Easter Basket Fun

 

Baskets have many uses.  They can be woven from a wide range of materials in a variety of styles and techniques.  I am often influenced by the seasons and holidays as to what baskets I weave.

When spring arrives, I can't help but be in a playful mood with my basket weaving.  I use pastel colors, and painted attachments to make baskets ready for Easter eggs, bunnies and flowers.  

New Year - New Technique Learned

Last year I spent a lot of my time wrapping balls in the style of  Japanese Temari.  I found it very enjoyable and gave many of the balls as gifts this past holiday season. 

 

This month I shifted to making Japanese Koma ornaments.  They, like the Temari,  stem from children's toys - Temari a colorful wrapped ball and Koma a spinning top.

The colorful designs appeal to me. I like experimenting with different colors, threads and patterns. Some have tassel tails, while others have beads hanging from the wrapped ornament. 

Gallery of Gifts

 

2020 has been a tough year for artists and craftsmen.  I am very thankful for the Carroll County Arts Center for hosting the annual Gallery of Gifts once again this year.  There is one week left to support the artists participating in this showcase of high quality art suitable for gifts.  Come check out the displays

I am featuring baskets, gourds and vessels using natural materials.  Naturally shed antlers are incorporated into some of the pieces.  Pine needles and sweetgrass are woven into small bowls. Small bells are fashioned from the tops of gourds.  

Small Gourd Bells

 After a long season of cancelled craft shows I will be participating in three upcoming holiday craft shows in November and December. To make some holiday ornaments, I used the tops cut from  gourds of other projects to fashion small bells.  The edges are rimmed with pine needles, seagrass and/or jute.  Wooden beads were used  for the clanger to keep the natural look. 

Mobius Strip

 

I spent the past few months experimenting with mixed media sculptures and vessels. A twisted vine knot found during a walk through the woods was the starting point for the piece shown.  Using basketry reed and seagrass I woven a undulating shape that starts and ends at the knot as it twists into a type of mobius strip.  Color and texture was considered and repeated throughout the piece.

This sculpture will be part of the Carroll County Arts Council 18th Annual Members Show.  The exhibit displays a variety of mediums made by local artists.  The show is open to the public from September 28 to October 31, 2020.

Mixed media sculpture

I have been using this time at home to experiment with weaving with a variety of materials into freeform sculptures.  Basket reed, grasses, beads, and sticks of twisted vine are combined into shapes which mimic forms found in nature. The mixed media sculptures shown below start with round reed inserted into a drilled wooden base.  

Woven pod-like shapes are woven with reed and seagrass and attached to the wooden base.  Wooden beads are attached to the largest vessel that extends from on end of the twisted wooden stick. 

A pod-like vessel extends from one end of the wooden twist.  The round form closes upon itself and flattens to an arch of woven fibers which are attached to the other end of the wood creating a circular  loop.  

Quarantined: Creating While Stuck

The Carroll County Arts Council invited artist to submit their creations for entry into an online exhibit.  From June 30 until August 31st works by 40 different artists will be displayed giving a glimpse into the creative process for many.  

The Covid 19 stay-at-home order provided the time and opportunity for me to experiment with the art of Temari thread weaving. The interplay of threads and colors became my focus, to busy my hands, soothe my mind and fire my imagination as I juggled life's challenges during these changing times. This is my entry. 

Juggling the Balls of Life