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Since I finished my Coming Home quilt top, I am happy to say that my design wall is empty at the moment. Not to worry, another project is about to be started today or tomorrow.
Hmm, but what about the weekend? The quilt was finished Friday so what did I do all weekend?
I did a whole lot of this!
I signed up for class to learn pine needle basket coiling! My friend, Lora, and I went to a craft show before Christmas and Carol Busto was there selling her baskets. We were awed by her amazing baskets. She told us she was teaching at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center and we signed up the very next day.
Class was all day Saturday and we had homework that I worked on during the football games Sunday.
I did 7 rounds to make the side of my basket and that took 2 football games to complete! But I am ready for the finishing class this coming Saturday.
Here's how my basket looks so far. This is a fun technique and I can tell you that when you see them priced in the hundreds of dollars that they are NOT overpriced! Pay it and enjoy the massive amounts of handwork and time involved. I look forward to finishing it. I don't know if I will make more baskets only because I enjoy my other handwork hobbies so much but the materials are cheap and minimal and it would be a project that travels pretty well too.
You can see our class photos here and you can check out what others are doing on Design Wall Monday over at Judy's blog.
Nice basket! I love the central circle you started with. I taught myself this from a book I have and made several small baskets (one with a lid that has a tiny pine cone woven into the top as a handle!)when I was a teen and spent summers in the mountains. Now I spend summers in the mountains with my kids, but I'm the cook, maid and chief dish washer now so there is less time for crafting!
Posted by: Eden Hunt | January 16, 2012 at 01:21 PM
How cool is that!
Posted by: Deb Levy | January 16, 2012 at 01:48 PM
What a great basket. I can see this is a very time consuming craft. :-)
Posted by: Becky in VA | January 16, 2012 at 02:27 PM
oh so cool; and what an accomplishment! I think I would agree with you; pay the price!
Posted by: Leslie | January 16, 2012 at 02:35 PM
Looks great and I know they are a lot of work. Well worth the asking prices :)
Posted by: Ruth Lane | January 16, 2012 at 03:24 PM
Gorgeous. I have a pine needle basket I purchased in North Carolina...nearly 30 years ago. Your work is gorgeous and you'll have a very special basket when you're finished.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 16, 2012 at 05:49 PM
Well Wow! I never pegged you for a basket coiler. It looks great!
Posted by: Terri | January 16, 2012 at 05:56 PM
What a beautiful job you are doing!! People really really do need to appreciate the skill, time and talent that each of these pieces represent!!!
Posted by: Elizabeth Woodford | January 16, 2012 at 07:14 PM
Beautiful basket, you did a wonderful job on the weaving. I worked in a shop that taught basket making, but never got a chance to take one.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie St. Germain | January 16, 2012 at 07:36 PM
I saw some of these baskets in Mathews County a few years ago and thought they were really cool. Excellent job! Your hair has gotten so long . . .
Posted by: Kim | January 17, 2012 at 08:33 AM
If I gathered up the pine needles in my backyard I could really make ALOT of baskets! Nah, I'll enjoy yours!
Posted by: Debra | January 17, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Wowzer! that is so cool! My Mom taught me to can a chair back in the day, the woven kind and OMG, I thought I would go mad! So my hat is off to ya!
Posted by: Cindy Is Crafty | January 17, 2012 at 09:54 PM
Beautiful! I have always wanted to try to make one and even looked at a kit one time. I think I will purchase the finished basket instead. Your center piece is wonderful.
Posted by: Jeannie | January 18, 2012 at 02:50 AM
Vicki, thanks for the kind words about my coiled works. You should be very, very proud of your first basket. You truly did an OUTSTANDING job on it. Please send me a photo of the final product with all the fagotting stitches done. I loved browsing your Etsy site and your blog. You are a very talented and gifted woman. I hope one day you may take up coiling again. I can only imagine how great you would be at doing some of the free form coils.
-- Carol Busto
Posted by: Carol Busto | January 21, 2012 at 04:15 PM