Basket Weaving 101

I love to create.  God does too - Isaiah 45:18 says "For this is what the LORD says-- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited-- he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other. " 

Yesterday and today I had the opportunity to fashion some baskets, joining a long, long tradition.  Wikipedia says basket weaving is one of the widest spread crafts in the history of any human civilization.  It is hard to say just how old the craft is because natural materials decay naturally and constantly... much of the history of basket making has been lost and is simply speculated upon.  There are many references to baskets in the bible, beginning in Genesis. I like the idea of being a part of that.

I have always known that I would make a basket some day.  Yesterday my friend Debbie showed me how.  The kits she got for Kari and I had a lot of extra pieces, so I shared them with my DIL (daughter-in-law) Reagan - I taught her while reinforcing the techniques in my own head.  I like the way it feels to bend and shape the softened reeds.  It made me wonder if that's how God feels when I begin to soften and bend to his will so he can shape me into something better.  

Reagan is holding the first set of baskets we made today - mine is on the left (her right) and hers is on the right (her left).   We were hoping they would fit in Reagan's shoe holder, but we made them too big.  We'll have to try again sometime.  So I gave mine to Brian.  It now holds some vanilla pipe tobacco and smells delicious. 

This is my third basket - from above.  I think I'll keep this one.

My third basket from below.

A side view of basket number 3. 

Clockwise from the left - my #2 (Brian's tobacco basket),  my #1 (Reagan's garden basket / housewarming present), Reagan's #1 (possibilities include mail, cards, fruit, etc.), my #3 (not sure of use yet) and Reagan #2 (a gift basket for a friend)

Reagan and I had a great time.  Norah fell asleep.