Red Fabric Baskets

These are coiled fabric baskets or bowls which I have sewn using strips of recycled women’s clothing over a jute rope core.

Each can be used as a beautiful home decor piece for storing just about anything (other than liquids!).

But I have particularly designed these baskets to be purchased as Menses Rite of Passage Gift containers or First Blood Ritual Gifts.

Menarche rite of passage or first menses ceremony is when a girl gets her first period.  As an artist I want to support the empowering and honouring of women by creating coming of age ritual gifts (stay tuned for menopause baskets). Using a ceremonial rite-of-passage empowes a girl’s sense of feminine self-esteem, as well as provides a context for her family and friends to offer wisdom, support and intentional blessing. This can be done one-on-one with mother and daughter or any type of gathering designed particularly with that girl in mind.

Here are some books for finding menarche celebrations:
Becoming Peers: Mentoring Girls into Womanhood by DeAnna Lam
I Am A Woman By Rite by Nancy Brady Cunningham
Life Cycle Celebrations for Women by Marge Sears
Bringing Home the Light: A Jewish Woman’s Handbook of Rituals by E.N. Broner

And some websites supporting menses rituals:
Red Moon
firstmoonrising.com
theredweb.org
Red Tents In Every Neighborhood

This On-The-Rag basket is a play on words of course. I think that a vessel made from recycled women’s garments, in particular, is a strong link to the matriarchal line, the blood line. A handmade vessel like this would make a lovely handmade gift all on its own and can be used in the home for so many purposes. Or use it as a gift container for any occasion. It’s got soft sides but holds its shape and is very textural. Each is one-of-a-kind.

For a First Blood/Menarche/Coming of Age ritual gift fill one of my baskets with items such as:

Book A Diva’s Guide to Getting Your Period  by DeAnna Lam
Cloth Pads https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/127514073/cloth-pads-bamboo-organic-cotton-10
Red sarong https://www.etsy.com/listing/112644277/red-silk-scarf
Wine Glass https://www.etsy.com/listing/43314857/hand-painted-wine-glasses-poppies
Red Candle https://www.etsy.com/listing/113801427/red-soy-pillar-bloom-unscented-natural
Bath Bubbles https://www.etsy.com/listing/58984791/lemon-lavender-dead-sea-bath-salts
Massage Lotion https://www.etsy.com/listing/85679450/soothing-moon-massage-and-body-oil1-oz
Monthly Cycle Tea https://www.etsy.com/listing/122712246/historical-monthly-cycles-tea-for-ones
Goddess Figurine https://www.etsy.com/listing/113249826/ceramic-goddess-figurine-spiral-leaf
Jewelry https://www.etsy.com/listing/81795873/beaded-art-doll-purple-spirit-goddess
Journal https://www.etsy.com/listing/99908384/red-blank-leather-journal-or-sketchbook

And add a bottle of good red wine, red rose, fresh strawberries or add anything you think would make a young woman feel fabulous. You may purchase my baskets here.

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/130406126/red-coiled-basket-bowl-red-fabric-vessel

How did you mark your coming of age?