Basket 12: Lots of good failure

This recent foray into color combined with a new weaving style was a huge challenge. I spent a lot of time frustrated, and not very happy. But the end result is rather pleasing. And certainly what was learned through the process was worth the frustration. It seems to me that I must learn to temper the frustration and, honestly, some of the anger that came along with it. I fell back into old patterns and desires of wanting things to work perfectly the first time. It is important to remember that the first six times are failures, experiments, and opportunities to learn. Perhaps with the seventh some 'aha' actually arises. The question is, and always has been, how much anxiety do I waste in those first six iterations? How much time? How much mental energy is wasted in frustration? Understand the experiment for what it is. And move forward through that. 

The first struggle was getting the weave of the base right. I had no written pattern, only the other basket to learn from. It often felt like I knew what was going on but then a mis-weave would appear. The next struggle was in getting the uprights to turn up. You see, the first 2-3 rows on many baskets is like corralling octopi. I need to trust that the basket will form...to relax and work with the basket. And practice. I am sure my form making skills will improve.  Trust and faith...odd that that must be added to the skills involved in crafting. Some trust and faith in the making process. Work toward the vision.

oh, and the basket...it's pink. This was done as an attempt to learn from a basket by Carolyn Kemp. One that I purchased for my daughter at her request. The 2over 1under pattern is new to me