Driftwood Basket, New Gallery, Fall Show

Basket with Driftwood Handle

12 h x 9 w x 5 w inches

While packing some of my work to take to a couple of galleries I noticed I'd previously made this tall vase with holes on either side. I decided to add a driftwood handle. This time I've used linen cord and added a couple of glass beads. Linen cord is much easier to work with than the metal wire. I have some other basket making material in my stash which I'll be trying on other pieces. I've been leaving the driftwood natural but wondered if I should coat it with a clear varnish or some wax. What do you think? What would you recommend I use?

Sea Basket

7 h x 11 w x 6 w inches

The Fall Show is on at the Helen Arts Center and runs through October and I have three pieces in the show including my green driftwood handled basket, or sea basket. Also I was juried into the Mountain Regional Arts and Crafts Guild and their ArtWorks Artisan Center is carrying my work. The Guild's ArtWorks Artisan Center recently moved to a new, closer to downtown, location on Chatuge Street in Hiawassee, GA.

Coming up a winter squash recipe and another home improvement project. Yesterday morning there were eight turkeys in our yard but when I went outside to take their photo they all flew away. If you've ever seen a wild turkey fly they are a sight since they are so heavy it's hard for them to get any height. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Driftwood Handled Baskets

This week I've drifted away from the sgraffito work to making driftwood handled baskets. My intention is to wrap the handle ends with waxed linen thread or perhaps some copper wire strung through holes I've placed in the top of the basket. What do you think? The handle will be added after firing. Above is the first basket I've made.

Here's the second basket. The pieces of clay you see at the bottom edge are temporarily holding the basket up till it dries. The uprights on the side wrap under the basket much like a wooden water basket would be constructed.

 Here is a water carrier with a driftwood handle I made back in college in 2008.

Above is a water bucket I made in 2011.

Gary said he'd go to the beach to collect more driftwood for me if I need it. I told him that wouldn't be necessary. You see I'm a bit of a pack rat. Above is a bin full of medium sized driftwood I collected.

 Here's a bin full of the large sized driftwood I collected.

Here's a bin full of the largest size driftwood I've collected. Some of these may be too large for handles. Hum wonder what else I can use these for? Any ideas?

Here's a small pile of unusual shaped driftwood I've collected. All of this driftwood was collected when I lived in California, and that was many many years ago. Every time we moved Gary asked "what are you going to do with this driftwood". I always answered I'm going to use it for something. Maybe now I'll reduce my stash of driftwood. It's going to take a lot of clay basket making to do so. Oh I also have a small stash of seashells and a few beach rocks. Ha. Up next is a trip to the highest point in Georgia and a trip to see some Native American petroglyphs. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.