I have been making baskets since we moved to Melbourne six years ago. Basket weaving comes natural to me; maybe because my mother was a basket weaver. I made quite a few of them in different styles and colours. The materials used are mainly recycled or re purposed and some are grown in our garden. The first basket every beginner basket maker makes is a melon basket (egg basket). It's a basic basket formed with handle, ribs, spokes and weavers.
Today I will show you the melon baskets I made using varieties of fibres and materials. I have given a lot of them away, but luckily I took photos of them before I did.
The above basket made using grapevines for handle, cane for ribs and spokes and hand dyed canes for God eye (the green square at the base of the handle) and red hot poker leaves for weavers. I kept this one for myself. I love it!
Believe it or not, this basket is also made using melon basket technique. The only difference is that it doesn't have a handle. I weaved it with quilting fabric torn into strips and alternatively I added hand dyed cane to strengthen it. I store my bead jars in this basket.
Here are more melon baskets. I kept the top 3 baskets and the bottom 3 were given away as gifts. The colour of the plant fibres changed slightly with aged, but the shape will still be the same. My basket is very strong. I was told that I'm a tight weaver. In the long run, it is better to weave it tight because plant fibres shrink with age.
Next time I will show you a basket over a mold, stitch basket, plaid basket, garlic basket, scallop basket and miniature baskets. If you live locally and are interested in taking lessons in basket weaving, please visit Basketmakers of Victoria website for more information.
29 comments:
They are wonderful ! I would love to know how to make these beauties.
You are multi talented Nat! I can remember making "eye of God" on sticks with yarn when I was in elementary school. It was interesting to see the same design on the sides of your baskets.
Nat, how truly lovely all of your baskets are. I admire you and the time and effort it takes to work one of these beauties up. Love the fabric egg basket, it is by far my favorite. You make me want to pick up basket making again, maybe when I retire.
Again,
Lovely,
Cheers,
Bobbie
Your melon baskets are beautiful! I too am a basket maker and melons are my favorite (no rims) to make. They are also wonderful gifts. Sue http://suesjourneys.blogspot.com/
Oh you make lovely baskets.Love it.
Fantastic baskets! Creating baskets did not come naturally to me, sheer agony! ;-) The results were treasures though! Just adore them...and especially the first egg basket! How creative/clever you are...some really fun variety here! Thanks for a delightful blog!
Lovely baskets Nat, they are so satisfying to make and look good for years. I haven't made a fabric one altho i have made one using plastic bag strips from potting mix and mulch bags, so "garden bags-to-garden baskets", bit like cloth-to-cloth, ha! maybe i'll take some photos and post them up...k.
Nat these are so beautiful....I especially love the one with the fabric strips that you store your bead jars in....you're such a talent!
Hope you are having a lovely weekend.
Jacky xox
Gorgeous baskets nat- I love the rich colors you chose. They are all very pretty- Your recipients are fabulous.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Anna
The baskets are lovely! Wish I could come and learn this craft. :)
Nice spring look to your blog. Like it!
I always enjoy your baskets.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Your baskets are just wonderful. I wish I could come and take some lessons on how to make them. I have looked in the past for somewhere teaching basket weaving, but there is nothing within reasonable distance of where I live, which is a shame as I can think of hundreds of uses for small baskets round my home.
Oh Nat, the baskets are a real work of art and I love that they contain parts of your garden. They were such a pleasure to look at and drool over.
Hi Nat. I really enjoyed this post and seeing some of the gorgeous baskets you have made. You do such gorgeous work. It was lovely to spend time with you and Jacky last Saturday. I enjoyed myself and loved Ziguzagu. Sounds like you had a ball at the quilt show too.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Dot xx
I tried basket weaving years ago, but WOW you do it for real... I think I was a kid way back then...lol
Your melon baskets are wonderful.... I love baskets and the coloured one with the dyed cane and woven fabric is stunning!!
Very inspirational Nat. Thanks for sharing :-)
Hi Nat...what a gorgeous basket...I would've kept that one too if I were you, Dzintra♥x
oh nat! your baskets are so beautiful! one day i would love to learn to do this... Is there a good book out there that shows the basics? I know nothing.
Wow......you are so talented!
I can't believe all the beautiful crafts you can do! these are just stunning......lovely lovely workmanship.
God has certainly blessed your hands :0)
Happy sewing
Thanks for sharing your gorgeous basket work and explaining the process. How lovely to have had a mother who was a basket weaver. I have never tried basket weaving but I love baskets and use them in my house everywhere. I have a couple of African made baskets that I love--bought in Santa Fe, New Mexico, oddly!
Your baskets are beautiful. I weave mainly with reed but I love all the natural fibers you have used.
Nancy
http://www.basketmasterweavings.blogspot.com/
The baskets are wonderful! I can see why you kept that one!
Micki
What an incredible talent you have Nat. These are just absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing. :)
Holly
Thank you for showing your amazing baskets, dear Nat.
Beautiful, beautiful baskets Nat!!
Natima,
Your baskets are simply gorgeous! I would pay for your baskets if we live closer to each other.
You are a real artist!! Just love your baskets!!
It's great to be back home and read your blog!!
Hug, Ria.
Oh, my golly! Nat ... exquisite beautiful baskets. How multi-talented an artist you are ... What CAN'T you do, sweet friend.
Have a beautiful week.
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon
Wow--the ancient art of basket weaving! How beautiful the baskets are.
food substancChina Purple Clay Teapotes to form insoluble
Post a Comment