Island Belle

One of my family's favorite places to spend time is on Stretch Island in Puget Sound, especially in the summer. Located in Grapeview, Washington, Stretch Island has a rich history in grape growing and was the first place to grow wine grapes in the Puget Sound region. Homesteader Lambert Evans planted the first vineyard with a Concord-type grape in the late 1870's. Seventeen years later, Adam Eckert, originally from the Chattauqua Grape Belt area of New York, visited Evans' log cabin and eventually bought land and started his own vineyard. He stared crossbreeding the Concord-type vines with black labrusca vines from New York and developed the Island Belle grape. The Island Belle grape was used with equal success for fruit juice, wine making or eating whole.

By 1936 Stretch Island had three wineries, all with prime vineyards and two grape juice factories. One of the longest running businesses on the island was the Island Belle Grape Juice Company that was started in 1921 by Peggy and Harry Hillman. The business thrived for almost 30 years and their juice was marketed as "The Drink Devine".  Unfortunately, none of these businesses would last because of the importing of California wines in the 1950's and the development of vineyards in Eastern Washington.

Many small home vineyards including Island Belle grapes still exist on Stretch Island today. The Island Belle grapes were my inspiration for this pine needle basket. I tried to capture the spirit of these special grapes and the beauty of Stretch Island while making it. I hope I did, because it is such a special place.

"Island Belle"

I made my "Island Belle" pine needle basket using natural green Longleaf pine needles, purple artificial sinew, Purple Indian round glass beads, bronze plated Czech glass leaf beads and a beautiful hand-painted scroll saw grapevines wooden center base. This basket is 12-1/4" round x 1-1/4" tall.

 

Enjoy!