Daffodil Basket
Martha makes a daffodil basket.
- Comments()
Martha Stewart Living, Volume 149 April 2006
Set inside a rustic boat-shaped birch basket, this cheerful yellow hilltop vista is a breath of fresh air. You can practically hear the chicks peeping and feel the warm sunshine on your face. We contoured the moss and the soil below it (both are inside a plastic liner) to effect a more realistic look, and we planted the daffodils ('Small Talk' and 'Tete-a-Tete') individually, rather than in clumps, to make the flowers appear as if they are growing naturally.
Tips
Varying the posture of the chicks' legs will give them slightly different personalities. Planting the bulbs individually rather than in clumps will give them the appearance that they are growing naturally.
Making Chicks
1. You will need a 1 1/8-inch pom-pom maker from a crafts store and yellow yarn (this is a thin mohair, but we used various thicknesses for different piles). Wrap yarn around two of the kit's plastic pieces placed back to back, until the middle is filled with yarn. [See image 2 above.] Repeat with the other two plastic pieces. Hook the two sides into each other to make a yarn 'wreath.' Cut around sides of the wreath. Use yellow twine to tie yarn in the middle. Remove plastic pieces to reveal pom-pom. Trim again to make pom-pom round. To make a smaller pom-pom for the head, use less yarn or trim down a large pom-pom. Sew pom-poms through centers with yellow thread to connect the head to the body.
2. Trim the nap from orange pipe cleaners to create legs. Cut two 2 1/2-inch pieces, and bend them in the middle for 'knees.' [See image 3 above.] Notch at the bottom, as shown. Bend a 3/4-inch piece into a V, dab white glue on outside corner, and cinch inside notch to create feet. Put a dab of glue on the top of the legs, and push into pom-pom so that chick will be able to stand; adjust position of legs, and allow glue to dry with chick standing up. Cut two small triangles of felt for the beak, and adhere with dabs of glue. Thread a needle with black embroidery thread, and tie a knot at the end. Insert needle where eye would be, and push through head, leaving knot flush with pom-pom surface; knot and trim other end for second eye.
Planting a Basket
1. Place a plastic liner inside a basket and fill it with soil so it is mounded in spots, like a hilly field.
2. Turn daffodils out of their plastic pots, and plant in soil; for a more natural look, carefully tease apart daffodils before planting.
3. Place cushion moss on top. Plant additional daffodils between the moss seams and into the soil to fill in bare spots. [See image 4 above.]
4. Place pom-pom chicks on top. Set the basket in a sunny location, and water frequently so it will last for several weeks.
Could you please tell me what page the pom pom chicks were on in the April magazine?
You can make pom poms with 2 round circles of thin cardboard with a [filtered word] cut in the middle wind on the wool until there is no more space. Then on the outer edge which should now be fat cut through in between the two pieces of cardboard, once cut all around, thread a length of wool between 2 pieces of cardboard and pull tight and knot several times remove the cardboard and then trim to shape, if needed. Use differant sized circles for differant sized Pom poms.
Good Luck
Ina
You can make pom poms with 2 round circles of thin cardboard with a [filtered word] cut in the middle wind on the wool until there is no more space. Then on the outer edge which should now be fat cut through in between the two pieces of cardboard, once cut all around, thread a length of wool between 2 pieces of cardboard and pull tight and knot several times remove the cardboard and then trim to shape, if needed. Use differant sized circles for differant sized Pom poms.
Good Luck
Ina
Michaels has a couple different pom pom makers. They are located by the crochet hooks.
terrie
I bought 2 different sizes of pom-pom makers at Hobby Lobby. I think they are made by Clover.
Does anyone know where to find this type of pom pom maker?
I first made this arrangement in 2006. I made two baskets, one with daffodils and one with hyacinths. I brought them to work and both employees and visitors gave rave reviews! While I re-used baskets I had around the house and store bought chicks, this craft is easy to do. When the season passed, I planted the bulbs in the garden for future growth.
Love the way this looks! I got my daffodils(they were hard to find), some Irish moss (nobody in town had cushion moss), a basket, some ivy I might add to it because the basket is kind of big and it might look pretty, and I gave up and cheated because I got tired of looking for materials and bought the adorable 6 pack of chenille chicks from Michaels craft store in pink. Can't wait to finish the project!
Love the way this looks! I got my daffodils(they were hard to find), some Irish moss (nobody in town had cushion moss), a basket, some ivy I might add to it because the basket is kind of big and it might look pretty, and I gave up and cheated because I got tired of looking for materials and bought the adorable 6 pack of chenille chicks from Michaels craft store in pink. Can't wait to finish the project!
I love this idea. I am going to do this with my nephews to decorate their 'egg hunt' baskets. They will love it!
Hi loki5, You're right, this basket is no longer available from this vendor. Fortunately, this project looks absolutely beautiful with many different kinds of baskets. We suggest looking for a style that suits your decor in your local craft store.
Hi everyone! If you don't want to make the chicks - there are some cute chenille chicks at Michaels 6 for $1.99. You can't beat that price and it saves time.
I checked with the supplier listed for the basket and it is no longer availalbe. They said it has not been available for a couple of years. So, now i try to make one...
I love this idea and fully intend to make it. Uh, the problem is that with the shopping list just having come out I can see how it will tae much longer for me to complete this than I'd planned. I'm not sure how long it will take supplies I mail order to arrive and I live in the middle of nowhere so I will have to mail order just about everything. It would have been nice if they could have published the shopping list at least two weeks ahead and possibly 4 weeks ahead. T
The basket with the chicks is a great idea - have the PERFECT CHAIR at my front door to show off my crafty skills and to WELCOME SPRING...
Love the little chicks--making them with my granddaughter--thanks for a cute pattern. grandmagwen
Click on the Shopping List and it gives the source for the basket:-)
Very cute! Would like to have sources to purchase some of the
supplies... and If I don't want to forinstance, make the chicks, can I
buy and just make the basket??
Love it! P. Sullivan