Friday, February 26, 2010

Miniature Egg Basket

This mini egg basket is petite - not quite 4 1/2" tall and almost 5" wide at the widest part.  I used an antique embroidery hoop for the handle and rim.  It is one of the really old ones that doesn't have a tightening mechanism on it.  The wood in these hoops has developed a wonderful patina over the years. 
The basket itself is woven with 3mm flat oval reed.  (3mm is close to 1/8" wide)  There are 6 spokes per side plus the one above the rim for added decoration.  I stained this with boiled black walnut hull dye.  This would be a perfect little basket on a smaller shelf.  $45.00 which includes shipping to continental US. 

Monday, February 22, 2010

Shaker Cat Head Baskets

Large and Medium sized Shaker Cat Head Baskets


Large Cat Head - approximately 12 1/2" tall (including handle), basket height just under 7" tall.  Diameter is approximately 10 1/2" wide.  Stained with my boiled black walnut stain.  The handle is hand carved and feels wonderful in the hand.  $40.00 which includes shipping to US addresses. ~SOLD~


Medium Cat Head - approximately 11" tall(including handle), basket height 6" tall.  Diameter is approximately 8" wide.  Stained with my boiled black walnut stain.  The handle is hand carved and feels wonderful in the hand and features a dip.  $37.00 which includes shipping to US addresses. ~SOLD~

The photo below is so you can see why this is a called a "Cat Head" basket.  The Shaker people made these baskets over a mold to assure consistency in size and shape.  I do not use a mold, but form the ears by manipulating the reeds to the shape I want.  Can you see the cats' ears and chubby little face in this photo?
Just in case you're still having trouble visualizing the cat head, Frito said he'd help you out! 

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Prim Market Baskets

Simplify Market Basket
 Simplify Market Basket
has a black rim with black seagrass insert and black lasing.  I stitched the word Simplify on osnaburg with dark brown embroidery floss, aged it and attached to a black/tan print fabric.  A rusty star is attached to the top edge of the osnaburg. The basket is over-stained with my boiled walnut stain, walnuts gathered here in NW Ohio. The basket has a filled bottom - no open holes for knitting needles to fall through.   Approximate measurements - 13"long,  8" wide, basket i s 7" tall, and with the handle it is 12" tall. 


Blessings Market Basket
Blessings Market Basket  is identical to the Simplify Market Basket above with the exception that it doesn't have a rusty star attached to it.  The rim is black and the entire basket is over-stained with my boiled black walnut stain.  Approximate measurements are the same as Simplify Basket. 

Blessings Market basket  - $40.00 ppd within the continental US~SOLD~ Thank you.
Simplify Market basket - $40.00 ppd. within the continental US ~ SOLD ~ Thank you