handmade 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.

Reed For Weaving

For these particular Wall Baskets , I’ll be using some Oak Handles. These are used to create the unique shape of these baskets.

Two types of handles here. 8” X 12” Tapered Oak Handles and 5” X 14” straight Oak Handles.

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.

The finished product.

Hope you have a magnificent weekend!!!

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???

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

Primitive Pumpkins

I make these guys every year just for a few months. I use beautiful hand felted wool from some exquisite Etsy Shops.

TYPICAL FALL COLORS

I use some wire for the tendrils, and a cinnamon stick for the stem. They are stuffed with polyester beads and new fiberfill. The string is 100% hemp.

Hope you love them as much as I do.

NEUTRAL COLORS

Click on my Etsy Link below to check out these cuties.

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

FYI- These are from a pattern I purchased from SewManyPrims. If you like to sew, you can make them too. They are a fairly easy pattern to make, but you do need a variety of supplies for them.

If you have any questions, ask away !!!!

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

It’s All In The Details…..

Every morning before I start weaving baskets, I trim and sign all the finished baskets that are shipping that day.

So let’s go back a few days. Before the baskets are stained, my partner in crime, ie. my husband, uses a small torch on them to remove all of the “hairs” from the reed. Then we stain them. After they dry for a few days, I do the final trim and initial and date the bottom.

I’m sure I notice the little “hairs” on the baskets more than my customers would but I wouldn’t let them ship without this final step. I sign with my initials JB, and the date.

And on an unrelated note, we have bluebirds nesting in one of our birdhouses along our garden. They are absolutely gorgeous.

Hope you are having a great week.

handmade baskets

Market Baskets

Happy New Week. 🌺🥰

I have a new design alert. This is a Small Market Basket. This little cutie only measures around 10” long. The uses are endless around your house, wherever you might need to corral a few things.

I was able to secure these little square hoops that I’m using for the handle, on sale, so I can offer a good price for this one. Available on my Etsy Site

New Design of a Market Basket

Next is one of the larger Market Baskets I offer. You would be able to take this one to the actual market and carry your produce. These guys are quite popular this time of year.

The old standby Full Size Market Basket

Here’s another smaller one. It is perfect to hold those smaller, boutique sizes of flavored oil and vinegar. Makes a cute gift

Olive Oil and Vinegar Basket

And these are only a few of the market Baskets I’ve done. They are so versatile and the designs are endless. Love your Market Basket.