Painting Baskets, How to Paint Baskets

Baskets with painted surfaces are really more attractive than the idea seems. Painting is an especially good way to treat those woven of machine-cut ash splints or any of the commercial flat products that have no color or texture of their own left. The peasants of Norway and Sweden make some of the materials similar to our flats and paint them in strong colors - brilliant blue with great spots and dabs of red, yellow, and white, with a bright-yellow handle. The effect is cheerful and amusing, and makes the basket particularly appropriate for outdoor use or in a summer bungalow. Flat-drying automobile paints are sold in a variety of colors, and are ground fine enough to use on baskets. They may be had in paste form or ready mixed. The paste, being more concentrated, will take up less room in the supply-closet. All that is necessary is stirring in turpentine, a little at a time, as it is needed. The colors can be mixed to make others. If one color is to be applied over another in decoration, the first must be dry before the second is put on, or the two will mix on the basket surface, The safest way is to allow the paint to dry overnight before putting on a second coat or the finishing coat of varnish.

Only the person who has tried realizes the variety of beauty that can be got out of a few basket materials, a little dye or paint, and a little varnish.

Continue: How to Dye Rugs.