To Weave Or Not To Weave

That is the question I am asking myself this week. Believe me, it's a very valid question to ask. I have been a weaver of baskets for over 15 yrs and have seen this craft's popularity come and go. In the 80's, weaving was huge, and today I have to say, it's gone by the way of inexpensive imports. What a shame....baskets have been around since the beginning of time. They have been used as vessels to hold all sorts of items, from food to clothes. I can't think of a room in your home that wouldn't be better off with some sort of handmade basket. Hang one on a peg, hook, off the side of a chair, on the wall, or door knob. AND the gifts!!! Who WOULDN'T want a basket just by itself or filled with some sort of wine, muffins, plants, cookies, candy, decorator napkins, the list could go on and on. The above basket was made for my 2 year old grand-daughter's Easter basket. It was the perfect size for her to handle, and what a keepsake. I could have gone to the craft store and bought a basket that was just like a million others, but what would have been the point? I suppose if it doesn't matter, and is just a throw away vessel, then that's fine. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with store bought baskets, it depends on it's pursose in life. I think most baskets bought from the craft store probably serve there purpose and then end up at a garage sale or in the trash. If that is what you want, that's your choice. I on the other hand love something that was carefully created and crafted with love by another and is made to be passed down from one generation to another. Baskets that take on a patina with age, and like wine, get better and better. Call it appreciation from one weave for the work of another. I think maybe you may feel you have no choice as to where you select or buy your basket because it's hard to find weavers now a days. If you live on the east coast or down south, there are numerous craft shows where weavers come and sell theirs goods. That is where I would sell most of my handmade baskets. I have participated in many juried shows in VA, AZ, GA and Maryland. I loved it. So many beautiful things are offered by so many talented artists. My hope is that baskets make a way back into our lives the way it used to be. I am trying to do my part to keep this craft alive and well. At Christmas I bake lots of goodies, pack them into my handmade baskets and share them with my neighbors. So far everyone has always been home to receive them with a smile. I guess the writing will be on the wall the day all the window shades are drawn and the doors locked when they see my coming. That would be a sad day indeed.

Cottage or Primitive Style?

This sweet raggedy annie doll symbolizes my cottage style in a dolls body. I guess you could say the pink hair says it all!!! Dresses in gorgeous fabrics showcasing roses, vintage quilted pieces, buttons and lace, just to name a few. Annie looks like she could be at home in any little girls room, (big girls and little girls, it's all the same.) In this picture I have her sitting on an antique childs chair I was fortunate enough to buy while I was visiting England. When I think of cottage, the color pink just comes to mind. I have to admit that I am not a pink person. My favorite color is and always has been yellow. I am not a pastel person either. I love the fall colors of burnt orange, deep colors just like a ripe pumpkin in October, red and rust with lots of golden yellows thrown in. This is my favorite season of all, and to me, the most beautiful colors of the world. When I envision a cottage, all white with large wooden porches, wicker chairs and cushy cushions, I envision the inside being light, bright and the type of place you wouldn't want to leave. Lots of roses both in fabrics and fresh, the smell of spring in the air. This is where it gets complicated for me.

Now comes the primitive part:

This is where it becomes tricky for me. I love primitive everything!!! The oldness of something that you know has been loved before. The patina antiques take on with age and time. The darkness of the wood and fabrics. Oh, the textiles, rich with color. You can have a typical looking cottage on the outside, all white with lots of greenery and beautiful roses blooming everywhere, but the first step inside and you know, this is not the typical pink cottage you see in the magizines. Primitive, dark aged furniture, cushions in deep blues, rusty reds, and yellow orcras. Fabrics on the walls, hanging for all to see, homemade candles, pip berries in wooden bowls, lots of rusty tin objects...the list goes on and on. Quilts everywhere and the smell of apple pie instead of lavender. Come on, need I say more?! If I had to pick one or the other, I am afraid it would have to be apple pie over lavender. Sorry my friends, it's me, it's in my blood, but it's not the life I live. It's my dream some day, but for now, it's the desert with a little of both thrown in for comfort. It's too hot in the summer to have the oven on for pies, so I smell lavender in my home, with a mixture of citrus, then in fall, I break free, and bring home the scents of heaven.