Author Topic: Basketmaking, anyone?  (Read 4671 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

oneoldbear

  • Guest
Basketmaking, anyone?
« on: Jun 14, 2007, 07:37:17 PM »
My Grandpa and my Dad would pick out the "right" white oak tree, cut it down, and weave baskets from the "splints".
Dad tried to teach me way back when I was a teenager, but I had more important things on my mind at the time.
Starting teaching myself about a year ago - I'm not physically able to cut down trees, so I "cheat" and buy stuff off the internet.  A few of my early baskets can be seen by clicking on the link.  I also taught myself to do coiled pine needle baskets like my Grandmother did....http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v613/gerjoi/Baskets

Offline Dianna

  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 15,755
  • Angel With The Halo!
    • Fallen Angels Karaoke Entertainment
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #1 on: Jun 14, 2007, 08:38:31 PM »
That is an awesome talent you have there, Bear! Beautiful baskets!

Are some of those the coiled pine needle baskets?

"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success." - Lao Tzu

Offline Jim

  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 4,318
  • What have I gotten myself into?
    • KT4JK Amateur Radio Web Page
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #2 on: Jun 14, 2007, 08:41:42 PM »
Those are some great looking baskets, OOB.  You sure got my curiosity up.  How you do that?  I've been down to Charleston on Market Street and seen the ladies there weaving baskets but they don't look nothing like yours.  :smileyNo:

Do you have to cut the splints?  How big are they?  :SmileyQmarks:

You are gonna have to tell us some more now!
Former SMF Support Specialist

oneoldbear

  • Guest
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #3 on: Jun 15, 2007, 04:46:40 AM »
That is an awesome talent you have there, Bear! Beautiful baskets!

Are some of those the coiled pine needle baskets?



Dianna,
Those are all reed baskets - this is a picture of my second coiled pine needle basket - the rings around the bottom are made from raffia for decoration and to strengthen the base


oneoldbear

  • Guest
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #4 on: Jun 15, 2007, 04:52:09 AM »
Those are some great looking baskets, OOB.  You sure got my curiosity up.  How you do that?  I've been down to Charleston on Market Street and seen the ladies there weaving baskets but they don't look nothing like yours.  :smileyNo:

Do you have to cut the splints?  How big are they?  :SmileyQmarks:

You are gonna have to tell us some more now!

Jim,
All of these baskets were made with rattan round reed.  I've got the flat reed also, just haven't had time lately to make any baskets with it.  Both types come in coils, different sizes depending on the diameter.
I usually cut them to three foot lengths or so.  They then have to be soaked in warm water before you begin weaving.  This fall I may see if I can find some wild grapevine or kudzu and experiment with it just for the heck of it.
Gerald

Offline Dianna

  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 15,755
  • Angel With The Halo!
    • Fallen Angels Karaoke Entertainment
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #5 on: Jun 15, 2007, 06:32:28 AM »
Nice basket, Gerald! How long did it take you to make it? Do you buy the raffia already made into decorations, or do you do those by hand, too?  :)

That sure looks like a hobby that takes a lot of patience, but a very rewarding one, too!  :D
"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success." - Lao Tzu

Offline Jim

  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 4,318
  • What have I gotten myself into?
    • KT4JK Amateur Radio Web Page
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #6 on: Jun 15, 2007, 07:21:44 AM »
That is neat!  :applause: The baskets look so strong.  They look like they were made to be useful instead of just to look nice.  About how long does it take to do a basket that size?  :Cool1:
Former SMF Support Specialist

Offline Bonnie

  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2,254
  • Angel With Horns!
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #7 on: Jun 15, 2007, 08:28:07 AM »
Those are fantastic. I am especially impressed with the pine needle one.

The baskets at the market hear in Charleston are made out of sweet grass.

Think I'm gonna go sit under the pine tree. The only thing I would propably come up with would be bug bites.

Again, they are  beautiful.

Bonnie
This is me ->?

oneoldbear

  • Guest
Re: Basketmaking, anyone?
« Reply #8 on: Jun 15, 2007, 09:22:29 AM »
Thanks, ya'll!  The pine needle baskets take the longest to make, since I don't work on them constantly - just 15 or 30 minutes at a time.  The reed baskets usually take a day or so - I work on them about an hour at a time.
The raffia rings I also made by hand.  Everything does take a bit of patience.....

 

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal