Warmth of Wood

Another photo from the days of fall in New York.  Just a mile from Lake Ontario the days were cool and overcast.  Outside is the only way to obtain enough light for a decent picture.  This is  small bowl of coiled Florida Long Leaf pine needles on a piece of wood set in epoxy.  Add a few Jasper beads, and it makes a nice dresser top dish.  I make a few of these each year for a Guild street show in Venice.  It's also the size that I can take with me to appointments.  Making a basket makes it worth waiting for someone.

Approximate Size:  5 x 3 x 1 inches

Saragossa Sea

This is my attempt at taking pictures of my work while on vacation in New York in the fall.  The day was not very sunny and I couldn't find enough light inside, so out to the garden.  This garden is my sister's hobby and beautiful it is.  This basket I made while demonstrating at the Artisans' Loft in Sodus Point.  I sold it before it was finished.  The base is not an agate, but a beautiful piece of Fluorite from my North Carolina trip.  A few pieces of Jade and some Quartz chips finishes the setting.  The color was great!  I will look for more pieces this spring on my next buying trip.

Approximate Size:  7 x 7 x 3 in

Marbeled Mesa

I have an urge once in awhile to do something different.  This is a two part basket.  It starts with woven palm inflorescence.  This is the part of a palm that creates the seeds rather than a green frond.  After drying several months it can be soaked in water to make it pliable and then woven.  I create a base then add pine needles or Muhly Grass or in this case both!  It's a double wall.  Decorating the outside is the real change for me.  The pendant is called Marbled Jasper which is surrounded by Partridge feathers, Carrot Wood seeds, palm seeds, and Red Jasper beads.  I sometimes put a bowl in the basket and add water and flowers.  It makes a festive centerpiece.  This basket is presently at Creations Gallery in Punt Gorda, FL.

Approximate Size:  6 x 6 x 3 inches

Turquoise Reflections

I tried to take a different background on this picture to try to make the Turquoise stand out.  This Turquoise base has beautiful lines of gold running through it.  It's a stone you just want to caress.  The small Turquoise beads of the base start a swirl that culminates on the outside.  This is a small basket, but distinctive.  It can be seen at Creations Gallery in Punta Gorda, FL.

Approximate Size:  8 x 7 x 3.5 inches

Rubies in Sherwood Forest

You can see by the background this picture was taken outside, actually on my sister's deck near the shores of Lake Ontario in New York.  I made this while visiting my family in July.  This beautiful green base is Zoisite which also contains very visible chunks of Ruby and Emerald.  The unusual shape of the stone leads to a triangular shape of the finished basket.   The large emerald cut Russian Jade pendants predominate the sides against a natural tone of Muhly Grass and natural and green waxed linen thread.  This basket can be seen in the Artisans' Loft of Pultneyville, New York.

Approximate Size:  10 x 9 x 4 inches

River of Chocolate

In this basket I used an unusual stone called Biggs Jasper from Oklahoma.   It actually looks like molten milk chocolate.  The two tone fiber starts with coiled pine needles, then fades into the Muhly Grass from my grass garden, then back to pine needles.  The pendants on the sides look like the chocolate Easter eggs I received as a child.  Guess what?  They are called Chocolate Jasper!  How appropriate.  Some small Jasper beads help finish the rounding of the coil.

Approximate Size:  10 x 8 x 4 inches

Historical Center of Sarasota

The Bidwell House on 1260 12th Street in Sarasota  at Pioneer Park will be the home of monthly art and information classes.  I will be teaching a beginning pine needle class on January 22, February 26, and March 26, 2014.  Come join me or one of the other classes offered in the Sarasota area. Sit on the porch and have some fun.  Go to the following website and check out all the chances to learn something new.  Or call 941-364-9076 Monday - Friday 10 AM - 2PM.
http://hsosc.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/classes-schedule.pdf