baskets

baskets

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Quilling

 Do you know what Quilling is? its also known as paper filigree any clue?
Berry Sampler
Berry Sampler close up

A to Z collection
This is Basic Quilling or paper filigree.  You take a thin strips of paper, (which is available at your local craft store or online) cut it into different length depending on what you are making and  roll it using special tool, and glue it to a board.  This was actually my very first Quilling project so I ordered a kit online and made this.  You can Google Quilling supplies and tons of stores that offer quilling supplies and kits will pop up or you can try couple of my favorite store I use.  Quilling Superstore and whimsiquills I like both store for different reasons so Google it and check out other store, you may find other stores that you like better.  Now I will tell you that doing this kit called Berry Sampler from Lake City Craft Company as a first Quilling project may bore you to death... I just about put it down and not finish because all it is is circle, circle, circle, and more circle with little of leafs and stems. I think the Alphabet Sampler or the Herb Sampler maybe a better choice for first project just for the fun factor.  I will also recommend that you pick a frame much bigger than your project and have a double mat cut and then mount it.  If you have Hobby Lobby, they have really affordable paper mat and if you need help they will help you pick out the colors and cut for you.  No matter where you go to get your project's mat, make sure you ask for the price in advance because some mat can be very expensive!!  Oh and the frame should be ones that are little thick so your projects don't get squished, you won't need ones that are thick like shadow box but some with space.  Here are some more picture of basic quilling.  This one is NOT the Alphabet Sampler, but  its A to Z collection Kit by Quilled Creations. Very cute but its half the size of LCCC's Alphabet Sampler.

If there are people interested in Quilling, and can't figure it out, I can do a tutorial so let me know!

What can you do with Quilling?  Its not just to put it in a frame, though its really pretty to look at  you can use it to decorate cards, scrapbook, ornaments, etc you can use your imagination and do anything you want with it! I made this card below for a friend's son's wedding. I think it came out really cute don't you?
Wedding card

 I put Japanese Washi paper on a plain blank card, then glued the quilling paper in the shape of a cake.  I wanted and filled it with loose circle then decorated with hearts, flowers and scrolls.

Next time I will post about advanced quilling. The miniature 3D and  fringe flowers! If you like the way the basic quilling looks, you will LOVE the advanced stuff!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Sweets for Friday!

I love to bake and share my sweets! I'll post my resource if I can with you so you can try these yummy tasty treats as well! Now the hard part.. deciding what to share first!!!

My all time favorite Chocolate Croissant (you must say that with a french accent)
I use my bread machine to make the dough because its sooo much easier!

Ingredients:
2/3 cups Water
2 Large Eggs
2-1/4 Cups Bread Flour
3/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
3Tbsp. Sugar
3Tbsp. Dry Milk
1tsp. Salt
3 Tbsp. Butter no substitution!!
1-1/2 tsp. Active Yeast (2 tsp Active Yeast if you want to use the Quick dough cycle)
additional 1 cup butter
Chocolate chip/bar you want to use.

Follow your bread machine instruction on dough cycle and make your dough.
(don't put the additional 1 cup butter  or the chocolates in yet!!)

1. Remove the dough from the pan. Put into greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap . Place in the refrigerator and allow to rest 30mins.

2.  While the dough is resting in the fridge take a cold butter and slice it, put it between wax paper and then take a rolling pin and hit it then roll it out to thin sheet of butter. put it back in the refrigerator to chill, take the rested dough and Roll it into 20X14 in. rectangle on a lightly floured surface.  Take the butter sheets off the wax paper and put it on the 2/3 of the dough, fold it in thirds, starting with the unbuttered 1/3 over the center 1/3, then fold over to the last 1/3.  Take a rolling pin and roll the folded dough again, roll the dough again, and fold again.  wrap it in plastic wrap and put it back in the refrigerator to chill and rest for 1 to 2 hours (very important to chill the butter)

3 Roll it out, fold  roll it out fold, and roll it out and fold again. wrap it in plastic and place in refrigerator again for 1 to 2 hours or even overnight. (I usually make the dough at night and make the croissants the next day)

4. Cut dough into 3 pieces. roll each piece to 1/4 inch thick. Cut it in to small rectangle (about 8 pieces) then on the edge you place chocolate (chips, bar, etc it can be semi sweet, milk chocolate, or dark its what you want) across the short side and roll it. brush a little egg wash on the end to seal it. place them on partchment paper lined baking sheet, flaten it a little so its not so round.

5. let rise about 40-50 mins or until size doubles.

6. Bake at 375F oven for 10-15 mins or until golden brown and flaky.

7. once cooled melt some chocolate pieces and drizzle over the flaky croissants.

makes abour 24 depending on the size.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Look at what I made Thursday!

Today is Thursday, and that's the day I have my class.  So I'm going to make Thursday Look what I made Thursday and will try to post every Thursday a basket that I made and if its a pattern I came up with I will post the pattern and if its a purchased or a free pattern from the internet I will post where I got the pattern from but if its from my old binder I won't be able to post the pattern because of copy right law and such..

Here is my Halloween Square basket.  Its a little square and it comes in Handy.  Obviously  you can change the color and make it for Valentines,  St Patty's, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc or just your favorite colors.. use your imagination!!.

Reed (1/2", 3/8", 1/4" of flat, No.2 round, 1/4" and  11/64" or 3/16 of flat oval), fine fine cane.

Select 2 colors you like and dye color A: 1/4" flat oval,  no2 round,  1/4" flat, and Color B: 11/64" or 3/16" flat oval, No.2 round.  

Cut  and mark with a pencil at half point and soak in warm water.
1/2" flat 10 @ 14" (stakes)
1/4" flat  4 @ 8" (fillers)

Lay 5 of the 1/2 " flat horizontally,  then lay the 1/4" fillers in between the horizontally laid stakes matching at the center line.

Take 1 of the 1/2" flat and weave in over the center mark making sure you weave over the filler and under the 1/2" stakes.
Weave 2 more on each side and the base should be about 4"X4". 


Wet the base and fold the 1/4" flat filler towards the center of the base and cut the reed length wise  and cut to size and tuck under diagonal stakes (see picture)

twine once using no 2 round. wet and upset stakes.
start and stop weaving:
row 1: 3/8" flat natural
row 2 and 3: 1/4" flat oval color A
row 4, 5, 6: 11/64" or 3/16" flat oval color B
row 7 and 8: 1/4" flat oval color A
row 9 and 10 3/8" flat natural (weaver and rim row)
rim with 1/2" flat natural, add accent with 1/4" color A and Color B no2 Round.  use Color A no.2 Round as a rim filler and lash using fine fine cane.

Happy weaving!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Official first post

I first learned how to weave a basket in January 1997. Can't remember what date it was but when we lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina (my husband was a Marine until he retired several years ago so that kept us moving every 3 years or so.) I got one of those adult continuing education catalog from a local college and they offered many interesting things like furniture re-upholstery, ethnic cooking and basket weaving. I didn't need my furniture re-upholstered, I already cook ethnic (being Japanese and all) so I jumped at the chance of learning to weave baskets. Oh another good thing about this class was it was during the day!! granted most of my classmates where retired ladies I didn't care! So January 1997, I went to my class and made a square basket which I tell anyone who I teach to weave to do as a first project.


So now that its 2011 you'd think I'd be master of basket weaving... wrong.. I took some time off from basket weaving and last year I went to seminar and started weaving again. I guess in a way its like riding baskets.. once you learn to weave, you don't forget because I made this wonderful basket in about 6 hours
My instructor's name was Karen Griffith http://www.farmerswivesbaskets.com/ she has great kits and patterns if you want to check it out. She was a great instructor and gave me assurance that I can still weave baskets! So I stared weaving again, and several months later my friends asked me to teach them how to weave so I dragged my old books out and started teaching once a week. I now have 11 ladies who are hooked on basket weaving! I'm planning on sharing my crafting adventure here!