Newest Chapter in Pine Needle basket coiling

So girls and boys I am finally starting to feel a little better.  Definitely bored out of my mind.  Not necessarily good for the creativity.  

Anyway, when I could finally get out of bed again I decided to do some research/art.  I happened on a supply site for basket weaving and found that they sell the sheaths of new growth on Split Leaf Philodendron.  Just so happens I have a large one in my yard so I went out and harvested about $20.00 worth.  Pretty kewl huh!

Then since it is summer we have been eating a lot of corn on the cob.  So I decided to dry the husks and incorporate them, along with the split leaf sheaths, into my basket work.

Then I went to the front yard to try something of a brain storm I had.  I pried off some bark from a Pine tree...then got out the dremel...strategically placed some wholes and walah!!!! cente start for a new basket.  Now you should know that this is not the easiest thing to do.  Pine bark tends to flake.  So I started with a much larger piece than I ended up with.  But on the cool side it seemed only fitting that a "  Pine Needle"    basket have a "  Pine bark"   center.

At this point I have not spent $0.00 on my supplies except on different colored wire, along with the copper wire, from the 1st basket.

Also, if you have been following along you know that recently I tried a new stitch called the V-stitch.  Didn't care for it at first but I decided to give it another shot.  From all I have read the fancier stitches are supposed to create a firmer basket. 

I even found a big bundle of raffia and decided to try it.  BIG mistake, personally I love the way it looks, HATE working with it.  It shreds, breaks and definitely doesn't give enough tension (because it breaks).  So I went back to using my famous crochet thread.  My favorite is the #10 mercerized, but this time I am using #3 mercerized in red (all I had in #10 was the ecru, and I was tired of it).  

Pictures to follow.

Wonderful Wednesday Feature

O. K. folks its another Wonderful Wednesday and here is my Feature artist.  

This time I found a pencil artist on Etsy (duetschemexicana).  She does wonderful drawings of flowers and  foilage.  I really like the simplicity of graphite (pencil) art (I do alot of graphite art myself) and she has captured it beautifully.  She hasn't been on Etsy long so lets take a look see and help her with a little well deserved attention.

Pine Needle Basket new stitch

Decided to try a new stitch.  Makes a firmer piece...but for myself I think it is a little on the busy side.  

I welcome your input on this. 

Newest Pine Needle Coiled basket

Here is my newest Artfire listing.  It is a Coiled Pine Needle basket...a little smaller than the first one.  Have a look and tell me what you think.

 

Pine Needle Basket opinions

I tend to like a very natural woodsy look, but I am curious as to what you guys like.

Would you like to see dyed pine needles?  or beads i the work?  or fabric instead of thread?  maybe some metal rings?

Please leave a comment and let me know.

Shots of the new Pine needle basket saga

So I have started a new pine needle basket.  This one is done with off white mercerized cotton crochet thread #10 instead of wire.   I want to see which fiber/wire I like the best...so there will be some test pieces. 

All feed back is welcomed.  

You see, having done extensive reading and picture looking (i.e. research)  I have discovered that in my opinion a lot of the homemade baskets are way too pricey for my pocketbook.  Soooooo, I am thinking that maybe they are for your pocketbook as well.

That being said I have decided that I will be making very utilitarian baskets.  They will be a decent size without being so small as to just be dust catchers, or so large that it is a fight to find a place to put them.

They will be tough as they are meant to be used, not just to look at.  I think that is what I have been missing in my art drawings.  They are just for looking at, pretties, a luxury.

As a textile artist my greatest satisfaction came when I saw someone using my things in their home.  (Just walk through Kraftymax's house.  LOL)  So I have decided to take this approach with my baskets.  

It is still a form of fiber art and I think the average person can afford a piece of handmade art that ranges around $50.00.

Here are some progress shots to ponder...

These are called buttons.  They are what I use for the start in the middle of the basket.  They are made from vine that comes from my back yard and they are twined.

This is the bigger one.  The smaller one came out better.

 This is the smaller one.

This is the start.  Here I anchor the vines and also start coiling the pine straw around the button.

 Here I have a close up of the first few rows.

This is how much I got done before I went to bed at 2 a.m.  Right now it is 5"    across.

I try to let the pine needles tell me where to go.  As a result I am never sure what shape or size my piece will be.  So keep watching and we can discover it together.

My baby

Mom....Mom...MOM....please can I get up and go play now?

I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT THIS LITTLE FACE OWNS ME.

 

Pine Needle with Copper Wire Basket

My newest pine needle creation is finally complete and listed on art fire!

Take a look if you can I think it turned out well.

Wonderful Wednesday Feature

Hi there, Pandula here with another Wonderful Wednesday Feature.  

I found this artist on Facebook (Golden Section) and Etsy (Home of Imagination).  I absolutely love the way her brain works.  She does all of her work spontaneously!  In other words no preliminary sketch or line work.  I love that, very organic!

As for myself...it is a painfully thought-out process.  Although often, after all of my planning, what actually happens on the paper, or the loom for that matter, are not the same at all.  LOL.  

Take a look with an open mind and I think you will find all kinds of little things to look at in her art.  

Please don't forget to heart, convo and/or purchase so we can support our fellows artists.

Copper Pine Needle basket

So here are the latest shots.

 

Newest Pine Needle project

I went by a field the other day where I saw some pine limbs on the ground.  Soooo.....I went 'sploring yesterday and got some needles.  Actually they are even longer than the ones I have been using.  Well worth the heat and bugs.  LOL

 

Here are a few pics.

Then I went home and started my new project.  This one is done with copper wire.  A little harder to work with.  I also started it in the middle with a button made out of Ivy vine out of my yard.  I really am not sure what this one will be.  Maybe a little basket?

 

Silly little Zed

This little dog has developed quite the personality!!!  Love these pics crystal pistal.

 

Relay for Life

This link will take you to a facebook site called "Pine Cone Tea Cup".  She is collecting donations for an action for cancer.

Also each donation is linked.  Check out all of the wonderful support this woman has created for her cause.

Completed Pine Needle Prototype

Please remember that this one is a prototype.  It started out to be a Key Ketcher.  The keys turned out to weigh too much and buckle the piece....So it became a "Jewelry Ketcher". 

It is to hang your necklaces on.  

The next one will have 5 buttons and be larger.  Since this was the 1st one of course it had a severe learning curve.  Please let me know what you think.  Suggestions are very welcome.

Also notice that in the pics wit the woven piece underneath that I wove that on my tapestry loom.  I am also open to suggestions on what to call it as well as pricing.  This one measures 8 x 5.  It is hung on the mirror with a sucker cup.

Newest pine needle basket pics

Okay guys its time to take a guess!  

I am almost done with this brainstorm and I am curious to know if you can figure out what it is.

Wonderful Wednesday Feature

Okay girls and boys do I have a treat for you!  As most of you know I have recently picked up Pine needle basket weaving again.  In my research I discovered this brilliant artist.  I hope you are as impressed as I was. 

I can only HOPE to be this talented some day.

The site is called Mountain Magic Originals, how appropriate.

Please take a look and go visit the site.  Amazing!

Newest photo pine needle basket weaving

O. K. girls and boys...Watch out for the Wonderful Wednesday Feature in the morning...Great artist for pine needle work.  YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!

In the meantime here is my little project's progress.  It is 8" wide and 5" tall.  Betcha can't guess what it is going to be either.  

Feedback is very welcoeme.

It you look it even has some silver in the rim.

Beginning of pine needle project!

O.K. soooo...Maybe the first one will always be a learning curve.  

The 1st was twisted, wouldn't lay flat and the stitches stank.  

This is the second oval...whatcha think?

 

Beginning of pine needle project!

Thought I would try an oval...looks like poop.  Too tired to try again right now.  Will keep you posted. 

 

Beginning of pine needle project!

First you gather them.

Then you soak them in boiling water and decap the clusters.

I use the back side of a butter knife and scrape them off one at a time.  I also discard any really short or broken ones.

You need to keep the ones that don't hold together separate from the clusters.

Then I collected vines from the back yard for decoration pieces.

Here is some of the purple fabric I think I am going to incorporate by wrapping with it.  Still trying to figure out what I want to make with this stuff.  

The prep work takes a long time.  No wonder people get so much money for these baskets.  The stuff is free and great for recycling, but very time and labor intensive.

Keep watching...more to come later.