Clay Basket 'O Berries

Note: Always condition clay by rolling thru the pasta machine repeatedly until it is soft, smooth and pliable. A pasta machine greatly aids in completing this project.

Steps:

1. Cut out wire mesh slightly smaller than you want the sides and bottom of the basket to be.

2. Flatten sahara clay to #3 on pasta machine. Lay two long sheets together, slightly overlapping edges. Press the seam down with a brayer and blend with fingers until it disappears.

3. Cut out two basket panels and apply texture to one side. Set aside.

4. Lay basket panel textured side down on a piece of parchment paper. Lay wire mesh on the panel and cover with remaining panel. Roll gently with brayer to adhere clay together. Gently pinch edges together.

5. With needle tool, score bottom fold line on clay. Bend each side up and pinch sides together where seams meet.

6. To make the handle: Cut armature wire to 9-1/2 inches. Wrap the armature wire with a 1/4-inch-wide snake of clay. Roll back and forth on hard surface. Create an arch.

7. Roll two logs 1/4 inch in diameter by 3-1/2 inches long and coil. Position handle on basket and press coil over end of wire to secure.

8. Roll 1/4-inch logs of clay and apply to corner in loops and swirls. Apply logs to bottom of basket as desired.

9. Bake at 265 F degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool.

10. While that is baking: Mix a 1/2-inch ball of red clay into two packages of translucent clay. Roll a log 1/2-inch in diameter and cut slices from 1/2 to 1 inch in length, varying size. Roll these sections into balls. Shape the balls into cones the shape of strawberries. Repeat for 20 strawberries.

11. Add seed marks to the strawberries with a needle tool.

12. Mix a 1/2-inch ball of green clay with a full package of translucent clay. Roll a log 1/2 inch in diameter and cut thin slices. Soften the edges of the circle slices with fingers and draw vein marks with a needle tool. Roll small 2-inch logs. Apply three leaves to each log in the form of a clover. Repeat until you have 14 sets created. Create a few single leaves.

13. Press a log of sahara clay along the top rim of the basket. Apply leaves and strawberries as desired. Allow some strawberries to hang.

14. Bake completed basket at 265 F degrees for an hour. Allow to cool.

15. When completely cooled, brush black paint over large sections of strawberries and leaves. Wipe off with baby wipe until the desired effect has been reached.

16. Apply brown acrylic paint to the remainder of the basket, wiping off until desired effect has been reached.

17. Seal with acrylic floor wax.