You can make a kudzu basket like the one made by Jimmie Dinkins! Learn what supplies you will need.
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Use things in that you find out-of-doors, maybe in your own backyard, to make natural dyes.
A Natural State - Making a Kudzu Basket |
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Natural State / Workshops | A Natural State
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When selecting wood for your project, consider native red cedar, oak or hickory for the long supports and cross pieces using the more pliable willow for the curving parts. Use vines to help fill in...
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For help in deciding the theme of the scene in your diorama: Look in your backyard. Is there a fallen tree, a stand of bushes or some tall trees? Do you sometimes see animals in your yard? Do you have...
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You can make a coiled clay pot! Follow the arrow for directions and to see what supplies you will need.
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Nancy Basket created this Carolina Wren using handmade, tinted papers. You can make a your own paper for cards and crafts! Click on the arrow to see what supplies you will need.
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Clay Burnette created this pine needle basket which he calls "Tribal". You can make a pine needle basket, too. Find out how to make a simple basket of your own.
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Learn how to use a backstrap loom to make a Natural Weaving using items in nature.
Natural State / Coastal Plain | A Natural State / Jimmie Dinkins
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Jimmie is a self-taught craftsman, who initially picked up the art of fashioning vines and branches into wreaths and baskets while caring for an ailing parent. He honed his art and moved into the...
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Jimmie’s upbringing fostered creativity and resourcefulness. His joy in his family history is palpable. In his world, nothing is wasted. Every simple thing is treasured for the value of its inherent...
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Jimmie’s upbringing fostered creativity and resourcefulness. His joy in his family history is palpable. In his world, nothing is wasted. Every simple thing is treasured for the value of its inherent...
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There are many definitions about what constitutes folk art. One definition by Sharon F. Patton states that a folk artist is one who is self-taught, usually makes art late in life which is tied to...
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Jimmie’s life is abundant with memories. Weaving the past into the present is a way of solidifying and unifying both. While he is an untrained artist, Jimmie understands and appreciates the very...
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Rustic furniture has been around for a very long time, often languishing in attics and barns in rural areas. Some fine examples of rustic furniture were a legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps...
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Jimmie Dinkins begins work on the side pieces. Wear sturdy work gloves when you are cleaning and flexing the branches. When using sharp tools such as pruning shears, exercise caution. Adult...
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f you don’t have access to an old picnic table like Jimmie is using in the video, make sure that you protect the surface of your work area with a large piece of scrap lumber or an old cutting board...
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Before beginning your project, look at your building materials. Try to locate nails that will work for the smaller joints as well as the larger joints. You may need to get more than one size...
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Your wood trellis will last a long time in the garden, but you can expect that it will weather a bit. You may have to add additional nails over time to further strengthen the structure of the trellis...
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Jimmie favors the old growth of the kudzu vine. He will plunge into the richness of a kudzu thicket armed with tall boots, pruning shears and a saw. He is well acquainted with dangers such as snakes...
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Remember to wear your work gloves when cleaning up the branches and vines. You can actually use willow for the spokes of your basket, and follow up with another type of vine, such as Virginia Creeper...
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What Jimmie is describing are standard weaving techniques. The first baskets were woven to collect fruits, nuts and grains. By making a basket, you are joining a long history of basket makers.
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By turning up the sides of the basket, you are creating a bowl shape. The higher you build the sides, the deeper the bowl, and more you can put into the bowl. If you don’t work the sides upwards, you...
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In this video, you can see just how tough these kudzu vines can be. If you are using other vining materials to build your basket, you will use the same techniques that Jimmie uses to add vines and...
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Don’t worry about small mistakes in your basket. They will just make your basket unique.
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To prolong the life of your basket and to give the basket a soft sheen, you may want to brush or spray the basket with a coat of wood sealant like you would use on a deck. If you choose to do this, do...