Pebbles of Wisdom

This piece is usual because of its construction.  It was created from Florida Long Leaf pine needles, but the top half has two coils of pine needles and one layer of rattan staves, while the bottom half is one coil of pine needles.  The triple layer contains tapestry of palm inflorescence, yarn, and rovings of cashmere/angora from Bart and Hershey, two loving billy goats in Arkansas.  The agate slice, which I think looks like an owl, was cut with a very jagged edge and was a challenge to attach the pine needles.  The "pebbles" are square pendants of black jasper.  I'm often asked how long it takes to make a basket.  The answer to that question for this basket was "too long".  I had to keep it in the inverted lid of a drum barrel for many months while I worked on it.  That's hard when you don't have studio space.  This piece was accepted at The Handweavers Guild of America national Convergence juried show in Tampa, Florida, 2009.

Measures:  23 x 23 x 3

Price $ 600

Indigo Dance

This basket was created from muhly grass that I grow myself.  It's a sturdy round grass much like seagrass.  One plant can easily produce enough grass for this basket with one cutting.  The grass is dried for about a month and then its ready to use.  The blue areas are dyed pine needles and help compliment the indigo jasper stones.  The agate slice in the bottom has a natural hole where the quartz slurry did not quite make a solid piece.  This is common in many agate slices and actually add to its beauty.  Update:  November 6, 2009:  This basket won a first place prize at the "All Member Exhibit" at the Center for the Arts, Art League of Bonita Springs, FL.  The show continues through the month of November.

Measures:  13 x 11 x 6 inches

Price:  $300  SOLD

Trecento

This is my latest effort created from dyed plum color pine needles, lavender and plum waxed linen, thread, and set on an agate slice.  The checkered pattern is commonly used in older Indian baskets and has always impressed me.  The lavenderite stone pendants accent the thread perfectly.  Because the stone pendents are not sized uniformly, I never know how each basket will look after all the stones are placed.  Consequently I have added small beads to compensate for the difference.  This is what makes each basket one of a kind.

Measures:  11.5 x 9 x 5 inches

Price:  $350

Ouachita

This basket was created from dyed Florida Long Leaf pine needles, small golden agate on the base,and sewn with butterscotch waxed linen thread.  It's the thread that makes the pattern.  At the time I was interested in finding new designs and  created this Greek key variation after viewing the crown molding on our old county courthouse. It's a great pattern but is very time consuming!  I was so happy to see the pattern come to an end!   I actually finished this basket as I was enjoying the fall foliage of Quachita State Park, Arkansas.  The colors of the basket still remind me of that great trip.

Measures:  10 x 6 x 5

 Price:  $250

Copper Top

This basket was created from dyed pine needles and sewn with artificial sinew.
The spiral pattern of the stitches show very distinctly on this 5 x 5 x 4 inch basket.  Perfect for keepsakes.  A fellow artist exchanged some pine needle rounds perfect for jewelry for a few copper pieces.  This basket sold for $120.  I have another top and been contemplating resurrecting a design but in a different color.  What should it be?

Peacock Palace

This gourd was a lot of fun to make.  I had made smaller ones, but never one with a top.  My only plan was to use the muhly grass rather than pine needles to do the side designs and the top.  Other than that it just seemed to all fall into place.  The alcohol inks were a perfect shade of green for the peacock feathers.  Jake, my neighbors' peacock, was taken by a wild animal not long ago, but left some beautiful feathers. A green jasper pendant and jasper beads adorn the handle.
Measures:  10 x 10 x 14 inches

Price:  $250

Seahorse in the Wave

This basket was created from muhly grass that I grow in my flower beds.  It is a sturdy round  grass that grows in a clump about 24-36 inches long.  It has a lovely lavender feathery flower and is quite picturesque.  My plants are trimmed regularly in the summer months so I don't get to see the flower stage often.  The agate slice has light blue gray figure in the center that all agree they see the "seahorse".  The blue pattern, the wave, encircles the basket and is especially noticeable when the piece is put on a turning lighted pedestal.

Measures:  15 x 15 x 8 inches.

Price:  $  600

Phantom Phish

Phantom Phish received a Best of Show award and a first place award. This was one of my earlier pieces. It was created from dyed Florida Long Leaf pine needles that I gathered myself from trees very close to my ranch. That was before hurricane Charlie, a category 4, destroyed many of the trees in my area. I was still developing the technique of setting an agate slice in the bottom using just pressure. I wanted this basket to look like a fish bowl. The coiled rounds of pine needles and the teneriffe circles actually bear the weight of the top of the basket. This was first real challenge: to put a dream into reality. In spite of it's openness, the basket is quite firm. This piece has been accepted to been shown at the inaugural show of the Florida Museum for Women Artists ooening on November 13, 2009 in Deland, Florida. Measures: 13 x 11 x 6 inches
Price: Not for Sale

Amethyst Trace

This basket was created from muhly grass that I grow in my flower beds. It is coiled on a baby blue rimmed and amethyst accented agate slice. The drilled pendants are stones of lavender and the small ones amethyst beads. The agate slice is actually held onto the muhly grass merely by pressure, No drilled holes, glue, or other adhesives are used. The basket has received a first place prize. Measures: 19 x 19 x 8 in.
Price: $800

Introduction

Welcome to my gallery.  My name is Kathryn Erickson. This is a place where you can view a few baskets at your leisure and read about each as it was created. Some evolved without a whimper while others seemed to drag on forever. Read on and enjoy the pictures.  Many are for sale.

Artist's Statement

When in 2002 I saw pine needles being coiled into a basket at an art festival in Tampa, Florida, I was intrigued by the simplicity of using such a common commodity as pine needles to create such a beautiful object. My sixth creation won a first place prize and I’ve now made over 300 baskets. I knew then this hobby was growing into a full time second profession. Each unique piece reflects my growth as an artist who is constantly looking for new methods and presentations.

Pine needle coiling is a slow time consuming process taking much patience as a basket unfolds. Many pieces take months to finish. Since I envision each piece as a finished work, sometimes I present myself with construction problems. Attaching pine needles to the agate without drilling or using adhesives is one of those difficulties. Overcoming a problem is one of the more rewarding aspects of my work.

Currently I am working on incorporating other natural fibers in my work. I join pine needle coiling with traditional basket materials such as muhly grass, cane, and other Florida flora. I also use hand spun cashmere and angora fleece from very loving goats. Evolving from pine needles sewn with raffia to the more modern forms I work on now has taken a short few years, but I expect I will continue to grow as an artist and incorporate new techniques and materials. Seeing my visions turn into a finished work of art and admired by many fills me with great gratification.