Splendor from the Ashes

This basket is made from muhly grass, my growing preference for larger baskets.  The shafts are longer and more sturdy than pine needles resulting in a sweet grass appearance and strong fibered baskets.  The beads and the striking base are Raku, or burned pottery. These were made by my good friend and talented artist Lorraine Capps or Sanibel Island.  She calls herself a glass artist but her pottery is beautiful. The base is thin and light weight giving the entire piece an airy feeling.  I tried to duplicate the colors of the pottery in the color of the threads used to form the sides. The twists of color tie the composition together.
This basket can be seen at the Cape Coral Art Center through the end of February, 2012.

Approximate size:  17 X 15 X 4 inches

Price: $395

Lemon Cloud

 This little basket of muhly grass and pine needles is set on a base of Lemon Crysophase.  This is just another of the wonderful "rocks" I find that I think looks so delicious.  this one is like lemon sherbet with a touch of chocolate sauce.  Maybe not to your liking to taste, but wonderful to look at.  The sides have some detail of thread wrappings and some small jade stones. 

Approximate Size: 7 in x 7 in x 2 in

Price:  $145

River Verde

This basket of muhly grass doesn't appear in the picture as well as it does in person.  The stone on the base is of an unknown name to me.  The man from whom I purchased it said it was called Olive Verde, but I cannot seem to verify that name after researching online.  It is very unusual.  It looks like it should be soft like green moss!  Everyone who has seen it immediately is drawn to the base to touch it.  The pendants on the side are Ocean Jasper which have unusual flecks of greens that look like they were cut from green coral.  I bought the beads several years never knowing that I would discover this mossy base.  It's great to see thngs come together.

Approximate Size:    13 in x 11in x 4 in

Price:  $300

Senusous Surf

This basket sets on a stunning base called Chrysocola. Don't the  blue to turquoise shades remind you of the surf at a Caribbean beach?  The surf rolls in and deposits chips of turquoise on the beach.  The muhly grass coiled with a wave of teal thread and and turquoise beads on the sides complete the picture.  This basket won First Place at the "Color My World" show at the Cape Coral Art Center sponsored by the Southwest Florida Craft Guild.

Size:  12 in x 11 in x 4.5 in

Price:  $350

CAMOUFLAGE

I was inspired to create this little beauty when the owner of the Wild Child Gallery in Matlacha asked for a basket with a top.  I sewed this one to coordinate with the hand carved stone fish on the top.  I only have a few of these carvings so I make sure that each time I use one, it's for a special piece.  The muhly grass forms the basis of the basket then I added a few uncut pine needles for texture.  The knotless netting adds more interest to the top.  The basket can be seen at the Wild Child Gallery.


Approximate size:  6 x 6 x 7 in.

Price:  $ 175

Turtle Tracks

This gourd was a fun diversion from my usual basket making.  Cleaning a gourd is no fun, so I usually do several at a time.  This one was then finished in Alcohol inks and a path of pine needles.  The knotless netting is waxed linen thread with a few beads and shell pieces helping the carved bone turtle with its nest.

A gourd can be used as a centerpiece with flowers by adding a small vase to the inside.  Then you have a piece of art or a useable vessel. 


Approximate size:  6 x 6 inches
Price:  $200

The Source

The Source is a pine needle basket that was created around a stone that I purchased from a supplier that sells to jewelers.  He told me that is was called Hickolite but I cannot confirm that that is the real name.  The beads around the sides are called Elephant Skin Jasper with some small cubes of Yellow Jade. The jasper is an interesting stone I picked out over a year ago, which I bought because its texture. The base reminded me of satellite pictures of the the Nile River in Egypt, hence the name.  It's amazing how objects that were chosen independently suddenly all come together. 

Approximate Size:
       9 x 11 x 4.5 in

Price:  $300