Thou Shall Not Steal!

Exodus 20:15

I am hurt and sad that someone broke into our truck while my girls had it at the mall. Katie is 16 and this is the very first time I've let her drive it to the mall without me. Our mall is a pretty direct shot from our house about 10 minutes away. (yes,I'm an over-protective mama). Katie went with Emily and they took some packages out to the truck, put them under the seat, and then went back in to shop. Katie calls later and says they are leaving the mall and will be home shortly. Then she calls 2 minutes later crying and upset. I was afraid she ran into something and thankfully she did not. Instead someone broke into the lock on the passenger's side and took all their packages and hubby's sunglasses. It's hurtful and it's sad and has led to some long discussions. Their packages totaled about $100. Those poor girls work long and hard hours babysitting and other odd jobs to earn their money. We filed a police report. What is so frustrating is I firmly believe in the golden rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." No one in my family would ever EVER steal from someone. In fact, we are just the opposite in giving to those in need. Katie quoted our priest from Sunday who was paraphrasing what Padre Pio said, "They don't believe in hell now, but they will when they get there." I told the children they need to pray for whoever broke into the truck that they find Jesus Christ and turn their lives around. Emily had a Bible diary in the truck that they found, no surprise, they left that in the seat. Sigh...



On a more positive note. I'm involved in something that I'm finding quite fun. It is a Mystery CAL (Crochet a-long). It is an internet group and the leader puts up several rows of crochet instructions that we do. I have no clue what we are making, but we have been informed that it is a garment. I kind of feel like I am doing a mystery basket weave along with my videos. You don't know what I have planned with the basket and how it will turn out until the end! It's a mystery! Anyway, it is fun. I just finished the sample swatch to learn our stitches the other day. I'm going to use the sample as a dishcloth. For the mystery project we are crocheting some long rows of this design.



May you all have a wonderful day and be treated by others with only kindness and goodness.

Love,

Nancy

Video #16 - Cutting and Tucking and Forming the Handle

In this video I show you cutting and tucking of your spokes and how to form your handle. As always, if you want to see all my videos in order you may visit my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/basketmasternancy

Happy Weaving,

Nancy

Share a Basket Sunday - Cutlery Basket or Silverware Basket

I designed this basket to fit a divided wooden insert that I had. The base is woven with fillers so it is solid and the insert just sets in the basket. I used a #1 round space dyed reed to create the cross stitch pattern around the basket. It's perfect for those 4th of July picnics that are coming up.

Have a blessed Sunday,

Nancy

Around the House - Candy Bar Card and Free 4th July e-Book

Dear Friends,
I want to show you the card my children made for Father's Day. It is called a candy bar card. I bought quite a few candy bars and packaged candy with names I thought we could use for the card. The three children worked together and this is what they came up with. Note, you can always cover up letters you don't need and add letters to the front or end of a candy bar name.

The card reads: "Dear Mike (Mike and Ike Candy) and Dad, Even though you are a (Nerd) you are full of (Smarties). We think you are an (Extreme) (Lifesaver). Mom thinks you are a (Big Hunk) and a (Sugar Baby). You are a (Bounty) of fun and worth more to us than (100 Grand). You're a (Whooper) of a good dad. You're everyone's (Mr. Goodbar). We love you (Now and Later). So here's some candies including your favorite (Reeses). Happy Father's Day. Love, Mom, Tim, Katie and Emily

The other thing I wanted to tell you about is that over at FaveCrafts they have a free 68 page 4th of July e-book full of recipes and crafts. The crafts are really sweet and include sewing, painting, paper crafts and more. Sorry, no basket weaving but it is cute anyway. Here is the link to download it.
http://www.favecrafts.com/Fourth-of-July/4th-of-July-Crafts-and-Recipes-eBook

Happy crafting, weaving, cooking, or whatever else you are doing this weekend.
Blessings,
Nancy

Baskets From Nature Workshop with Donna Sakamoto Crispin

Dear Friends,
I've been in contact with award winning basket weaver Donna Sakamoto Crispin and do I have some exciting news for you. If you are in the Southwest in the next few of weeks, Donna is going to be having a week long workshop titled "Baskets From Nature" at the Ghost Ranch in Santa Fe! It will be a full schedule of information, learning, weaving and fun. All the information is given below.

The photo above is one of the projects that the advanced students will be working on. It's plaited western red cedar bark with waxed linen in full turn twining.


0714 Baskets from Nature[S9A73a]

Ghost Ranch in Santa Fe

July 14 - 20, 2009

Registration Fee: $775 (includes tuition, housing and most meals) / Commuter Fee: $450After May 15th: $875 / $550

Basketry techniques abound. Learn about growing, collecting, preparation, and weaving. Learn how to twine, plait, coil and make cordage. A variety of materials will be available, including sea grass, Japanese iris leaves, willow bark, day lily leaves, and more.

Make a six-to-seven inch wide twined basket with a combination of sea grass cord and natural materials from Donna’s garden. Learn beginning coiling, using waxed linen and fragrant Midwest sweet grass, gathered last fall.

You will also be introduced to western red cedar that Donna collects from the forest, and processes in the traditional way. We will twine and plait the red cedar strips to form a small basket that you can wear as a necklace. A twined border design in 2 colors of waxed linen threads will form the top 1/3rd of the basket. Experienced students can look forward to more advanced techniques.

Workshop days will be include trips to local museums and galleries to look at baskets. After this week, you will see baskets and plants in a different way.

Donna Sakamoto Crispin, Eugene, OR Donna has been making baskets and teaching basketweaving for 20 years to people of all ages, from 6 years old and up. She has won several awards and has shown her work all over the U.S. and in Japan. For more info, see http://www.donnasakamotocrispin.com/.

http://www.ghostranch.org/

A Happy Mail Day

Look what came in the mail clear from Canada! It is a handcrafted lashing tool made from a spoon handle! Frances and her husband Ralph from Weaving Willow made it for me. I made a little tag for it that says where it came from and when I received it as I never want to forget, but I'm going to have to re-think my tag because I think it will get in the way of my lashing. I wove a basket with friends Anne, Faith and Darlene the other night but we talked and laughed so much I didn't finish the rim. I'm going to give my new tool some use and finish that rim this weekend. This is really clever. I can't wait to try it!
Frances, Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it.
Love,
Nancy

Teaching Children to Weave and a Book

I am the Basketry scouting merit badge counselor in our area. Two of the baskets that the scouts need to weave are a round basket and a square basket. There are kits available for the scouts to weave, but ok, I'm not happy with them. If these kids are going to weave, they are going to weave something that looks nice and something that they will be proud of. I wanted to offer a few tips with regards to teaching children to weave.

Generally speaking, I prefer the children to be at least 13 years old. In working with the scouts, they are sometimes a year or two younger. If that is the case, I personally don't teach more than 4 young scouts at a time. If they are 13 or older, I will teach a class of 6 or 7. Children just need more help than an adult needs so I find it best to keep my class size smaller. My preference is for children to be 13 just because younger children might not have the hand dexterity to weave. Also, younger children just have a shorter attention span and can become easily frustrated if the basket is not coming together like they think it should.

I always start with the square basket. I find that twining can be a bit more confusing so with a square basket there is less twining. Usually what happens is that they will do a 'chase weave' with their round reed rather than twining. If the children, especially the younger ones, are happy with the chase weave, then I leave it and let them know they've done a different type of weaving which is just fine and let them know what a great job they did with the chase weave. If it is caught quickly, I gently correct the mistake and show them proper twining technique.

I have them cut their spokes and stakes from 5/8" flat. Since it is wider, they can weave a bigger basket in a shorter amount of time. I keep the weavers at 3/8" flat except for the rim row being 1/4" flat.

I keep the baskets small. For the square basket, they cut 10 stakes. 5 are horizontal and the other 5 woven in vertically. For the round basket, we cut only 5 spokes.

I like a woven rim and think that is important to teach this. For the outside of the rim I use 3/8" flat/oval and for the inside of the rim I use 3/8" flat. Normally I would always use flat/oval on both the inside and outside of the rim, but that gets thick and harder to manage. It is much easier for children to use flat reed on the inside. You could use flat reed on the outside of the basket as well, but again, I just don't care for the look and I want the children to be happy with their basket.

When lashing the rim in place we only go around the basket one time. We cut a lasher that measures 2 1/2 times around the basket so we are sure to have plenty yet it is not so much that it is difficult to manage.

I always encourage the use of plenty of clothespins as they are our extra helping hands.

I always give lots of praise so that no matter what their basket looks like, those kids think they created a masterpiece. I encourage their scout leader to take pictures of the children with their basket. I also talk to the children about what they are going to use their baskets for. If they don't know what to use it for, I let them know that their mother would just L-O-V-E it.

I have bright colors of dyed reed on hand and I let them pick what color or colors they would like to use.

I have snacks and drinks on hand. Basket weaving is hard work for these little ones and sometimes they need to step away from their project for just a bit. Allow three hours to teach just one of these simple baskets. Three hours is a long time for a child and they need a break. Depending on the ages of the children, if they are younger, consider breaking the class up over two days. What I find is that they children get impatient to finish the basket and then they start to get sloppy with their work. That's when it is time to take a break, have them run outside, or stop the class and continue it another day.

Always wait for the slower weavers to catch up before moving on. Nothing frustrates a child more if they feel like they are 'behind' the class.

Never ever, EVER discourage a child. If they are struggling say, "You are doing a great job. I like how you did this or that with the basket, but would it be ok if I show you how to do this just a little better." Sometimes you even need to get behind the child and place your hands on the child's hands and show them exactly what you mean. What we say as adults and what children hear are two different things. We may think we are perfectly clear in our explanations, but to a child learning something new it is like we are speaking a foreign language. Many of the words we use in weaving are new to children so don't expect them to remember what the words mean right away.

Be sure the children sign and date the bottom of their baskets. They will look back at this basket in years to come and having the documentation on the bottom is invaluable.

This next bit really isn't a book review, but I wanted to show you something that was on my bookshelf. It is a self-published book titled, "Basket Making with Kids" by Vicky Teich. This book has several contributing pattern writers and gives a number of good tips for weaving with children. The tips above are all mine, but I do overlap in some of the tips that are given in the book. It also has the instructions for the baskets shown in the photo. The photo is glued onto the front cover and there are notes in the book that are hand written. I love that. This book was put together without a computer! I do think that the basket patterns in the book are very sweet, but I find that they are geared more to the older child. If you wove them with a younger child, say age 12 or 13, you might have to teach them one on one or at least have a very small class, or have their parents stay for class and assist their child. One of the patterns mentions shaving some of the flat/oval. Giving children a knife to shave with requires very close supervision.

Don't be afraid to teach children. I promise your heart will shine as you watch the expression on a child's face when they complete their first basket.

Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

Video#15--Weaving the Sides of a Round Basket

In this video I show how to weave the sides of a round basket. Remember you can see this and view all my other videos in order so that you may weave along with me on my YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/basketmasternancy

Enjoy and Happy Weaving,

Nancy

Share a Basket Sunday

This basket has a solid bottom base with an integrated wooden handle. The dyed reed is space dyed and is done in a three-rod waling pattern. It sits on top of my refrigerator and holds envelopes, address labels and stamps.
Have a blessed Sunday,
Nancy

Feature a Friend Friday--Julie from Deen Homestead Basketry

Dear Friends,

I have someone special I'd like you to meet today. Her name is Julie and she blogs over at A Hand-Woven Life.

Julie has been weaving for 18 years and has been selling her baskets the past five or six years at an antique shop. Julie says that when she is not basket-weaving she enjoys crocheting, book-making, reading, writing, and playing piano. She and her husband have a zoo on their farm. Ok, only kidding here, but she and her husband manage a farm that includes 20 head of cattle and about 30 sheep as well as two dogs and a ferret and I cannot forget to mention her three children. Julie you are one busy lady! Actually, we have quite a bit in common with our interests. I just don't live on a farm.

I really find Julie's baskets to be beautiful and some are quite unique. Just look at the spoon basket above. I think that is just such a clever way to weave a basket.

Julie has a website, Deen Homestead Basketry where you can see many of her baskets. While you are there, be sure to look at her Woven Country Angels. We are talking some serious cuteness here.

Take a moment to stop by her blog as well as her website and say, "Hello!" Julie is a kind and generous person and is someone who you would want to sit down and weave with and share a pot of coffee.

Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

Bramble Basket Tutorial

I came across this wonderful tutorial for weaving a basket made from brambles which are somewhat similar to willow. The tutorial is wonderful. It has many step by step photos that are easy to follow. The basket is woven by Jon Bushcraft. The tutorial and his website are well worth a visit as he does amazing wood carving and crafts, and builds canoes. Talented man!

Blessings,

Nancy

Share a Basket and savoring Summer

I'm here. I really am! Oh the summer is making me so happy. I wish you could be with me right now on my back patio. We finished roasting hot dogs on the fire pit (It's our third night this past seven days to be roasting out there and we've ingested bags of marshmallows already) and we've been playing lots and lots of board games. I'm spending way too much time outdoors but I just can't get enough of this gorgeous weather. I bet I have a hundred tomatoes on the vine, some I've already picked! Yum! And my grapes....We will have a harvest. I wish you were my neighbors so that I could just share my bounty over the back fence with all of you. I also harvested some of my first rhubarb ever and made a rhubarb and strawberry cake. Double yum as I whipped up some heavy cream with a bit of sugar to go on top. The kiddos are happy and spend hours on the trampoline with the hose playing all sorts of made up games and come in soaking wet and full of laughter. It's not just my kids as I feel sometimes that the entire neighborhood of children has stopped by. So, as I said, I'm here, I really am. As much as I enjoy spending time on my blog and on the computer, it doesn't compare with spending time in the sunshine. We have a couple more short camping trips planned for this summer plus I'll be taking Amtrak again with the children to visit my parents. These days will fly, and when things slow down again, my blog will pick back up. Please understand if the posts are fewer and farther in between.

What are you doing this summer? I'd love to hear some of the fun things you are doing with your family.

Oh...My basket in the photo above....This is a desk basket. I wove it years ago from a pattern that had no photo. I remember weaving it thinking it was a mystery basket! I tried searching for the pattern in my binders but with no avail. I'm sorry, I don't know who the author of this pattern is. The basket is quite large and I always thought it was large enough for a cat to lay in, but it is called a desk basket. For quite a while, I used to have it on my desk holding my pencil caddy as well as notebooks, paperclips and so forth. Now it sits on a shelf just looking pretty.

Hmmm...perhaps this is a desk basket for a cat? I don't have a cat.

Anyway, Just stop on by for a glass of iced tea and let weave a while together on the back patio.

Love and Blessings,

Nancy

How to Weave a Basket - YouTube Video #14 is up! Adding in the second set of spokes to our base

In this video we continue to twine and we are adding four more spokes to our base. This video shows how we incorporate those spokes into our existing base.

Happy Weaving,

Nancy

New YouTube Basket Weaving Video #13--Lets Weave a Round Berry Basket!

In this video we will be weaving a round berry basket with integrated handle. This video starts explaining the base and how to twine a round base. You can also view it, and my other videos on my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/basketmasternancy

I have to say one more thing. I know that the sound and the picture are not in sync with each other and it drives me nuts, but I have no clue what to do to prevent it. If any of you could tell me, I would be so appreciative. So for now, just look at my hands and the reed and not my mouth as you listen.

Enjoy and Happy Weaving.

Nancy

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