How to Use a Basket Buckle

Hi Friends,
I wove the basket above and included this sweet snowman basket buckle.  The basket buckle is ceramic and has two holes that the damp reed slides through.

In my e-mail yesterday I got a sale ad from BasketWeavingSupplies.com.  In the ad was this super cute basket for Halloween with a bat basket buckle.  It's called "Bucket of Treats".

BasketWeavingSupplies.com is selling this as a kit for $26.95 and it includes the bat as well as the black leather handles.  Take a look at the double spokes above the orange where they have layered the black.  This is just a fun basket to weave.

Let me give you a tip here should you get the kit or make one on your own.  When working with dark colors, and you can't get any darker than black, be sure to run that reed through an old towel.  Also take a close look at it.  The black reed is not bent, you know like upsetting the spokes.  Since it is not bent, there is no need to really soak it, just get the black reed lightly damp and you will be fine!

Have fun friends.  Many basket weaving places sell basket buckles which make a fun element on any basket.  Be inspired!

Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

Scentsy's Holiday Catalog

Hi Friends,
I know I'm showing a lot of Scentsy stuff lately.   I never want to be pushy about this (or anything) but when I am excited about something, I love to share it! People have been telling me to share Scentsy products and opportunity with you all more, so I'm really trying to NOT come across as being too forward.  I would like to show you the great new things Scentsy has come out with for the holidays.  If you are considering some Scentsy items, warmers with wonderful holiday fragrances and the sweet buddies for children, for the holidays, would you please consider getting them from my Scentsy site.  It is truly a blessing to me and my family and I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate YOU. 
Could I ask one more favor of you please....If you know of someone looking for Scentsy, would you please direct them to my site as well.
Thank you so very much.
Love and Blessings,
Nancy

Scentsy's Fall Winter 2011 Catalog

My Scentsy Business

Hi Friends,
A reminder that things are 10% off in the Spring and Summer catalog until August 31st.  Scentsy is also changing their policy for those of you who would like to join.  There is no longer the $150 every three month minimum!!!  This is great for those of you who would like the product but do not want to do this as a business!
Should you choose to do this, I am here to help you every step of the way.  Just send me an e-mail and I'll be more than happy to answer any of your questions.  Should you choose to do Scentsy as a part-time or full-time business, I'm here for you too with business support.  You can take Scentsy from as little to as much as you want and what works for you and your family!
Thank you all for your support in ordering Scentsy product from my website or joining my team.
Hugs and Blessings,
Nancy
PS.  Scentsy is available for those of you in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, United Kingdom and Germany!

Heads Up on a Reed Sale!

Hi Friends,

I want to give you a heads-up on a reed sale that starts tomorrow over at Arnie's Arts and Crafts which is part of Basketpatterns.com.  You all know I like Basketpatterns.com and the price is right!  In the e-mail I received from them it states the sale starts tomorrow and runs August 16th - 31st.  It makes their reed prices $4.99 for PLB and $5.49 for Weavemaster.  I'm not affiliated with Basketpatterns.com, but you know I shop there and have always received consistently great service through them.

Thought you all might like to know so you could stock up and do lots of weaving in the upcoming cold winter months.

Happy Weaving!

Nancy 

PS  Be sure to get on their mailing list if you aren't already.

Nancy Shares

Hi Friends,
I'm letting you know of a new series of videos that I'll be making. Since they are not basket weaving related, I won't be posting them here. You can find them either on my YouTube channel or on my other blog How To Homemaker.

I just feel that this is the direction that God is taking my life at this time.

God Bless,
Nancy

Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy 4th of July. I hope you are spending it with family and doing some fun activities. I saw a basket similar to this on in a magazine one time and thought, I could make that. The blue is Rit dye royal blue and the red is Rit dye cardinal. The stars are wooden from the craft store and the handles are 1 1/2" wooden beads. They are leftover from my days of doing macrame. A small piece of 11/64" flat blue is threaded through each bead and then is incorporated into the rim as I did the lashing. The stars are glued onto the reed. What you cannot see is the seagrass that is used as a rim filler is also dyed red.

Remember, whenever you want to add wooden objects like my beads and stars shown here, you can also dye those if you desire. Just throw them in the dye pot as you dye your reed and it is a fun way to personalize any project.

Enjoy the fireworks tonight!

Baskets of Blessings,

Nancy

What is a Mug Rug? Let Me Show You!

Hi Friends,
Have you seen these little cuties floating around the internet lately?  I love these things!  They are called a mug rug.  What is a mug rug you ask?  A mug rug is like a mini quilt that is somewhere in size between a coaster and a place mat.  Most I've seen are rectangular in shape but I've seen heart shaped and flower shaped ones as well.  They are made to set your beverage on as well as a crumbly baked good.  You are encouraged to eat off these sweet mats!  I think this is just a nice little touch as I sit quitely with my coffee and spend time with our Lord.

If you are a scrapbooker, you probably know what ATC's are.  IMHO, this is the ATC in the sewing world except sizes vary unlike the ATC's.  These mug rugs are embellished lavishly and traded in sewing and quilting circles.  One of the best parts is that they use your scraps!  I'm going to encourage you to google mug rugs and you will see the beautiful work quilters have done in making these.  Some are true mini works of art!

Let me tell you how I made my mug rug.

I found my favorite size to be 5 1/2" x 11".  I like this size where the length is double from the height.  The binding you see around the edge is the backing of my mug rug just wrapped around to the front.  You could finish the edge in bias tape or with another binding, but I find it is super easy to just wrap the backing around to the front side, fold it under so there is no raw edge, and stitch.  There is a piece of batting 5 1/2" x 11" sandwiched between the front and back.

I made my mug rug just last night and it took about an hour.  The only real embellishing I did is I stitched this little phrase with my sewing machine.

Here is the back side of my mug rug.  I cut the backing one inch wider than the mug rug so that I could wrap it around to the front and fold under my raw edges. 

So my top fabric I did first and pieced the pieces together and then squared it up to a size of 5 1/2" x 11".  I cut a piece of batting 5 1/2" x 11".  I cut the backing 7 1/2" x 13".

Here was my first attempt at making a mug rug.  This was leftover fabric from my son's curtains that I sewed several years ago.  The fabric is printed to have this pieced look to it.  This mug rug happens to be 5" x 10".  That is when I decided I wanted my next one to be just a bit larger.  This will be great for his room though. 

Have you tried to make one of these?  Send me a picture if you have.  What else are you sewing, weaving or crafting these days?  I'd love to hear!

Blessings,

Nancy

Enjoying a Windowsill Herb Garden

(Photo from Mega Gardening Articles)

Here's a tip:  Weave your basket around a cottage cheese container and then use the cottage cheese container to grow your indoor herbs.  I always have plants and herbs growing on my kitchen windowsill.  How about you?

Have a blessed Sunday,
Nancy

Finishes for a Basket - A Reader Question

Dear Friends,
A sweet reader has asked me the following question.

I see that you like to use Minwax yellow can for staining. Do you also use some kind of protective coating - either after staining or instead of staining? I've heard a weaver should treat their reed baskets. Is there a good product other than those specifically for baskets (which I would have to order).

Here is my answer:
I only use Minwax stain in the yellow can either spray or liquid. I have in the past used Weaver’s spray stain which worked quite nice but I had to order it. Minwax is just readily available and there are so many colors to choose from.

I personally do NOT put on any type of protective coating at all on my baskets after they are woven. I think some of the coatings that you mentioned make the basket hard and brittle. (she had mentioned using polycrylic, acrylic, polyurethane in her letter to me)  I’m not saying this is wrong, but I just don’t like it. I’ve tried other stains that have a finish to them, perhaps kind of a shellac type finish. I tried it and said never again. My basket was sticky for weeks.  I guess it is a personal preference thing, but I'm just happy with my good ol' Minwax and that's it.

So dear readers.....What do YOU do?  Do you put a finish on your baskets?  Please leave a comment and let us know.

Happy Weaving everyone.  I hope the weather is treating you all well in your neck of the woods.  We are fine here in New Mexico but the smoke from the Arizona fires is something else.  For my readers who are close to the fires, please know you are in my prayers.  Also for my dear readers who have been dealing with all the tornadoes and crazy weather, know I'm praying for you too.
Blessings,
Nancy