When we went to the annual fall show of the Foothills Crafts Guild this past Friday, I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy another basket. Yes, folk art baskets are a weakness of mine. (Pottery too.) But promises are made to be broken and I purchased a beautiful Nantucket style basket made by an acquaintance from my former workplace.
The fellow has gotten on in years and will soon quit his crafting pastime. His primary hobby was woodworking, and he specialized in creating Shaker boxes. (We have a big set of Shaker boxes stacked up in our master bedroom, but another artisan made them.) Eventually, he branched out into making the most exquisite Nantucket baskets.
Though I had admired his work over the years, I had never made a purchase. The dark and light interplay of the weaving cane of this basket caught my eye, along with the cherry handle and base. It was time. So I brought this little treasure home and it now resides in my home office, tucked in on a cabinet shelf along with other cherished folk art pieces and small antiques.
And to do a little creating of my own, I couldn’t resist transforming one of my photos into an oil painting rendition.
That is really a beautiful basket!
ReplyDeleteYou did good! I love it, I'm afraid baskets of any kind are my weakness, it came to a point in my marriage that my husband asked if that's all he worked for, (the purchase of baskets that is). And to have someone special make it for you, even better.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if it is a basket to be treasured with so much of a back story that you know and appreciate.
ReplyDeleteI would have had a hard time passing this beauty by too!
ReplyDeletethat is a very nice basket. Obviously made by someone who loves his craft.
ReplyDeleteBaskets and pottery are always so tempting to me, too! You made a wonderful choice! It's really a work of art! You mentioned some pottery in my china cabinet that I meant to write to you about! YES...it's pottery with horsehair glaze and we bought a couple of these pieces from the potter in Seagrove! They really are unique, aren't they. He said the only other potters that use this technique are in Santa Fe, NM. We saw this type of pottery there, too. This is the longest comment I've ever made! heehee! Hugs! ♥
ReplyDeleteI totally would have bought that too! It's fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful basket! And such a treasure to hold the memory of the maker close for years to come.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI've never made baskets, but used to purchase them to decorate as gifts. That was back in the day when I had more than one brain cell. :)
Exquisite!! Functional art. It doesn't get any better than that.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteYes I love my give away treasures! I can see why you couldn't resist this basket. Whenever I don't want to buy something I tell my friends to tackle me to the ground to keep me from buying. I must be pretty scary, because they never dare do it. lol!
Oooh! What a beautiful basket. I couldn't have resisted that one either. I love the oil painting rendition! While I'm here, I just want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteLovin' the basket. I've always wanted to learn to do that. I don't think I have the patience for it though.
ReplyDelete