PM...WOW! These are beautiful baskets! I love them all! I've never heard of a potato straining basket...do you really use it? I hope not...it's so beautiful!

Those eggs/egg basket are quite impressive! Will probably be seeing them again in the new future!

TFS your art! AWESOME! Jeanne S.

WOW! I sure am impressed!

Wonderful. And the deer is waaaay cute. (I have a fondness for reindeer).
As Jeanne said, your art is awesome.

hugs, Karen

Golly! When you said you wove baskets, I never imagined anything like the items you've shown us here. You are really quite talented. That potato basket is so unusual. I love the rustic feeling that the different shades of brown bring to the piece.

I'm curious. About how long does it take for you to make a single potato basket once you gather all the materials?
What other tools beside your hands do you use to create your baskets?
Do you sell your pieces or do you just make them for friends and family?
What's the hardest part to master?
Gosh! I just love that you do this and you've shared them with us.

Wow, you are one talented lady! Your baskets are beautiful. I'm especially taken with the Irish potato basket. Did you paint those Easter eggs? They're gorgeous! Please show us close-ups, if not now, at Easter.
Lynn

Thank you Jeanne, Heather, Karen, and oldalgebra! (I loved algebra. lol!)

Jeanne, I have not used the potato straining basket for potatoes. Probably because I never make plain boiled potatoes. lol! I made that in summer of 2008, so there's still time. :) I love to decorate easter eggs, so I probably could show you more. lol!

Heather, thank you. :)

Karen, thank you. I guess that most of the things I've shown here do appear a little "artsy", but I didn't want to get too far OT. :) I utilize a wide variety of weaving techniques and use an even wider variety of materials -- I haven't show you much in this post. Most weavers stick to one thing.

oldalgebra, that's quite a list of questions! :)
The potato baskets displays 4 colors of willow, and that's achieved by how they are (or are not) processed. The darkest brown is willow that's been steamed. The white willow has had its bark removed (usually immediately after harvesting). The tan is referred to as 'buff'... it's been boiled and then had its bark removed. And the other is completely natural (with bark). That was all purchased, but last year I started growing my own willow patch! :)

Regarding your other questions:

- the potato basket requires making a ring first. I recall that weaving that basket took around 4 hours. Only garden pruning shears were used for that basket (cutters).

- other tools: for general reed weaving I have several "specialty" tools that I use, but my first baskets were made with everyday household substitutes. e.g., now I have "packing" tools, an awl, spoke weights, etc., but then I used a butterknife or flathead screwdriver, and a ruler and something heavy and flat. lol! The majority of weaving (and I am considering many different materials and techniques) really doesn't require special tools.

- selling: I was a hobbyist weaver... in Aug. '06 my youngest niece was lost in a horrible car accident :( It was very difficult for me (the whole family, obviously), and we started a Scholarship Fund in her name. I wove until I couldn't weave anymore and sold my baskets and donated all proceeds to her fund. Co-workers and friends gave me so many (mostly CUSTOM!) orders that I raised almost $2K in about 6 months, but I finally had to stop. And, yes, the friends and family are gifted MANY baskets. lol! I also donate my baskets to the Alumni Assoc. Fund for raffles. Quite frankly, I wish people affiliated with charity organizations and fund raisers would ASK me to donate baskets! There isn't much interest or value placed on them.

I designed a "signature line" of baskets for my niece when I was selling them for her charity. I sold TONS of some of them. Here's one that was VERY popular... I called it "Julia Baby"... they are small baskets that I wove and then handpainted (not stenciled -- again custom!). I charged $20 for these: 4 hours weaving time, plus however long to paint... I didn't charge enough! lol!!!

Here's the first one I wove to donate to the Alum. Assoc. We were the "Redskins", so I made a 'Redskin Tote'. It has shoulder-length handles and is incredibly sturdy and lightweight. :)

- the hardest part to master? tough question, and certainly different for everyone, but I guess I'd say it's toughest to CREATE new designs, patterns, implementations, or whatever you want to call it. It does take good math and analytic skills, and that's probably why I'm a natural. ;^)

Thanks again, everyone! :)

oops... It took me forever to complete that long response, so I missed Lynn's post. Thank you, Lynn! :)

E. Eggs: my own interpretation. lol! They're a cross between the Polish and Ukranian ways of decorating them. The key is to use wax in layers. Wax keeps the next dye color from permeating the egg. I use kistkas (specialty tools that hold melted wax), and the head of a flat-pin. :)

Thanks for that most interesting explanation. I just love hearing about such things.

I tried using the Ukranian egg decorating kistkas once and managed to burn a very attractive design on my forearm. The eggs looked terrible, simply terrible. But the burn was most interesting. Needless to say, I just use the tablets and vinegar egg dye now.

PM, your basketmaking skills are *very* impressive and it's been interesting to read your explanations. I really hope we will see more of your baskets and eggs in vignettes and tablescapes. I love things that are handmade but IKWYM about little value being placed on them by some people. I used to sell handmade things in my store and there's only a relatively small number of people who appreciate them as they compare such things to the inexpensive imported items.

Love the potato basket and the tote especially!

So sorry about your niece but lovely to keep her memory alive with a scholarship fund and you can have satisfaction you helped so much with that.

PM...I didn't know we had a 'Master Basket Weaver' in the house!!
You are such a multi- talented lady. They are All so impressive.
I agree, you didn't charge enough for those baskets...
from the fact you created them, hand painted them, and the time you put into them..
The lucky people who purchased them got such a deal for an 'original'!
I can respect you saying that the toughest part is thinking up new Creations/Patterns, etc.
It must be so satisfying though, when you do, and I'm sure you must be so proud of all of them.

My Aunt who married my DD's brother, was from Czekoslovakia
and made the most beautiful Easter eggs, using the wax method..
She gave a basket of them to my DM, who had them for years.
I remember being so impressed by them.

Thanks so much for showing us your 'other' talents...
I really enjoyed looking.

jane

You do fantastic work from the baskets you've shown here. I'm so happy to see your baskets.

What a story about the terrible loss of your neice. Sounds like you worked your little fingers to the bone and made some fantastic money for the Scholarship Fund.

Thanks again for taking the time to share with us. Do you paint other things too? Punk

oldalgebra, that probably was an interesting burn you gave yourself. ouch!

luckygal, thank you! and I'd like to see more of EVERYONE's tablescapes using more baskets! :) Someone once posted a photo here that included a pumpkin-like basket w/ a blocked weave that I really liked, and seeing other baskets gives me new ideas. :) And thank you for your comments re my niece. We have been able to award $3K in scholarships each year so far... I also host an annual golf tournament and my sister has hosted a couple of chicken BBQs. She'll always be with us.

slinkey, thank you so much! Actually, they've only recently introduced the concept of a "Master Basket Weaver" (as sanctioned by whatever governing bodies there are). I believe there are only one or two individuals who have met the requirements so far. The requirements don't involve ANY weaving, so I'm not interested in attaining the title for myself. ;^)

Punk, thank you. Working my fingers to the bone was a self-imposed therapy to get me through that very difficult time. I used to paint. I'd still like to but can't seem to find the time! I work full-time and am an avid golfer, gardener, and basket-maker... love to cook and bake... and there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the days for me! sigh. I need to win the lottery so I can quit my job. lol!

Those are fantastic! I've always loved baskets. My grandma gave me her market basket (the tall one that has wheels) that she had inherited, and I have a small egg basket that was hers. I jumped on the Longaberger bandwagon a few years ago, and I have quite a few of those.
The one you made shaped like a pineapple is too cute!
Cindy

I too am very impressed at your basket making talents, it was so fun to see all the shapes and designs you have made. And those eggs! They look so complicated--and are very beautiful! You are certainly loaded with talent!

You certainly seem to have a full schedule too--but if you ever want to chat about painting, please come by the Painting forum. Punk and I both post over there too.

Luvs

Party, what a tragedy your family has had to deal with. Its very uplifting to know you made some good come out of it. I don't know how old your niece was, but I know that she must be very proud and smiling down on you as you all hold her close in heart and do these things.

You are one busy lady it sounds like. Not enough hours in your day for sure. I'm happy you found time to join us.

hugs, Karen

cindylouhoo, thanks! (and I love that handle :) It's nice to know there are others who are as crazy about baskets as I am, and I'm glad you got your gramma's baskets! You'll have to show me pics of them!

luvs, thank you. I had no idea there was a painting forum! I'll search it out sometime!

Karen, she was 11 and my best pal and the happiest, 'easiest going' person I've ever known. I wish I was more like her! But I am driven to fill my days, and I guess I do that pretty well. :)

What a lovely, lovely memorial to your niece, to carry on your talent of artistic ability & time creating a means thru scholarships for others...and to share your art for even more charity events. TFS! Jeanne S.

Awesome!!

Basket weaving is one of those on my "Things to do before I croak" list.