Wool Drying Basket

Hi Everyone,
I am a fan of baskets with feet, so I think this wool drying basket is just beautiful!  W.H. Baskets has the pattern for FREE on their site, but it is only available for this month.  Grab it now!  Wanda, this is another beautiful basket!  Thanks for another great pattern!!!

At the end of the month the pattern goes up for sale so you can get it later, but getting it now is your best opportunity.  I've had requests from some of you to send the pattern after it is no longer for free.  Sorry gang, but I just can't do that.  These businesses that I showcase here have to put food on the table for their families.  It is kind and generous that they offer the patterns for free for the month.  I try to give you a heads-up to grab the pattern while you can, but that is the best I can do.  If you miss it, just order the pattern from them.  It is a way of saying thanks for all they are doing.

On another note...  Mike and I had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating our 23rd anniversary.  He took me to Chic-Fil-A for breakfast!  What a sweetie!  We had a business party at the house last night as one of his colleagues was changing divisions within the company.  Tonight after church we will go out for a nice dinner and really celebrate.  Best thing about having a party at the house is now the house is fully clean!  Today I can just rest and relax.

Hugs everyone and have a blessed Sunday.
I love you guys.
Nancy

Free Jelly Jar Basket Pattern

Hi Friends,
It is a new month so I want to direct you to a new free pattern on the web.  W. H. Baskets has a free pattern for a jelly jar basket.  Very sweet!  This is a beginner level basket so for you new weavers this is a perfect one to get started with.  I also like how they have shown the different embellishments so how it can easily be adapted for different seasons.
Be sure to pop over there and print off your pattern sometime this month.
Happy Weaving,
Nancy

Free Williamsburg Pansy Basket Pattern

Hi Friends,
Baskets of Joy has a free pattern for this sweet Williamsburg Pansy basket.  It is available until the end of the month so grab it quick.  You can also purchase the kit through them for $19.95.

The reason it is called a Williamsburg basket is because of the shape of the handle that is used to make it.  Take a look.

This is a Williamsburg handle.  It has a very distinct shape where it is wider at the opening of the basket and tapers down at the base.

What a pretty basket for spring!

Happy Weaving,

Nancy

Free Lazy Susan Basket Pattern

Hi Friends,

Over at W. H. Baskets you can print off the Lazy Susan Basket Pattern.  I am so excited about this pattern because it is getting close to summer.  We've already eaten out once on our back patio and this basket would be perfect for the patio table.  It will hold the ketchup, mustard, relish and other condaments making it easy for everyone around the table to reach them.

Wanda over at W. H. Baskets sells the lazy susan base for $15. 

This free basket pattern is only available till the end of April so you just have a few days to grab it!  Super cute and practical.   I'm lovin' this basket.

Blessings and Happy Weaving,
Nancy

Free Basket Weaving Pattern

Hi Friends,
Here is a beautiful pattern called Lines Of Autumn by Jennifer Rhodes.  It is a large market basket that uses a 10 x 12 D handle and space dyed reed in "autumn" color,  This pattern is available from http://www.basketweavingsupplies.com/ and you can link directly to it HERE.  They also have the kit available for purchase for $23.95.  It's not a basket for the brand new weaver yet it is a beginner level.  Once you have a few baskets under your belt, give this pretty basket a whirl.  The space dyed reed in it is stunning.
Happy Weaving!
Nancy

Free Basket Weaving Pattern

Hi Friends,
I want to direct you over to W.H. Baskets to pick up their free pattern this month.  It's called a Buffet Basket and uses beautiful braided seagrass and swing handles.  I wove a basket similar to this a number of years ago.  I lined it with a Winnie the Pooh fabric and filled it with baby items as a baby gift for a friend.  It turned out darling.  I'll have to search and see if I can find an old photo of the one I wove.  The swing handles add a lot to this sweet basket.  The two wooden handles give strength to the base.  It also makes it easier to store because you can fold the handles down when needed.  W.H. Baskets keeps their free patterns up only for a month and we are almost to the end of July so get there soon and print it off.
Happy Weaving,
Nancy

Free Basket Weaving Pattern

Hi Friends,
Here is a quick reminder for a free pattern from Baskets of Joy.  This sweet basket is called a Tulip May Basket.  It has a square base and goes to a round top.  If you need some of the materials, they have kits available for $20.  Be sure to print off your pattern soon!
Enjoy and Happy Weaving,
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

A Correction on My Post

Good gravy friends did I make a mistake! This sweet basket from W.H. Baskets that I posted about HERE is not a Bug Catcher Basket, it is a BAG CATCHER BASKET!!! It is funny how our eyes and our minds play tricks on us. Timothy had been talking about parts of insects in his science class. It got me to thinking about how when the children were younger we would catch insects in a bug catcher. Then when I saw the wooden base with the hole in it I guess my mind just wandered. I had bugs on the brain. But let me tell you, it is a BAG basket for all those grocery sacks that you accumulate. I am so laughing at myself and hope you are laughing at with me on this. Please go back to W.H. Baskets and take another look at this sweet basket and download your free pattern. A bag catcher basket is very handy indeed. (although a bug catcher can be just as handy at times) I have a bag catcher basket hanging in my pantry that I wove years ago and it gets used daily. (I have a bug catcher too but not a bug catcher basket) Ok, just shut up Nancy. Know when to quit.

Forgive me W.H. Baskets for my slip.

One more thing as an FYI. There had been some question as to the cost of shipping as W.H. Baskets is located in Canada. They have informed me that they shipped two large bases to North Carolina for $7 so that can give you an idea of how much shipping might cost.

Baskets of Blessings everyone,

Nancy

A Free Basket Weaving Pattern

Updated note:  I am so sorry W.H. Baskets that I mistaked the name of your Bag Catcher Basket as Bug Catcher.  My mind was on other things and it truly was a mistake.  Below I've striked out the word Bug and have replaced it with Bag as it's proper name.--Nancy

Hi Friends,
After all this talk about my robins, which by the way had my pyracanthia bush stripped of berries by 2:00 that afternoon, I saw this adorable basket with a bird house embellishment no less.
The pattern comes to us from W. H. Baskets.  The pattern is called "Bug Bag Catcher Basket" and it has two patterns for different sizes.  You can get the link for it HERE.   It uses a really interesting specialty base that is a semi circle with a hole.  The bases are on sale this month for either $4.00 or $5.00 depending on if you are making the large or small Bug Bag Cathcer Basket.  Very unique and clever basket and even though I say this, it looks to be a beginner basket.  Be sure to visit W.H. Baskets and take a look around.  They sure have some pretty baskets.  One more thing, be sure to print off the pattern because their free patterns change monthly.
Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

Free Basket Weaving Pattern - Vanity Basket

Good morning Friends,
I have another  link to a beautiful basket pattern from Baskets of Joy.  I try to always remember to remind you to be sure and go print off their free monthly pattern because it is only up for a month.   If you don't have all the supplies you can get the kit from Baskets of Joy for $24.95.  This basket is titled a Vanity Basket and it has some beautiful leather handles.  I think it would look great in my husband's den.  HERE is the link for the pattern.
Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

Free Heart Basket Weaving Pattern

First off, I've just got to say that all of you reading this blog are simply the best!  I mean it from the bottom of my heart.  I have a sweet reader, Jane, who sent me this link HERE to a free woven heart basket pattern found at The Basket Maker's Catalog.  Be sure to print off your pattern.  Take a close look at this basket.  Does it remind you of something else you could weave with this similar shape? 

Look below...

Turn my Christmas stocking on it's side with the point of the heel downward.  Isn't basket weaving fun?  With just little tweeks, we can change the look completely from a stocking to a heart.

Thank you so much Jane for sending us the link to the heart pattern.  Now Jane doesn't have a blog or a website for me to share with you, but her daughter does.  Her daughter is a wonderful painter so I'd like to direct you to The Art of Morgan Denise.  I hope you'll take a moment to view some of her beautiful work.
Happy Weaving Everyone,
Nancy

Free Basket Weaving Pattern

Don't forget to visit Baskets of Joy this month and pick up your free basket pattern HERE. This month the pattern is a Christmas Tree Door Basket. The red balls on the tree are beads! Very sweet.
Happy Weaving and have a blessed Sunday,
Nancy

Woven Angel - A Happy Mail Day - Deen Homestead Basketry

What a happy mail day I had on Monday afternoon.  The doorbell rings and it is the UPS man with a package for me!  Inside is this beautiful angel from Julie over at Deen Homestead Basketry.  I've been testing some basket patterns for Julie before they go into publication and she sent me this as a sweet thank you.  It is now my turn to say thank you to her!  The angel is a Christmas ornament, but I think she'll be lovely as my little kitchen angel and I'll keep her on my kitchen windowsill.  (There is no direct sunlight at that window so she'll be fine there.)
Julie has her patterns for sale on her website HERE.  They will be for sale soon at Basketpatterns.com I'll keep you posted when those go live.  The patterns I've tested and woven were the "Recipe Box Basket", the "Yarn Dispenser Basket" and the "Santa Boot".  I'll be posting pictures of those soon.  All three are very unique and clever baskets and were a lot of fun to weave.  Julie is a very thorough pattern writer and there are lots of photos in the pattern making it easy to follow.
Thank you again Julie for both the angel and the opportunity to weave your patterns.
Blessings,
Nancy
ps.  If anyone has patterns they would like tested before publishing, just send me an e-mail.  I promise to give only constructive comments.

Baskets of Joy - Free Basket Pattern

Did you remember to stop by Baskets of Joy for their free pattern HERE. What a sweet basket this month. Beginners, this pattern is for you! If you have never tried weaving a basket before this would be a great one to start with. For those of you who don't have supplies, you can get the kit for only $15.95. It also includes the ash strip with the sweet sunflower stenciled on it.
I love this basket!
Blessings,
Nancy

Free Online Basket Weaving Patterns

Remember Baskets of Joy has a free online pattern every month. Be sure to stop by and download your pattern because if you wait until September, this month's pattern will be gone. The August pattern is the beautiful Summer Garden basket pictured above. You can get the link for it HERE. Baskets of Joy makes it simple because if you want, you can just order the kit for the basket which comes with all the supplies. It is $24.95.
Enjoy and Happy Weaving,

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

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

Wonderful Free Basket Patterns

Have you visited GH Productions website The Basket Maker's Catalog? I counted 18 free patterns on their site. Actually a couple of them are seat weaving and one is a waxed linen ornament, but the remainder are basket patterns. You can get to their free pattern page HERE
They also have supplies and a page full of April sale items HERE

Soteria Green Basket Pattern by Beth Hester .

Peppermint Twist Basket Pattern by GH Productions.


Mini Loaf Basket Pattern by GH Productions.


Swing Your Partner by Beth Hester

The above is just a small sampling of the free patterns they have available. On their site they give permission to print them out and share them with your friends.

Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

Free Online Basket Weaving Patterns

I just wanted to send out a note here that basketweavingsupplies.com has 10 free printable basket weaving patterns on their site here. Three of them are new, a key basket, a mail basket and a condiment basket. Be sure to pop over to their site and browse around a bit to see some of their fun and new basket weaving supplies.

Happy Weaving and Baskets of Blessings,

Love,

Nancy