Tag: Fiber Art

A Little Introduction
fiber arts · handmade baskets

A Little Introduction

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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.

Large Storage Basket with Leather Handles

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

Basket with Clothespin Legs
Large Pocket Basket in Driftwood Gray
Medium Wall Basket with Leather Hanger Whitewash Finish

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!!

green leafed trees Summertime in CNY
fiber arts · handmade baskets

Summertime in CNY

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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

Patriotic Decor

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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

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Foraging and Harvesting Baskets
fiber arts · handmade baskets

Foraging and Harvesting Baskets

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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
New Basket Listings!!!!
fiber arts · handmade baskets

New Basket Listings!!!!

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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

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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

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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

Busy weekend !!!

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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.