One of our customers
shared this tip with us recently: To keep the dyed reed from running,
use ALUM in the rinse water after dying the reed The dyed reed will
not run. Alum can be purchased at the pharmacy, or look in the spice
area of the grocery store. I personally have not tried this yet, but
I will very soon, so I'll let you know how it works. If anyone else
has tried it, please let us know.
Caring for your
baskets: You have spent much time and effort on your baskets, so don't
let the care end when the rim is lashed. Your baskets should have
a shower once a year at least. The best time to do this is during
the summer months. Hold the basket under the shower to rinse off the
dust, dirt, etc. that has collected , then hang the basket outside
to dry. A little sun won't hurt it, but just a little, especially
if it has dyed reed in it. Move it to the shade to let it air out.
The sun will fade any dyed reed. If your basket seems very dry, dip
it into a mixture of 1 tablespoon of glycerin to a bucket of warm
water, then hang to dry. This will help to keep the basket flexible.
You must air
dry damp / wet reed before storing in any kind of a container, including
paper bags. If you put away wet reed, it will mold and grow "hair"
or mildew.
If you have moldy
or mildewed reed, it can be salvaged. Let it dry out thoroughly. If
it is real bad, try soaking in bleach water, but keep in mind this
will dry out the natural oils in the reed. If it's not too bad, try
spot cleaning it with a Q-tip dipped in a watered down bleach solution.
OR dye the bad reed using a dark color. I have dyed moldy reed before,
sometimes the mold spots show through the dye, but will look "aged".
This can work for some baskets. Use your own judgment on whether or
not to try to save the damaged reed or to just toss it out.
When rewetting
dyed reed before weaving into your basket, add a handful of salt,
or a cup of vinegar to the the COLD water. Then pull the dyed reed
through a dry paper towel to absorb excess water. This will help keep
the colors from running.
"Children
are the anchors that hold a mother to life." Sophocles
Take time to make this a wonderful sharing year. You will learn so
much from your children, when you take the time to share your knowledge
with them. So, teach them to weave a basket, paint a bird, bake a
cake, smell a rose...
You know those
little round plastic 35mm film containers? I use them in my tool box
for small items like needles, tiny doll clothespins, end of the spool
wax linen thread, or whatever little things I need to carry and don’t
want to loose. A ball point pen will write on the top to label each
container.
When you open
a new bundle of reed, replace the manufacturer's tie at the gathered
end with a rubber band. This will hold all the ends securely in place,
but will easily release the pieces as you need them. Tighten rubber
band as needed. Always store reed in dry place.
To get that "old
look" on wood bases for baskets, or any piece of wood, stain
the wood first, then paint with an acrylic, doing one or two coats
as you desire. When completely dry, sand back the "wear"
areas, such as corners, setting area, or areas that would naturally
show wear. The stain under the paint makes the wood look older
