The Herald Times newspaper did a feature story on Me and Bonnie Baskets! Barry and our little dog, Phoebe made an appearance too!
You can read the article here.
By the Sea with Bonnie Baskets
Bonnie loves the ocean beach and Barry loves sea shells. A perfect match!
New Soft Pottery
Come and see these new designs and more at one of the upcoming arts and crafts shows.
Fall Shows – Fall Colors – New Designs
Today is Labor Day and time to finish up some new baskets and start some new ones. Our first show of the season is behind us now and it was a good start. Whiteland High School was a new location for us and the Hoosier Handmade Craft Market was full of the expected wonderfully friendly customers and fellow artisan vendors.
Our next show will be A Fair of the Arts in Bloomington, Indiana on Saturday, September 14th as part of the Farmer’s Market. We will also be at the one on October 12th.
We are anxiously awaiting to hear back with approvals on a couple of others that will fill in our schedule for the year. Hope to have good news for you soon!
We have been working with fall colors and jute but we have some new sources of colored rope which are exciting any time of year.
The chill in the air finally started today so we are ready to get back to the “show business”. Hope to see you at one of upcoming shows!
Ready for the Fall Show Schedule
Bonnie has been making baskets all summer to get ready for the fall show season. She has expanded her line of Soft Pottery to compliment her collection of fan favorite baskets. Look at her Show Schedule.
“Expanding Our Line”
In a previous blog post I introduced some of new “Soft Pottery” designs. Expanding that idea a little more, one day recently I felt the urge to Go Big!
It took a few days to complete this one but the results have been quite pleasing. This is designed to be a floor or hearth piece standing at 9″ tall with a 12″ diameter. You can use it for whatever you want, so we gave a stiffening/hardening treatment and sprayed it with fabric protection. It is fairly strong and durable for $150.
Let me know what you think here.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers have always been popular in Bonnie Baskets. I am already getting some requests for sunflowers in anticipation of our late summer and fall arts and craft festivals. Here is a sample of what I have prepared for now. There may be more to come … I don’t know.
A Relaxing Day – $35
Sunny Straw – $35
Sunny Cuties – $30
Sunflower Splash – $65
Sunflower Soother – $25
Solitaire Sunflower – $35
Fun Fall Fields – $45
A Dress for September – $30
Pail of Sunshine – $35
Sunflower Halo – $40
Yellow Sunrises – $40
Our first public display of these will be August 24, 2024 at the Hoosier Handmade Craft Fair & Market in Whiteland, Indiana. If you see anything you want to have sooner – just let me know.
Carolina Shaggy
This one is an homage to the Carolinas, among our favorite places to travel.
The rope at the top is from The Mountain Thread Company located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. A couple of years back, we stopped by there to stock up on their high quality all cotton rope made locally. We really wanted some rope but also wanted to personally meet Katherine Lile, the owner.
The sea shell is one of many Barry found at the beach during a recent visit to Edisto Island, South Carolina.
While staying at Edisto Island, we took a day and went fabric hunting at quilt shops nearby on Hilton Head Island. The fabric on the bottom features a sea turtle from a custom batik print that the shop, Island Quilters, designed. The shop owner, Beth Hanlon-Ridder commissioned a basket to be made using their fabric. Bonnie ended up making two baskets for her but we still had a little fabric left over to make this one. The colors of this fabric reflect the colors of the old rustic relics of shells you find on the beaches around there.
With a nod to the music scene there and a dance they call “The Shag”, we named this one “Carolina Shaggy”. Interested, $70 SOLD.
Butterflies in the Kitchen
“Butterflies in the Kitchen” was inspired by an old mixing bowl that sits atop a bookcase in my sewing room/studio.
I’ve had this bowl for over 50 years and an old college housemate used to make her “Claw the Oven Door Dill Bread” in it. So many great memories, smells, tastes, and good times! I love that bowl.
This fits right in with my our new soft pottery collection and I am sure there will be more along the line with this design.
“Butterflies in the Kitchen” takes me to my happy place but it can be yours. $60 plus shipping if needed. If you want it let me know.
Nine Lives
Almost every basket I make takes on a life of its own after I start. This one set a new record of starts and restarts, ripping out stitches, flipping the basket inside out and back again, two different machines, and being very close to cutting the cord and throwing the base in the trash. All of this to achieve another new look that has yet to happen but resulted in this crafty one.
Each basket kind of creates itself in its own way, and this one easily named itself “Nine Lives”. Topped with jute and a pipa knot at $65 SOLD you can add a little Boho Chic to your life. Questions or comments?