Bouquet of Baskets
All things baskets
Ready For The Day…
Thursday Morning- Making few orders.
Here are the raw materials I use to create some wall baskets. Included are 1/4” Flat Oval Reed, 1/2” Flat Reed, 5/8” Flat Reed and 1/4” Flat Reed.
For these particular Wall Baskets , I’ll be using some Oak Handles. These are used to create the unique shape of these baskets.
Here are the baskets I’m making with the Tapered Handles in mid production.
And here are the Baskets I’m making with the taller, non-tapered handles. Although the handles are slightly similar, the baskets will be totally different.
Below are the baskets finished for the day
They will dry the rest of today, and tomorrow I’ll stain and trim them.
Hope you have a magnificent weekend!!!
Loom Weavings
Basket weaving is my profession right now after being in the workforce for the last 25 years. I have done it part-time since 1990, YES, that’s a long time ago, doing in person sales/ parties and craft shows while working a full time job. How I started weaving these potholders, I don’t know. Well I guess I do. I saw someone doing these on Instagram and couldn’t believe the colors she had. And I couldn’t believe the heavy duty metal frame she was using. When I remembered that the process is actually the same technically as basket weaving it peaked my interest even more. I had to try it even though I currently have 50 or so hobbies or crafts I like to do.
I recall being young and going to the playground club. We used to make these potholders, much lesser quality of course and only in rainbow colors. We had cheap plastic looms that always broke and it was really hard to get the potholder off when you were finished. My how the supplies have changed. When I saw you could actually buy more neutral colors and deeper hues, I was hooked. When I saw the heavy duty metal frame was only around $20 and would last forever that was then it. The company that makes the looms loops is actually located in the United States and their specialty is wool for weaving wall art and rughooking. But I know they sell alot of these supplies because there are so many people making them.
The colors of the above weaving or potholder are Ochre, Chocolate and Winter White. This might be my favorite combination I have done so far. I sell mostly combination colors but I do get requests for single colors only. Mostly in the neutral tones: Winter White, Flax and Autumn. These weavings pair nicely with my handmade baskets and I’m going to get some more pictures of them working together. (That’s on the list.) Right now all of the weavings are on sale on my website. Just go to my website and you can find them under Baskets for Sale.
The weaving below is of the Swiss Cross design that was a customer request, so I listed it on my site.
Spring is on the way here in Central NY so I’ll hopefully be outside more working on those outside hobbies that I have. (Gardening, Hiking, Camping etc…) But right now I have a little pile growing of these cuties and you can even catch them on sale.
Happy Almost Spring!!
Who loves miniatures?
Everyone loves miniatures. Baskets are no exception. You can put these cuties in your dollhouse, I might have a few, put them on a small shelf or add to your mini collection
See below for how adorable they look in my dollhouses. Just an FYI- these minis can take just as long to weave as a small hanging wall basket. But they are so fun to do.
So be sure to check out these dollhouse baskets. They are available on my website. Link below ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Watch my latest video of my latest designs. So many baskets… so little time…
Happy Sunday and I hope the daylight savings time isn’t too disruptive for you. I know it takes a couple days here in the northeast to adjust.
Waiting on a Friend….
So I’ve been on Etsy since 2015. My shop is one of their more successful shops if I say so myself. The reason I know this is that when you searched handmade baskets, or handwoven baskets, my items came up on the first page. I’ve worked hard for many years to accomplish this. No ads on my end either.
This past week, however, I’ve found out how detrimental it is to have “all your eggs in one basket!” I tried to input a bank account number and some test deposits one too many times, and they immediately suspended my account. Now granted, I confused the numbers with my other Etsy account, but suspension!!! Never late on a payment, never copyright infringement, never any complaints and just like that: SUSPENDED.
I’m not complaining, well maybe, but it has been close to a week, with multiple emails, and only this morning I got a note back. I still have to confirm that the account is mine, providing them some information and it still says they’ll still have to get back to me.
My biggest takeaways are the following: 1- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. 2- Etsy does not allow their customers to CALL them. As ludicrous as it sounds, it’s true. 4 days of trying to find a phone number, looking at websites, looking at previous threads etc and it’s nonexistent. 3. Keep your website up to date (refer back to #1
So that’s what I’ve been doing and is working a little, but it’s a whole different realm. But I’m still learning.
So again, here it is for you to take a look at and see all the new items I’ve added. Hope you have a great Sunday and I’ll be over here tweaking my site. Website that is.
A Little Introduction
I have quite a few new followers here so I thought I’d do a little introduction and update. Right now, I am a Basket Maker by trade. I left the world of business a few years ago to pursue my love of Basket Weaving full time. With the help of my family, this is now coming true. My son has entered into the picture, and now helps me full time. He is more of a utilitarian, so he is more interested in functional baskets, ie a Blanket Storage Basket with the purpose of storage or A Key Basket meant to hold, well keys. He has focused on these baskets in our shop. I focus more on the hanging Wall Baskets meant for decor or display. Or Heart Baskets just for looks. Below is one of the baskets he weaves for the shop on a pretty regular basis and has proven to be quite popular.
We currently sell on our website http://www.bouquetofbaskets.net and on Etsy. I am working to get all of my listings on our website so we can have one central location. A website offers much more customization and creativity than an Etsy Site. But I’ll be honest, definitely more work to figure out, keep updated and maintain. I put the link to our website so you can see all the new items and I’ve added and a sample peak of the new items below
Bouquet of Baskets – All things baskets
Thank you for following along on this journey with us and thanks for supporting our small business.
Hope you are off to a wonderful week!!
Wool Shenanigans
As you know, I love working with wool. I think it’s because it’s so beautiful and soft and just has the most vibrant colors. I just listed the first Primitive Pumpkin Sets of 2022. I really found some exquisite wool to work with this year.
The above pumpkins are in your typical fall colors. Below you’ll see some golden fall colors I thought would make a pretty set as well.
If you scroll down, you’ll see a couple of the other sets that are available now. You can find them under the Baskets for Sale tab. I’ll be adding more as fall gets closer.
Summertime in CNY
Wow!! This summer is really flying by. Here in Upstate NY we don’t get a very long summer so you have to take advantage of it. Half of the days are cloudy or rainy so it gives you actually a month or two of nice weather. I’ve been working hard on lots of orders and working on my garden in between. I planted a few different varieties of squash, both summer and fall, beans, peas, early/late/roma tomatoes, and a couple variety of peppers. The seeds have sprouted and the plants are looking good.
Garlic will be ready to harvest in a few weeks. (See a photo of last years harvest below) We have at least this much for this year, maybe even a little more. Garlic is easy to grow. We grow the soft neck variety. We have been growing the same strand for around 25 years. If you want to try, you start with garlic from a mail order company or your local nursery. You just break the bulbs apart, plant them a couple inches deep with the root down, around 6-8 inches apart in mid October. Like magic, the next July you have garlic to harvest. I like to braid it and then the garlic will last the whole year. Save some to plant again and keep your strain going.
Happy gardening!!
Hope you have a great week and I’ll be working on some late summer and early fall colors for the mini baskets that have become quite popular. I’ll update the listing here on my website when the colors are finalized. I don’t like to post fall too soon because it makes the summer go even faster. Who’s with me???
Patriotic Decor
It’s so easy to create a little Patriotic Vignette in your home. Start with a tray basket. First add some red checked napkins with some cute napkin rings. Next place it on a blue tablecloth or runner. Lastly add some little Red, White & Blue hearts, or bottles, or coasters. So easy. ⬇️♥️⬇️🤍⬇️💙
Or you can use these cute little Red, White & Blue Baskets. Put them anyplace you want a pop of Color such as a small shelf or a tiered tray. ⬇️♥️⬇️🤍⬇️💙
Or you can use an All-in-One Red White & Blue Basket such as this. You can hang from a peg and add little flags, red flowers or little windmills. ⬇️♥️⬇️🤍⬇️💙
Happy Sunday & God Bless America
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Foraging and Harvesting Baskets
This time of year is busy for my Foraging and Harvesting Baskets. These are just the right size for gathering mushrooms, leaves, flowers or anything you like to pickup along the way. You can also use them to carry your every day items or a notebook and some pens. I make them with a long carrying strap so you can carry over the shoulder, or you can carry cross body. You can find a couple of these right here on my website http://www.bouquetofbaskets.net or I have a larger selection on my Etsy Site See some of the different options below, but as always, these are handmade so very easily customizable. Hope you are having a great weekend and Happy Foraging!!!
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