Tealed Stone

The teal color may be waning in decorating but many of us still love that cross between blue and green.  This agate is one of these and just called to be blended with brown pine needles and teal thread.  The turquoise pendants are a striking color match to the stone.  The swirling pattern gives this piece plenty of movement in any position.

Approximate size: 12 X 10 X 5 in

Price:  $  300

Stillwater

This two piece basket is created from Florida Long Leaf pine needles with gray waxed lined thread.  The exposed pine needle heads give the basket a rustic look along with the detailed miniature handle of a Loon.

Approximate Size:  6 x 6 x 5 in


Price:  $120

The Mighty Bear

This basket recently won an Honorable Mention at "The Fall Exhibition" locally.  That means it was competing against watercolor and oil paintings, ceramics, and other forms of art.  I was pleased with the outcome of muhly grass coiled around an agate slice.  The design was completed with artificial sinew while the remainder was stitched with waxed linen thread.  Any large pattern is tedious and a pattern that covers this may rows and done on two sides can be hard on the nerves.  The horsehair braided top accent helps bring out the color in the agate with the added jasper bear fetish and carved bear claw.

Approximate size:  16 X 12 X 5.5 in


Price:  $450

Captured in Moonlight

 

    

This piece is the result of an art challenge by the Southwest Florida Craft Guild for our 2010 show at Big Arts on Sanibel Island.  It was the "silver" anniversary of the show, consequently we were challenged to make one of our entries with a touch of silver.  My first thought was "Impossible".  My entry was a gourd covered a chocolate texture finish, pine needles, silver sea grape leaves, and beaded rays of moonlight.  The knotless netting was done in brown thread and fine silver wire and silver beads.  The use of wire is something that I have just begun to use, so it was a challenge.

Size:  7 x 7 x 6"

Price:  $250

Jeweled Cave

The photo of this basket really doesn't do justice to this piece.  The color is very subtle.  The rare stone in the bottom is called Solar Crystal, a slice of stalagmite.  Hence, the reference to a cave in the name.  The  pendants on the side and beads are Chalcedony, a perfect color match to the center of the bottom stone.  The muhly grass blends well with this light blue color.  I was very pleased to buy this stone from a new supplier in South Carolina, who cuts and polishes many wonderful stones.

Size:  10 x 9 x 4"

Price:  $400

Tealed

I have been working with muhly grass so much lately that I decided I needed to return to the pine needles for a change.   This agate has been around for a long time, but because of its color, I haven't used it.  I came across a old roll of teal thread, added some new feldspar beads, and voila!  They belonged together.  I'm very limited on the colors of thread available.  My biggest problem with thread is that it keeps changing color with each dye lot.  My caution to my students is to not begin a large basket without a full spool of thread.  The spools seldom match.

Size:  12 x 10 x 4"

Price: 300

Trace of Ruby

It's fun trying out new approaches to the art you been creating.  I found a man in South Carolina who deals in small sized stone pieces that he was selling to jewelery makers.  I loved the depth of this Zyosite with Ruby traces.  The luscious green was just asking to be placed in the bottom of this basket. The pendants of African Turquoise and jade beads all blend together in a rich green presentation of sweeping lines.

Size:  12 x 12 x 5.5 inches

Price:  $500