Minted Jade

As I mentioned in my last post, Blood Stone can come in a variety of color.  This is a green Blood Stone in the base.  It's a nice small size basket with wonderful New Jade beads that nicely accent the base. 

Approximate Size:  8.5 X 6.5 X 2.5 inches

Color Collage

This basket began with a distinctive Blood Stone.  I like using this stone because it's colors vary so much.  Sometimes they are even dark green with tones of rust and gold.  I tried to pick up the various colors in this rusty gold and black stone with wrappings of thread.  This adds tone to the bottom of the basket but it takes 3 hours to go around even once.  So it's once around a day!  Many hours added to this one.  The beads are square Black Jasper with some smaller Black Jasper beads too.  This basket won a Merit award in Hands on Art at the Cape Coral Arts Studio in February, 2019.  The exhibit was sponsored by the Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild.

Approximate Size:  10 X 10.5 X 4 inches

2018-2019 Event Calendar

Nov 3, 2018: JnJ Gallery, Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, Demonstration from 11-3PM
Nov 13, 2018: Visual Art Center, Maud Street, Punta Gorda.  Workshop to make a Christmas ornament of a 3 inch  pine needle wreath. Call to make a reservation. 941-639-8810
Nov 14, 2018: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM
Dec 1, 2018: JnJ Gallery, Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. 11-3PM
Dec 5, 2018:  Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM
Jan 17, 2019: Visual Art Center, Punta Gorda,  Learn to make a pine needle basket.  Class restricted to 6 students.  941-639-8810
Jan 23 & 24 , 2019: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM
Feb 6, 2016: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Possible class for making a pine needle basket .  11-2:30PM Call for reservation 239-283-6006
Feb 16, 2019: J & J Gallery, Main Street, Lakewood Ranch, Demonstration from 11 -3PM
Feb 20, 2019: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM
Feb 28, 2019: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM
Mar 6 & 7, 2019: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM
Mar 20 & 21 , 2019: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM
Mar 28, 2019: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Class for making a pine needle basket. 11-2:30PM Call for reservation. 239-283-6006
Apr 17 & 18, 2019: Wild Child Gallery, Matlacha.  Demonstration from 10-5PM

Blue Light Within

This basket turned out exceptionally well.  The base stone is Labdorite which has wonderful flashes of red, yellow, and blue lights as the stone reflects and refracts light.  It's difficult to capture this flash in a photo. This particular stone is also translucent so some light can actually come through the stone.  The large Labdorite pendants on the sides made the coiling come out uneven so I added 2 different sizes of smaller Labdorite beads and a twist of fiber at the top edge.  This is an ample sized basket.

Approximate Size:  9.5 X 10 X 4.75 inches

Amethyst Mountain

This was a tricky setting and a totally new challenge for me! When I purchase these pieces I have no idea how easy or difficult it will be to create a secure base for the attachment of fiber.  I had to actually make a a covered base.  My sewing needle is so bent that I should probably throw it away!  Lots of wrapping with waxed linen thread and some faceted amethyst beads adds more dimension to the stone center.  More Lepedorite pendants hold the spaces at the side.  This basket will be shown September 8, 2018, at the J&J Gallery at Lakewood Ranch Village, Sarasota, FL.  I'll be there demonstrating from 11 AM to 3:00 PM.  The gallery is a beautiful showing and contains many wonderful pieces of art.  Come see us!

Approximate Size: 9 x 8.5 x 4 inches

Crystal Island

Crystal Island began on an agate with a druzy center. The hole only gives it more sparkle.  Then those nice Florida Long Leaf pine needles were added with a few smaller Feldspath Graphic beads.  My favorite Muhly Grass is sewn in next.  This is the time to cut your Muhly Grass before the September stalk that produces the flower begins to take over the hole plant.  I am now remembering that I have one more plant to cut this weekend and place on the drying shelves!  The Feldspath Graphic pendants complete the design with another dozen smaller beads to make the basket balanced.  The side view gives a better look at the beads.

Approximate Size: 8.5 x 9.5 x 3.75 inches

Secret Love Letter

I really like this stone.  It's called Chinese Writing Stone.  I even have two pairs of earrings made from this picturesque stone.  I wanted the base to stand out so I used some plain Muhly Grass that I grow and harvest and then added some Picture Jasper beads and wrappings of black waxed linen thread on either side. This is one of the patterns that take a lot of time.  The side pendants are similar Jasper, but Artistic Jasper.

 

Approximate size: 10 x 9 x 4 inches