Well work has still been kicking my butt, so there hasn't been a lot of time for fun stuff like crafting and basket weaving (or cleaning the house for that matter). I did take a week long vacation last month for my birthday and that was really nice. I bought a number of projects to work on, a book (I had almost forgotten what those were) and a bunch of DVDs. Besides crafting, reading and watching movies I did get to do a bit of junks (I would say antiquing, but that would be a stretch for a lot of what I was digging through) and I actually found a nice antique white oak ribbed basket for a fairly good price. I need to photograph it (sorry).
One of the projects I did get to work on was a new waxed linen knotted basket. Knotted baskets are nice for taveling as they don't require water and the only tool you need is a pair of scissors.
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| Nothing like sitting out on a dock on a lake working on a basket. |
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| This is about as far as I have gotten. It is hard to tell, but the blue section is flat. Also my finger tips are orange from dying some bottle brush trees orange for Halloween (OK, so I guess I have worked on a couple other things). |
Unfortunately now that I am back at home and back to work I have hardly touched this basket. It is still sitting right in front of my chair, so I haven't completely forgotten about it.
I did get the itch for whatever reason to start and finish something, so decided to dig through the tubs of felted wool sweaters I seem to have accumulated and through the stack of ideas I have printed off the web. I ended up making a little mouse kitty toy. As you can see in the photo below, it was a success, or at least Grayson liked it.
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| It never even made it off the table, it was ready, set, play! |
So, that's about the extent of my non-work creative output lately. One of these days I will get back to all the other projects I have started ...
I just found your blog through Paul's and boy am I glad! You are quite the craftsman! WOW! I love your kitty also...I'm a sucker for a gray cat. What a lucky kitty to have such a awesome mouse!
ReplyDeleteChrissy,
DeleteThanks. Grayson is quite the little stinker. He thinks most things are toys for him, so I am happy I have something to distract him with now. I had a make a second mouse for him as one always seems to be underneath some piece of furniture.
Hello! Just wonder if you have a tutorial or link to one that is available for this knotted basket? Ive googled it but no luck. Thanks so much either way! :)
ReplyDeleteThere really isn't much out there specifically pertaining to baskets. The technique is the same as the "friendship bracelets" from the 90s. People keep asking me to write a book. One of these days I will have to get around to that.
DeleteOh my gosh that mouse is adorable!! Thanks so much for sharing your link on my website - I'm so glad to have found this post!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful!!! How did you start your basket? Also, wanted to know....now that it is 2017 have you written that book??? If so, want to make a purchase
ReplyDeleteThe baskets are started with a series of lark's head knots around a heavier core, with the last lark's head joining the core into a loop. That first picture is just starting the fist row of knots after the initial loop. Unfortunately I haven't started that book yet...
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