Have you heard??? Contest Time and another free pattern

Have you heard that over at Baskets of Joy they are having a "My Favorite Basket Ever" contest? You can e-mail Anna over there and enter a picture the most favorite basket you've ever woven. While you are there, be sure to pick up the free pattern of the month that they have. It is a really cute tote made with shaker tape handles and is called an "Errand Basket".
Errand Basket

I think I have some shaker tape in my stash that I think will be just perfect for this basket. I'll have to dig out the shaker tape and I'll post a picture when I get it woven. Also, if you don't have all the supplies, you can get them at Baskets of Joy or they sell this kit for just $28. Super cute!

Now, how can I ever decide which is my favorite basket to enter? Don't I always tell you that all my baskets are my favorite? I'm guess I'm going to enter my lamp basket. Not only did I weave this, it is my own design. (FYI, yours doesn't need to be your own design though, just your favorite basket that you wove.) If you decide not to enter, would you be so kind to look over the baskets and if you think mine is the best, vote for me please? If you do enter, let me know because I want to see your basket! You have until July 1st to enter and the winner gets a $50 gift certificate to her store! That alone should motivate many of you to enter. I must say, there are already some really nice entries, but hey, somebody has got to win! Right? Also, wouldn't it be so cool if it were someone who reads my blog? If it's not me, I want it to be one of my blog friends here winning it because I've seen what amazing work some of you do!
Have a really great day today and spend some time outdoors weaving.
Enjoy the birds, enjoy the breeze and enjoy the moment.
Love and Blessings,
Nancy

Free Pattern 4 U--My YouTube Recipe Basket

Dear Friends,

Here is the pattern for this basket in the photo above. This is the basket that I wove throughout my YouTube videos, videos #3 through #12. Please feel free to print off this pattern and weave the basket or print as many copies as you wish and teach this basket to others. If you teach it, would you be so kind to let others know about me and my blog. Many thanks!!! This basket is a beginner level basket designed for the basket weaving newbie.

My YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/basketmasternancy

Recipe Basket

Pattern written by Nancy Jacobs

Supplies:

• 5/8" flat reed


• 3/8" flat reed
  
• 1/4" flat reed


• 11/64" flat reed


• 3/8" flat/oval reed


• #3 round reed


• Seagrass
  

Directions:

1. Cut your stakes from 5/8" flat reed. Cut 5 stakes at 18" and cut 7 stakes at 15".
   
2. Lay out the 18" stakes horizontally.


3. Weave in the 7 remaining 15" stakes vertically doing a basic over-under weave. Base should measure 7" x 5" and everything should be centered up.


4. Twine one row with #3 round reed as a keeper row.


5. Upset the stakes.


6. Using basic over-under weaving for the sides of the basket weave in the following order: Rows 1, 2, and 3 weave 3/8" flat. Rows 4, 5, and 6 weave 11/64" flat (I used dyed reed). Rows 7 and 8 weave 3/8" flat. Row 9 weave 1/4" flat.


7. Cut your inside stakes and tuck in your outside stakes.


8. Position a rim from 3/8" flat/oval reed on the inside and outside of your top row of weaving. Sandwich a piece of seagrass between the rim pieces.


9. Lash rim in place with 11/64" flat reed.


10. Trim or singe the hairs and embellish as desired.
    

I decided my basket would be a recipe basket to hold all the recipes that I tear out of magazines or the newspaper that I want to try. I decorated my little rolling pin with brown and white gingham ribbon and cut out the word "Recipe" using my Cricut cutter with the "Base Camp" cartridge. My rolling pin is wired to the basket.

I hope you enjoy this basket and give it a try, especially if you are new to weaving. If you are a new weaver, this basket is just for you! Follow along with the YouTube videos and it should be a snap. Please let me know when you have woven this or other baskets as I'd love to stop by your blog and see them!

Happy Weaving and Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

Just a Note of Thanks

Hi Everyone,
I haven't been weaving or crafting much lately so not much to write about. I thought I'd take a moment though to tell you "Thank You" for all your sweet comments that you leave me. Thanks for the anniversary wishes earlier this week and thanks for just taking time to read my blog. It means a lot to me to get to know all of you and I consider each of you my friend.
Love and Blessings,
Nancy

Share a Basket Sunday and a Giveaway

Above is my laundry room catchall wall basket. You know, all the things you find in pockets such as money, cell phones, money, receipts, money. When I empty out pockets I put all the stash in this basket. Now honestly, I do get the money back to its rightful owner unless it just shows up loose in the washer or dryer. Then it becomes MY tip! You'd think my family would do a better job of emptying their pockets. Sigh....

Next, I want to let you know that Pamela Zimmerman is having a giveaway on her blog Catching the Moon. Paula makes these intricate coiled horeshair baskets. You heard me right, a basket made from horsehair! I can't imagine working on something so tiny. The finished basket fits on her fingertip. Paula even has an Etsy shop HERE where you can see more of her baskets and work in fiber arts. Be sure to visit her blog and sign up for the giveaway and take some time to see her work.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Love,
Nancy

Around the House-Baskets and Branson, MO

We had quite a week a couple of weeks ago. This past week, I've been spending time catching up with everything as well as doing a fair amount of gardening. Anyway, I wanted to share our camping trip we took to Branson, MO.

We stayed here...

And slept and ate here... (Our children, Emily, Timothy, and Katie)And visited here... I was skeptical about taking the time to do the Titanic museum, but it is a must see if you are in the area. You are given an identity of a Titanic passenger as you go through the museum and in the end, you learn if you survived. It was hands on and quite moving. This past week we watched the Titanic movie. The museum was great for both kids as well as adults.

And visited here...The Precious Moments Chapel and Museum. Very sweet especially if you are interested and have collected some of the Precious Moments.

My Timmy with Timmy the angel. My little Timmy is an angel (most of the time).

Will you be ready when Jesus comes?...

Saw this...This was a great play and book. We had a 14 hour drive from New Mexico to Missouri. Mike downloaded the audio book of Shepherd of the Hills which we listened to on the car ride to MO. The play did a pretty good job of reenacting the book.

Our children with some of the cast members. Left to right..Katie, Tim, star of the show The Shepherd, Emily and another actor Little Pete. Little Pete is 14 and has been in the play 4 years now.

We shopped and strolled along the Branson River Walk. So pretty and fun shops to visit. It is all a pedestrian area. I enjoyed watching the dancing fountains you see in the background.

We went to the Dixie Stampede, a dinner show with 30+ horses. Our horse rider Katie thought this was the highlight of the vacation.

We played some mini golf. Mike won of course.

Then we spent two and a half days at Silver Dollar City, shown in all the pictures below. Our campground that we stayed in is owned by Silver Dollar City and is almost next door to it. It was a nice campground and only $25 a night as we had water and electric at our site. You could stay there for less if you want to pitch a tent. Their facilities were clean and they had a great pool for the kids. Anyway, back to the amusement park. They have coupons buy one day, get the second day free. Also, if you go after 3:00 on the first day, you get an extra 1/2 day free as well, so 2 1/2 days for the price of one day. I wanted to share that at least when we were there, the crowds were minimal and we never had to wait for a ride longer than 15 minutes. Usually it was only a 5 to 10 minute wait. One more plus, parking at the amusement park was FREE! Couldn't believe that. It was good wholesome fun entertainment.
Below is Katie and Emily with the saloon girls after watching their saloon follies show.

Tim being an assistant for a magician. He really got into the magic act.

Emily will ride roller coasters, but with much trepidation. She and I spent an hour at the Culinary and Craft cooking school there at Silver Dollar City while the others went on ride after ride after ride. Our teacher was Debbie Dance Uhrig who has written the cookbook "Simply Yours." Debbie also writes cooking columns in many Kansas and Missouri newspapers. Wish I'd have gotten our picture with her. Who knows, she may become as famous as Paula Deen. We did get her cookbook and she autographed it for us. The class we took was called Beyond Basic BBQ--Not just for Meats. She made for us Smoke n/ Sizzle Potato Salad, SDC Sweet Hickory Pasta Salad, and Fruit Kabobs with Orange Sauce. HERE is an article about her along with some recipes.The kitchen was gorgeous. Emily and I are at the end of the counter.

An original church built in the 1800's.

And beautiful, beautiful baskets.........

It was a good week. Had a couple of camper problems, but my sweetie handyman Mike was able to fix them with a couple trips to Home Depot and the RV shop. Those problems and the rain were the only downers to the week. We had a couple days of pretty good rain and then quite a bit of drizzle on other days. Mike and Katie did get to go scuba diving once, but their second dive trip was canceled due to the weather. Just as well I guess because it gave Mike the time to fix the camper. We also went to see the show of Hamner and Barber. It is a Christian magic, ventriloquist, and variety act. Of all the people for them to choose to pull on stage, they picked Mike and I to get up and humiliate ourselves in front of the crowd as they did their magic act. (our kids were quite embarrassed of us) As a thank you, they gave us coupons for a couple of breakfast buffets and dinners. That was nice.

All in all though, I'd certainly go back to visit the Branson area. The greenery was simply breathtaking at times. Certainly it is some beautiful country God has given us. I can only imagine just how spectacular it must look in the fall.

Where are you going on vacation this summer?

Love and Blessings to you all,

Nancy

Feature a Friend Friday--Frances from Weaving Willow

I'd like to introduce you to Frances from Weaving Willow blog who does some amazing weaving with willow. Not only does she weave with willow, she grows it too! Take a look below at a small section of her willow garden in its early stages. She grows 70 varieties of willow! Yes, you read that right 70! It is absolutely incredible.Frances lives in Canada so I'm learning that willow grows well in these cooler climates. She shows that there are many varieties of willow that come in some beautiful colors. Frances is new to blogging, but I must say, she has started out with doing a great job. Her photography is beautiful, and Frances, when you read this please comment and let us know what camera you are using because the pictures are just wonderful. Frances enjoys traveling to basketry workshops, weaving and knitting, as well as food growing/gardening. She belongs to a number of guilds but you can read her bio on the Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild's website. Thanks Frances for sharing your photos with us and keep posting about growing your beautiful willow. I am finding that simply fascinating.

Be sure to stop by her blog and say "Hello" to her.

Happy weaving everyone,

Nancy

Our Wedding Anniversary

21 years ago today I married my best friend Mike.

May you all have a wonderful day.

Love and Blessings,

Nancy

Sharing a Book--Between Friends, Craft Projects to Share

I checked out this book at the library, "Between Friends, Craft Projects to Share" by Charlotte Lyons. Let me tell you, it is just lovely. I know this isn't basket weaving related, but many of us weavers have a strong gene for crafting that runs in our blood. This book is more than just craft projects. It is some beautiful reading that speaks of the bond between women as friends and the bond that increases through doing crafts together. It does have projects that are divided into sections: projects that can be done in an hour, half day, all day, weekend long, and longer. The projects in the book are just my taste and style. They are cozy, warm and inviting crafts, not too over-the-top artsy, although I'm sure if that is your style, you could put your own spin on the crafts mentioned in this book. I've just done some searching and have found that Charlotte Lyons has a website HERE. She has a blog HERE. Now, I've just found those sites, so I haven't spent time on her blog and website, but believe me I will be reading it over the summer. By the way, if you go to Amazon.com, you can look through several of the pages in her book.
I know for myself, weaving and scrapbooking are so much more fun when I get together with friends. I have found however that the crocheting I've been doing recently, I quite enjoy going on my back patio all alone and crocheting on the outdoor sofa listening to the birds, enjoying my garden and the breeze through the trees. I've decided that the repetition of crocheting is just what I've needed to relax from the stress of two teenage daughters and a pre-teen son. (Should my children be stressful? Learning to drive, interested in boys. Yikes!)
Do you do crafts or hobbies other that basket weaving? If so, I'd love to hear about them.
Have a wonderful day. I hope the weather is just as pretty in your neck of the woods as it is here in New Mexico this morning. The sky is blue and there is just a slight breeze. I have the windows and patio door wide open. I've watered the rosemary that's out the back door so the smell is simply yummy.
Blessings,
Nancy

Technique/Tip Tuesday--In need of Basketry Clipart?

If you are ever looking for basket weaving related clip art, be sure to visit Susi Nuss's website for clip art HERE. Much is free. Some of it requires permission to use or has terms of usage.

Enjoy and Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

Video #12 Staining Your Basket

In this video I demonstrate how to stain your basket with liquid Minwax.

Enjoy and Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy