I’ve been having a great time the last week or so, harvesting and processing oat and barley straw for weaving bee skeps (bee hives).
Luckily I have gathered quite a bit for this season, as the farmer is about ready to cut and combine all the grain.
'bee skeps'
Harvesting Straw for Bee Skeps
September 12th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog
Labor Day Weekend Vacation
September 5th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog
This weekend my granddaughter Lily (featured in the YouTube video in the last post), and her parents are up here in northern Minnesota at their family cabin on Lake Vermilion.
They will all be coming over here soon and I might even be able to get them to help me harvest more barley and oat straw for those bee skeps I posted about before!
Here’s Joe taking off the seed heads on the oats in 2007.
Here’s some more pictures of the last time they were up when Lily helped me gather willow. She is sooooo into weaving–wait until I post the ones of her helping me weave onion and garlic baskets.
Bee Skep Class at The Wicker Woman Shop
September 4th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog
Here is Rhonda Amundson at The Wicker Woman shop in August taking a bee skep class. This one was made from rye straw. We had fun and didn’t she do a great job?
Quiet, rainy, basketweaving day!
August 16th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog
It’s raining again today and the wind has been kicking up rather strongly, but every so often some rays of sunshine stream down, making for a very beautiful tableau. Wonder if we’ll be fortunate enough to see a rainbow soon?
Thinking about doing laundry in Cook, which is about 10 miles away to the north and then going over to the artesian well to get some more drinking water, which is about 10 miles to the south of us. Need a break from Bee Skep weaving and doing chair caning for a customer.
Would like to also go cut some wheat and barley for making more skeps, but since it’s just been raining the fields will be pretty soupy and wet. Sitting here listening to Classical Minnesota Public Radio is soooo relaxing and peaceful. Maybe, just maybe I will put everything off until tomorrow and work on my website instead! Until tomorrow, then!
Bee Skep & Antler Baskets
August 11th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog
Just got back a few days ago from Nelsonville, OH where we held the 2nd Annual Gathering of The SeatWeavers’ Guild. What a great event, fun and learning for all involved!
Now that I’m home, I have a student coming to the studio today and tomorrow for private basketweaving instruction on making bee skeps and antler baskets! Will post again soon with some pictures of her progress.
