first, 15 minutes at least. Then secure the end of the reed to the dowel with a clothespin and just keep wrapping. Secure the other end with a clothespin as well. Let the reed dry completely before removing it from the dowel. You can then pull on the coils slightly to give them a springy look. You can do the same thing using round reed as well for a pretty look. Once the reed is removed from the dowel rod, cut it into desired lengths and wire to your basket. Try using several colors or a color with natural for a pretty basket embellishment.
Happy Basket Weaving,
Love,
Nancy

Teen Basket

I thought the embellishments were so cute on this basket. It is a cell phone, jeans, and a laptop. The embellishments came from Walmart and were actually little Christmas ornaments/decorations that I wired on my basket. I wove this basket for my oldest daughter who is 15 and into all these things.
Happy Weaving,
Love,
Nancy

Small Tote Basket

Keeper of the Home

She is energetic, a hard worker, and watches for bargains.

She works far into the night.

--Proverbs 31: 17, 18

With my New Year's resolution of 'Keeping Ahead of the Game', I have been focusing on being a keeper of the home. I want my home to be an extension of my personality. I want all who enter to feel comfort and love and I hope you all don't mind if I share from time to time ways in which I try to achieve this. Keep ahead of the game basically is like the scout motto of "be prepared." I try to keep ahead of the game when it comes to things such as meal planning, or holidays or other special events. It drives me nuts to be rushing around at the last minute trying to complete a project or find a lost item such as car keys. I really want to do weekly meal planning and try to limit my trips to the store to only once a week. No more do I want to start cooking a recipe to find I need to rush out and buy a key ingredient before supper can be completed.

Every month I try to really deep clean one area of my home. During this January I've been focusing on my kitchen. I've completely emptied my pantry and scrubbed it clean. I've also cleaned above my kitchen cabinets when I took the Christmas decorations down. Now I am working on deep cleaning inside all my cabinets and drawers. It sure is good with each shelf I clean to see it looking fresh. It hasn't been so overwhelming to deep clean the entire kitchen knowing that I have allotted myself an entire month. I've used baskets in my pantry and in the cabinet to store little loose items. It looks pretty and the clutter is gone.

I'd like to challenge you to one room of deep cleaning and decluttering during the month of January. Feel free to post your accomplishments in my comments. If you have a blog, I'd love to know about it and stop by.

By the way, the the blessings journal covering in the photo above is one I made with scrapbooking paper scraps. It is a calendar and I try to write at least one blessing in it each day. It helps remind me of all the wonderful gifts our God has given me and to remember and always put Him first.

Baskets of Blessings,

Love,

Nancy

Unique Basket Rim

This basket has an interesting rim. I used #6 round reed as a filler and then coiled on 11/64" flat reed around it, lashing it to my top row of weaving. The design on the front strip that goes over the handle is a rubber stamped image. I also rubber stamped directly on the handle itself. The stamping was done before I stained the basket.
Happy Basket Weaving,
Love,
Nancy

Muffin Basket

My Wrong Turn

This just floored me when I read this sign. This picture was actually taken in November. I was on my way to a scrapbooking crop when I took a wrong turn. I went one block to turn around and couldn't believe the street sign. I had to get out of my car and use my cell phone to take the picture. They are building houses on this street. How ironic would it be if we were to build here? hehehe My husband would just be shaking his head if that were the case. Actually we live in a very nice home and I wouldn't think of moving, but seriously though, how cool would it be for ME to live on this street.

Love,

Nancy

Happy January Second

It doesn't feel at all like winter today, but my little basket with the snowman wire handle and snowman ceramic slide puts me in a winter mood. January is my month for deep cleaning my kitchen and pantry. Yesterday I did 2 upper cabinets. Today, 2 upper cabinets and started on the pantry which was really needing to be emptied out and wiped down with some good hot soapy water. I'm on a roll. Today I also finished with some health care forms. Yuck. Glad to have that finished. Now I just have taxes to look forward to. Ok, I was listening to Zig Zigler this morning on my iPod. He said attitude is everything. Guess I need a quick attitude check here when it comes to thinking about filing taxes. Another positive note, yesterday, I finished all the office filing so at this point our files are in order which will help make the tax filing process as easy as it can possibly be. Have a wonderful day everyone.
Love,
Nancy

Happy New Year and Baskets Full of Blessings for 2009

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year. May 2009 be a year of happiness, good health and many blessings. I didn't weave the basket in the photo above. It is from http://www.vardachocolatier.com/ This company makes some incredible chocolates and truffles. I just thought the photo was pretty and really showed New Years off well. Just think what fun things we can put in our handwoven baskets to give to others. Not only do the recipients get a thoughtful gift, but really they get two gifts because the basket is a gift in and of itself.

Please remember that everyday is a gift from God and to take a moment each and everyday to be thankful for the blessings we do have. When we look at our blessings, big and small, we can see that our baskets truly are already full.

Love,

Nancy