May Your Life Be Like A Basket...Useful...Bountiful...Beautiful...

Basketmaster's Weavings is about my passions, much of which revolves around basket weaving. I weave with reed and I love teaching others to weave. Many of the patterns and styles that I show in the blog are geared to the beginning weaver, or even the brand new weaver. If you have been thinking about wanting to learn to weave, then this blog is for you. Throughout the blog and videos I take you step by step through each and every process of weaving. I want you to be successful in weaving the very first time you try. For the intermediate and advanced weaver, my wish is that you take ideas that I show, mix them up a bit, and incorporate them into your own beautiful creations.

Happy Weaving and Baskets of Blessings to all my visitors,

Nancy

You may find my YouTube Videos Here.

Listen to Basketmaster's Making our Home a Haven Podcast.



Friday, May 1, 2009

Basketry on Television

There is a show I enjoy on TV called "Cultivating Life". It is on a 'new to me' PBS channel called "Create". Cultivating Life has a different topic relating to nature with each episode. They make creative items relating to their topic. They cook and show recipes and teach you how to grow whatever their topic is. The episode I'm referring to here is called "Pine". In this episode there was a woman whose name is Nancy Basket (love that name--seriously, I love her first name and her last name!!) Nancy Basket does pine needle basketry. That is one style of basketry I've never done. She shows how she does her work as well as speaks about the origins of pine needle basketry. She states pine needle basketry originated with the Cherokee Indians. Watch Cultivating Life and pay attention for the episode titled "Pine". If you get a chance to see this episode, I think you will find it very interesting.

Nancy Basket has a website. It is http://www.nancybasket.com/

Cultivating Life's website is http://www.cultivatinglife.com/

Have you tried making a basket from pine needles? I'd love to see your pictures if you have. I'm going to have to try it sometime.
Baskets of blessings to you.
Nancy

Thursday, April 30, 2009

May 2009 Newsletter

Friends, this is the basic newsletter (with just a few changes) that I send to students. I put it up on my blog in case they have any trouble reading it in their e-mail. Nancy

Basketmaster’s Weavings
May 2009 Newsletter, Issue 7

Dear Friends,

Can you believe it is May already? I just heard that May is the second busiest month of the year with of course December being the busiest. I believe it. I’ve always found May to be full of end of the school year activities, field trips, ceremonies and so forth.

I’ve been teaching 6th grade religious education at St. Thomas Aquinas and in May, I’m wrapping up my school year with the children. My middle child, Emily and I have been and still are taking cake decorating over at Michaels Crafts. (If you’ve been on my blog, you will have seen some of the cakes we’ve made). Then there are boy scouts and Venture scouting activities that include lots of camping. Top this all off with my children’s birthdays and so needless to say, May is a very busy month. It is for that reason; I’ve decided not to hold any classes in my home during this month. I hope you all understand and I’m wondering if your schedule is as full as mine is.

Have you been to my blog lately? I’ve been putting up videos on it as well as on YouTube that teach the novice how to weave baskets. The videos get posted weekly and take you step by step through the weaving process. They are the same video in both places; it’s just YouTube gives you a bigger viewing screen. So for any of you, who have been hesitant about what it’s like to weave a basket or if you forget and get stuck in the weaving process, just take a look at the videos and if you want, follow me along in them. As I complete the basket, I’ll post full written instructions on my blog.

Here is a link to my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/basketmasternancy
e-mail: basketmaster_nancy@yahoo.com

Happy Basket Weaving and
Baskets of Blessings!
Nancy

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Yet Another Lashing Tool--Make Your Own!


I received a very nice e-mail from Frances at http://weavingwillow.blogspot.com/
She states that some people use spoon handles to create their own lashing tools and that this lashing tool is an idea that has been circulating for some time. I must confess, I've never heard of making a lashing tool from a spoon handle and I think it is just brilliant! I'm all for doing and making it yourself when you can. For other posts on lashing tools, please look HERE
and HERE. Frances sent me this picture of one she made and states, "Last year I dropped by the Goodwill and bought 6 stainless steel spoons at 5 cents each. Cut off the bowls and used a grinder on the cut end of the handle until it looked like a lash saver. Drill a hole in the end and attach a pretty tassel. There you go. I gave them away as gifts to guild members."
So, if any of you are new friends of Frances, you'd better just close your eyes and pretend to be surprised if you receive one of these for Christmas this year!
For those of you who are my personal friends, perhaps you too should close your eyes to this picture because you might just get one in your stocking!
Thanks for sending me such a great idea. I love sharing tips and info like this. As they say over at http://www.wearethatfamily.com/ This idea really works for me!
Happy Weaving Everyone,
Nancy

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tip-Technique Tuesday--The Importance of Signing and Documenting Your Artwork


When you weave a basket, you are an artist. You are its creator. Be proud of what you have made and let others know it was you who wove this basket.

Sign your basket.

I sign most of my baskets on the base on a spoke or a stake. If it is has a base made from twining, sign it on either the underside of the handle or on the inside of the rim. Be sure to use an archival pen that will not fade. I use a fine point Sharpie style marker. You may find that if your basket is just very slightly damp that the marker will not bleed into the reed. You may also wish to include the date that you wove it as well as what number of basket it is. Is it your first basket? Second? So forth. Early on I numbered my baskets until I reached 100 and then it just became difficult to remember.

Is your basket a gift for someone? If so, you may want to write a brief message on the bottom as well such as "Happy 16th Birthday Katie, Love Mom". This will help all know the occasion for which this basket was created.

Beyond a long-lasting signature, some artists like to further establish the link between generations of creators and collectors by keeping journals writing why they created a specific piece of work, significant life experiences, relationships involving the work, and living locations. If your baskets are showcased, It’s also a good idea to track the dates and location of exhibitions, and any accompanying press coverage from those events. Keep a list of customers that purchase your baskets—complete with their name, date, location, and where the basket resides—is also a good step toward providing the chronology of a particular piece.

You never know what future life circumstances will bring to you and honestly, you may become quite famous and your baskets may be as sought after as some paintings or sculptures. There are artists today who will even microchip their artwork. (ok, I'm not going to that extreme, but I wanted you to know some people do that)

Sign your basket.
Your great-great grandchildren will treasure it even more knowing it was you who wove it.

Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

Monday, April 27, 2009

Video #7 is up--Weaving in a Chain Link Color Design

Youtube video #7 is up. Here is the link if you would like to watch it on Youtube for a larger picture rather than here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB9cqaboFNM

In this video we are weaving color into our basket and doing a sweet chain link design. It continues to be a basic over-under or start-stop weave. I mention dying my reed in the video and the link to that post is HERE for step by step directions. This video runs just under 6 minutes.

Happy Weaving,

Nancy

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Share A Basket Sunday

I wove this basket and it sits in my bedroom by my reading chair and holds my magazines and books. It is called "Plaid Tote" and the author of this pattern is Jean Cadmus May. This was fun to weave with all the colors overlaying on one another. It uses a square notched handle with a 24" notch to notch and a 12" spread. The wide strip in the middle is 1" wide ash.
Enjoy and have a blessed Sunday.
Nancy

Friday, April 24, 2009

Feature a Friend Friday--Anne at "When Pigs Fly"

I've recently been featured on a couple of blogs and I was so touched that people thought of me. Through this, I've decided to add a new feature to my blog. called "Feature a Friend Friday". My plan is to feature a blog friend every other week. It may be basket weavers or it may just be some very special blog friends that I'd like you to meet.

I'm proud to announce my first friend that I'd like to introduce you to is Anne at When Pigs Fly. Anne is special because she really is my 'real life' friend (vs. online) and fellow weaver. I got to teach her, her first few baskets and she is just taking off with her weaving.

Anne is the owner of a Kumon Math and Reading Center which is where I first met her as my children all received Kumon's math services. (I have to add that my oldest went from struggling low C's and D's in math to A's. She went from huge frustrations to math being a joy)

Anne is new to blogging, but oh my check out her blog and pay attention to those recipes. I'm telling you first hand she is a fabulous cook and baker. She's as sweet in person as her desserts are. Anne is very creative and takes all she does to a new level. Also, take a look at those baskets. She just started weaving and her baskets look perfect!

Please pop on over to When Pigs Fly and say "Hello" to Anne and let her know I sent you.

Have a beautiful day everyone.

Blessings,
Nancy

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Basic Basket Weaving Terminology

I wanted to give you some basic basket weaving terminology. You may hear me use words in my videos and see some written on my blog that are unfamiliar, so here is a definition of some of them. These definitions are for basic baskets. There are always basket patterns that break the rules and do something different, but this is for most standard basket patterns. There are many more terms and I will cover some of them in future posts. This will just get you started.
Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

Base--Bottom of a basket.

Stakes--These are the foundation of a square or rectangular basket. They help form the base and then go up the sides of the basket vertically.

Spokes--These are the foundation of a round or oval basket. They also then go up the sides of the round basket vertically.

Ribs--The skeleton frame in a ribbed basket that weavers are woven on.

Weaver--This is what goes horizontally around the sides of the basket.

Twining--This is done with round reed. It is a half twist in the round reed and is created with either two separate strands, or one strand that has been bent in half.

Packing--Packing is pushing the weavers tightly together as they are woven up the sides of the basket.

Splicing--Splicing is when you run out of a weaver before you are finished so you need an additional piece of weaver to complete the row or basket.

Upsetting the Basket--This is when the base is woven and you bend up the stakes or spokes so that you may begin working on the sides of your basket.

Cut and Tuck or Cutting and Tucking--When finished weaving the sides, you cut the stakes or spokes that are on the inside of the basket flush with your top row of weaving. The stakes or spokes that are on the outside of the basket get folded to the inside and tucked behind a weaver to hide the ends.

Basket Hairs--The splintery looking things on the rough (wrong) side of reed. These are cut or singed off when the basket is completed.

Rim Row--The top row of weaving. This is typically hidden under the rim.

Rim--Typically 2 pieces of reed that are slightly wider than the rim row. These pieces sandwich and cover the rim row and are placed even with the bottom edge of the rim row.

Rim Filler--Something that goes on top of the rim row and is sandwiched between the two rim pieces. Often this is seagrass or round reed.

Lashing--This is the material that holds the rim and rim filler in place.

Shaping--Using your weaver to make the spokes or stakes flare out or pull in.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Tip Technique Tuesday--Zip-Ties


You have heard me say that clothespins are our extra hands when weaving a basket. Well, so are zip-ties. You may know them as cable ties. They can be so handy to hold that rim in place while lashing. Unlike clothespins that sometimes snap off of the rim or are in the way, zip-ties hold that rim securely. When you are finished lashing on the rim, simply cut off the zip-tie. On my smaller baskets, I still usually use clothespins, but if I'm weaving a large basket, or one that has a heavy rim such as 1/2" or 5/8" flat/oval, then zip-ties are a great basket weaving tool. Many times you can pick up zip-ties at the dollar store. What do you use to help hold your rim in place while lashing it on?
Happy Weaving and Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

Monday, April 20, 2009

YouTube Video #6 is up--Weaving the first two rows of your basket


In this video I show how you weave the first two rows of your basket. The reed that goes around your basket is called the "weaver." This is a basic "start-stop" weave or "over-under" weave. Note how I use the clothespins to help hold things in place. If I were weaving a larger basket I would use more clothespins as well.

I'm really enjoying doing these videos. I hope you are enjoying watching them. Oh, and a cool thing... I figured out how to add captions on Youtube so I no longer have to hold my piece of paper up with my blog address. I was even able to caption where I called Youtube, Itunes by mistake. The captions do not show up here on the blogger videos.

Blessings,

Nancy


Grab a cup of coffee and take time to enjoy some posts from the past

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