Tis the season to be busy!

An open house will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Lessons from the Art. The music, dance and art academy is located at 189 N. Main St. in Iola. I will have for sale some of my baskets and candles. Stop in and check it out. Also on Saturday, Nov. 13 I will be at the Hortonville High School Craft Show from 9am - 3pm. Despite what they are predicting for weather make sure to get out and do some Christmas shopping. Hope to see you there.

Contest

Go on our web site (www.countrysidebasketry.com) and guess the item that we are giving away! Post it on our Facebook web site at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Countryside-Basketry/364828503931?v=wall

It could be any product listed on the site... each person gets one guess... the person who guesses correctly wins! Contest ends on Tuesday at 9 p.m. CST -- so guess away! Good luck!

New Addition!

You will have to check it out. I added some delicious smelling candles to my basket line. Check it out at: http://www.countrysidebasketry.com/candles.html It's that time of year to start thinking about Christmas shopping only 57 more days! Have a co-worker your just not sure what to buy for them check out the Reindeer Poo! Starting to plan for my November shows check out my show page at http://www.countrysidebasketry.com/events.html

Sad Time Of My Life

It has been a while since I have posted. I have lost a very special lady in my life My Mom. She was so special to me, we talked or saw each other everyday. I counted one day to see how many times she would call me - six in one day! My mom loved my baskets, she would always show me different ones to make. When she was first married she told me how there were basket parties she would attend. I did see the other day her picnic basket. She will be forever in my heart. I Love You Mom.

Fall is in the Air!

It has been a long time since I last posted. Getting ready for the Fall Season! Something new and exciting is coming to Countryside Basketry. We will keep you posted.

Are you a facebook friend of Countryside Basketry. We are having a contest! All you have to do is post your favorite thing about Fall (from now until Saturday at 11:59 p.m. CST) for a chance to win our popular Pumpkin Wall Basket! Only one post per person. Winner will be randomly choosen. Thanks for becoming a friend on facebook!

Fall is in the Air!

It has been a long time since I last posted. Getting ready for the Fall Season! Something new and exciting is coming to Countryside Basketry. We will keep you posted.

Are you a facebook friend of Countryside Basketry. We are having a contest! All you have to do is post your favorite thing about Fall (from now until Saturday at 11:59 p.m. CST) for a chance to win our popular Pumpkin Wall Basket! Only one post per person. Winner will be randomly choosen. Thanks for becoming a friend on facebook!

Manitowish Waters Craft Show

Friday, August 6 headed up north to Manitowish Waters. It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine.
At times you get a little addicted to certain baskets, especially when they sell I always state this is my favorite basket. My large storage basket to the right of the photo sold. It found a nice home. My smelly jellies were a big hit especially Monkey Farts, sold out right away.

Have you ever had this feeling driving and thinking I have been here before. When I was a little girl my parents owned a cabin on Van Vliet lake, all of a sudden there was the road! I recall my dad saying go down the road take a P. Meaning take Hwy. P! There it was, I remember always thinking why our last name was not on the little white signs with the arrow. Things sure look different when your a kid, everything now looks so small, even the lake!

New Product Added - Countryside Smelly Jelly

Something new has come to Countryside Basketry. Smelly Jelly is the Air Freshener that everyone's talking about! They can be refreshed over and over. Use them in your car, your home, your office. Anywhere you don't want a flame of a candle but would like the scent. Smelly Jelly is the ultimate Air Freshener. Only $5.00, a variety of scents to choose from.
Check it out at: http://www.countrysidebasketry.com/air%20freshners.html
Countryside Smelly Jellies are not edible and keep out of reach of children.

Northwood's Vacation

Had a wonderful vacation in the Northwood's of Wisconsin with my family. Had good quality time, did lots of fishing and relaxing. We rented a cottage for a week on the lake.
Methodist Church in Iola had Vacation Bible School, they had ask if I would teach a basket class. All the kids did really well!
Getting ready to go to Manitowish Waters for Dillinger Days - August 6. Hope to see you there.

* * * * * * * * * Christmas In July * * * * * * * * *

On Thursday I celebrated Christmas in July with the folks in St. Germain Wisconsin. It was an awesome summer day for a craft show and of course the rain stayed away so everyone was out and about. Seems like St. Germain is the place to go for vacationing. Everyone was renting a cottage! I had a drawing for a free basket - Heather from Marshfield won. The basket that got the most attention was the WIRE WALL for only $12.00. I had some with handpainted snowmen, trees, daisies and ect. Everyone was buying for Christmas gifts! Seems a lot were going to fill with sweet treats!Check out my SCHEDULE OF SHOWS! Just think you could win a FREE basket.

Art & Craft Shows

Sunday I was a vendor at Randy & Carolyn Rosenberger's Art & Garden Walk. What a beautiful day. The day started out where it looked like it was going to rain, but Randy had done his rain dance and it stayed away! My husband had called in the morning stating it was sad that it was raining out - I said not here the sun is shining. We only live 2 miles away! We will never be able to figure out the weather. Greg from Iola won a Cabin Boy for the door prize drawing. Congratulations! My next show I am heading up north to Saint Germain Wisconsin. Thursday July 8 9am - 3pm. Christmas in July Craft Fair at the Community Park. I heard that Santa is going to attend and there is a pet parade! How exciting, hope to see some of my fans there. You never know when I will be giving away a FREE basket!

Winner

And the winner of our 4th of July Contest is Robyn from Minnesota! Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated; we loved reading what you love about the 4th!! I'm excited for fireworks and grilling some brats on the grill. :) If you want to participate in our drawings for Free Baskets find us on Facebook. We would be happy to have you as a fan.

Don't forget about this Sunday June 27, 2010 FREE Garden Walk and Art Show from 9am to 5 pm at Randy and Carolyn Rosenberger's residence, N8074 Hatch Lake Road, near Iola. Each year the gardens have expanded, as has the art show, which now includes 12 artisans, several of whom will be demonstrating their talents. I will be there with my baskets.

Special - purchase the Liberty Basket for only $15.00. Limited time only.

Back in Wisconsin!

After driving 10 hours and 560 miles I am back in Iola Wisconsin. I was in Santa Claus Indiana visiting my oldest daughters family. We had some great family time together. We went to the Louisville Zoo, Holiday World Amusement Park, Lincoln State Park, Patoka Lake boating and saw the Shrek movie in 3D. Plus I saw my grandaughter graduate from Pre-school - how cute they had gowns and the whole works! Oh and it was her 5th birthday! Went to my grandsons school to help with his last day of school picnic. We were in charge of the tug of war game, those kids sure have a lot of muscle going on! When I arrived home I had some beautiful flowers growing, what a difference 2 weeks makes.Speaking of flowers I will be at Rosenbergers Art Studio in Iola, Wisconsin on June 27th. They will be hosting a Garden and Art walk, make sure to check it out.

Art Show

May 16th I traveled to Kaukauna to the 28th Annual Nature's Images Fine Arts Fair. What a beautiful day. 1000 Island Nature Center is beautiful. We were by the water and plenty of wonderful artist. I held a drawing at my booth for a $20.00 gift certificate to my web site. Shirley from Kaukauna won. Congratulations Shirley! Met a lot of people from all over the state. I always enjoy watching the customers comment on my basket and pick out that special basket. Customers will ofter ask what do you use this one for. Others will say I have so many baskets, I don't think I can fit another in my home.

One question I alway get ask is if I do basket weaving classes. At this moment no I do not, but it is looking like we might have an Art Academy in Iola. That would be awesome! Will keep you posted.

Enjoy the beautiful weather, time to get some planting done in the garden.

Happy Spring!

We must be getting our April showers in May!
I attended Spencer Lake Christian Center on Monday evening. What a beautiful facility! The Waupaca Women's Christian Group had a fabulous program. There were about 8 booths for shopping the evening away, food, entertainment. Star Patterson was the guest speaker. Her topic was Stress. I think everyone is under a lot of stress these days. I recall when I was working full time the rush to get to work, the rush to get all those jobs completed then trying to be good to the boss. Coming home in the evening and being exhausted. With my new job I do not have an alarm clock! Friday afternoons are now FUN Fridays! Star gave us lots of pointers. I love this saying: Say yes to the best. . . and no to the rest! Here's another You don't have to be perfect to be wonderful. Two baskets were to be raffled off, two wonderful ladies from Waupaca Wisconsin won. I hope they enjoy them as much as I enjoyed weaving the baskets.

Don't miss the 28th Annual Nature's Images Fine Arts Fair in Kaukauna. I will be there with my baskets from 10 am to 4:30 pm Sunday, May 26. Register at my booth and you can win a Free Basket.

Women's Expo

Hey Ladies if you not doing anything Monday, May 10, 2010 come and check out Ladies Night Out at Spencer Lake Christian Center in Waupaca. You can watch art and craft demonstrations, and purchase that perfect piece of art. I will be there demonstrating basket weaving. It all starts at 4:00. Cost is $11.50 includes dinner, tax, tip, program and free offsite nursery. Sounds like an awesome evening. E-mail me for more information.

Congratulations! Sarah Lutz Torres she was the winner of our basket. Watch for more contest to come.

Craft Show

Saturday I was in West Bend, Wisconsin for a Craft Show. It was held at the fair grounds. What a beautiful facility. There were two buildings filled with art and crafts. The attendance was over 2,000 customers! If you attended the show you were for sure to find something of interest.
Thanks to everyone who entered my contest on facebook. Sarah was the lucky winner.
My week was interesting, my computer is all fixed. Over 3 hours on the phone trying to explain to someone in India what was wrong with it. Received my sewing machine back from repairs, all set to do some sewing.
Have a wonderful week, it is suppose to be beautiful out!

Happy Easter

It sure was a beautiful day for Easter, the weather was just perfect. Hope everyone got what they wanted in there Easter Baskets.
This week I am getting ready for my craft show in West Bend. Will have my applique towels there.
I am hoping I get my sewing machine back this week from the hospital, sure do miss it.
Make sure you check out Countryside Basketry on facebook, you could win a free basket.

Applique Towels

It was wonderful having the family around for 7 days. We all had a great time, played some baseball, made lefse, played bingo and made a lot of memories.

New to Countryside Basketry - applique towels. I purchased over 72 towels to applique. That's gonna be a lot of sewing! Cricut will come in handy for the cut outs. At the moment my embroidery sewing machine is in the hospital. All towels will have some embroidery on them. Will have to watch my web site for the new towels to be posted.

Going to enjoy the beautiful weather that is coming our way in the next couple days.

Embroidery

I just finished my sweatshirt project. Embroidery! I figured time to loose the winter coat and jazz up a sweatshirt. What a better way to advertise my web site http://www.CountrysideBasketry.com.

Just purchased a Cricut machine from my daughter. Those creative juices are just flowing of what I can do with it incorporating it into my baskets. Wait and see what happens next.

Spring break for kids in Indiana next week, grandkids and family visiting for the week. Have to get the oven going for some homemade Chocolate Chip cookies and load up the Cookie Jar Basket.

Two Friends Healing Art Show

I just attended Two Friends Healing Art Show in Green Lake on Saturday. I met some very good artist at the show.
One of my neighbors was Juli Garton she made some very unique handbags out of LP albums. If you get the chance check out her web site at http://www.carrythelook.blogspot.com/. Juli is a very talented lady with a great personality.
Shelia Howe was another neighbor from the Madison area. Wow this girl has talent. She does Tarot Readings, I was a little chicken to get that done. She has done some very interesting artistic things with Barbie dolls (my favorite) Check out her web site at http://www.sassmama.com/ she has some beautiful jewelry. Very inspiring.
Very nice show, attendance could have been better. A show where it was all quality - the judges did an excellent job at selecting the right artist.
The big hit at my basketry booth was my Easter basket fill with eggs and candy. If you purchased a basket you could win a free basket by picking an egg. Sorry to say, ladies the free basket was in the green egg, everyone kept picking the pink eggs! I wonder if that is a sign that Spring is on its way.

Need A Gift Idea?

Try giving a personlized basket. When putting items in your basket of choice, wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon to give gifts a homemade touch. The possibilities are endless. Here are a few ideas to get started. Easter and Mother's Day are coming up.
Beauty Queen: perfume; lip balm; special shampoo; hand cream; nail polish and file; bath oill; aromatic candle; bubble bath and scented soaps. Your mom needs to be treated like a Queen. You can use the Lora's basket for a special small basket.