Monday, July 9, 2012

Picnic Basket


This past week I enrolled in a Splint Woven Basket class as part of Traditions Week 1 of  Common  Ground on the Hill  held at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD.  Each afternoon I joined other basketmakers as we each wove a splint picnic basket under the direction of Joyce Schaum, a nationally known, award winning Maryland basketmaker. It is so much fun to make baskets in the company of others, sharing laughs, tips and techniques.

The functional basket began with weaving a filled 12” x 18” base with natural colored splints.  The splints were then raised up to form the sides of the basket.  I added a decorative pattern using a navy weaver.  Once the sides reached 6 1/2” high, an inner and outer rim was added and lashed to the basket.   The handles were attached to this rim.  Four more inches of weaving tapered in and formed a smaller opening which was rimed and lashed.

A lid is woven separately using both wide splints and narrow weavers.  I added matching navy bands of color to tie it to the picnic basket.  The  13” x 23” lid can also be used as a low serving tray.  
For more information about Common Ground visit their website  www.CommonGroundOnTheHill.org 


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