Hello!! Welcome to the Pine and Simple Blog. I am new to the workings of the blog itself so please bear with me. I hope you enjoy some pictures of my baskets. What I intend to accomplish here is to share my baskets with you and expose you to pine needle basket making ... a truly beautiful art form!

 

 

Simple Basket with Dark Blue Dyed Band

Brief History: Pine needle basket making is a fairly old skill, maybe as far back as 9000 years and before pottery making was developed. In this country, the Cherokee, Seminoles and Coushatta tribes of Louisiana were know to have made pine needle baskets. Instead of a needle like I use, they used a sharp bone or shell to sew the coils together. They would also mix various grasses in with the needles to make very tightly woven, sometimes water-proof baskets or containers.

 

During the Civil War (1861-1865), pine needle coiling appeared in south Georgia when a woman made a hat for her father since they hadn't the money to buy one. In the late 19th century, coiling became a popular Victorian craft enjoyed by the ladies.

 

Stitching Materials: In the distant past, various grasses, plant fiber strips and sinew were used to bind the coils together. Today's coilers use nylon upholstery, waxed linen or embroidery threads, yarn, raffia and artificial sinew. A coiler is limited only by his imagination!

 

The Coils: Almost any type of pine needles can be used unless the needles are really short. Ideally coilers use the needles of the southern long-leaf pine, varying in size from 14-18 inches. Shorter needles can be used but the coil must be "fed" more often.

 

Types of Stitches: There are many stitching types seen in today's baskets: plain, "v" stitch, fern, wheat, Indian wrap and back stitch to name a few. Again, a coiler is limited only by his imagination. Many beautiful stitches originate by accident.

 

 

I love the creativity, simplicity and beauty found in Nature. The look of leaves blowing in the wind, the colors of fall, sunlight reflecting from the surface of a river ... all contain unique examples of raw beauty, beauty at its best.

 

In making my pine needle baskets, I try to capture a little of that beauty and simplicity. I use needles from the southern long-leaf pine. I gather them by hand and dry them for later use. I sometimes dye my needles to add elements of color to my baskets. Though some of my baskets are made with light green pine needles, having harvested the needles straight from the tree and dried them, the needles, in time and with exposure to sunlight, will turn a rich warm brown color.

 

Some baskets, I finish with a solution of 1/2 shellac and 1/2 denatured alcohol; this gives the basket a slight sheen and imparts a little more rigidity to the coils. Other baskets, I leave completely natural with no finish added.

 

Baskets can be used in many ways though I would not recommend putting food or liquids directly onto the basket. I typically put a napkin or cloth between my basket and solid food to protect the basket from oils or stains left by the food and protect the food from the finish.

I have been using antlers in baskets for a few years now. Each antler basket I make is unique. The antler tends to dictate the shape of the basket which I find quite interesting. I live in the Low Country of S.C. where many large working plantations are still found. My idea in making the antler baskets was to incorporate a way to get antlers in the home without their being attached to a head on the wall!

 

Feel free to ask questions. Coiling is an art to be shared.