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...

Summer Invitational Exhibition at Edgecombe Arts Council

I am honored to have been invited to be one of two artists exhibiting in the Hobson Pittman Memorial Gallery at the Blount-Bridgers House in Tarboro, NC, this summer! Exhibition administered by the Edgecombe County Arts Council.

This invitational exhibit also features the work of Linda Dallas, artist/illustrator.

The exhibition runs July 5-August 24, 2012, the gallery is open Wed-Sat, 10-4.
Reception July 12, 5:30 - 7:30pm
I hope to see some of you there!
pamela

Kim Bradshaw's "Armadillo Tail" Weaving

Here's a great little basket woven by Kim Bradshaw of Kims Texas Creations! It is woven using flat reed, round reed, and twisted seagrass, and Kim thinks it "looks like an armadillo tail!" So fun. The jumping off place for this cornucopia shape was one of the cone shaped potteries from my MakeABasket etsy shop. You can see more of Kim's wonderfully fanciful weavings in her Kims Texas Creations etsy shop!

Tenerife Window by Terry Wowk

Here is a beautiful wall hanging by Terry Wowk.

Terry has used a wonderful array of techniques in this stunning hanging. It is hard to believe she styles herself a beginner. Way to go, Terry! I am quite impressed.

It uses one of the tenerife window pottery pieces from my MakeABasket.etsy.com shop as a start.

It blossoms like a flower, and reminds me a great deal of Native American Madela, but with a real pine needle twist :) Terry, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful piece with all of us. Tenerife window pottery centers are available at MakeABasket.etsy.com

Recently, I was contacted by a fellow artist, who said:

"Ijust wanted to say thank you for offering all the ceramic basket starts and thought I'd send you a picture of some of the bowls I made this winter.

This Fall I had surgery on my thumb to repair torn ligaments with a transplanted tendon harvested from my arm and had holes drilled in my thumb and a screw to secure things.

Needless to say I required physical therapy to regain mobility in my hand so I decided to make bowls.

I taught myself to coil using the instructions you sent and since I had access to driftwood I incorporated pieces into the bowls.

I think they turned out pretty good.
Thanks again.
Deb Grenert"

Wow! What a story. Thanks, Deb, for sharing your little bowls with me. I really think they turned out great! Of course she is talking about the little ceramic bases she purchased from my MakeABasket.etsy.com shop.

You may have guessed that Deb has some fiber experience, she is "primarily a watercolor artist," but likes to try her hand at different things, and has some gourd rims under her belt. This was her first experience using the whole philodendron sheath in coiling, as well. Fabulous!

Deb is on vacation now, but returning very soon, and you can see her other artwork in her etsy shop.

Ruth's Memory Basket

I love it when i get an email like this: "The package came today...The basket is everything I could have hoped for. It is so beautiful....Ruth"

Another memory. My favorite part about making horsehair baskets is not the coiling...nor the finished basket. It is not the amazement and excitement of people finding a tiny basket dangling from my phone...it is when someone receives their Memory Basket.

Ruth told me last year about her beautiful longtime friend, Lady. They had a wonderful relationship, the kind that comes from love and trust. When I heard that Lady had died, I was very sad. Ruth's blogpost about her loss had me sobbing, but smiling, too. What wonderful memories Ruth had of her companion!

I was hoping she would contact me to let me make a memory basket for her in remembrance of Lady, and she did. An artist, Ruth had definite ideas about what she wanted, a great sense of color and style, and I felt so privileged to be entrusted with Lady's tail hair.

Thank you so much, Ruth, for the honor of making a memorial piece with the exquisitely colored tail hair of your cherished friend, and for letting me share your story here. Ruth also blogged about receiving her basket, her tribute shared even more amazing memories.

The Cat Hidey-Hole or Small Animal Bed

Having just taught a class in random weave (bird's nest style) basketry at the North Carolina Basketmaker's Association convention, I told my students i would show them more pictures of the Cat Hidey-Hole or Small Animal Bed.

(This was one of the baskets they had a choice of weaving in the class.)


Woven of pullit vine rattan, which resembles bamboo.


The open spaces allow the cat to see through, and for you to hang toys or fibers, if you wish.

It is minimalist and airy, open and yet gives your furry little friend a nook to rest in.

Sometimes two little friends.

Great in the garden or living room.

Put a towel inside, or visit LittleKittysVille to order your own custom cushion!



To purchase a woven bed for an animal you love, please see my etsy shop, bazketmakr.