A few new pictures!

September 4, 2013

I sold my most expensive basket ever last Saturday.  This one...

I also sold another that day, a little bitty one.  I actually sold out of my inventory for the Art Walk in St. Augustine at the High Tide Gallery.  Kind of a good thing, kind of not.

I have a few pictures of the newest ones for you.

The one below was an attempt at piecing the wood in such a way as to create an entirely different shape to the typical round.   Then the wood got a tiny crack in it, so it now makes its home at KraftyMax's.   She really like's it. I will make another at some point.

 

My friend KraftyMax  and I went for a drive and she showed me where someone had cut down a Juniper/Cedar tree.  The wood was all nice and stacked up on the side of the road so I knocked on the door and asked the woman who lived there if I could take some of the wood.  She said yes, so I loaded up.

Then I discovered that an old highschool friend works a booth at the same Farmer's Market that I work on Saturday's for my sister's restaurant.  He sells butcher blocks and so it occured to me that he has access to all kinds of saws....hmmmm I thought...Maybe he would cut some wood for me.  And did her EVER.  I have an entire 5 gallon bucket of sliced tree limb pieces for my basket bottoms.  Take a look...

Beautiful if I do say so myself!  Thank you to Mr. Billy!  Now I am going to have to make him a basket!

Not sure if I have mentioned it before but the only Long Leaf Pine tree I can find here in FL. is in a friend's sisters' yard.  She lets me have full access to it, but her neighbor isn't so generous.  She keeps calling the police every time I am there...so just for her generosity, I am going to make her one also. 
Not to mention Christmas presents and such...oh my!  Guess I better get busy.

One last thing though.  I have customized myself a tool kit.  Try explaining what you need for Pine Needle basket work in a tool box to the man at the Big Box Store.  They thought I was nuts.  So I kept my eyes open and finally stumbled on a 50% off box...and then I went to town embellishing and working on it.  This is the end result.  Keep in mind that my RV's colors are blue and green.

Perfect if I do say so myself.  Right down to the box on the side for trash.  Notice the weavings in use.

Guess that's it for now folks.  Remember Christmas is coming and I do custom work.  You can order a basket any size, shape, wood, or thread color to suit your needs.  Just contact me via e mail or phone, both are posted here and on my Facebook page.

Hi There!

August 27, 2013

I have been a very busy little beaver this last 2 wks.  I have created and even sold a few more baskets.  Some I didn't even have time to photograph. 

One was done in sky blue thread and had a center of Cedar the same as the one I did in the last post.

I have two larger than my norm pieces ready for the September 6, First Friday of the month Artwalk in St. Augustine.  They are indeed for sale if anyone is interested.  Just contact me via e mail at pandulaarts@yahoo.com for more details and or pricing.

Take a look, but do keep in mind that I am going for more 'showy', larger pieces.  I absolutely love love love the look of the one with the Philodendron sheath added to the rim.  If you look close you will even see that there are tiger eye beads nestled in the center of them. 

Art Walk in St. Augustine, FL and a new basket.

August 8, 2013

Art Walk was a blast last Friday night.  I not only got my first showing of my baskets at the High Tide Gallery, but I also got to rub elbows with a lot of the local's from years gone by and of course the Artist's as well.  I really love the little gallery and the fact that Aimee, the owner, showcases only local artists.  There was lots of good music, comradery, food and fun for all.  I even saw some people I had not seen in many years.

I didn't sell anything, but I didn't really expect to the first go round.  Next month I will be more prepared as I want to make some larger, more showy pieces and now have the time to do it.  Here is a picture of my small display.

I also completed a slightly larger than usual basket this week.  I absolutely love, love, love the new wood centers.  All of this time I have been calling this Cedar wood, but it turnsout that it is Juniper.  I do think though that Juniper is a sister or close cousin to the Cedar.  The threads were chosen by my friend KraftyMax and I absolutely adore them with the Cedar.  Here are a few pictures of the almost completed basket.

These colors make me think of my friend Dana from Georgia...guess I need to make another!

Can I just say....

July 25, 2013

Tiny baskets are just tooooooo cute. 

I had a terribly difficult time getting this one to keep the triangular shape, but I  must say that it was very worth it.  The beads were added after the rest was complete and I just love love love this one.

 

 

 

 This little guy is the absolute first basket started and completed in the same day.  I was very chair weary when it was finished but again it was very worth it.

Just a little update!

I wouldn't even know where to start to catch everyone up, so I am just going to post some pictures of the last few basket sales...

The dark wood center's are hickory wood I got out of a fire wood pile.  I just love the organic shapes.  I have also been experimenting with some of the different color of threads. 

The small baskets seem to sell the best so I have been concentrating on those also.   Hope you like and I will try to be in touch again soon.

I have been terribly out of touch ...

May 22, 2013

I have been very 'un-plugged' as of this last year or so, but I have been busy non the less. 

Baskets are my 'go to' art these days.  I haven't been able to get back involved with much in the way of the fiber arts.  No idea why...

The good news, great actually is that I have sold 7 baskets in less than 2 months.  I have down priced, and reduced my prices, even though they were low to begin with.  This of course helps sales, but I also work for my sister at the local farmers market on Saturdays and I think the exposure there has been the biggest boost.  I have also discovered that folks will come off of something priced less than $50.00 a whole lot easier than they will something priced over $50.00.  So smaller baskets it is.

I haven't even been great taking pictures, but I do have one for you today.

This is the smallest one to date (4 in. across and a little over 2 in. tall), I was actually thinking it would be good to use for business cards.  Let me know what you think. 

Seems Max's iphone did some editing (this is the only picture that wasn't elongated) and you will just have to take my word for the fact that there is a cedar center under that business card.  Let me just say, who knew tiny baskets would be so cute.

A basket for Monster!

February 27, 2013

I started this little basket and it 'spoke' to me...it told me that black (the thread), brown (pine needles) and green (sweetgrass) equal camoflage.  I knew just the perfect little boy who would love it.  He also loves skulls and crossbones.

It measures 4 inches across and 2 inches deep.  CUTE CUTE CUTE, if I do say so myself.

 Now for the bottom.  Gotta love the new wood burner tool.  The center is cedar wood and the stitches are done with artificial sinew.  It is called brown..but I see black.

He lit up like a Christmas tree when I gave it to him.  It sits proudly in his room with his rock collection in it.  Gotta love it.

January 29, 2013

I haven't been able post for quite a while, but today I not only have access to the internet, but I even remembered to bring the thumb drive of pictures.

No weaving, just some Pine needle baskets.  Quite a few actually, so here you go.

This one was done for my friend Dee.  It sits next to her recliner with her 'stuff' in it.  My first oblong with a wrapped center and you gotta love the different fibers for the sides.  They are even twisted for a barber pole look.

 This one was sold to Elise, who commissioned it for a Christmas present to her daughter.  One of the largest I have ever done!

This one is just me killing time.  The center is Pine bark and the sides are Sweetgrass I harvested myself here in the local area.  I even got a wood burning tool for Christmas and I can sign my work!

This is the most current.  Done for my friend KraftyMax to be on her bead tray for trash.  Notice the beads!  Little tiny but packs punch.  It is only the second beaded one, but it is indeed better than the first and it fits the spot it is intended for beautifully!

Just a little update!

Today is September 14, 2012

Where does the time go? 

Things are mostly moving along like normal.  Looking forward to doign my Pine Needle basket demonstration at the local Library on the 22nd.  Hope I get some folks interested!

I got the most wonderful pkg in the mail today from my friend Dana in Georgia.  She has gifted me a copy of the new book by Laverne Wadding, Called "More Andean Pebble Weave".  It is something I have anxiously awaiting since the day I knew it was being written.  I am also pleasantly surprised that there are a couple of other techniques in the book that I have been dying to try out.  Look out girls and boys my weaving mojo is back in full swing.

At the moment, in preparation for the upcoming book I have been doing a little weaving.  I have even found a workable station set up for my backstrap.  Pictures to follow.  Simply put I took the 2 screen door handles and had them mounted on the wall in my little RV just far enough apart for the back bar of the loom to fit into.  Turns out that since I have a rug in that spot, my computer chair works great for weaving in and doesn't slide around on the rollers as it would on bare floor.  WALA!  Perfect.  When I am done weaving I just roll it up and strap it to the same handles and everything is out of the way of the rest of 'life'. 

Do keep in mind that I am using a library computer, old, slow and not the best software.  but I think you get the gist.

Now for the technique.  I have finally taught myself how to do color exchange.  In otherwords double faced (not double cloth) with reversible design work.  I am using one of Laverne Waddington's scroll ideas and mirroring them.  I am using #10 fabric so the design doesn't show as well as I might like, but at least I finally know how not to have the floats on the back side. I am not sure but I think that this technique is also called Intermesh.  If so it is going to make me understand alot more of the information in that new backstrap book.  wish me luck.

Pine in the above picture, and Blue on the bottom side. 

Of course I am still working on the baskets in between.  I am doing an oblong one at the moment with a wrapped center.  It is for my friend Dee who has loved me thru thick and thin and I hope that she likes it as much as I like doing it for her.

As with most things I learn by doing.  Last weekend I spent a good 6 hrs. working on a new technique with this basket and ended up so unhappy with it that I just tore it off.  I just can't give gifts to people that I wouldn't like myself.  Guess this will be the one that I work on in the demonstration on the 22nd.  No problem.  I will probably even get it finished at that point.

Lacy and Wiggles are my ever present companions and doing well.  We hope that all of you are as well and will look forward to doing a post again soon.

Don't do anything I wouldn't do!

Today is Wednesday, August 23, my how the time flies.

I am finally settled into my RV and getting some of my life back under control.  Definitely loving being on my own again, ESPECIALLY the independence of having my own wheels again.

I don't seem to do as much art though.  I am enjoying interacting with friend's and family again, so not as much time on my  hands...I am sure most of you can understand that.

However, when I do have the time I am working on my baskets.  Notice I didn't say PINE baskets.  I have started incorporating other materials and am very happy with my results so far.  I am even scheduled to do a demonstration at the local public Library on September 23rd.  Looking forward to that, we have a beautiful library and the people are always friendly. 

The demo will be posted on their website along with a bulletin board and blog.  I will also have a small display up for folks to look at for the next few weeks to help generate interest.  This will not be a class and definitely won't be about money.  I just want to meet some new folks that enjoy art/crafting.  I am definitely looking forward to it.

I am using a friend's computer and thought I brought some pictures along on my thumb drive, but it seems the most current ones are not on it.  But keep watching, I have access to a computer more often now and I will post the newer pictures soon.  Or if you are so inclined you can even go and check out my Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/pandula.arts.