October 29, 2013

Well girls and boys it has been almost three weeks since I posted.  Just haven't had access to a computer very often.  So I have lots to share.

First off I finally got to send my friend Dana her birthday basket.  I really felt that since she sends me my Long Leaf Pine needles from GA, and believe me it is time consuming, that I wanted to do something striking for her.  Also, it just happened to be her birthday.

She really wanted a piece of wall art for her office...and I did indeed try.  However, my real talent is in art that is functional.  So here is the start of the project....ugly as hell I must say.  As you can see I was trying to add in multiple pieces of wood, the intention was to actually to add another small one to the other end also.  However all I could think about was the fact that it looked like a hot air balloon, or even a nesting doll.  Hated it.  So even though it was so large that each row was taking me almost 2 hrs.  I ripped it off and went back just to the center piece.  Then I had an epiphany, what I do is ART, so if she wanted to put it on a wall that was fine with me, and it became a basket.

Actually the largest I have done to date.  I also tried a new stitch.  I found it in a book that I purchased long ago, it is the slant stitch done in such a way that it does not slant.  Thank you Pamela Zimmerman for your clear instructions.

Here is the final result.  Her favorite colors are purple and teal and I just wish that this photo did the basket justice.  It was beautiful even if I do say so myself.

 Can you believe I even had purple stone beads to put on it?

I am hoping that she sends me a pic of how she displays it.  She thought that she might just display it on a plate hanger.  Can't wait to see it.  Wish I could have seen her face when she opened it.

Love you Dana, Thanks so much for all of your support and help!  Enjoy it.

Now for the other new pieces..

A close up of the center.

This brown and yellow one is my pride and joy at the moment.  I never realized that pine needles had so much yellow, gold and orange in them.  I guess it could also be that I just so love the more natural colors of fall.  Basically it just glows.  I even like the dark wood for this one. 

And now for a teeny tiny one...I found teeny wood beads for it also.

And now for a medium size one...

Business is good for now.  I can hardly make them fast enough.  Awesome!!!  I am realistic enough to know that after Christmas things will slow down, but for the moment I am living my dream of being an artist that EARNS MONEY!!!

This week I will be spending one full day gathering, I have a friend who is going to go with me.  Then I need another day of just sanding.  Then back to the stitching again.

Dana's Birthday gift is on the way!!!

I finally got the big Birthday present in the mail today.  Still not posting pics though because I want it to be a surprise for her...and I am not very good at surprises...lol.

But here are a few pics of my latest projects...Here we have Florida Gator colors.

I also made a small business card holder for the gentleman who slices the tree limbs for my basket centers, but of course I forgot to take pictures of it.  It actually turned out cute.  I measured and measured and measured and got it to be exactly the right size for the cards to stand up.  My first...I got such a kick later as I walked to the ladies room at the Farmer's Market where I work on Saturdays and saw it sitting at his booth with his cards in it.  WOOHOO!

Stay tuned, same bat time, same bat channel next week for pictures of the birthday basket.

A little information for inquiring minds...

October 1, 2013    


I finished the largest basket ever this week.  It is a birthday gift so I can't share it until I actually ship it out...but I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO SEE IT.  It is indeed lovely.

So in lieu of pictures I saw this article and thought I would share it with you guys.  I found it on a blog here, so I cannot take credit for it at all.  I just thought you might like the information.
 

You have probably looked at pine-needle baskets and wondered why they are priced so high. The main reason is because pine-needle baskets are very time-consuming. It is very tedious work, and it takes many hours of practice just to master coiling and stitching.

The materials are also expensive. Unless you are lucky enough to live where long pine needles are grown, you will need to purchase your needles. You will also need to purchase, drill, and stain the center of your basket which can vary in price depending on what type of center you use. You can make a solid pine-needle center, but this adds several hours to your basket. In addition to the needles and center, you will need to purchase your stitching material (usually sinew, raffia, or waxed linen), your stitching needle, a gauge, and a few other miscellaneous items.

Preparing enough pine needles for a small basket requires about an hour. The needles need to be covered with boiling water and soaked for about 30 minutes. The caps (bark covered ends) need to be removed from each pine-needle bundle. This takes about ½ hour. You are now ready to start your basket.

When creating a continuously coiled basket, you will need to add new needles every other stitch or so. There are several types of stitches, and the time required for each stitch varies greatly. The most common stitches include the plain stitch, split stitch, V stitch, wheat stitch, and fern stitch. For a 4"-diameter basket, it can take from 20 minutes to 1 hour to complete only one coil around your basket.

Most basket makers seal their baskets with a combination of beeswax and paraffin or shellac spray. This is optional but will add to the life of your basket.

As you can see, creating a pine-needle basket is very time-consuming. And don't forget the extras like handles and embellishments that add time and expense to your basket. Most people who make pine-needle baskets create them for their own use and simply enjoy doing it. I personally find it very relaxing. It is one of the few times I just forget about life and concentrate on something I enjoy doing.

NOW BACK TO MY FEELINGS ON THIS...

I have to disagree with the sentiment of Pine needle work being expensive.  The one thing I like about it is that most of my supplies are FREE.  See, I believe that any Art form can be either as expensive or inexpensive as you want it to be.  I live in FL and so my coil materials are basically free.  I harvest Pine needles, grasses and palm fronds myself, so mostly it is just hot hot hot work.  I also sand and wax my own wood so again it is time consuming, even though the wood is harvested FREE.   What this also means is that I have control over what I want things to be shaped like and to look like, as much as one can when using organic products, not store bought/milled wood.

Do keep in mind though that I do not have a full time job, so the one thing I do have a lot of is TIME.  And I need it as these processes are very labor intensive.

Also I do indeed agree with the part that says it takes time to build the skills to make beautiful coils and stitches.  I have been making baskets intensively for the last 2 years, and sporatically for the 3 years before, and I am just now getting to the point where I think my work is as good as the ones I see on other sites.  I have also developed my own style.  I hope these things are evident to you, my fans, as well.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts on these things.

September 25, 2013

Well yesterday was my birthday, the big 55 (dammit).  Nothing very eventful as I have not been feeling well.

I haven't done much in the way of basket work either. 

I have been working on a surprise birthday gift for my friend Dana who sends me Long Leaf Pine Needles all the way from Georgia...so no pictures this week.  Don't want to spoil the surprise.

So I will be in touch next week.

September 17, 2013

I thouht that for those of you who may be interested that I would post the page I give out when I sell one of my baskets.  This one gives you an idea of how the basket is created and a little of its history.

Earth Baskets

Eco Friendly Hand Crafted Coiled Baskets

By:  Marsha Knox of

Pandula Arts Creations

pandulaarts@yahoo.com

http://pandulaartscreations.blogspot.com

My Earth Baskets are Eco friendly, unique baskets made entirely of responsibly harvested, and sustainable, hand-picked materials from the native Florida forest.  They are not “woven” in the traditional sense; they are coiled, (more of a sewing technique than the over and under of weaving).  They are made in the likeness of the Native American Techniques, as well as other indigenous cultures.

Coiling involves working in a spiral while making individual stitches and feeding new material into the ‘coil’ that you are sewing.  The new coil is ‘stitched’ or fastened to the one directly underneath it.  Your stitches must be tight enough to make a firm basket, but not so tight as to break your materials.  As you stitch the coil it would run out, so you must also feed new material into the coil to continue along.  Sometimes the coil, or foundation material, is allowed to show and sometimes it is covered completely.  Some folks even use a ‘gauge’ to help make sure the coils remain a consistent size.  There are always new materials to try to use as your ‘thread’ and even your coiling material, so each individual must find what works best for them and is available in their immediate environment.

No one knows exactly where or when baskets were first developed; we only know that they were very necessary in early cultures for carrying water, food and supplies.  Each indigenous culture developed their own techniques suited to the available natural materials and their own personal needs.  This made for very identifiable work in each area of the world. 

I personally use Pine Needles, Palmetto and Queen Palm Frond, Wild vine along with fallen wood in my basketwork.  This makes each basket a true piece of art, as it is unique and cannot be duplicated.  Often I just let the materials speak to me and let me know how they want to go together.  Pine needle work is slow, methodical and requires dedication, precision and skill. Personally I love the end result, and this makes it all worthwhile to me as an artist.  I certainly hope that you will agree.

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And then we have the page for how to care for your basket...

 

Earth Basket

Care Instructions

I construct all of my baskets not just to be decorative, but also to be used and enjoyed on a daily basis.  And even though they are made of tough forest materials, they do require some thought as to their care.

Your basket can be used as a ring and/or coin holder, to hold napkins or washcloths, and even as a place for you or your spouse to keep track of where you have left your keys.  They are also perfect to hold business cards or cell phones on your desk or dresser.  Enjoy and use them as you would any basket.

Please never put your basket in the dishwasher or the microwave to protect the stitching.  I use a lot of rugged materials that have been dried in the dark so as to preserve their natural colors.  Please don’t put your basket in direct sunlight if you like these tones, as the sun may change the coloring.  Do keep in mind that the coloring may change over the years due to drying and exposure.

If you do need to wash your basket, use mild dish soap and a soft brush or cloth, rinse thoroughly and put in a well-ventilated space to dry.  There is no need to seal or wax the basket to keep its beautiful tones and handmade appearance.  Mother Nature has done that for us.

With some easy care your basket will live a full lifetime with you and still look beautiful.

 

Thank You!

Marsha Knox

Proprietor

Pandula Arts Creations

386-538-0524

And then we have the newest basket...

Oh yes and one move thing, my friend KraftyMax has featured me on her blog today.  Click on her name and it will take you to the blog so that you can read how wonderful I am.   lololol

Also I am in the process of doing a piece of wall art for my friend Dana in Georgia.  It will be for her birthday (and already it is coming out beautifully) and I am just dying to show you.  Buuutttttt...if I want it to be a surprise when she gets it then you guys will have to wait right along with her.  Dana I hope you are in LOTS of suspense.  lol

 

More baskets!!!

September 20, 2013


Just a few pictures for you...

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!