Earlier in the summer I took my first basketweaving class and loved it so much I signed up for a couple more. About a week ago I took a Friday off to learn more basketweaving skills and spent a great afternoon in a newish Makerhood part of Omaha making an Autumn basket. This is the starting point.
What I love about these classes is you can literally make and take--the supplies are ready and the teacher walks us through the steps. This basket was less labor intensive than the first, slightly smaller and no handle which meant constructing this one went very smoothly.
Last time my basket had a more rounded feel to it as I was still learning and had not quite figured out how to square my edges very well, bu this one was easier to form into a nice square shape.
We used variegated, dyed reeds for some of the weavers and spokes (the horizontal and perpendicular reeds) to add a little color. This side has more green and the red is red darkens into purple.
The other side is lighter green, browns and more reds. I plan on tea staining it, and I have my box of tea bags (the "recipe I found calls for 50 tea bags!), but I need some pure ammonia that is used for the fixative. I have not been able to find ammonia yet in any of the stores I have been to, so I will have to broaden my search. I also have a few little embellishments that will attach to the basket with a wire, but if I like the tea stain look, I might just leave them off. I am not sure what I will use the basket for yet--maybe to keep some of my favorite postcards?
I have since, taken yet another class, but it has a very distinct Halloween theme and a totally different style, so I think I will share it when October rolls around! I plan on taking more basketweaving classes and if I can manage it, I hope to squeeze one more in yet this year! Wouldn't it be nice to have a studio space to keep all sorts of crafting supplies and projects at the ready. I tend to not want to pull out all my things at home as the setting up of work takes almost as much time as I might spend on the actual "doing". In any case a little creative release is always welcome.