Tracks in the Sand

I love the looks of this stone called Honeycomb Calcite.  This is one of the nicer pieces of the 20 some that I purchased.  The man was making lamps from them but was not able to sell them.  The stone can be very white and nearly opaque to light yellow and translucent.  I like to match this stone with one of my favorite Yellow Jade pendants.  I also added some Yellow Jade beads.  These baskets don't last long in the gallery! 

Approximate Size:  8 x 8.5 x 3.5

Sea Treasure

This is a new direction for me.  This three dimensional Ammonite is a beautifully polished on both sides and makes a gorgeous center for the focal point of this piece.  I had to adapt my usual setting to try to make this unequal thickness look level.  I feel quite pleased with the result and will definitely try another.  The polishing brought out wonderful lines in the shell that look like gold leaf.  After research it seems this is common look.  I matched this stone with some Tiger Eye faceted pendants and small Tiger Eye beads. I will be entering this in a juried exhibit themed around water.

Approximate Size:  9 x 8 x 4 inches

My Jewel Garden

This basket is sewn on a base chunk of Amethyst.  It's much more challenging attaching the grass to an uneven three dimensional base.  I've tried several now and I never know how they will turn out.  Too loose a fit and the basket does not have a secure beginning.  As I head for a rock and mineral show on a buying trip, I will not be discouraged from buying minerals that are not flat slabs.  Amethyst beads and pendants adorn the spaces.

Approximate size: 7.5 X 6.5 X 3.5 inches

The Green Wave

Serpentine Jade.  Just love this stone.  This one is particularly handsome.  This is one of those pieces that takes forever it seems because of the wrapping.  This is done with 2 ply waxed linen thread.  It might take 3 hours to sew around once.  The eight pendants are Moss Agates and match perfectly the base stone.  Smaller Jade beads accent the side.  This basket is on display at Von Liebig Art Center in Naples the month of May 2018.

Approximate size: 11 X 9 X 4 inches

Weathered

Maybe this name doesn't make sense, but there is a story behind this.  This remarkable agate slice was in the bottom of a basket that I made many years ago but through an accident, it was dropped in water The thread that I was using at the time lost its color in places, so it looked Weathered! Some times it's just better to destroy the original and remake.  So this is the remake, with faceted agate pendants.  Much prettier than the original.  I must be getting better!!

Approximate size:  8 X 8 X 3 inches

Tricorner

Small baskets are nice to make in between the larger ones.  they usually go together easily and they can be relaxing to make.  This base is called a betel nut.  It's no larger than 2 inches across and covered with epoxy that can be drilled.  The pine needles fit easily against the nut, then Muhly Grass.  The Botsana Jasper pendants are really too large for the basket but sometimes it helps to utilize the leftover beads!  Consequently the 3 corners!

Approximate size: 6 round  X 4 inches.

Sunrise

This small base stone piece is Breciated Jasper.  It's high polish and Sunstone beads attracted a buyer at a demonstration at Wild Child Gallery.  It's just perfect for display or a small catch surface for rings and jewelry.  I have two more pieces so another similar to this one will be made eventually.

Approximate size:  7 x 5 x 2 inches