From Sheri's Studio . . . .  

"School waits for no one!" This old quote seems to make the arrival of a new school year evident. School starts again before Labor Day, but looking back our summer was not the warmest one, yet still a change of pace is quite enjoyable. Boat outings and trips were fun and our children still enjoy jumping into Lake Michigan to cool off and swim.

This Issue will have you enjoying the Bounty of the Fall Season. I really was carried away with this Issue, which is full of new and fun techniques. Even if you are not creating these projects right away, please read the patterns to pick up some new tips.

My "Fall Foliage" gives an earthly flavor with the use of smoked reed and binder cane. Vine rattan and mini grapevine accent the unique woven base. This open weave bottom would be fun using dyed reed too!

"Turkey in the Straw" by Sandy De Jong starts out with a shelf fungus into which the turkey’s tail is woven with dyed reed, raffia, and wax linen. A gourd is painted for the head complete with waddle and comb. Add to your Thanksgiving festivities!

Design a "Fall Gourd" like my High School Art students have created. This fun project uses a larger dried gourd and leaves drawn out either with an Ultra Sharpie fine marker or a wood burner. Then the fun continues by adding Crayola washable markers.

My "Fall Flight" is a wonderful twill weave using fall colors of variegated or space dyed reed; yet any color combination can be woven. Twill base, twill sides and then flat oval are added for a contrast that reminds me of the ducks-flying south for the winter in formation. Dyed leather leaves can be added for an autumn feeling.

This summer on our boat trip north, I finally met Sally Durkee who traveled on her boat across Lake Michigan to the same port. I was delighted to meet her and see all her pottery designs that she had "stowed" aboard her boat. Her "Pottery Bowl", round and oval discs and unique "Cut-Out Leaves" make great projects coiling long pine needles with raffia or sinew using the wheat stitch. If you haven’t tried this style of basketry, here is a great introduction or addition using natural materials.

The "Quilted Basket" by Marilyn Wald completes her series featuring a hand painted lid. This 4^th design is a large sturdy basket with a wrapped handle, plus a neat play of color in the middle. The lid features a beautiful painted basket, which look like quilt blocks complete with stitching lines.

"Becka’s Tote" also designed by Marilyn Wald is a large carrier with a solid woven bottom. The sides become stronger while using 2 weavers on top of each other creating a play on color. Several fabric liners are also available with a ribbon drawstring. (This is quickly becoming a favorite scrapbook tote holding my mini cutter, stickers, and pens for my other favorite pastime-scrap booking. The liner keeps everything from falling out.)

This Fall Collection of baskets will definitely welcome in the cooler season as the leaves turn into a spectacular blaze. Enjoy a color tour and don’t forget to weave along the way!

Happy Fall! Happy Weaving!