Holiday Happenings
It’s the Christmas Season – so our guild just had it’s annual Christmas party. In addition to delicious food and planning our 2017 calendar, we also returned our traveling baskets to their owners. We always have so much fun with this project. Curious? Check out my post from last year about how the Traveling Basket Project works here. Here’s a peak at some of this year’s baskets:
HELP!! its a little late for this year, but next year my guild is thinking about weaving sleighs. One of my all time favorite sleigh patterns is Reed Santa Sleigh by Helen Springer. I spent a chunk of time looking for the wood base/wrought iron runners for this basket and I kept hitting a dead end. So I dug out some of my other sleigh patterns and hunted for those bases. Dead end. I’ve spent a week on this (!) so I’m going to throw it out to you –
My variation of Helen Springer’s Reed Santa Sleigh
Do you have a favorite woven sleigh? Do you still have a source for the base assembly? Do you know anyone making the runners for Helen Springer’s pattern?
And while we are talking about sleighs – would any of you be interested in bases for my sleigh pattern “A Winter’s Sleigh”? I haven’t had any made for a while – maybe its time to bring it back. What do you think?
A Winter’s Sleigh
And this week I got a fun note from the Tampa Bay Basketmakers. They used my Six Point Star Tutorial for a mini workshop! Note only did they send a note – they included pictures!
Annetta –
I just wanted to share with you how the Tampa Bay Basketmakers Guild used the 6-pointed stars in a workshop. The Guild provides mini-workshops for walk-ins at a gallery in St Petersburg FL and this past Sunday was a starry-starry night. I’ve attached several photos of how the stars were used – garlands, package decorations, necklaces for young ladies. All attendees enjoyed learning how to make the stars and took spare strips with them so they could make more at home. The instructions on your blog helped Guild members prepare for teaching the paper stars to others. Thank you for such wonderful detailed instructions!
Jan Oberlag
Vice President of Tampa Bay Basketmakers Guild
Thank you so much for sharing your guild’s project Jan. I get pretty excited when I get emails like Jan’s – I love seeing what weavers do with ideas!
Want to make some of those garlands or package decorations – click here for the Six Point Star Tutorial
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season – filled with sparkling snow and starry-starry nights!
thanks for reading the Basket Teacher
Hi-Helen Springer is still teaching at my shop in Highland, MI. We have looked very unsuccessfully for the runners for this pattern over the years. I may have 3 or 4 at the shop if that would help. The best I was able to come close to was a blacksmith who could copy them. A few years ago he would have charged $18 to duplicate them. I have seen very similar runners in gold or silver on some sleighs sold by florists holiday decorations. Let me know if you find a source for them.
Thank you Kathy-
First please tell Helen this is one of my favorite sleighs!
And yes I am interested in the runners and bases you have – I just sent you an email!
Annetta, ask Sandy Atkinson if her wrought iron man can make them for you. He does a nice job on handles. Love the sleigh! Wood sleighs bases, Dan makes several sizes, but can custom make you something if you want.
I taught my Country Sleigh at Jabez this past summer.
I love your blogs!
Thanks, I didn’t know that Sandy had a wrought iron guy!! I will have to give her a call.
Tell Dan to get healthy and then we will have to talk!! And can you post a picture of your country sleigh? And your sliegh bases . I know people would love to know what’s available.
Thanks bunches!!
I don’t know how to post a photo on your blog…sorry.
Yes, you and Dan can talk if you don’t have what you are looking for. Hope Sandy’s wrought iron handle maker can do that for you. 🙂
Send the picture to me and I will post it 🙂
Pam – Send the picture to me and I will post it 🙂
I LOVE your variation of Helen Springer’s Reed Santa Sleigh. I can’t even find the pattern let alone the base but would love both!
Ellen
I am pretty sure that you could get the pattern from the Basket Sampler (Kathy McMinn’s shop in Michigan). As for bases I am working on a source. I’ll keep people posted!
Here’s a link to the Basket Sampler
http://www.thebasketsampler.com/mobile.html