Baskets Made From Rodeo Rope Selling Fast

2021 - Volume #45, Issue #4, Page #21

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Susan Kanode of Paradise, Texas, has been making baskets from used rodeo ropes for 20 years. What started as a hobby has grown into a lucrative side business after Kanode found that buyers were clamoring to get their hands on her creations.
“I had been giving them away as gifts to organizations for fundraisings, but once the pandemic hit, I decided to see if I could sell them,” she says. “It has blessed me more than I could ever imagine.”
Each basket is made to order according to the customer’s size and color preferences. They range from $90 to $130 and are shipped across the country.
Most of the rope Kanode uses for her wares comes directly from roping contestants at the rodeos where she works as a publicist. Sometimes she picks the rope out of the dirt after a contestant discards it while other times ropes are given to her because cowboys know she will give them new life.
These ropes often have a story. It’s common for families to provide her with the ropes of deceased loved ones to be transformed into memory baskets. She’s also been gifted ropes from well-known rodeo contestants. These sell well at silent auctions, especially when paired with an autograph.
As her business has scaled up, Kanode has started buying used ropes directly from the National Ropers Supply in Decatur, Texas.
Crafting each basket is a labor of love. Each starts with 2 or 3 circles of rope shaped to form a sturdy frame that Kanope connects with pieces that act as rib supports. She then unravels the remaining rope into distinctive strands of polyester and nylon fibers. “I untwist the ropes into 2 strands each for the bulk of the basket,” she says, “The ends that hold the frame and ribs together use a single strand.”
From taking ropes apart to weaving the basket, tying knots, and unraveling the ends, the whole process takes between 6 to 8 hrs. During this time, Kanode names each basket and prays for the person who will receive it. “The baskets have been a real blessing to me,” she says. “I pray that God will bless the people who own them just as I have been blessed by crafting them.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Susan Kanode, 284 County Road 3584, Paradise, Texas. 76073 (ph 817 307-6336; susan@cowgirlimaging.com).

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Baskets Made From Rodeo Rope Selling Fast FARM HOME Miscellaneous Susan Kanode of Paradise Texas has been making baskets from used rodeo ropes for 20 years What started as a hobby has grown into a lucrative side business after Kanode found that buyers were clamoring to get their hands on her creations “I had been giving them away as gifts to organizations for fundraisings but once the pandemic hit I decided to see if I could sell them ” she says “It has blessed me more than I could ever imagine ” Each basket is made to order according to the customer’s size and color preferences They range from $90 to $130 and are shipped across the country Most of the rope Kanode uses for her wares comes directly from roping contestants at the rodeos where she works as a publicist Sometimes she picks the rope out of the dirt after a contestant discards it while other times ropes are given to her because cowboys know she will give them new life These ropes often have a story It’s common for families to provide her with the ropes of deceased loved ones to be transformed into memory baskets She’s also been gifted ropes from well-known rodeo contestants These sell well at silent auctions especially when paired with an autograph As her business has scaled up Kanode has started buying used ropes directly from the National Ropers Supply in Decatur Texas Crafting each basket is a labor of love Each starts with 2 or 3 circles of rope shaped to form a sturdy frame that Kanope connects with pieces that act as rib supports She then unravels the remaining rope into distinctive strands of polyester and nylon fibers “I untwist the ropes into 2 strands each for the bulk of the basket ” she says “The ends that hold the frame and ribs together use a single strand ” From taking ropes apart to weaving the basket tying knots and unraveling the ends the whole process takes between 6 to 8 hrs During this time Kanode names each basket and prays for the person who will receive it “The baskets have been a real blessing to me ” she says “I pray that God will bless the people who own them just as I have been blessed by crafting them ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Susan Kanode 284 County Road 3584 Paradise Texas 76073 ph 817 307-6336; susan@cowgirlimaging com

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