Gokstad-Style Basket Backpack

Hey there, my dear readers! It's not that I'm lazy and nothing is happening here, quite the contrary, lots of work and no time for modern media ;)
But at last here's something new for you. I was not very content with the wicker backpack I own. It's heavy, has a sqare form that gets smaller towards the bottom and tends to bend me backwards when loaded heavily with all the things a lady needs to carry around ;)
There's a find from viking times from the Gokstad boat grave. Not a complete backpack, in fact, just two wooden boards, one of them with holes around the edge: 

Source: http://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/MuseumVikingShipOslo2.htm

Source: http://europa.org.au/index.php/articles/21-bags

The find itself leaves room for speculation and interpretation. I did not want to recreate it, rather than have a useful, light, good looking container to carry my things.
So I decided to use very light materials, not authentic. For the board I used a wood called Paulownia, which is sometimes used for surfboards, due to its properties. For the basket part I used thin beech wood rods as stakes and rattan.

As the basket grew, I found it more and more useful to use a cardboard template to achieve the right form.

I ended the weaving with an other (flat) type of rattan and secured the edge with a decorative wrapping.

As the basket part was finished I had to think about how to carry that thing ;)  Of course I wanted to make the straps myself and didn't want something boring. So I made a long tablet woven band with a Birka pattern.

I attached the straps with wooden rods inside the basket and put some metal strap buckles on, so I can adjust the straps when I wear my thick woollen coat.

I have used this backpack now on several occasions and I must say that I'm really happy with it. I can carry it all day without complaining about the weight or uncomfortable fit, and a lot of things fit inside. If Mary Poppins were viking, this would be the thing to have ;)

Alles hat ein Ende...

...selbst der längste Sommer. Die Uni hat wieder begonnen, ich muss den Garten verlassen und mich wieder hinter den Schreibtisch klammern. Es war ein Sommer voller Mirabellen, Schmetterlinge, Blumen, Farben, Düfte, Musik, aber auch der schwieligen und schmutzigen Hände, Maulwurfshügel im frischen Rasen, tückischer Brennnesseln. Viel Neues habe ich ausprobiert, viel geflucht, aber mich doch meistens über das Ergebnis gefreut.
Fangen wir mal hiermit an: Was mein Uropa konnte, muss ich doch schon lange können, also ran an die Ruten und losgeflochten
Und fertig :)
Allerdings sieht das so leer aus. So geht das doch nicht. Also schnell füllen. Gut, dass es da noch ein neues Hobby gibt: Pflanzenfärben *g*
v.l.n.r.: Zwiebel, 1. Zug; Zwiebel, 2. Zug; Beifuß, 2. Zug; Beifuß, 1. Zug; Beifuß, 3. Zug+Eisensulfat; Traubenkirsche, 2. Zug; Traubenkirsche, 1. Zug