Blue Black Walnut Pine Needle Basket - Natural Pine Straw Recycle - Hand deals Made Gift Made in Florida USA
ABOUT THIS ITEM
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Fabulous Blue Black Walnut basket!
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A gift for you or a friend. Beautiful basket designed around a black walnut center. Coiled natural Florida Long Leaf Pine Needles in a circular pattern, then carefully hand stitched with 2 sliced black walnuts as a handle until the desired shape. A wonderful conversation piece for the coffee table. This hand stitched creation took 5 hours to complete. This Native American style basket was coiled from Florida Long Leaf Pine Needles which I gathered after falling naturally from the trees. They were cleaned and dried in the sun ready for this creation.
I design my one of a kind basket to be functional along with decorative. You will find this basket will become a conversation piece and would be perfect for a gift or keep for yourself!
My baskets are made by coiling pine needles in the same manner as the Native Americans have done for centuries! Since I live in Florida, I have access to Long Leaf pine needles which I gather by hand. These intricate pieces are created using a variety of stitches evolving into spiral designs. They are stitched using artificial sinew making them sturdy and durable for their lifetime. They are all made in a smoke and pet free environment.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
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In 2001, Teri Thompson discovered an artist making baskets out of 18 inch long pine needles. She expressed, “Oh my, you have to teach me”. After he gave her a 4 hour lesson, she was hooked. She researched books and began making baskets of her own. When she would get stuck as to what was the next step, her teacher helped her perfect her craft. She practiced on her own until she developed her own unique style.
Today, Teri collects pine needles from her own backyard as they freshly fall. She gets excited about approaching storms that causes new needles to drop from the trees. With hand selected pine needles she hand stitches a continuous coil until the basket is completed. One stitch and one pine needle at a time turn thousands of pine needles into a unique artistic creation. Teri embellishes her baskets with natural accents such as, wood, nuts and stones making them even more unique to her style.
These Native American art forms evolve from Mother Earth and will last for generations to come. The Florida Seminole Native Americans were one of the first tribes to make pine needle baskets in the 1860's. They used a sharp piece of sea shell or bone as a needle. Some of the baskets were used to carry water, winnowing seeds, and feed baskets. Raffia and sinew were used to sew the baskets. Today, the ‘lost art' of pine needle basketry is still being revived by a few creative people and recognized as an important part of Florida heritage. Teri is keeping the art alive with color and inspiration and creates her baskets with the same materials used by the Seminoles – pine needles and sinew.
Teri has been featured in several newspaper articles and appeared on television representing Pine Needle Art for upcoming Gasparilla, Winter Park, and Main Sail Art Shows. In addition to art display and sales at the Tampa Bay History Center, she demonstrates Florida heritage at the Florida State Fair Cracker Country.
Teri has been awarded multiple ribbons for her artistic pieces and was awarded 1st deals place at Florida State Fair. Teri continues to participate in art shows to share her passion for the lost art of pine needle basket making.
Go Green!