fiber arts · handmade baskets

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!!

Garlic 2021

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???

fiber arts · handmade baskets

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!!!

BouquetofBaskets | Etsy

Early American Stain Hunter Green Strap
Early American Stain Burgundy Strap
Silvered Gray Stain Hunter Green Strap
Golden Oak Stain with Butternut Strap
Early American Stain with Burgundy Strap
fiber arts · handmade baskets

New Basket Listings!!!!

This set of two cuties is now available here on my website. This set of Brightly colored baskets will be perfect to add some spring and summer color to your decor. Add them to your tier tray, or any small space that needs some instant color I decided on the colors based on customer response on my IG page @bouquetofbaskets. Visit me there if you haven’t already for up-to-date content.

Below is a photo of available colors, you can specify on the order page. Current colors are Pink, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple, Yellow, Red or White

Spring & summer colors available now!!!

Much goes into producing these little guys. I first weave the basket. I use 1/2′ flat for the spokes, twine the base with #3 round reed and then weave the sides with 3/16″ flat oval reed. The top itself is 3 different materials The rim is two pieces of 5/8″ flat reed, the filler is seagrass and then the lashing to hold the whole thing together is 3/16″ flat oval reed. I stain the basket with one of my new water-based stains, Mocha, and then finish by painting with the desired color(s) Hoped you liked learning a little about my process.

Below our furry friends, you can find another new listing added to my website. A new style of a basket with legs. I have an Oval Basket with legs already, so I have added a round one as well. This is a popular basket due to its unique legs. These guys will give you a clue as to what the original design was based on……..

sheep standing in enclosure in farmland
Photo by Beyza Efe on Pexels.com

So… the design this basket is based on is a Wool Drying Basket. The legs are to keep the wool off the ground when its drying, but these days most of these baskets are used for flowers, kindling towels and even extra toilet paper in the bathroom. I will say, I do sell many of these in a larger version at the New York State Fair for their intended purpose. Hope you like it!!!

handmade baskets

New Water-based Stains

I started finishing some of my baskets with a water-based stain. It’s easier on the nose and the environment. I still have the previous colors, but am experimenting for the winter. So far they are going over well and my customers are loving them. They will become a permanent part of my collection Check out my Etsy Shop (link below) to see these colors. Available now over there

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BouquetofBaskets

handmade baskets

A New Idea

Some of the best ideas come directly from my customers. I had one ask me about making a bell. Well I didn’t see any patterns I liked so I just tried a freehand version. Here it is.

At first , there wasn’t enough “flare”, so I tightened up the top. I think it’s something I may be offering in a week or so. Stay tuned.

handmade baskets

Fall Designs are here

I dyed all the reed and made all the baskets. Right now these baskets are listed on my Etsy Site. I will be adding them here shortly. Link to my Etsy shop is below.

Unfortunately my website needs to be found by my customers. I’m working on that little by little. Thanks for the support on here, I appreciate it !!!

Variety of Baskets Available.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BouquetofBaskets

Large Candy Corn Basket
handmade baskets

Busy weekend !!!

Just recovering from quite a busy weekend. Two of my sisters were in from out of town and thankfully we were able to get together a few times. Not to mention, our Grand NEICE had her graduation party so that was fun. It was fun overload.

Then there was the GARLIC !!

Toward the end of last week we picked our garlic. So by picking garlic, I mean harvested our garlic. I’m guessing around 800 plants. I spent time braiding it so that was on the list too. But it’s all done, and we’re back to the old routine. This can be both good and bad I guess. Have a wonderful week.

Garlic Waiting to be Braided in a
Small Oval Williamsburg Basket.

handmade baskets

Website Experiment

I’m doing an experiment. I have my Etsy Shop on break for a bit and I have only my website up for ordering. Etsy does push a lot of customers to my site but lately I have been pushing almost 50% from my social media sites. I have Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Facebook not so much but the other two… much more. I’m going to try this and see how it goes. I’m thinking I’ll do a trial run of one month and see what happens. Wish me luck!!!

On another note, I got an order for 4 of the same baskets. These are fun to do but can definitely be challenging to get them all the same. I only had to make 5 to get the 4 alike. Below is a photo of the 4 They will be shipping tomorrow🤩🤩🤩

And Happy Flag Day. Without this wonderful flag and this beautiful country, I wouldn’t be living the dream of owning my own business, being my own boss and doing what I love. And making money at it. ❤️🤍💙