Thursday, September 14, 2023

Stick to Your Knitting and Patchwork, Bless!

A Crow's Nest of a Basket!  

Ever since M pruned some of the branches of the bottlebrush tree, I've been itching to try my hand at making a twig basket.  Unfortunately, one needs pliable material, either freshly cut twigs or ones have have been soaked in water.  Twigs that have been out in 95F heat for nearly a week are not the best material to use to make a basket.  Did that deter me from attempting to make a basket?  Of course not!  LOL!

I started out with eight fairly straight long twigs laid out in a cross shape and started weaving the bottom and experienced problems almost immediately as the rather brittle twigs began to break!  But, I persevered and managed to find some twigs that did not break as long as I didn't try to bend them too much.  Which meant the weave couldn't be as close as I wanted.  Then, at some point, I got tired of trying to strip all the leaves so I left them in place!  They helped to fill in the gaps!  LOL.  But, I admit that it would have looked a bit neater without the leaves!  Maybe I'll trim them off, tomorrow!

The resulting basket is rather flat, like a trug.  I was able to bend two of the branches, without breaking them, to make sort of handles, although they'll probably come out of the weave at the slightest tug!  Then, I "decorated" it with some of the seedheads stuck near one of the handles!

I've no idea what I'll do with this basket which looks a bit like a crow's nest and I don't mean the type that is high on the mast of an old sailing ship!  Maybe I'll ask M to buy me some coconut fiber or something to line it and grow something in it!  Maybe I'll just toss it in the compost pile!

Maybe I should have just made a wreath base with the twigs!  But, I already have a wreath that I made with some grapevines and don't really need another wreath!  Maybe I should have used strips of fabric to weave, instead of twigs.

However, I spent a lovely afternoon outside, on a sunny, but, cooler day, doing a fun project and enjoying myself.  That's what retirement life is supposed to be all about, isn't it?  

Maybe I will try again, when M cuts down a few more branches, and do so while the branches are still fresh and pliant!

Dancer is much better, today, although he still had a bit of an accident in the bathroom and I had to wash my bathroom mats.  Thank goodness for washing machines!

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny, cooler day
- A lovely afternoon spent outside
- A fun and frugal project
- M pruning the bottlebrush tree branches
- Leisure time!

Today's joyful activity was trying my hand at basketry!  

16 comments:

  1. I do like your basket! What a fun and creative way to spend the day. You could hang it on a wall as decor! I'm glad Dancer is doing better.

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    1. Thank you, Celie. I truly had fun and I think I will give basket making another try with some more pliable material! Yes, Dancer is doing better, now, thank you. :)

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  2. Oh that looks like it was a fun experiment though. I watched a YouTube video about making "a serving platter". It was about 15" long, 8“wide and pointed at both ends. The finished article was displayed holding small fruits. I have absolutely nothing in this garden I could use for weaving. But I am going to a wreath making workshop soon!

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    1. It was fun, Angela, and I enjoyed myself. Maybe you can find some willow twigs or something on one of your walks along the country side and make a basket. Enjoy your wreath making workshop! You'll probably find plenty of things with which to make wreaths on your walks, too.

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  3. Yes, retirement is for doing what pleases you and you had fun.Your basket looks nice and you should make another with fresher twigs and see if they make a difference. I'm glad Dancer is feeling better.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. Yes, Dancer is feeling much better, now. :)
      I probably should have soaked the twigs before I tried to make the basket, but I didn't think about it before I started. But, yes, I shall try again with fresher twigs. And I'll take the time to strip the branches properly!

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  4. That was a fun project and a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

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    1. It was a fun project, June, and I enjoyed myself! I will try again with some freshly cut branches. :)

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  5. Thanks for the inspiration!
    I have seriously been thinking about trying my hand at weaving baskets from the kudzu that is prolific in the south. I might wait until spring when the vines are new, but I could probably cut some right now and it might be pliable enough for weaving.__anne in the kitchen

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    1. Kudzu would be a good vine to use for basket weaving. If it is not pliable enough, maybe soak in some water before weaving.

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  6. What fun! It looks nice and rustic and I like the handles. I've often thought it would be fun to try making a basket with some of the willow shrub that keeps popping up unwanted. I guess if I ever try I will have to soak the branches now that you mention your experience. Good luck with your next attempt now you have Mark 1 finished.

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady; it does look very rustic, doesn't it? LOL. A willow basket would be a nice project! Yes, you might have to soak them a little bit first. I will definitely try, again! :)

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  7. I think it's cute! Perhaps Mama Cat will use it as a bed to sleep in. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules; maybe I'll leave it on the ground for Mama Cat to discover - currently, the squash plants seem to be her preferred sleeping spot! She has abandoned her bucket in favor of the squash plants!

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  8. I think it is beautiful! Really lovely. In this form, I would hang it as a wreath on your back wall above your little table :)

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    1. Thank you, Debra. I might do as you suggest and hang it up on the wall! :D

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