My new light setup

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Here's my new light setup. I purchased this continuous light kit over a year ago and am just now finally setting up.

I decided to change out the white umbrellas that came with the kit for a black with reflective lining version. I purchased both the light kits and the black umbrellas on Amazon and while the bulbs seems to be full-spectrum, they aren't very bright at all. The original white umbrellas didn't reflect nearly enough of the already dim light, which necessitated the black/reflective set.

The lights setup to reflect off of the background I made myself and the instructions can be found here.

All Wrapped Up

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Figured out how to make a four-strand braided leather bracelet. Why buy a bracelet for $25 when you can spend $75 on books and supplies?

Actually these weren't that expensive, but of course as any good crafter you can't just buy supplies for one, you have to buy enough to make an army of bracelets. It was cheaper to buy a spool of 50' of leather, but it only took 12 feet to make the triple-wrap, so I have enough left over to make at least 4 more.

As one of my friends said once, "you are going to save yourself right into the poor house."

Throw Back Thursday

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I can’t believe it was already 4 weeks ago that I was packing up my car to head to the John C. Campbell Folk School to teach my ribbed basket class. I also can’t believe all the crap I had crammed into my car.

That little empty spot you see there in the corner? That was eventually filled with a bag of shoes. A friend traveled with me to take a cooking class at the Folk School and I joked that he might have to run along side holding onto the door handle. I was afraid that was going to be true as I carried more and more out to the car. There are a few things that I took with me that I either ended up not needing or shouldn't have even brought to begin with. Even so, I don't think those few things would have made all that much difference in the bigger picture.

2018 JoAnn Kelly Catsos Workshop

Thursday-Sunday, October 18-21, 2018

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Shaker Kittenhead Trio

1" diameter to 4" diameter

Shaped like the larger Shaker cathead baskets, these smaller versions are called kittenheads and feature the same pointed feet or cat ears. The three baskets in this set graduate in size from approximately one inch to four inches in diameter and nest inside each other. Featuring high arched handles, when tied together they create the perfect display.

Cracker Basket

12" long x 5" wide x 2 1/2" deep

This useful basket is a contemporary cousin to the Shaker Fancy Tray we made in our very first workshop with JoAnn. It has darker heartwood stakes and whiter sapwood weavers. The corner stakes are split to allow for the graceful curve of the corners. The cherry rims are single lashed.

Workshop fee for Shaker Kittenhead Trio and Cracker Basket

$540

Class fees includes all materials, handouts and use of mold, weaving stand and tools.

Level: Intermediate/Advanced
These baskets aren't terribly difficult, but the tiny 1" kittenhead will take patience.

Instructor: JoAnn Kelly Catsos

Contact: Tony Stubblefield
if you would like to receive registration information

Yet another of my studio shots

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Yet another of my studio shots. This is one of my sample for the class I recently taught a the John C. Campbell Folk School. It is a 10" traditional Appalachian-style egg basket made using commercially available oak hoops and reed. The class dealt with the fundamentals of ribbed basket construction, with a focus on achieving a desirable shape.

Cottage Garden(er) Set

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Another recent shot of a set of baskets I completed this spring. These are the Cottage Garden(er) series from Eric Taylor. They are woven of black ash with cherry rims, handle and runners.

I can never remember is Eric calls these Garden or Gardener baskets. I think I have used the terms interchangeably over the years and now I can't remember which is the correct name. Either way they are sweet baskets.

Triple Diamond Wine Totes

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Finally unboxed the studio light kit I bought over a year ago. I need to play around some more with my camera and light position, but for the first try I am pretty happy. Here are my Triple Diamond Wine Totes, regular and junior version. Both made in classes with Eric Taylor.

The full-sized version was the first basket I think I wove with Eric. Like all of Eric's designs, it is woven of black ash staves and weavers, but this one features an oak base, handle and rim. The new(ish) Junior version features Eric's usual cherry base, handle and rim.

These two baskets give a good example of how the black ash ages over time. The full-size basket is starting to get a nice warm patina to the splint. At the time it was woven it was just as light as the smaller Junior version.