Where I Buy Basket Weaving Supplies

Hi Friends,
I get asked several times each month where I buy my basket weaving supplies.  I have my favorite places, like many of you do as well.  Leave a comment and let us know where you shop at and why you like them.  It will help our fellow weavers.
Thanks and happy weaving!
Nancy
Ps.  My own personal favorites are Gratiot Lake Basketry and Basket Patterns.

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

Easter Blessings

He didn't have to do it, but I'm so thankful that He did.
He did it for me and He did it for each and everyone of you. He loves you... always.

May you all have a very blessed day today.
Love,
Nancy

I'll Send You a Free Sample of Amber Road Fragrance

Hi Friends,
You know I started selling Scentsy last year.  I made a little video to share with you.
Yesterday afternoon I received the May Scentsy warmer and scent of the month.
I'll be happy to send you a free sample of the newest scent "Amber Road".  Amber Road is available for purchase starting May 1st.  During the month of may, all Amber Road products and the new Magellan warmer are 10% off.  Send me an e-mail to basketmaster_nancy@yahoo.com with your mailing address and I'll get your sample right out. 
Thanks and Blessings,
Nancy

2 Prayer Requests

Good Morning Friends,

Would you please add these two prayers to your list today.

The first is for my father.  He is now on chemo for his prostate cancer and is having a hard time with it.  He first got cancer when Emily was a baby so that was 15 years ago.  He had radiation and has been taking medication all these years for it, but it is now coming back and attacking him.  Dad is 83, but he is a young 83.  He and Mom celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in February.  (Mom as you probably remember is a breast cancer survivor.)

2nd prayer request is for our Emily.  She is in so much pain.  She has had 3 positive tests for Lyme disease.  The doctors here say these are false positives and that all she really has is fibromyalgia.  We don't believe that.  Next month I have her scheduled with a doctor our of state who specializes in Lyme disease.  Now if this doctor says these are false positives and it's not Lyme then I will believe it, but I truly think this is what has been plaguing her for almost 2 years now.  Until then, I take her weekly to a pain clinic here.  She is such a sweet girl who loves God so much. Ok sometimes she's not so sweet when she is tired and REALLY hurting ;-)  She is also having more and more trouble with her ear.  She cannot handle lots of noise, even a lot of talking from all of us in the car.  She says it is all static.

That is Emily and our Tim.  This picture was taken 2 years ago in Branson, MO where we went camping for 10 days.  It is just before her pain and issues started.  Could very well be this is where she was bitten.  We know for a fact she was bit by a tick when we lived in Florida about 6 years ago.

PBS is having a wonderful documentary on Lyme disease sometime in May called "Under our Skin."  I've already seen it, but it will give the public so much information regarding this disease.  I'll keep you posted as to when it will be on TV.  I do want to encourage all of you, if you know someone who has unexplained pain or unexplained neurological symptoms to at least have them get tested for Lyme.  This is a widespread disease.  Many doctors do not wish to treat for Lyme because of the controversy of it.  Some doctors have had their medical license suspended for treatment of it.  It's all in the documentary as to the whys.  Because of this, many doctors don't want to touch Lyme with a 10 foot pole.  That is what we have been experiencing with Emily.  Doctors here will treat her for fibromyalgia and pain but not Lyme.  We've been involved with a Lyme support group here in New Mexico that has been wonderful.  I've done lots of research on doctors.  Because of all the controversy with Lyme doctors do not accept insurance so we are paying totally out of our pocket.

This leads me to the next request.  We have the money set aside for our trip and the expenses we know for the doctor's visit.  So this is not a pity request.  But, if any of your have been thinking about ordering some Scentsy and you do not have a Scentsy consultant, would you be so kind to consider ordering it from my Scentsy website.  I would appreciate it so much.  Of course any and all orders are appreciated.  If by chance you and several friends are getting together and your order is $150 or more, send me a private e-mail basketmaster_nancy@yahoo.com and let me know.  I'll put the order into the website on my end as a home party.  You will get at least 2 half price items and 10 to 15% in free merchandise.  You also receive free shipping and handling and it comes right to your home.  If you've ever thought about joining Scentsy, my team is fantastic with support.  We have monthly team meetings via Skype so long distance consultants are included. and we support each other 110%.  We are really a great team.   Again, just e-mail me and if you leave your phone number I'll call you right back and answer any and all of your questions.  That's enough of a plug here.

Anyway,  God is Great and Prayer is Powerful!  Please pray for my dad and Emily and if your church has a prayer list, would you kindly add them to it as well.

I love you guys and if you need any prayers, please ask!  My family and I would love to pray for you as well.

Hugs and Blessings,

Nancy

Back to Basics in Basket Weaving - Creating a Professional Finish

Before cutting and tucking your spokes, fold down the spokes that are to go to the inside of the basket. Measure those spokes so that when you cut them, the end will be hidden behind one of your weavers. The goal is not to have any rough ends showing to give you a professional look. This way, when someone is looking at your basket, they do not know where pieces of reed have started and where they have ended.When tucking your spokes in, try to go under the very top weaver. Again, this gives a more professional look to your basket. Take a look at the finished product. You don't see the spoke hidden behind the weaver. I always say, this is a big difference between our beautiful handwoven baskets and those that we purchase at the store.
Happy Weaving,

Nancy

My Lenten Resolution - Teaching Adults

Dear Friends,

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is an important day on the Christian calendar as it is the beginning of Lent. It is a time of preparation for Easter the highest of Holy Days. It is a time of repentance and prayer. Many people use this season to give up something as a sacrifice and to offer that sacrifice up to God or use this time an a manner that will grow them closer to Him.  I am again teaching religion this year to first graders and I speak to them about Lent and having a Lenten resolution. Those children can come up with some thoughtful answers. "I'm going to share my toys every day." "I'm going to help my mother every day with chores." "I'm going to pray every day." Some I'm sure have heard their parents speak about what they are doing for lent and will say, "I'm not going to watch TV," "I'm not going to eat candy," and so on. I really stress to them, and to my own children that this is a time not just of sacrifice, but a time to keep Christ first and foremost in our thoughts and in our actions. It is a time to work on becoming closer to Christ and becoming a better person.

Last year I worked on truly being obedient to my husband and putting him first above myself. You know what?  Our marriage is stronger now than EVER!  Mike has noticed the little things I've done for him because I continued that resolution past Lent and throughout the year.  He has appreciated me and my works!

I've given quite a bit of thought this past month as to what my Lenten resolution would be this year and I feel a real pulling to work on teaching adults about our Loving Savior.  This is taking me out of my comfort zone let me tell you.  It is one thing to teach children.  Their questions are simple.  It is another thing to teach adults!  I'm not even sure how God wants me to do this but I am placing my trust in Him and I am going to move forward the best I can.  I have been so saddened by the breakdown of families and homes in our society.  With my three children being teenagers I see the hurt their friends experience coming from broken homes.  I believe that faith in our Lord strengthens the home and can help prevent homes from crumbling.  Faith in Jesus should be the foundation in which every home is built upon.

So every day, I'm going to pray about my resolution regarding teaching and do my best to take steps in teaching adults about Christ and asking the Holy Spirit to guide me as to where I can be of service to Him.

My desire through this resolution this year is that I pray those who have do not know Christ can in some way be influenced by me to accept Him and through Him strengthen their homes and families.  It is also that as I teach adults that I too wish to learn more about Christ and His Glorious Mysteries.  God loves each of us so much, I just want the world to know.

Have you made a Lenten resolution? I'd love to hear what you chose this year.
with Love and God's Blessings,
Nancy

Happy Valentine's Day

Some fun heart shaped baskets for Valentine's day

Another heart shaped basket.

For those of you who have asked how to make the heart shape, look closely at the base of the basket in this bottom photo.  It is almost a square isn't it.  Weave a square base and then un-weave one of the corners.  Twine around the heart shaped base and then upset the sides.  Use lots of clothespins for the first few rows because you re going around a lot of corners.  Those extra clothespins are your extra hands.

Hope you all have a very Happy Valentine's day.  I see my kiddo's have put some chocolates on the kitchen table with my name on them!!!

I'm going to be making them some chocolate covered strawberries a little later this morning.

Blessings everyone,
Nancy

An Award! Prayers for Others and an Emily Update

Hi Friends,
Mike is quietly doing the taxes with an occasional grumble under his breath.  I think I've gathered all the paperwork for him that I can so I have some time to sit and write a post.

First I have to thank Paula for the Award.  Thank You!!!  Paula blogs over at Crop Notes and Crafts and we are like kindred spirits.  We both have a love of basket weaving, paper crafting and other hobbies.  If you haven't been to her blog then it is high time you visit her.  She also makes the best video tutorials of her work. 

With the award I'm supposed to tell eight things about myself.  Hmmmm.....What have I not told you about myself?  I feel like I've shared so much about me already.  Well, here goes.

1.  When we lived in Florida I sang with the Sweet Adelines for a short time.
2.  I'm allergic to cats.  I love cats just my nose doesn't.
3.  I've been working on my photography skills.  I own a nice point and shoot camera and I've never really taken the time to figure out and appreciate all its features.  Photography is something I want to get into more.
4.  Spring is my very favorite season and I know it is just around the corner.  I love the colors and the gardening and just getting to spend time outside.
5.  My sewing machine is a machine I got when I was in high school, a Bernina Minimatic that my parents bought used.  It has 8 stitches.  It's over 30 years old and still sews up a storm.  (I'm actually in the process of looking for a new machine, I would like one that does monogramming.  Any suggestions?)
6.  I love all the books of the Bible, especially the gospels, but probably my all time favorite book is Ecclesiastes.  It is kind of like the book of Proverbs and is just full of wonderful information.
7.  One of my favorite television shows is "Biggest Loser".
8.  My all time hands down favorite food is seafood, in particular shrimp.  Oh yum.

Now I'm just going to open this wonderful little award up to all of you my friends.  I'm really supposed to pick 8 blogs, but I'm so glad you are all here and reading each and every one of you can accept this award.  I am going to direct you to a couple of blogs though that have really touched my heart lately and these blog owners NEED our prayers.

The first is The Simple Wife.  Joanne is 38 years old and has just recently, as in just a few weeks ago, had a massive stroke.  They didn't know if she would make it but she is now in a long term care facility and was able to make the "I Love You" sign with her hand.  She has two young girls who are younger than mine and her husband has been keeping us up-to-date on her blog with daily posts.  Joanne's blog will have you in tears.  She is such a beautiful Christian woman.  I know God is going to use this experience for his good but she surely is going through some tough times right now.

The second is New Nostalgia.  Amy is another young Christian mom with two young children and she has been battling breast cancer.  I had told her I was doing the Think Pink raffle last year.   Amy was diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 breast cancer and it has been an emotional journey for her.

Third is a fun blog I just stumbled upon.  Prairie Flower Farm.  What excites me so much is Linda, the author of the blog lives just minutes from where I grew up and where my parents still live.  She has relatives in a nursing home where I got my first job in nursing.  The places she shows on her blog are so familiar to me.  Not only that, her country style is my country style.  Her blog is so fun and pretty and the photography is beautiful.  Did you know my parents still live in the same house they bought before I was born?!!  I should have put that tidbit in the about me section above.

Now an update on Emily.  She does have Hashimoto's Disease.  That is a fact.  She does have a Vitamin D deficiency.  That too is a fact.  One doctor says she has Lyme disease.  Another doctor isn't so sure.  Emily is still in pain.  Things always seem to change with her.  Over the past 6 weeks she has complained that her ear is "staticy" and she is nauseous all the time with motion sickness.  That sounds like an inner ear thing to me.

Right now the only thing I'm doing differently is some high potency vitamins and I've put her on a gluten free diet.  This is from my own reading and I'm surprised at the different places  I've read that talk about the connection of being gluten sensitive and getting Vitamin D deficient as well as getting Hashimoto's disease.  I hope putting her on this alleviates some of her symptoms.  I've only started the gluten free diet two weeks ago and this may take some time to see any results but I am sure hopeful and I know God is Great.

Please keep my sweet Emily on your prayer list.  We are ever so grateful for your prayers.  This has been going on too long and she is too young to be in such pain and now with nausea some days life is just miserable for that sweet child.  She manages her schooling with good grades but most free time is spent in bed resting and sleeping.  She will often nap for 2 plus hours in the afternoon along with 10 hours at night.  This is another one of those instances in which I believe God is going to use this for a greater picture that we just cannot see yet.  Thank you so much for all of you who are praying for Emily.  Thank you too for those of you who have sent me e-mails with ideas on what it might be or what may help.  I look into each and every one of them.  Thank you!!!! 

Hugs and Blessings to you all,
Nancy

One Thousand Gifts

If you have just 4 minutes, take the time to watch this beautiful video.

Relish the moments this day will bring and the sweet memories of moments gone before.




I ordered my copy of the book yesterday from Dayspring.  I can't wait to read it.  There has been such great words and comments about it on the internet. 
Blessings,
Nancy

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp


A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Published by Zondervan

Come join the community taking the dare to LIVE FULLY

http://www.onethousandgifts.com/

http://www.aholyexperience.com/