Book Notes #4: Cane, Rush and Willow; Making the New Baskets; Contemporary Wicker Basketry

[aswego]

• Cane, Rush and Willow, Hilary Burns (1998). An introduction to weaving with "natural" materials, this book presents a very helpful-looking and clearly illustrated introductory chapter on tools, materials (more extensive than the other two) and techniques, followed by quite an array of projects. Further chapters are on the topics of decorative weaving; shakers and lanterns; baskets (I was hoping for more of these); chair seating; outdoor structures; screens; suppliers and contributors; and the index. There are several gorgeous gallery pages for inspiration. Projects that particularly caught my eye were the decorative coils (wrap softened willow/cane around doweling in a spiral, let dry, remove the doweling); pyramid gods-eye shakers; egg and frame baskets; dip-dyed spiral plant support with beaded ends; and the gothic screen. The projects are varied in functionality, with a few examples of each area.
  
  
• Making the New Baskets, Jane LaFerla (1999). This book likewise begins with a section on materials, tools and techniques, this one briefer, but moves right into projects made out of speaker wire, copper and aluminum, polymer clay and telephone wire, ribbons, newspaper, film, and basically anything that's not "natural" by the previous book's definition and then some. There are instructions interspersed between the projects, too. Those projects tend toward the funky, and often combine non-traditional materials with traditional shapes, or vice versa. I liked pretty much anything to do with paper or wire that was remotely practical, but especially the miniature wire baskets and 'sea urchins.' Others are attractive but impractical for my purposes: the wreath-rimmed bowl of linen netting, given body by Spanish moss, and the dyed, hollowed gourd with its base and rim of black thorns. In general, paper and plastic sheeting are listed as substitutes for rush techniques, while wire and thin plastic tubing are for round reed techniques. The book recommends asking whether the material is rigid enough to act as a stake/spoke/rib or should it be a waver instead, whether it has enough body (its degree of internal strength) or too much, whether it's a flat or more textured surface, whether it's a material that can be easily cut for weavers of equal width as needed, whether it will easily adapt to the sought-after shape if used for coiling. These projects vary more in styling than in functionality.
  
  
• Contemporary Wicker Basketry, Flo Hoppe (1996). The comprehensive basketry book I was waiting for! In addition to the basics, it focuses in turn on weaving techniques, bases, borders, lids, handles, color, projects, and design. I get the sense that I could mix and match with some success. Unlike the first two books, the illustrations and photos are primarily in black and white, except for the information on color designs, the examples for individual projects, and the gallery. There are more 'in progress' photos with actual hands moving materials around, so it gives a good sense of what's going on. Also, each project begins with a list of techniques used in addition to materials and the like, which is extremely helpful. With the book's comparatively limited focus comes intriguing depth.