When shopping at a local grocery store
(not supercenter) request that your groceries be bagged in paper bags. I use these bags when staining my baskets. I put
the freshly stained baskets on the folded bags to dry. The bags can be reused if the next baskets stained are the same color
as the 1st basket stained. I would not place a basket with a clear stain on a bag where a maple stained basket had been
so no pigment would transfer to the 2nd basket. This is a great way to recycle too! Submitted by Sharon Seneker, 1-30-08.
Inexpensive Stain Recipes Collected over the years by Charmie Bible and submitted by Linda
Lantz, 2-14-08
Black Walnut Stain Gather black walnuts, approximately 24, place in a panty hose leg, tie off the opened end and cut
off any extra material. Place in a bucket, add 2 quarts of clear ammonia, or more if nuts are not totally covered.
I leave mine sit for at least 2 months before I use it. Crushed dried black walnut hulls can also be purchased by the
pound.
Acorn Stain Gather acorns, approximately 1 quart,
place in panty hose leg, tie off the opened end and cut off any extra material. Place in a bucket, add 2 quarts or more
of clear ammonia, the nuts should be covered, let stand for a month before using.
Tobacco/ Coffee Stain Buy 2 pouches of the cheapest chewing tobacco you can find. Put into
the leg of a panty hose and tie off the end and cut off the excess material. Place in a bucket. Add in 6 tablespoons
of instant coffee and 2 quarts of ammonia. Let stand for at least 2 weeks before using.
HINTS:
The longer these stains sit the darker they will become. You can lighten them by adding more ammonia to them.
Sometimes it will get little things in it, you can just strain them out.
If you like a sheen on your baskets, after
you stain them, let it dry completely and then spray with Scott's Liquid Gold, makes a very pretty basket. Additionally,
you can ask at any of your local grocery stores/ with a bakery, if they will sell you a frosting bucket. They work great
for making homemade stains.
TIP
OF THE MONTH Submitted by Darlene “Honey” McCleish August 26, 2008
Put drop or two of lavender essential
oil in your weaving water. It will help you relax while weaving. I do not think it scents the basket. I
smell is too light or faint to lastvery long.
I keep a basket hanger, made of metal,
hanging on my porch to dry baskets. I leave them out there, but not in direct sunlight, for up to a week, if I have
the time to wait.
Try not to soak reed very long.
Most will gain enough moisture with just a quick dip of about 10 seconds in water. This helps to keep the reed from
becoming too “hairy.” Round reed is the exception. It can be left in the water a much longer
amount of time.
Mold on a basket can be removed by placing the basket in the freezer for 48 hrs. Use a
toothbrush to then rub it off. Submitted by Brenda Hensley, 2-11-09.
Basket Tips by “Honey”: Submitted June 2009
Now that I am
retired I seem to have a harder time finding clear time to weave so here are my tips:
1. Turn
off the phone!!
2. Limit breaks as if you were in class
and had to get back at it!!
3. Set
a day of the week for weaving.
4. Promise
to show someone the finished basket at a certain time/ day.
5. No
cooking on that day. Order out or premake meals!! Or send the family out!!
Here's a basket tip for you.........from Brenda!! How to tell if your reed is long enough to lash all around your basket: If
it will wrap 2 and 1/2 times around the rim then it's long enough. Sometimes
more is needed for twills or Nantuckets. Submitted 2-2010
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