Tuesday, March 15, 2011

~Tuesday Display Chain~ Baskets

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain". This week we are showing off baskets of every kind. 

As a collector first of "country", and then primitives, I have accumulated my fair share of baskets. I've even woven a few myself. Baskets are wonderful and useful for so many things...these are a few of my favorites.

~I'll start by showing you a couple of baskets I made years ago. This one, perched on a pile of handwovens is one I am particularly proud of.~

~This Shaker Cheese Basket was the most difficult basket I've even woven. It's so hard to get the little holes even..still not sure I got it right.~

This is the workbasket that I keep next to my chair. It is a large handwoven piece, with an oak handle. I'm sure it's very old. It was passed from my Grandmother to my Mom, and then to me. I remember it, lightly spray painted gold (yikes!) and filled with pine cones at Christmas time when I was a child. Thankfully all the paint seems to have worn away with time. When I told Mom it might be valuable, she replied "No... not that old thing."
~The contents of this particular basket are ever changing. Here it is brimming with antique homespuns taken from a worn out quilt and a pair of sleeves from a 1800's plaid dress.~

~Another of my favorite baskets...it is both functional and beautiful. This was made to hang on the clothesline and hold pins. It was woven at the school for the blind in Chicago, at the turn of the century. I love using beautiful things in my everyday chores, don't you?~

~This little honeysuckle vine basket holds sewing goodies, including two bonnet shaped needle books...one old, one reproduction.~

~A basket of sewing needfuls, including a half-finished pair of socks knitted on old wire.~

~Speaking of sewing needfuls, this little prairie doll pincushion, totes her laundry and my extra pins, in a sweet miniature basket.~

   ~I bought this basket, woven from honeysuckle vine, as a young wife. When the rim started to come unraveled, I couldn't bear to part with it, so I wrapped it with a strip of antique calico. Now, it's ready for many more years of service.~ 

~Technically this isn't a basket...but all of my Easter goodies are still packed away so I thought this would give a touch of springtime to my otherwise dreary collection. I've always loved the colors and the basket weave pattern on this little gem.~ 

Until next time...

See the other Tuesday Display Chain participants at: http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

17 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful collection of baskets. And I see we have something in common . . . I've made many a Shaker Cheese Basket (most definitely a bit tricky, but yours looks lovely). I sold Shaker reproduction baskets for many years at the Shaker Museum down the road. Quite a rewarding pastime.

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  2. Beautiful~ simply beautiful!
    smiles
    Teresa

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  3. oh my dear sweet goodness......awesome baskets...love the clothespin one....never saw one like that before......I am lovin all your pictures and the way you displayed each one....thanks so much for sharing sweet friend......blessings~Denise

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  4. SO PRETTY!!! GREAT JOB ON THOSE BASKETS!!!!!! I LOVE TO USE MY BASKETS TOO!!! GIVE YOUR SWEET PUPPIES A HUG AND KISS FOR ME! ENJOY YOUR EVENING ;) ~Kimberly

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  5. I believe we should use all our precious passions or what good are they? I love your displays and am envious of your weaving talents. I never knew that was honeysuckle vine but it makes sense now!. Thanks for educating me a little!
    ★Linda★

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  6. Rhonda..

    Love love love those baskets and I love that fabric in the honeysuckle basket ! Love the idea of the woven fabric around the edge ! Great idea !

    Loved your article in the Mercantile Gatherings.. those were the days.. weren't they !

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  7. Loved looking at your baskets but oh my gosh I love love love that prairie doll pincushion! Could you possibly look the other way while I grab it?! Did you make it?

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  8. You have some absolutely gorgeous basket...but when I caught the first glimpse of that prairie doll pin keep, my heart just melted. The little baby hang off her reminded me of my daughter! I used to carry her in the laundry basket to the clothesline. You brought a tear to my eye, a smile to my face and warmth in my heart! TFS!

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  9. Hi,I just love your baskets I love the clothesline basket.Such a nice piece.

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  10. HOLY SMOKES!! You made those first 2 baskets? Those are just beautiful!!
    The clothes pin basket is gorgeous!
    BEAUTIFUL!!

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  11. Rhonda, what a great collection of baskets and even made a couple? OK, my fav though, that clothline basket is so neat!!!! OLM

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  12. So many beautiful baskets!! Love all your displays, great ideas!1
    Blessings,
    Lorna

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  13. Is there any handcraft that Kattywhompus wont try & master?..oh my goodness your handwoven baskets are beautiful. My mom gave basket weaving a try in the 80's ..she so wanted me to learn along with her...but i am ashamed to share i was not interested at that time.. instead i dragged the old phone cord across the patio and talked to a boy while i held her bases for her...I might have even made some careless remarks that "my mom has started "Basket weaving" as if she was suffering from some sort of illness..The joke of the times back then and something i regret today. my mom made lovely baskets ..these i cherish today ..reading your post i see that i missed out on something wonderful.. your baskets are GORGEOUS Rhonda!!...I'm going to set my mom up with the basket supplies and beg for forgiveness...I am thankful that it's not to late to weave baskets with my mommy;0)
    Thank you for sharing your beautiful baskets.
    {{HUGS}}

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  14. I love baskets too! Have a wonderful day!

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  15. Sweet collection.Love the prim prairie doll.Warm Blessings!~Amy

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  16. I love your basket collection especially the first one and the basket with your needfulls. How do you call these baskets. I don't see them in my country. Thank you.

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