Baskets and auctions!

 A couple of weeks ago David and I attended an auction that had lots of old stuff, primitives, antiques, etc.  It had rained the night prior and they had set everything out, so any time they picked up a dish or bucket or crock, they dumped a bunch of water out of it.  There was a LOT of neat old stuff.  Of interest to me was a harvest basket.  It was old but still in really good condition.  I have made a couple like it in the past.  Supposedly, there was some "name" fame attached to it, but it wasn't signed or dated.  My jaw dropped when it sold for $225.  I decided it was time to go home and save money, dig out my basket supplies (which were now all neatly labeled and organized) and get to work.  

Basket #1

When there are so many supplies and patterns to choose from, it can be overwhelming just getting started.  I settled on this round wood base sampler basket.  I have made this before and have had several 4-H kiddos do it as well.  Sarah recognized the pattern instantly.  I think she may even have one.

Basket #2

A big basket with a large round wooden base.  This pattern, called toy basket, was new to me, but I loved it.  Of course I changed it up a little and added the thin walnut strips as accent.  (Princess Leia volunteered to pose with each photo to provide some size scale.)  Apparently I was on a wood base kick.  This was the largest round one I had, so it was nice to use it and get it out of the stash.

Baskets 1 & 2 were woven on different days a couple of days apart.

Basket #3

Bread Basket - another new to me pattern but still on a wood base.  This base was oval shaped.  Of course I changed it up as well and used some variegated reed called royal oak.  It had blues and violets and neutrals in it.  I love this one.

Basket #4

I guess you'd call this a pie basket.  This was a base/handle set that was taking up lots of space, so it was nice to use it.  I pretty much had to design my own pattern for this one.  For accent, I used cranberry reed and cane.  

#'s 3 & 4 were both done in the same day.  (When you are a harvest widow and don't have to stop to cook meals, you get more done!)

So, I am going to admit that #'s 2 & 3 are my favorites.  And I will admit that my hands and arms were really sore after doing so much weaving.  These were finished on Friday, just had to be stained.  So on Saturday I went to an auction.  You may remember David's "craft" project from this summer.........

Well, he's been looking for more old propane tanks ever since.  I had seen an auction north of Warrensburg that showed 4 in one photo and 2 large ones in another.  He gave me a limit on what to spend for them and I headed out.

I got there just prior to the start of the sale.  After looking around, I didn't see the big ones anywhere, but there were 5 of the smaller ones on one of the wagons.  This was a sale of mostly tools, lumber, basically "guy" stuff.  There was just a little furniture that sold first.  I have to say it was an interesting crowd, not my normal group of people.  Things were going really cheap and slow to sell.  The only facilities were part of the auctioneer trailer and did offer toilet paper (which I had questioned based on the make up of the crowed and auction company) but no water or soap for washing.  When I pulled hand sanitizer out of my purse, I sensed I was being looked at as something of a curiosity.  There was plenty of shade and some chairs to sit in so it wasn't too bad.  Just when it looked like "my" wagon was next, they took a sudden detour and sold the tractor, pickup, and other equipment and then diverted around to the back for some stuff and then into the building for tons more tools and some lumber.  It was well past lunchtime, but the food stand was sketchy.  When I say stand, it was more of a folding table, grill, and coolers on the ground.  I went to order a cheeseburger, but the helper was too busy running her mouth to take my order.  As she was complaining about her ex keeping a thousand dollar wheelchair and with the restraining order against her, she couldn't go get it, I just backed away and decided I wasn't that hungry.  I found a nice shady space on the empty wagon next to "my" wagon of stuff and pulled out my phone to read a book for awhile.  

They finally got around to my wagon and some of the men (it was mostly men) had pulled all of the propane tanks off the wagon and lined them up on the ground.  They told the auctioneer that 3 of them were full and asked him to sell the tanks first.  Now, all day long, they had been selling choice - take one or as many as you want at that price - and people would bid (I'm talking less than $5) and take one thing and then make them go around again and bid again.  No wonder it was taking so long.  Well, I stood my ground with all these big guys and I outbid them (still $6 under David's limit) and when they asked me which one I wanted I said, "I'll take all 5."  Jaws hit the ground, but the auctioneer moved right on to the next thing.  I knew I wasn't too popular, so I just grabbed the 2 empty ones and headed to my car with them.  I pulled it up closer and loaded the 3 full ones and then went to the cashier and paid and left.  I wasn't paying until I had my stuff in my car.  Several people had bought stuff during the day that mysteriously disappeared before they got ready to load.  I wasn't paying for anything I didn't put in my car.

So here are the spoils from the auction.  We're going to have to do some major grilling to use up all this propane.  Sarah mentioned that she could use a spare tank at her house, so we'll probably give one to her.  Stay tuned to see what David does with the others!

Christi