end of june craft group (basket making at Marias)

Smooth Hound · end of june craft group (basket making at Marias)

ive decided that it gives us plenty of time, and it could be a week or so after the summer solstice gaathring, it could be here, or it could be somewhere else, but if no where else works out, then it will be here

not sure what we are doing, bt we have a month to discuss, where it is, when it is , and what we are doing,

so lets have your pennies worth before we start 3 posts on it in a weeks time

and maybe a fourth one for maria

for the finer details

[edited to add a poll]

Maria

Basket making please. I have rope from our last beach forage (neeps camp) and really want to make something from it. I know FMN said she was interested in basket making...and other folk too. Would love to have a go at a willow basket...and think I know a few folk who have some just asking to be made into a basket or two.

Happy to have it here for a change - i remember i said I would some time ago. But also happy to go elsewhere. It'll be good to do some crafting in company.

Smooth Hound

right so its basket making at marias.

how long do rods need soaking for

Smooth Hound

we will need jaydee on line for this ,

Maria

and Julie

wildgarlic

and Pauline

wildgarlic

I've got a book!

Julie

I've got mine mellowing in wet towels at the moment. I ran out of free time and they were soaking over long. Funnily enough, I was thinking of making a start this evening. I am a complete beginner and will be using a book, so i'm not a suitable person to offer advice. You really need someone like Julia for this one.
I might have a nice ricketty first attempt to show and tell with at the meet though - might be good for a laugh

Smooth Hound

sounds good, do we have any instructions anywhere for the rope one jaydee made, whats the proceess etc there.

wildgarlic

Jaydee - if you fancy writing up the instructions and taking some pics then we'd love this kind of thing on our website!

Smooth Hound

that would be good

im going on the hunt for rope.

Sassinak

Is it worth sending her a pm in case she doesn't read this thread?

Maria

SH wrote

Smooth Hound

perhaps we should have a poll,

Julie

I can't make promises that far ahead, I never know how I'm going to be from one day to the next never mind four weeks away, especially in the evenings. I get into my PJs at teatime so I can eat my dinner in bed if I need to.
I will come if I feel ok, of course, (possibly in pyjamas

)but the last few weeks have been a bit rough.

Maria

PJ's very welcome here.

Being so close i could come and pick you up if you're sleepy....beware....I know where you live crafty one.

Carrot Lover

I will be there!

Wherever it is...

Julie

I've just spent the day messing about with that willow. What a fiasco.....I think I need thinner stuff, but I know what not to do now - to some degree. I have the beginnings of a very rustic looking basket but it wouldn't pass muster in public. It was a bit messy to work with too because the over long soak had made the top layer of the bark all peel away as I handled it so it looks a bit frilly in places.
Does anyone know what would happen if I tried again with some freshly cut stuff? It seems to be a bit more supple than dried and soaked stuff.

jaydee67

Sorry, just read this thread for the first time! PM or prod would be handy next time!

Freshly cut willow will shrink as it dries. If you cut it now it should be about right to use at the end of the month without soaking (or much, depending on the weather) or shrinking your basket out of shape. Place the bundle of fresh cut stuff somewhere cool and shady (eg bottom of a hedge) to season.

Coiled baskets can be made from rope or twisted natural materials (old daffodil leaves might be hanging around waiting to be used?).You can also make a rope from them and then use the natural rope for the basket- to make the rope I made from montbretia, I had a few leaves tied in the middle to a hook. twist the ones on the right and pass to the left, twist the right and pass to the left, and carry on twisting in more leaves as needed.

You can either coil the bottom (spiral to size) or use a base with holes drilled around the edge (driftwood/ bucket lid, get creative!). This is an online tutorial I found (but I obviously don't wrap my materials) that may help http://www.pacon.com/projects/Trait-texBasket.html. This one http://www.clevernesting.com/2009/04/coil-basket-weaving-tutorial/ uses the same method on plastic carrier bags and video tape.

I hope this helps, I will be in RACH with my niece and sister for about 2 weeks from Tuesday so questions will have to be quick!

Smooth Hound

this willow was cut 6 or 7 weeks ago, and its been lying outside since, what do you thik would be the best thing to do

jaydee67

Not an expert but I would think it hasn't had time to dry out completely - how flexible is it? It may need a short soak, but probably not a full week?

Maria

Have added a poll - i can do either (obviously

) but fri would probably give us more time....no school/work the day after.

Carrot Lover

Yay!

I will definitly be there.

It's at ours for a change, woop!

andybebbington

i voted either but friday would be better as no work on the sat, big prob will be weather i have transport by then

Smooth Hound

has a day been finalised yet

Forget-me-Not · Basketing

Friday would be best, no school/work the next day. Really looking forward to this, keep dreaming up baskets for different things!

Beth

Maria

Fri 24th sounds good to me too.

Bring your basket making materials....anything at all...and a bit of enthusiasm and I'm sure we'll have a couple of baskets by the end. (baskets...not basket cases

)

Forget-me-Not · Baskets

What time will it be? What sort of things would be good to weave? I can't think of anything I've got

Beth

Maria

Anytime after 6.30 should be ok. Give A time to get in and have a bite to eat before the house is full of basket makers (again....not cases!!)

Beth - you can use all sorts for baskets - Jaydee has put some great examples up from her beach forays. I'll be having a go at a rope one found on the beach. Gonna collect some more on Sunday all going well. Be volunteering A to drill holes in a wooden base. Will also be snipping some dogwood twigs and giving them a bit of a soak. Might have a mooch about for some other suitable odds n ends.

Anyone else any basket making material ideas? Oh and anyone got any good web sources we can have a look at before next Fri? Or can bring a book on the night?

Julie

I can bring a book on the night if I manage to make it there. I should phone Dale and see if she wants to car share.

Maria

So far I think there will be about 8-ish of us meeting to have a go at basket making. I'll be snipping some dogwood stems and giving them a soak. I have some rope found on the beach.

Is everyone ok to bring a bit of something to basket make with on the night? Think CL's gonna bake a few biccies...yum. Kid welcome...I'm sure they'll go and play together while we wrestle with our baskets. If anyone doesn't fancy having a go but wants to carry on with another crafty project that's fine too. Or if you want to spin some more Marhar wool (ZC

)

Maria

Oops - should have said, please PM me for directions if you don't know how to get here.

Smooth Hound

dont worry i you want to have a go at basket making, but havent got anything to bring with you, there will be plenty of willow to mess around with,

Maria

Brill - thanks SH.

Will you be soaking it? Think Julie said it needed quite a few days to become supple enough to work with. Remember Julie saying the bark peeling away from her 1st attempt annoyed her...and made it a bit tricky to work with....and it might have been because it was a bit too wet after soaking? Not sure what 'just right' would look like. What do you think Julie...or anyone who's had a go?

Smooth Hound

ive got it all under control

Forget-me-Not · Baskets

I'm struggling to bring anything, I've a willow tree with mad branches everywhere, wasn't sure if I could clip some off, remove shoots and soak but forgot to ask sooner???

I can bring biscuits though

Beth + LME coming

Maria

Be great to see you guys and do a bit of crafting.

might lose LME to the B's wild bit and den building for a while.

Wonder if we can encourage them to stay around long enough to build a flower foraging basket? Thinking of a straw/reed basket for them. A sort of prototype for the kind we'd like for bramble collecting later in the year

andybebbington

me and mum will be there stollen dads car

Smooth Hound

thanks for a very enjoyable evening maria and clan, lovely to see every one, im now a very big egg basket up

i think i have a rough idea of these baskets now, i certainly no how not to make one, the next one will be better

i hope, oh and thanks for pointing us in the right direction julie.
cant wait to see mrs baileys photos,

the source of the lightning

wildgarlic

Photos will be here in due course - mrs bailey indeed!!!

Lightning source hahahahaHA!

Huge thanks to Maria for opening up her house and garden to us all and to everyone for making the evening so wonderful.

More tomorrow, for now I must sleep.

Julie

Thanks so much for having us all there Maria and family, and for giving me a chance to relax in great company...all you guys rock

Thanks to Dale for the taxi and for cramming all that willow into the boot of her car.
Thanks Kitty for the huge hugs......couldn't have felt more welcome

It was lovely to meet you Nina, I didn't realise you were Andy's mum until today.
Nice to see Mike and Kimmie out and about after their ops too. If there is to be a prize for best effort today, I reckon Mikes basket was worthy. He was the only one of us to complete his basket too - I gave up at the base stage.

If you read this Jaydee, I admired your basketry already, but I have a lot more admiration for you having had a go. Your baskets are so neat and even. I will persevere but with thinner materials so it is easier on the hands. I think a few classes might be beneficial in my case

nina

It's 3.10-just arrived home.Went to Tesco in Huntly for petrol and the night pumps were locked.Fingers crossed we drove to Tesco in Inverurie to find they don't accept Solo cards.I had no credit cards with me-only cash.By now the fuel gauge was well below empty.Andy knew that the garage in Bucksburn is open allnight so we headed there and made it.Then we had to drive to Peterhead.I'm still wide awake.

We had agreat evening.Thank you Maria and family for your generous hospitality.It was lovely to meet more Neeps and put faces to names.Big hug to Tooky for keeping me company on the sofa.Looking forward to the next meeting.

Ironworker

Thanks Maria and family for a lovely evening of fun and baskets, it was nice to meet up friends that I'd not seen for ages

And you know I can't remember the last time I saw so many peeps trudging around in the rain looking for water

Forget-me-Not · Last Night

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Best Night Out FOR AGES!!!!!!!

LMO and I had a BRILLIANT time, continuing Julie's basket, dowsing and having a lovely chat and giggle with everyone.

Thank you Julie and Ironworker for all your help.

Beth and Little Miss Eco.

Smooth Hound

kimmie

thank you all so much for a lovely evening, we got home around 1am...but both of us enjoyed it
FMN i only found out who you were as you were leaving....sorry about that...but at least i can now put a face to your name

Thanks again

Xx

Carrot Lover

It was GREAT to have you all at our house.

Loved seeing everyone again.
I love hugging you Julie - my second mum (a lovely lovely lady you are).

It was lovely seeing all our friends.
Many laughs were had, even with the clouds on our heads.

Can't wait until the next crafty do.

Carrot Lover.

Maria

I had a grand evening and will be starting my own basket - maybe today.

A Fine Malt has got his uprights fixed to the base now and has just started the sides. It's looking wonderful, I love the different shades of red, yellow and orange, just need to decide what to do with it. A planter i think?

I enjoyed seeing everyone so much...and 'd be offering to host again soon if we didn't have so many other workshops in the offing. Thanks to everyone for bringing delish snacks and gifts...i'd say 'you shouldn't have' but they were scrummy. Should have sent folk home with some...my tum is growing!

Can't wait until the next crafty meet....drumming WG?

SH - thanks for hauling lots of willow here, think everyone remembered to take enough home to continue with their baskets...so we might see some finished pics soon. You did soooo well finishing your basket amongst so many distractions...and heavy drizzle. Thanks to tookie for being the distinguished well behaved one as usual, and helping to clear up the leftovers...sorry SH, blame A Fine Malt.

Ironworker and Julie - more willow thanks, without you and SH we wouldn't have had a basket making evening at all! Also thanks for gifts...more things to think about. I'll be walking sloooowly and having a go at finding more water soon.

WG - thanks for being Mizz Bailey, looking forward to seeing willow work basket shots.

D and J, Kimmie & Matty, FMN & LME, Dale & mum, AndyB, Nina, not forgotton you...it was lovely to spend time with you all, and great to meet Clydlesdaleclopper for the first time.

ZC - you were missed

hope all is well with you and the family.

Carrot Lover

Oh i forgot to say...
I loved spending time with everyone, but have to say a special thanks to Matty.

Thank you SO much for the biology help.

Julie

Andy and Nina, I wish you had mentioned your low fuel. We keep a V big green jerry can of unleaded for the mower and strimmer, you could have had some of that and carried on home from our house. Glad you got home eventually anyway.
I think it's a bit bad of Tesco to have a 24 hour fuel station and not keep it open as advertised. It is sited on the A96 and it is a reasonable expectation to find it open. It's not the first time they've shut it for a spell either.

zombiecazz

Sorry we missed it. Had a tiring week and hadn't managed to get together with Mum to celebrate her B-day.
So we had a quiet night in with some cheese, biscuits and wine.
Off course then she open the malt...whoops.

Forget-me-Not · Basket

Just finished my basket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Can't upload pics now! Laptop doesn't associate socially with my phone camera anymore and they used to get on so well. Now it's blanking the camera too

Will wait for Big Dave and LME to get back and then maybe he can re-jig it all so I can send the pics.

V proud of basket, far far far from professional, long way to go but looks fab because it's sustainable and home made

Ohh OH home with food!!!!!!!!

Beth.

P.S. Kimmie and Mattie, sorry we never got to chat, great to meet you briefly, looking forward to next time. Maybe I can stow away with Maria next trip?

Smooth Hound

i prefer to call it rustic

and deliberately so of course

Maria

A Fine Malt's finished his basket too....it's marvellously shaped? Intentional artistic interpretation....I think

. B said it's her boat...she sat in it, picked up a willow and started canoeing.

A's taken a pic of his basket - and is about to take a pic of my very very rustic basket... I've just finished it.

Think A's hooked - he's started another. Enjoying his weekend...sat in the sun being a basket case.

Dale

Thank you Maria for a lovely evening good to meet new faces too. I think you can take it you have a pipe under your lawn thanks for the lesson Ironworker. Marie ( my mum) also would like to thank you all for making her feel welcome.

Smooth Hound

ah now i know who the lady was, someone told me but i couldnt hear, i think i was concentrating on trying not to poke anyones eye out with a willow rod and i was hoping i would find out anyway during the course of the evening

but i didnt

anyway now i know

by the way the rope basket you were stitching was very nice, good colour too

wildgarlic

I'll hopefully get to the photos later tonight. Some fab creations there were last night and I can't WAIT until the next meet.. YES it will be DRUMMING led by Transition Gus here at mine sometime during week commencing 13th July. I'll start a new thread later too.

Smooth Hound

kimmie

Maria

Here's the base of Al's first attempt

and it just about finished

mine in progress

and finished

Forget-me-Not · Basket

Your baskets are fab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cannot get pics to load, laptop won't recognise the camera although has for months. Laptop is running...Vista

any advice please?

Otherwise all I can think of is texting a pic to someone who can upload it, just getting daft now, it hasn't recognised camera phone for weeks either

Beth

Smooth Hound

jaydee67

Sounds like you all had fun! Wish I could have been there - it's the kind of thing I would love to be part of. I showed the craft group how to make woven baskets using newspaper as a practice material the other week.

Julie

We could have done with you there

I have even more admiration for your baskets now I have tried it out. It's not so easy as it looks to get them nice and straight is it.

wildgarlic

wildgarlic

wildgarlic

Smooth Hound

it looks so good willow,

wildgarlic

wildgarlic

more to come - sleep first!

end of june craft group (basket making at Marias)

Basketing

Baskets

Baskets

Last Night

Basket

Basket