wall mail basket

Here is a basket I recently finished.  its called Americana Wall basket by NC Basketworks
there is the free link to the basket pattern.  I did not buy a ceramic buckle, but I found a thin wooden star shape in the right size at my local craft store so I drilled hole in it, then painted it.

 Tricky part was putting in the handle in the back without warping the basket or breaking the handle.
Ok it really wasn't that tricky but I had to be careful not to force it in too fast.

 

You could change the color of the basket and the decorative accent to fit what ever decor you like! you could do a red and green and attach a ornament to the basket and use it to hold Christmas cards!

Happy Weaving!!

Stadium Basket

Hi everyone! I'm back and I'm going to try to keep up with my posting! I have lots to share but I will start with this one!

This basket is called Stadium basket and it has a handle you attach with a screw on the rim so I'm assuming its pretty sturdy, and also the bottom is reinforced with 1/2" flat oval pieces.  The basket pattern can be found at Suzanne Moore's NC Basket Works.

couple things I found when making my basket was the base ended up bigger than her's she said 13 1/2 X 6 1/2 but mine was more like 13 1/2 X 6 5/8 to almost 7" even if it was packed tight.  some reeds are thinner and my reed I used was true to its  size so I think that's why there was such a size different.  I asked Suzanne and she told me that the most important part was when the top of the basket since you'll need to attach the basket make sure the top is about 10 1/2" and when I finished it was at 10 1/2".

The other thing is the reinforcement.  She adds them at the end but I think adding them to the inside of the base before or after  twining the base twice would be better because it won't show as much and it easier to insert.

here is what my bottom looks like.










close up of the handle, the handle package comes with screw, bead and a nut.  Make  sure you wet the rims well, drill and then attach the handle! 

 









all supplies needed can be found at  NC Basket works  or get  the full kit from them.  They don't do internet order yet but you can call them or send them a e mail and they will help you!  their turn around time is really quick and the  handles and supplies are one of the best I've found so far!!

Happy Weaving!!

Aloha

 Hi Everyone! We went on vacation and now finally I'm going to share some of the things we did.

I did make a basket recently that I do want to share with you all but I don't have picture of it yet so I will share that later and for now I'm going to share some of the picture I took while my family and I had our Hawaiian Vacation.

 We where driving the Island just remembering things we saw and did when we lived here 10 years ago.  I can't believe its been that long but its has been 10 years!

 Per our youngest request we went on a Atlantis Submarine, first they take you out to sea on a boat, then into their submarine.

 Down down down we go, taking a good picture deep under the sea is little hard but did the best I can

 Here is my youngest looking out the window












they tat you up with the tribal stamps

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Dinner

 I know this is horrible picture of  the guy but do any of you remember Glenn Medeiros? He was actually the host of our Luau!! (click the link to see his Wikipedia info)  He looked and sounded so familiar, for a second I thought I went to school with the guy.

Lots of dancing

On our departure day, they held a Parade in my honor, actually it was a King Kamehameha Day Parade, which I got to see in front of the Hotel we where staying at.  Next time I would like to stay for two weeks instead of one. 

Missing My Hammy

Its been a week since my cat Hammy passed away.  each day it gets better  and better, I know its part of  life that we lose people and pets we love but its so hard to come to term with.  It has been a good experience for my youngest son who is 6 years old to process death.  He has lost grandparents in the past but he was too young to understand what death really is.  We had Hammy for almost 13 years, in August he would have been 13, he leaves behind his step brother cat Tora who is still a little lost without him but I'm sure he too will survive.  Maybe one day I will be able to get a kitten for Tora to nurture so he can be happy again. I will miss Hammy forever and he will never be replaced by any other kitty no matter how cute they are.