I spent much of my childhood in the southeastern NC swamps where making Pine Needle baskets is a very old tradition. These were made both by the several Native American tribes in the area and by the settlers. My grandmother told me that several members of our family in her grandmother's generation were basket makers back when baskets were an essential part of farm life.
I learned to make Pine Needle baskets from a Lumbee lady when I was in 3rd grade or so. I learned the Cherokee style of Honeysuckle basket making and the Appalachian style of While Oak basket making in my teens when my family returned to the mountains.
Making baskets the traditional way, from natural materials, is long, painstaking process, but I enjoy it. This Pine Needle basket is approximately 7 inches wide and 3 inches tall. It took about 6 hours to weave, and that does not include harvesting and processing the materials. Working with natural materials, by hand, give one a lot of respect for the work our ancestors did.
Traditional baskets are very durable and will last for generations if properly cared for - keep them dry and out of direct sunlight. Sunlight won't really damage baskets but will cause them to fade. No two handmade baskets are identical, and the personal style of the weaver is evident. That makes handmade baskets a popular collectible. I am sure that the person who buys this basket will enjoy it for many years and that hopefully, they will pass it down to future generations so that their family can share in my cultural traditions.
Price $75 with free shipping in the continental US. Click here to buy now:
https://judsoncarrollwoodcraft.blogspot.com/2023/10/pine-needle-basket-1.html
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