Happy Halloween

I recently got a Sizzix Big Shot embossing and die cutting machine. I am having so much fun playing with it. I try to make Halloween cards to send out (I don't always get it done though) and my new toy was the perfect excuse/motivation this year. On of my basket buddies also turned me onto Distress Ink stamp pads and showed me some new techniques and tools. So, here is what I came up with.

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2011 JoAnn Kelly Catsos Worshop

Wow, what a busy couple of months I have had. The high light of the month had to be the workshop I hosted with JoAnn Kelly Catsos. I had fourteen very happy weavers at my house for three days of fun. We made two baskets in class, a lovely 4" twilled bowl and either a 4" or 6" Shaker inspired captured lid cathead basket.

JoAnn displays the two patterns that we could choose from for our first basket.

Diamond Reflections.

Black Diamonds – of course I had to make both versions.

Working on the lid to my 6" captured lid cathead.

I made a special basket that was a scaled version of a #9 Shaker captured lid basket.

JoAnn shared her birthday during the workshop so of course we had to celebrate.

It was only appropriate that we embarrassed JoAnn as much as possible.

My completed basket along with the lid mold I custom made.

My new 6" basket along with the #9 Shaker I made back in 1989 with Martha Wetherbee.