Host Kathi Cardinalli demonstrates how to take a simple handmade basket and turn it into a treasure
(see photo at right).
Materials:
woven basket
cold-water fiber dyes
square-ended small paintbrush
silk material
glue gun
beads
copper wire
Steps:
- Find a basket that is natural, with no finish--a giveaway is that a finish will be shiny. A natural basket will be able to take the dye.
- With the brush, dip into undiluted dye and brush carefully onto individual reeds (figure A). Plan a pattern beforehand to make sure which reeds should be dyed and which shouldn't.
- Once the basket is dry, scrunch the silk into the basket and turn all the raw edges under.
- Use the hot-glue gun to attach the silk to the side of the basket (figure B) about an inch at a time. Follow an irregular pattern around the basket--this looks wonderful.
- Wrap the copper wire concentrically around the handle, inserting beads along the wire at regular intervals, such as three wraps to each bead (figure C).
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