Five Super Crafting Free e-Books

Hi Friends,
Just sharing some news with you that FaveCrafts has 5 free crafting e-books out currently for download.  I'm not getting anything from FaveCrafts for promoting them, I just like their style and the crafts have a good fit with me so I just want to share them with you.

This first one is full of Easter Crafts and Recipes.

http://www.favecrafts.com/master_images/Holiday/Easter/Easter-Craft-Ebook2010.pdf

The second is Easter crafts from around the blogosphere this year.
http://www.favecrafts.com/master_images/Holiday/Easter/Easter-Crafts-Blogger-Edition-eBook2010.pdf

This next one is Low Cost Kitchen Crafts.  It has ideas for hot pads, dish clothes, aprons, table runners, refrigerator magnets and much more.

http://www.favecrafts.com/master_images/Decorating%20Ideas/Low-Cost-Kitchen-Craft-eBook.pdf

Crafts for Mom is an e-book full of ideas for the young and young at heart to make for our mothers.  It has a lot of card ideas as well as gifts for giving.

http://www.favecrafts.com/master_images/Gifts/Mother%27s%20Day/Crafts%20for%20Mom%20eBook.pdf

This last e-book is Easter Crafts from bloggers and it is their 2009 edition.

http://www.favecrafts.com/master_images/Holiday/Easter/Easter%20Blogger%20eBook.pdf

I find the ideas in these books fun and inspiring.  Even if I don't make the crafts exactly as written, they get my creative juices flowing.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Blessings,

Nancy

Last Year's April Fool's Day Prank

Those red drinks look yummy, right? They're really JELLO!!!
My son Tim was fooled. The other members of the family saw him take a drink so they knew what was awaiting them in their glasses. Hahaha We all had a great laugh.
Somedays I have to remind myself not to be too serious about life, so the kids were surprised that mommy pulled one over on them.  Do any of you have a great prank I could play on the kids this year?
Blessings,
Nancy

Crochet lace rim makes a Sweet Easter Bowl

Here is a fun way to bling up a plain plastic bowl.  The bowls were $1 at Target.  The varigated yarn is in pretty Easter colors and can be purchased at Michaels. 

I used my Crop-a-dile to punch 3/16" holes all around the bowl  This bowl had ridges.  I punched a hole at each ridge and a hole between each ridge.  This way they were evenly spaced out.  It ended up I had 60 holes around my bowl each about 1/2" apart.

I created my own lace crochet pattern.  I'm not a crochet pattern writter but I will describe it the best I can.

I used a size G crochet hook because that was the largest hook I had that would still fit through the holes. 

As I went around the bowl the first time through each of the holes in the bowl, I did a single crochet and a chain 1.

The second row around I did a single, double, single in every other chain 1 space.  In the alternate chain 1 spaces I did just a single crochet.

On the thrid round, in every other single space I did 5 double crochet stitches to make a scallop.  I attached each side of the scallop down with a single crochet.

On the fourth and final round, I did a chain 4 then a single crochet into every other stitch around the entire bowl.

There are 6 ladies in my crochet group so I've got 6 little bunnies in the bowl.  I'm thinking they will enjoy seeing what I created all on my own.

I'd love to see what Easter creations you are working on.  Please leave me a comment so I can see your work.

Blessings,

Nancy
This Post Links To the following fun Parites!
Skip To My Lou -  Made By You Monday
Sumo's Sweet Stuff - Market Yourself Monday
The Girl Creative - Just Something I whipped Up Monday
Between Naps On the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday
Cottage Instincts - Made It for Monday
It's So Very Cheri - It's So Very Creative Mondays
Twice Remembered - Make Your Monday
Making The World Cuter - Making the World Cuter Monday
A Soft Place To Land - DIY Day
My Frugal Family - Talented Tuesday
The DIY Showoff - Project Parade
The Persimmon Perch - Made It Mondays
Lucky Star Lane - Lucky Linky Tuesdays
Today's Creative Blog - Get Your Craft On
Blue Cricket Design - Show and Tell
Someday Crafts - Whatever Goes Wednesday

Palm Sunday

Making a Differnece

Dear Friends,

I have some exciting news that really makes me happy.

My YouTube videos are going to be shown as an educational program for children in southern India. It is through the World Crafts Council and the Crafts Council of India. Volunteers help teach these children thing such as palm leaf weaving and shell crafts. The volunteers help these children understand what is involved in creating these crafts and getting them to market as well as the difficulties the craftspeople encounter with them. You can read more about those organizations by clicking on the links.

What makes me happy is something that has been on my mind for quite a while now (read quite a number of years) and something that has been truly in my prayers is I've wanted to make a difference. Those close to me tell me, "You are making a difference by just raising your family. Your tithing at church and volunteering at church is a good way to reach others." Ok, I agree with that, but in my heart I've wanted to do more.

My wanting to do more is why my podcast of "Making Our Home a Haven" has been coming to fruition and I have great hopes that this podcast will help strengthen families which is something I've felt a calling to do.

Anyway, I'm excited and thrilled to think that just possibly, in some small way, my YouTube videos are helping to make the world a better place.

Blessings to all my readers.

Nancy

Kreativ Blogger Blog Award!

Good Morning Friends,
Bety from Deep End of the Loom nominated me for this sweet award. Thank you Bety! I have to tell you friends that Bety does some fantastic loom weaving. Her work is beautiful. A little birdie has let me know there may be a loom weaving from her in my Think Pink Susan G. Komen charity fundraiser. Please stop by her website. While you are there, I hope you will take a moment and look at some of her older posts as well. Bety weaves with this incredibly beautiful mix of colors and textures.

One of the rules is to tell seven things about myself that you might not already know.
Gosh, It seems I've told you all so much about myself already and I don't want to repeat what you've already heard. Well, here goes...

1. I'm a certified scuba diver
2. My current favorite magazine to read is "Mary Jane's Farm."
3. Two things I'd like to do some day are attend CHA and also attend a Joyce Meyer Women's Conference
4. I'll eat most any food but I can't stand sauerkraut.
5. My favorite television show to watch is "The Biggest Loser".
6. I used to work as a nurse for Physician's Weight Loss Centers.
7. I hate politics. I do have my opinions with it, but I don't care who is in office, I absolutely hate watching it on TV listening to it on the radio or reading about it. (I do keep informed, but It consistently makes me sick to my stomach.)

Now, I'm to nominate 7 others to receive this award. Because I'm here with 3 sick kiddos, ok 2 sick kids but Katie pulled her back out. And because I'm feeling very tired (I was in the ER with Emily until after midnight, story below) And because I LOVE all my readers, I'm opening up this award to all of you. I love you all, I really do, so please take the award for your blogs and tell us 7 things about yourself pass the award along.

As for Emily. She was being treated with what we thought was a case of strep throat, which kept getting worse. Whole tonsils became white and ugly. Her throat started swelling. She couldn't swallow at all last night. Monday involved taking her to the Dr. Office. Tues. morning involved taking her to urgent care for a switch in antibiotics and some pain medication. Tues. after supper we took her to the ER, something I've been fortunate not to have ever done with Emily before. In my years of nursing, I'd never seen a throat look like hers. Poor baby it made me cry to see her like that and in so much pain. Come to find out she has a horrible case of mono. The doctors gave her steroids and got the swelling in her throat down and feel that if she is able to stay hydrated and we keep on top of her pain that it is something that will just have to run its course at this point.

Today I'm disinfecting the house and Emily is quarantined to her room. We have a German foreign exchange student coming again this year for 2 weeks. She arrives tomorrow and I don't dare let her get sick.

Thanks again Bety and
Hope you are all having a wonderful day. Here at my house it is snowing and sleeting.
Nancy

Strawberry Planting

Good Morning Friends,
I tried planting strawberries last year in the little pots above. They are four pots placed on a piece of re-bar that has been stuck in the ground. It looked pretty at the time last year but I got very few strawberries. I think the pots were to small to hold the moisture and strawberries need a good drink.

I was in Big Lots and ran across this hanging planter. I've seen these before but have not tried them. I'm going to give it a go. Then wouldn't you know, Walmart already had strawberry plants in the store. I bought some to go in the planter and I'm going to hang it on the patio. I think it is too early to put them out just yet so the plants are sitting in my kitchen. The nighttime temperatures are still getting down to 30 degrees. It's been nice though in the afternoons with temperatures 55 to 60. I can't wait to start playing in my garden!

My little plants I started by seed are still growing indoors but they sure look spindly. I hope they will produce.

Have any of you started your gardens yet?

Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

Share a Basket Sunday

This is a fun basket with a matchstick rim. The spokes are 1/4" flat reed that I've placed side by side. Then as I wove up the sides of the basket I split them into their individual parts. I just used some wild colors that I had on hand so I call this basket my "Fiesta Basket" and I get it out at Easter time.

Have a blessed Sunday,

Nancy

Feature a Friend Friday - Kelly Lynch

Dear Friends,

I'd like to introduce you to Kelly Lynch from Mexico. Kelly found me on YouTube and decided to weave her very FIRST basket and it is made from cereal boxes and grocery sacks. She says they don't have recycling in her country so she is glad to find a use for items that would get thrown away.

Kelly finds this to be relaxing and states that she likes how it makes her feel connected to women who have gone before her.

Thank you so much Kelly for sending me your photos to share. I LOVE this recycled green basket. I think your first basket is fabulous!!!!

Kelly has a website over at The Rabbit Hole which is a treasury of Alice In Wonderland items. My children have seen the new movie and loved it. Be sure to visit her site to follow the rabbit and enter into the hole.

Baskets of blessings everyone,

Nancy

Spring Break Week

The kids are out of school and I'm enjoying a week of family time. I'll be back on Friday.
Blessings,
Nancy

Share a Basket Sunday

I wove this fun basket with Easter colors just using up scraps.
Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

What's Your Feeling About Spring Cleaning

Hi Friends,
Here is my second podcast. It is titled What's Your Feeling About Spring Cleaning. This podcast is about 6 minutes long and in it I discuss what I do INSTEAD of spring cleaning. I hope you enjoy it.
Mike helped me with the audio this time so it is improved. I'm still having trouble uploading it to ITunes. I got my first podcast uploaded to ITunes without any trouble, but this one has me stumped. If any of you have any tips to give me regarding audio posting, I't would be much appreciated. Also, if any of you have other audio host sites besides TalkShoe I'd like to hear about them. I went with TalkShoe as it is a free audio host source.
Anyway, back to spring cleaning. How do you do your spring cleaning? Is it the way I do it?
Blessings,
Nancy
This post links to:
Tatertots and Jello
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Mom's The Word

Think Pink and Feature a Friend Friday - Naomi

Hi Friends,
I'd like to introduce you to my friend Naomi. She is the sweet girl on the right. I taught her to weave her very first basket over a year ago. We are also great scrapbooking buddies.

Naomi is our latest contributor to my Think Pink fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen foundation. She sells wonderful Sentsy flameless candles that smell heavenly. Her website is HERE.

You can read more about my Susan G. Komen fight against breast cancer fundraiser HERE.

I asked Naomi to tell us a little about herself and here is what she said:

As for me, I am a 36yr old stay @ home momma to two kiddos....my Irish twins are 10months apart which keeps me busy. My daughter, Carolina is 5 and my son, Boogies (not his given name :D) is 4. They will both enter kindergarten this
year....yikes!!!
I enjoy scrapbooking and traveling with my mom. I have been
scrapbooking forever, I can remember a big type of scrapbook I kept in my
jr/high school days, that I would put in birthday cards, newspaper clippings,
and anything. however, I really became a true acid-free scrapbooker back in 1997
and OH have times/techniques/etc have changed!!!
I also enjoy my family, we
enjoy the outdoors (lol, ok they love the outdoors & I 'deal')--so we camp
alot...I also enjoy traveling with my mom--to resorts and scrapbooking retreats
:D

I have two blogs you can link my everything blog & my project
365 daily pic blog
http://naomiockerman.blogspot.com/
http://naomitwentytenproject365.blogspot.com/

Naomi has contributed for the raffle a beautiful Pink Candle Warmer from Sentsy along with a deliciously fragrant wax called Pretty In Pink.

Remember the theme is Think Pink and I need your help to make it a success for the raffle later this year during October, Breast Cancer Awareness month. For donations, please e-mail me at basketmaster_nancy@yahoo.com Remember more prizes mean more money for the foundation.

Please take a moment and visit Naomi's website and blogs and say Hello to her. Thank you so much Naomi for your donation towards fighting breast cancer.

Other Contributors

• Me with my woven basket
• CJ from Tea N Stitches - Stampin' Up

Blessings everyone,
Nancy

This post links to:
The Girl Creative - New Friend Friday

Blog Week!

Blog Week!
Have you been wanting to jump into blogging but feel overwhelmed by all
that's involved in getting started? My friend Kelly has a great
opportunity for you to make the leap in style. All the hard work of
installation and theme set up will be done for you - you'll even be able to
watch!

It's all part of Blog Week - a special event running from March 15th to
19th. You won't believe the deal she's put together for you. It includes
your domain, three months of hosting and a blog set up. Check it all out
here:

Moms Talk Biz

Happy Blogging,
Nancy

My Very First Podcast

Hi Friends,
I made my very first podcast! You can click on it above. It is titled Making Our Home a Haven and this is something that has been on my mind for a long time now. I was so nervous that I even said the wrong date. I actually attempted making the podcast yesterday (which I thought sounded better) but I didn't hit the record button!
Anyway, Making Our Home a Haven will be a new feature at Basketmaster Weavings. Please bear with me as I work out all the idiosyncrasies with it. This podcast is only about 2 minutes long.
Blessings,
Nancy

Beaded Doily Coaster

Hi Friends,
My in-laws were visiting this past weekend. My mother-in-law is an amazing beader. I've taught her how to weave some baskets throughout the years and this weekend she taught me to do the above beaded coaster. It is just the right size to sit my cup of coffee on in the mornings so you get an idea of its size. Took me about 4 hours to make.
Beading is one of those few crafts that I've not yet gotten involved in doing. I keep telling myself I CAN'T start another hobby!
Have a wonderful day!
Nancy
This Post links to:
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Skip to My Lou
The Girl Creative
A Soft Place to Land
My Frugal Family
Lucky Star Lane
Today's Creative Blog
Someday Crafts

Nancy's Sloppy Joe Recipe

Hi Friends,
I was looking through a Taste of Home cookbook the other day and I ran across a recipe that looked similar to my above finished product. It looked good and I thought I'd like to give it a try. (don't even remember the name of it, it was bacon cheeseburger something or other) Anyway, the recipe had you make the bread from scratch and the meat sauce was made from scratch too. It was just one of those days where I didn't have time for all that fuss. I needed quick and easy and things that were on hand.

I had a loaf of French bread and a can of Sloppy Joe sauce so I thought I'd do the Semi-homemade version of what I remembered seeing. To start with, an easy way to cook the bacon (one package) is to cut it with kitchen sheers first and then cook it in a pan. If you use a pan with high walls it helps keep the splatters to a minimum. Drain the bacon.

In another pan I browned the ground beef (a little over one pound) and added 1 can Sloppy Joe sauce after draining the beef.

I cut a 'V' shape in the French bread and placed 5 slices of American cheese. On top of the cheese place the cooked bacon and on top of that place the ground beef mixture.

This recipe served my family of 5 and I had tossed salad, cooked broccoli and carrots with it. It was different than a standard Sloppy Joe and the kids gave it 2 thumbs up. We also put mustard and pickles on our sandwiches. It was so much easier than the original recipe that inspired me.

I'd love to hear what quick and easy recipes you are feeding your families these days.

Enjoy your weekend,

Nancy

This Post Links To:
Craftaholics Anonymous
Women Who Do It All

Feature a Friend Friday - Colby Hart

Dear Friends,
I'd like to introduce you to Colby Hart. He is a new weaver and has been weaving with reed for only three months now. Take a look at his work here! Colby and his wife enjoy crafts and making things with their hands. He started basket weaving as a way to make some Christmas gifts this past year while his wife made soap. Colby doesn't have a website or a blog....yet...but when one is started I'll be sure to pass the link along.
Thanks Colby for sending me your photos to share. I'm sure the recipient of the gift basket was thrilled because it looks great!

Readers, please feel free to e-mail me with photos of your baskets. I'd love to show off your work!
Happy weaving everyone.
Nancy

Free Online Basket Pattern

Dear Friends,
I wanted to be sure and remind you about Baskets of Joy's free monthly pattern. Be sure to get over there and download or print it off before the end of the month. What a great basket to use up your scraps of dyed reed.
One more thing to take notice of, did you see the lashing on this basket? How sweet to do the lashing in two different colors! Lashing in two colors is something I've never tried but this inspires me to do so. If you don't have all these great colors already dyed, Baskets of Joy also sells this as a kit.
Enjoy,
Nancy

Tip Technique Tuesday - A Unique Basket Handle

Good Morning Friends,

Remember when I introduced you to Pam Kurkowski HERE? I mentioned that Pam has a fun technique to make a sweet primitive basket handle. Take a look!

This is Pam's doll Amelia that she made. Can you identify what the basket handle is made of? It is a wire and a cinnamon stick! I think that is just the most clever way to make a basket handle. Of course Pam wove the little basket as well.
Thank you Pam for letting me use your pictures.
Please be sure to visit Pam over at Primitive Basketcase to see more of her fun and wonderful creations.
Have a wonderful day,
Nancy