A Book Review--Musical Baskets

I received some lovely comments and e-mails regarding my music box basket, seen here. The inspiration for this basket came from these two booklets by Joyce Venti. The first is "Musical Baskets." The second is "Musical Baskets for Special Occasions." They are each 12 pages and both books use the same concept for all their baskets like what I did with mine. They use a 'double base' and are round or oval. Each booklet contains the same general instructions which are sufficient if you've woven a few baskets already. I wouldn't recommend trying a musical basket if you've never woven before. Each booklet contains 7 different patterns but again are much the same style. The main difference is their round diameter or height and some have handles and others do not. They have used some beautiful colors as well as put curls or cross stitching in some of their baskets and have even painted on some of them as an embellishment. All in all, as you can see in the photos, their baskets are very pretty. "Musical Baskets" was published in 1991 and "Musical Baskets for Special Occasions" was published in 1992. I am guessing that they are both out of print but you may be able to find one second hand. Honestly, if you get hold of just one, you will have the basic music box directions and it wouldn't be necessary to have both. You could design your own basket size, and incorporate the directions for the music box as given.

Here is the contact information listed in the books that may help you to get one of your own "Musical Baskets" booklets. Hopefully this information is not obsolete.

The author's contact information is:

Joyce Venti

Baskets, Baskets, Baskets

RR #2 Box 5380

Bangor, ME 04401-9662

The booklets were printed by:

The J.S. McCarthy Co.

Augusta, Maine

A musical basket is a very sweet and special basket. I hope you give one a try. If you do, please leave a comment and a link where I can see your basket!

Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

PS. Not all musical baskets are the same. There are other music box basket patterns I have run across. Some even have the winding mechanism on the side of the basket so their construction would be quite different.