Old Friends

I recently returned from our family cottage in the Georgian Bay in Canada after a four year absence due to Covid travel restrictions and other family commitments. It was great to be back where I discovered a few of my "old friends". This is one of my favorite places to make baskets and I didn't realize until this year just how many of my baskets are there. These baskets are some that I made in the early years of my basketmaking when I only used pine needles and raffia. I also would use pine needles, acorns and pine cones that I found on the island to incorporate in the baskets. I often gave away my baskets to family members and they have stayed at their cottages for almost 40 years. I thought that my "old friends" have aged pretty well! I made a few baskets using birch bark that I found on the shoreline of the lake that the beavers had left behind. Since I sold or gave away many of my early baskets, I was very happy to bring some of my "old friends" home with me to keep in my collection. I often entered my baskets in the tiny local art fair where I won first place blue ribbons for my work. I always felt a bit guilty winning, because some of the other works of art were amazing and were so much better than my baskets. I think I always won, because the baskets were so unique at the time and no one had seen a pine needle basket before. 

It is fun to look at these baskets and realize just how far my basketmaking has evolved and changed over the years. I have definitely improved my stitching and coiling and have become more creative in my shapes, colors and designs. Once I discovered the ease of waxed threads and cords, I have never gone back to using just raffia. However, looking at the simplicity and natural beauty of these baskets, I think I will have to start using raffia again. 

ENJOY!