What I've Been Up To

Wow, has the end of summer been crazy busy or what? Not only did I host a fabulous class with Eric Taylor at the end of July (you can see some photos from the workshop here), but also immediately following was the Basketweavers Guild of Missouri's annual convention where I was a vendor and Vendor Chair.

Fortunately as busy as I was, I was able actually get some baskets woven and more importantly finished! Here are those baskets.

Cottage Handbag

Cottage Jewelry

Cottage Dresser Tote

Cottage Wine Tote "Smalls"

Full-sized Cottage Triple Diamond Wine Tote and its little cousin

Sometimes it is hard to tell the actual size of a well made miniature in a photograph. Eric Taylor's are so well proportioned that you simply can't get a sense of scale until you compare one of the baskets from his "smalls" collection to the full-size counterpart. Here the Smalls Wine Tote is paired with the first ever Eric Taylor basket I wove, the Cottage Triple Diamond Wine Tote. I would love to make another of the miniature version and repeat the diamond twill pattern in it.

Cottage Business Card

I wasn't vending on Sunday, the last day of the MBG convention, so I decided to take Eric Taylor's Cottage Business Card class. It was so nice to just be taking a class and relax and weave. What a cute little basket, fun to weave and fast to complete. I can't wait to put it to use.

Shaker Bureau Basket

I had bought this black ash kit back at the Stateline Friend's Weaving Retreat, but hadn't had a chance to weave it. I took the opportunity, while I was vending to demonstrate the weaving stands I make and sell, to finally make this basket. I just love weaving with black ash.