Sea View

This Christmas present for a friend is based on a see through piece of Fluorite with Turquoise pendants and Butter Bean accents.  This Fluorite works into a nice fresh feeling to the basket.  I'm glad I have another piece!

Approximate size: 7.5 x 6 x 3 inches

River of Grass

This is one of those projects  that turned out exceptionally well.  The base stone is Zoysite which is the bedding stone for Rubies and Sapphires which can be seen peeling through.  The pendants are Dragon's Blood Jasper which are a deep green swirl with dark red lines. Also added some Russian Jade small beds for accent.  Gorgeous!  The triangular shape and the rows of progressive wrapping gives a flow of movement to the view.  Hence, the name.  This one will be entered in the Old Florida exhibit at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda in December , 2016.

Approximate size:  9 x 8.5 x 3 inches

Sandstone Glyphs

Not all baskets need to be large.  This is one I made for our Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild Guild Christmas gift exchange this year.  I found these nice little fossils in North Caroline this past year when we attended the Rock and mineral shows. I added a few rows of pine needles and then my favorite Muhly Grass.  Two Picture Jasper pendants adds the feeling of a handle on either side.

Approximate size:  7.5 x 5.5 x 2 inches

Crimson Jubilee

I was working on this one as I demonstrated at the Wild Child Gallery this weekend.  Received many positive comments.  The base stone is Brecciated Jasper or Poppy Jasper, a note worthy color.  The large pendants on the sides are pricey red coral, with lots of Carnelian chips.  Just the perfect accent for a Christmas day!  I thought I would enter this in the upcoming Old Florida exhibit at the Visual Art Center in Punta Gorda.

Approximate size:  7.5 x 7 x 3 inches

CLASSES UPDATED!! December 2016

I have scheduled workshops at the Visual Art Center, 210 Maud Street in Punta Gorda for December 5, 2016.  Due to the increased demand for a class, we also scheduled another for December 7, 2016.  I find that a class of 6 students for a sewing lesson is a good number.  This is a class for beginners who just need patience and an ability to sew.  The class is from 12 noon - 3:30 PM.   Call 941-639-8810 for more information.

DOWN UNDER GREEN

This stone has a matte finish which makes it a little harder to gain the visual color in a photo.  I don't like to digitize  an implied color.  This is Australian Crysocola.  The deep green, turquoise, and rust of this Crysocola stone is unusual and I hope to find some more in May 2017.  I added Turquoise pendants and Aventruine beads to accent the variations of color in the base.
This basket will be in an exhibit, Engulfed, at Ding Darling Wildlife Center in November 2016.

Approximate Size: 9 X 7 X 3.5 inches

SEPTARIAN LAVA

This is the second basket where I have used a base stone called Septarian.  It is a lava formed mud ball that forms Argonite and Yellow Quartz in the center as it cools.  The Quartz forms a 7 pointed formation hence the name Septarian. Each ball is different and each cut varies in formation.  This stone is used by mystical healers and fortune tellers and is believed to hold special healing powers.  My basket contains Florida Long Leaf pine needles and Muhly Grass, Argonite beads, and Picture Jasper pendants.  The mixture of two colors of waxed linen thread makes the sides visually move. 

this basket can be seen at the Visual Arts Center, 210 Maude Street, Punta Gorda, FL through the month of October. I hope to enter it in an exhibit in Naples at the von Liebig Gallery in December, 2016 sponsored by the Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild.

Approximate Size: 11 X 9 X 4.5 inches