Another interruption

I'm taking another break. I wanted to talk about some of the things I'm doing now, and I'll forget about them by the time I get through the retrospective at the rate I'm going. (The pond was built in 1990 so I still have 19 years to go!)

Here are some baskets I've made in the last few months. The middle basket was from a workshop here on the island led by Polly Sutton who is world-renowned for working with cedar strips. It is "twined" with sweet grass. The two on either side were from this year's basket retreat in Port Orchard. All of these baskets emulate native northwest work either in shape or material. The basket on the left uses horsetail root and bear grass for the black & white decoration. This is quite a departure from my usual willow work.

I'm also making a very big "living willow" bench just below the orchard. I'm using wild willow from around our property, plus red and yellow-twigged dogwood. The idea is that the stakes will take root and keep growing so that the basket never decays. New branches would sprout every year that will be either pruned back or inter-woven into the sculpture. It's fun, but it is taking a whole lot of long pieces and the weather has not really been cooperating until very recently. (It is about six inches taller all around than when this picture was taken)

I want to include a picture of a wood carving from a shop I visited recently in Langley, on Whidbey Island. I will try to credit the artist, once I remember his name. (You can click on any of these pictures for more detail.)

My friend Nancy (with whom I travelled to India a couple years ago) came up to see me after her retirement from Metro. We spent one sunny afternoon improving the hood of the art car. I'm so inspired, I hope to touch-up the sides as well and enter it at the Fremont Fair Art Car Blowout.

And finally, in honor of my new great-nephew, I just had to include this picture of a couple Ovoid Ducks. Happy Easter everyone!