| LYNN'S SCULPTURED BASKETS |
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| Working on a basket while my Guide Dog Daretta is by my side |
I became totally blind at Age 6 due to an accident.
In 1998 I learned how to do coiled basketry.
I like to think of my basketry as a kind of sculpture,
where each individual basket has its own unique
style and character. Color is meaningful to those
who can see, but for me I like to concentrate on the
form, texture and style of the basket.
I enjoy experimenting with new materials for my
basketry creations. Thus far I've used pine
needles from various trees, round reed, sea grass,
corn husk, wild meadow grass, gourds and emu
eggs.
In 1998 I learned how to do coiled basketry.
I like to think of my basketry as a kind of sculpture,
where each individual basket has its own unique
style and character. Color is meaningful to those
who can see, but for me I like to concentrate on the
form, texture and style of the basket.
I enjoy experimenting with new materials for my
basketry creations. Thus far I've used pine
needles from various trees, round reed, sea grass,
corn husk, wild meadow grass, gourds and emu
eggs.
Though there are many different materials available for making baskets, my favorite is the long
pine needle. It lends itself well to coiling, which is the type of basketry I enjoy doing most. I
learned that I had to make some adjustments in the standard coiling techniques so that I could
work entirely by touch. For example, instead of using all wet needles, I used dry ones. Rather
than using raffia, I used waxed linen thread to sew my baskets together.
Today, 11 years later, I still get great pleasure from this creative work. I enjoy sitting under the
pine trees with my Guide Dog as she watches over me while I gather and sort fallen pine needles.
Occasionally, I find a large clump of needles which looks like a small broom. I marvel at the
wonder of nature. It is fun for me to be able to harvest fresh green young pine needles from
branches newly trimmed for fire prevention. Pine needles are an interesting material because
they vary in several ways. The young green needles are supple, shiny, and fine, making them
good material for
smaller baskets.
I have found the Torrey pine and black pine needles to be coarse, thick, and strong. They can be
used to form large sweeping angles that need strength. The Ponderosa pine needle is a general,
overall good material for many coiled baskets. My favorite of all the pine needles, however, is the
Jeffrey pine. These long, strong, flexible needles can be tied, or bent into all kinds of shapes and
angles. All the pine needles I gather can be dyed for color variation, waxed for hardness and
sheen, and baked in glycerin for limberness and gloss.
Pine needles are such a versatile material that it is always interesting to work with them and quite
rewarding to be able to create works of art from nature's waste.
I do hope you enjoy my website.
EMAIL LYNN ABOUT HER BASKETS
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| LAST SITE UPDATE Jan 1, 2010 |