Art Attack, Naples, FL

Art Attack, at the von Liebig Gallery, Naples FL.  This is my piece that was awarded the Judge's Choice Award.  Dur et Mou , Hard & Soft, is a triple walled piece.  See all the particulars on another post, September 5, 2015.

Hidden Light of Desire

Can you see the hidden Light?  This is the beauty of a wonderful stone called Labdorite.  It looks greenish and maybe not stunning until it is tilted so that the light refracts into a rainbow of color.  This heart shaped stone is the focal point of his coiled Muhly Grass basket.  It is accented with large Labdorite pendants on the sides and smaller round faceted Labdorite beads.  Truly a hidden desire!

Approximate Size: 13 x11.5 x 4.5 inches

Class Project

I thought I would do a little updating on my class project photos.  This is the basic beginners basket that I teach in a class. Most students manage to complete about 5 to six rows in a 3 hour period.  That doesn't seem like much, but it takes some time to get the feel of coiling and managing the needles, leaning new stitches, and then what?  I have to shape too?  Sometimes a lot to remember and making the hands do it correctly takes a little practice.  Many students have sent pictures back to me and I appreciate them all.  They all turn out differently because that 's what coiling is all about: individual inspiration!

I have 2 classes set up so far.
Craft Expo at Cape Coral Arts Studio
4533 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904
February 13, 2016,  1 PM-4PM,
Reservations 239-574-0802

Visual Art Center 
 2010 Maud Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
April 6, 2016,   12-3:30 PM
Contact:  941-639-8810

Demonstrations by the Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild
Alliance for he Arts
10091 Mc Gregor Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33919
October 31, 2015 and March 5, 2016 9 AM-1PM

Sale and Demonstrations 

Creations from 6 Guilds on sale
FABulous Art Boutique March 3 & 4 , 2016, 10 AM -4 PM, March 5, 2015 10-3PM
Sarasota Art Center
Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL

Out to Sea

This two piece basket started from a class I was teaching.  I usually start with a walnut slice and pine needles.  Many times after class, I switch to Muhly Grass to finish the base basket.  This one I decided to add a Floida Long Leaf pine needle top and a carved turtle in stone. 

Approximate Size:  5.5 x 4 inches

First Kiss

I was thrilled to find this beautiful slab of Rose Quartz on one of my North Carolina Buying trips.  Just the right size for this basket.  I accented the base with Pink Quartz beads, while the larger pendants in the coiled Muhly Grass are Pink Zebra Jasper.  A total package for a person who loves pink.

Approximate Size: 10.5 x 8.5 x 4

Dur et Mou (Hard & Soft)

This is a wall hanging piece started on a 6 inch agate.  The construction involves sewing two coils at the same time with pieces of cane in between.  The coils of pine needles hold the cane firmly so that the coiled Muhly Grass can weave around leaving spaces,  These spaces now contain twined palm inflorescence, yarn, and wonderfully soft roving of award winning sheep of Michigan and cashmere/angora goats of Arkansas.  This triple wall weaving is difficult to sew because it must be done on a lazy susan set up rather than holding in your lap.  It's a difficult and tiring arm position to keep for a long time. This is my fourth, and may be the last!

This piece is one of my entries to Art Attack, a Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild exhibit at von Liebig Art Center in Naples from September 18 (reception) until October 26, 2015.

California Surf

This is a stone that I believe is a Wild Horse Jasper.  It has the deep ochre reds, gold and white combination.  An artist friend of mine wanted me to make a basket on their stone.  I was lucky to find some perfectly complimentary pendants of Indian Conglomerate.  The smaller Muscovite beads at the bottom add interest to the coiled Muhly Grass.  It has a real western feeling.

Approximate Size:  11 x 8 x3 inches