Putting a lid on it

Hand dyed Coiled Rope Basket with Matching Lid by SquareCircleWorks

Goodness! Where's April gone?

I've been busy in my studio working on new designs for my Etsy shop - baskets with lids!

Hand dyed in Indigo Blue by SquareCircleWorks

Friends wonder at my limitless passion for basket making. This is the thing. Basket making is like gardening. Would you ask a gardener, Don't you get tired of gardening? Probably not. There are enough plants on this earth to last a gardener a lifetime.

It's the same with basket making. There are so many forms and textures and materials! It would take a lifetime to discover them all.

Baskets with lids in the Boudoir Collection by SquareCircleWorks

Here are more of my latest discoveries…

Basket with Lid - Fiesta Azul - Blue Festival by SquareCircleWorks

Arts and Crafts inspired baskets by SquareCircleWorks

Enjoy spring and happy gardening!

A time for baskets

Hand-wrapped baskets from SquareCircleWorks

Easter is coming. This is a traditional time for one of my favorite things... baskets! I spend a lot of time looking at these lovely woven works. What captivates me? Color, shape, texture? Maybe it's the utility of a basket that draws me to it. After all, baskets are relatively light and they can hold lots of stuff!

Maybe there is just something primal about a basket. Did you know that basket weaving may be the oldest form of textile art on the planet? (University of Arizona)

Traditionally, baskets were made of natural fibers - willow, pine needles, and reed, for example. Many crafters still use traditional materials and methods.  Becky Bechtel of BrightExpectations makes beautiful baskets following this style.

Large Woven Reed Storage Basket from BrightExpectations

Deb Grenert of lureart takes the traditional and adds a twist. A basket woven around a piece of driftwood...

Coiled pine needle bowl with driftwood by lureart

Today basket makers have added non-traditional materials to the mix - wire, plastic bags, and magazines, for instance.

Check these lovelies out. How about a basket made of recycled plastic bags?

Recycled plastic bag basket from SARAHRACHA

Here's a cool basket made from junk mail.

Upcycled paper basket from Find Your Happy

I love the fun colors in this yarn basket.

Yarn coiled basket from JCStars

Now THAT's eye candy!

Have a great day, everyone...


Reference:

Womeldorff, Sara. “Basket Weaving: Old Tradition to New Art Form.” The University of Arizona, n.d.

Red, white, and blue expressions

Large Independence Day Mat from SquareCircleWorks

As the US’s Independence Day nears, I have been considering our red, white and blue flag.  I don’t think that many Americans realize that red, white and blue is not only popular in the US; this color combination is common around the world.

Red, white, and blue creations from SquareCircleWorks

How many countries have red, white, and blue flags?

I was surprised to learn that 28 countries have national flags of red, white, and blue.  (Answers.com, 2012)  Of course, many of these flags are descendants of the Union Jack, and the days of the British Empire.  Still, Russia and many Slavic countries also use this combo on their flags.

Independence Day creations from SquareCircleWorks

Why has red, white, and blue been so popular?

I went to The Straight Dope board to find out what some folks thought.  One person guessed that the choice was purely practical.  She wrote, “In the days before synthetic dyes, madder (which makes red) and indigo (which makes blue) were relatively affordable natural dyes, which made clear and durable colors."  (flodnak, 2011)  Another suggested the combo was popular “...just because it looks good flying from a ship.” (Isosleepy, 2011)  You may question the credibility my sources; the thoughts are interesting nonetheless!

Independence Day bowl from SquareCircleWorks

Whatever your flag color and whenever your national day, I wish you peace.

-Valerie





References:

Answers.com. (2012). Which countries have red white and blue flags? Retrieved from: http://wiki.answers.com

The Straight Dope. (2012). The red, white and blue color combination. Why is it so common? Retrieved from: http://boards.straightdope.com

The making of a basket

Independence Basket

I thought it might be fun to offer a short tour of basket making.  My sister taught me this craft years ago.  I can't seem to get enough of it!  There are always new colors and patterns to explore, and new ways to embellish a piece.

Here we go...

First, I wrap reinforced cotton rope with fabric cut into strips.  Sometimes I use fabric scraps that quilter friends and family send my way. Sometimes a generous clothing designer will share pieces.  Sometimes I use fabric from gently used clothing.

My pile of possibilities

If I am making a round basket, I start by pinning the wrapped rope into a small coil.  Like this...

The beginning

Then, starting from the very first curve in the coil, I zig zag around and around, watching as the pattern unfolds.  This is the fun part!

A pattern emerges

When I am ready to shape the sides of the piece, I bend the disc, forcing the rope to turn upon itself.  This part can get a little tricky at first, but with practice...

Working the sides

Another important ingredient to my process is a visit from my cat, Dusty.  Fortunately, he has learned to stay out of the way...

Hanging out (of the way)

Lately, I have been embellishing the top of my baskets with a bit a ribbon.  I love the striped pattern.  Here, I leave a long piece of ribboned rope, which I use to create a design on the basket's side.

The tail

I pin a swirl pattern onto the basket and tac it down with needle and thread.

The final touch

And voila!  My Independence basket is complete.

Independence Basket

I hope this encourages you to be creative today.

You can see all my baskets in my shop, SquareCircleWorks on Etsy.

Engaging with creative spirits

Chocolate chic bowl from SquareCircleWorks

I don't often write about baskets, even though baskets are always on my mind.  I dream of color combinations, patterns, textures, and shapes.  I muse on what would give a basket that little pop - a button, a bead, a bit of ribbon.  Of course, going from my dream world to reality is a challenge.  So many other things need to be done!

How do we get from the dream to the reality?
What motivates and inspires us to move from the wondering to the doing?

We engage with those creative spirits that surround us!

Etsy is the perfect place for engaging with artists and crafters.  We can browse among their shops and witness creativity unfolding.  We can build treasuries to celebrate the unique expressions we discover.  We can read blogs and learn what creative people are thinking.

Here are several basket and bag makers who motivate me.  With their permission, I am sharing some of their work.

Sally - an innovative fiber artist from Arcadia, Michigan - makes baskets and totes.  I particularly love her tote bags made from marine rope.  They are sturdy and stylish, and always have a little embellishment to give an extra zip.

Coiled marine rope tote from SallyManke

Blue coiled rope tote from SallyManke

Diane - from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - makes coiled baskets in all shapes and sizes.  She has a special gift for adding pleasing details - flat and round handles, buttons, tassels, and swirls.

Fabric coiled basket in greens/blues/red from DMcGettigan

Extra-large fabric coiled basket from DMcGettigan

Jennie is from Manassas, Virginia.  I love how she has applied the crochet technique to basket and bowl making.  She often uses upcycled materials in her work.

Upcycled sheet bowl by sosorosey

Nested cotton string utility bowls by sosorosey

Flavia is a transplanted Italian living in Mooresville, North Carolina.  Her baskets sing!  She uses recycled materials - mostly paper - to coil fantastic creations.  The process is time-consuming, but the result is spectacular.

GOING IN CIRCLES coiled paper basket from Artesa

ABI - Coiled medium size basket from Artesa

Nancy, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, is experimenting with shapes, textures, and colors.  Her pieces are unique, and I can't wait to see how her works evolves.

City night from BluKangarooCreations

Sundried tomatoes from BluKangarooCreations

I am curious.  Where do you find your inspiration?

A gift of possibilities

Fabric scraps

The possibilities are endless.  That is why I love playing with colors and textures.  Each basket and bag emerges from the pieces to become a unique whole.

Sometimes fate helps in this wonder of creation.  Last month I entered Herbert Rieger’s lovely shop in Vienna.  Rieger fashions colorful clothing using sumptuous silks and delicate lace.  The fabrics are a dream!

Rieger fabrics

Silks and lace

Rieger designs and makes his clothing in a large studio in the rear of his shop.  When I saw the mounds of fabric scraps strewn throughout the workshop, my mouth dropped open and I began to salivate.  What riches!  Imagine my joy when Herbert agreed to give me a load to take home.

A gift from Herbert

I have begun to experiment with these new materials – satins and silks, lace and crepe.

I call this a Boudoir Basket.  It has a feminine look and feel.

The Boudoir Basket

Here is an interior shot...

An inside look

I also thought it would be fun to make an evening bag or clutch.  After all, the Vienna Ball Season is here!

Wear it with handles

Use it as a clutch

Here is an interior shot...

The inside view

If you are ever in Vienna, check out Herbert Rieger.  The clothes are one-of-a-kind and simply lovely.

I hope to have more of these new designs in my Etsy Shop soon.  In the mean time, I would love to hear some feedback from you...

Happy New Year!

Market Baskets - Vienna Style

My style morphing

The wonder of any craft or art form lies in its many expressions.  It morphs and evolves as environments change. 

Color forms

I love making baskets because of the countless expressions these forms can take – shapes, colors, even functions shift.


Here in Vienna folks like to go to the market carrying their own bag or basket.  With that in mind, I have come up with a couple of new designs for my own version of a market basket.


This first one is "Jen's Basket".  I made it for my friend, Jen, who grew up by the sea.  I choose colors and patterns that reminded me of our oceans...

Jen's Basket

Jen's Basket - close up

This second design is called, "Vienna Market".  It is the perfect basket for that jaunt down the street to the market.

Vienna Market Basket

Vienna Market Basket - close up

What do you think?