A little repeat post.

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.

I finished the 'lil blue basket!

04/29/14

And I am very happy with it!

And then started another...this one has Hickory for the center (the other one has a Live Oak center) and I am using silver and dark brown threads!  

Personally I don't love the silver thread, not enough contrast to see my pretty and neat stitches! I worked hard to learn them.  (I couldn't hem a pair of pants if I had to.  Lol )

But often I am not in love with a piece until it is completed.  We'll see.

Tore up too bracelets I started too.  Just couldn't get it to look right. ;-(.

But I refuse to give up on it!  So stay tuned.

04/28/14

Lovin' the diamond stitch!!!

Cobalt blue, denim blue and a Live Oak center.

How about a pine needle bracelet!!!

04/22/14

Tried several times before and failed miserably.  This time I had been mulling over the idea again and had an epiphany kind of thought.

I actually went to my dresser to measure a bangle, then upon finding some cheap, thin, metal bangles I wondered if I could use it for a starting point and support...

Here is what happened.

Kind of an infinity look about it.

I learned alot and have already started another.  

Stay tuned.

I never like the black thread until the basket is complete.

04/21/14

But!  If I persevere...this is what happens.

And then It turns out that I DO like black.

04/18/14

Another 'lil tiny one.

St. Aug., FL Wed. Farmers market.

04/16/14

I had such a good time in my first 'lil booth!

I didn't get rich, but I did sell 2 tiny pieces.

The market wasn't very busy, we had bad weather.  Winds up to 30 mph and temps in 50's.  So cold biting weather. 

But I will keep at it!!!  I will also be solo at the Sat. market starting in June.  By then I should pretty settled into it.

Now I would like to Thank all of my lovely friends who took the time to encourage me  this small but important adventure.  Even when only verbal, it has meant so much to me that you (and you know who you are) are there rooting me on.

Now I am off to make the baskets...or maybe a bracelet...

Today is the day!

04/16/14 4:18 a.m.

Up bright and early for my first solo booth at any venue (in this case a farmers market)!!!  EVER!!!

A little windy and cool this morning, lots better than rainy or extremely hot.

A little nervous too.  Wish me luck.  I'll let you know how it goes.

This one had a slight southwest feel.

I got accepted!

03/12/14

I have been accepted to open my own booth at the Wednesday farmers market.  Me...all by myself, to sell my Pine needle baskets.

I am soooooo excited.  I have had more success at the farmers market selling my baskets (working in my sisters booth for her restaurant) than at any other venue.

Given the choice I would have liked staying at the Sat. Morning markets, but I am not ready financially to leave my sister's employ just yet. 

 But I digress...

So I have been slowly making progress towards independence.  Smart phone for debit transactions, new facebook fan page, new cards, a table, a chair, licenses, etc...

I will be wood burning my own sign. First ever so wish me luck.

Ii think I am ready.  We will know on Wednesday.

So in the meantime I did finish a couple more baskets.

These pictures don't do this one justice.  The beads simply glow.  It has the diamond stitch also.  Simple but pretty!

Then a tiny one.

Straight stitch on this one, with tiny 'lil purple beads almost the same tones as the Cedar wood.

Then I discovered a box of wood slices had molded, 1st time ever.  

So I put them out side on my old glass door screen to wash them and then sprayed them with a bleach solution.  Hope they turn out well.

Also drying some grass.  I am so glad for the sawhorses and screen, both were scavenged finds.  Love that too. 

I am very pleased with my progress!

For now I have to go get dressed for Sat. Market.  Talk to tou soon.

Getting ready to open my first Farmer's Market Booth ALL ALONE!

04/10/14

I think I am finally ready to branch out entirely on my own.

I think I am going to reach for the Wednesday Market at the St. Augustine Pier.  I have my table, chair, cards, flyers etc...and so now for the unveiling.

I did a dry run of my set up and thought you guys might like to see it.  So my friend Alissa and I set it up in the yard and I am very pleased with what I have managed to put together on such a tight budget.

What do you think?

Now lets hope I get accepted!

WOW!

04/08/14

I have been very busy girls and boys, as well as fighting my usual yearly pollen/sinus/drippy sickness.  

Very sorry to have been away so long.

But I did gather some grass...

Can you see the purple tones?

I have also made a bunch of new baskets.

Learned the diamond stitch.

A lil purple of couse.

Then I had an idea brewing for quite a while to use Pine cone petals as some sort of decorations.  I had a neighbor help me figure out hot to get the petals off, then I washed them.

Then i trimmed a couple...

Then dried and oiled one...Beautiful!

I am thinking of using these as yokes around/behind a bead/stone.  Still brewing.

Then another basket.

Then another one started with the diamond stitch!

Love this piece of Oak.

Now I am wondering about how to use this piece.

Hmmmm...now back to my needle and thread.