Petrified

Petrified was the second of the triple walled baskets I developed.  This basket actually has two coils of pine needles with a sandwich filling of rattan.  The tapestry includes yarn, palm inflorescence, hand woven dog hair, and hand woven cashmere/angora from two goats I have had the pleasure to meet.  I didn't do the spinning, but received these fibers from wonderful spinning friends in Sarasota, Florida and Dover, Arkansas.  Working with a guild can spawn great ideas.  The tapestry spark came from seeing friends make tapestry gourd tops and wicker baskets.  I liked the effect and after trial and error, created this gem.  The bottom piece is a piece of petrified wood I found in North Carolina.

Measures:  12 x 10 x 9

Price: $600

Whirlpool

This basket was a lot of fun to make.  The agate in the bottom is very unusual for me because of its challenging shape.  My methods of attaching an agate with no holes or epoxy, just pressure, led to the name of this piece.   This basket was entered in a juried show where the judge commented on the swirl at the bottom.  Guess she didn't realize it was necessary or the agate would fall out!  The pine needles are a rich warm brown color and the artificial black sinew thread greatly enhance an otherwise plain natural agate slice.

Sold

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?