Contemporary Work in Fiber Night On the Town in Fredericksburg, VA

I hope i will see some of you at the Fiber Arts happenings in Fredericksburg, VA tomorrow evening. This Preview Reception is presented in conjunction with “Celebrating Fiber Art” and concurrent receptions at the Fredericksburg Area Museum and LibertyTown Arts Workshop. The Fredericksburg Trolley will circulate continuously to all three venues during the evening, allowing patrons to view four different fiber exhibitions.  Wow! Sounds so fun! I would love to see you there!

Contemporary Work In Fiber Exhibition at Mary Washington University Galleries!

Contemporary Work in Fiber
University of Mary Washington Galleries
Ridderhof Martin Gallery
October 26 – December 7, 2012

I am very excited to be a part of this invitational exhibition!  Two of my works in it were commissioned especially by Mary Washington University Galleries. 

I would love to see you at the opening reception!

Opening Reception for Exhibition
October 26, 2012
5pm - 7 pm

Make A Cornucopia for Autumn!

Pamela with giant wild cornucopia

This is not the first time I have posted about cornucopias.  

For the past several years, the approach of Autumn has signaled the weaving of a great number of cone-shaped, wild based forms, and I suppose I will have to admit, it has become something of an obsession with me.   Here is a little cross-section of the many takes I have made on the traditional horn of plenty!

It all started with that free pattern that Susi Nuss posted on her website. Of course the pattern uses reed, and not something I use enough to have just what I need for it laying around.
So I had to take a trek to the woods to find something suitable.

 I quickly realized what a great form this was for experimentation.

Wild gathered materials sometimes do not have the flexibility and easy conformity of reed.

wisteria and grapevine, mostly

So I learned to cope and embellish and make it happen!

mostly wisteria, some split

Handles are alot of fun, and really make the pieces unique.

another mostly wisteria with split vines...so beautifully flexible!

inflexible, large gauge honeysuckle was added to this finished cornucopia as a handle.

one of my favorite wild weaving materials are the English Ivy and Virginia Creeper found in almost any garden!

I found that it is very fun and easy to make a mini cornucopia.

tiny gauge, natural honeysuckle

And they are great ring bearer or flower girl baskets for Autumn weddings, and kids are quite intrigued with them.

vinca (periwinkle)

natural honeysuckle

They work well for bridesmaids, also

Carolina Jasmine

A cornucopia does not always have to be pointed, they can take a pod shape.

It was a wonderful discovery that cornucopias often make great wild hats.

My first truly weird form made the most fabulous swamp witch hat, it sold in less than 10 minutes as a Halloween costume.

Swamp Witch's Hat

So I made more, "convertable" or dual-purpose hat/cornucopias :)

Swamp Witches hat with wisteria, grapevine, carolina jasmine, virginia creeper, honeysuckle, autumn olive, and others...

And some , using my cornucopia "skills" that are "just" hats, as well.

Even a gnomish helmet.

gnome helmet of grapevine, Autumn Olive, and assorted vines

People say they decorate with cornucopias through Autumn, into the Christmas season...well, i decided to make a convertable cornucopia/Christmas tree decoration!

I have made really really tiny cornucopias for dollhouse or doll hats.

And enormous ones to put on the lawn, or display at a Farmer's Market!

A bunch of tips and tricks for weaving wild cornucopias are given  in my latest contribution to the Natural Fibers Group newsletter, perhaps you will read them there.

I would love to see what you have done with the cornucopia form!

Join Me At NCBA Seminar Nov 2-3, 2012

Here it comes, NCBA Seminar, "Catch a Weave!"
Hosted by Port City Basket Guild
Coastline Convention Center
501 Nutt St
Wilmington, NC

There will be vendors, and food is provided! Find all the information on the NCBA Website.

There are still spaces in the two classes I am teaching, I would love to have you join me!  Both are on Saturday, November 3.  

From 8-noon, I will teach "A Face For The Seasons,"

a randomly woven piece that looks great in your garden or hung indoors, that also doubles for seasonal decoration like a wreath!

After lunch, from 1-5pm, my class will weave my "Hummingbird Locket," another random weave mini. We will weave with craft wire around three pearls to simulate a little bird nest, and then nestle it in moss for a fun wearable. Locket is included.

Check out the online class brochure, with color photos and full class descriptions.
Register online for your classes.  *Yes, you must be an NCBA member, but you can also join online!

See you there!

Indian Pipe In the Woods

Walking though the woods every day as I do, looking for stuff to weave, you would think I have seen just about everything I could see back there. But this Autumn, I came upon some amazing little "flowers" that I have never seen before.

This year has been very wet. Have you ever seen Indian Pipe?

Also called Corpse Flower, it is a fungus, and I was amazed at the variety of colors, sometimes growing in close proximity to each other.

 They range from white to pink to red and even purplish tones!

 These are just a few that I was able to snap photos of, in the growing light...