Gloucester Woman Baskets
Melissa Smith Abbott's journey with Pine Needle Baskets, Pine Trees, Pine Needles, Pine Pitch, and Pine Oil. It's all about Pine but mostly about Pine Needle Baskets with a few Nantucket Baskets too! Techniques, Sourcing, Stitching, Dreaming About, Gemstones, Beads, Tennerife, Preserving, and Organizing Baskets. I love Pine Needle Baskets and I hope you do too!
Monday, November 22, 2021
Learn Pine Needle Basketry
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Little 5” Pine Needle Basket I made at the Abi’s 4 Art Workshop Aug 2021
This is the little 5”wide by 11/2” high Pine Needle Basket I started making @abis4art in the Pine Needle Basket Workshop I had there on Aug 3 & 10. My intention was to produce a small project with basic Pine Needle Basketry skills like starting a basket with a cabochon glued on leather, using 4ply Waxed Irish Linen to stitch the basket with three basic stitches - an overcasting the bundle single stitch, a solid wrap stitch, placing beads on top of the bundle, putting beads between the rows, and finishing the basket with a tapered row. I have actually never made a Pine Needle Basket this small, altho I have made small nantucket baskets previously. Here is the finished Demo basket using the same kit, I gave everyone else to use. It is so interesting to see how everyone’s is so different so if you finish your basket please post it. If anyone else is interested in future Pine Needle Basket Workshops, please message me. I am planning one for the fall. I know there were a few people who wanted to come but were busy. Message me your best times and I will coordinate #pineneedleart #pineneedlebasketweaving #pineneedlebaskets #gloucesterma #capeann #rockportma #melissaabbottdesigns #abis4art @shadrach13 @meghanhelfant0420 @bee3muise @kesterson @championwing @lnatts @larathenp @rosewosepka @juliehaselgardkesterson
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Pine Needle Basket Workshop with Melissa
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make pine needle baskets? I am doing a class!
tues mornings Aug 3 & 10 8:15 - 10:15am at Abi’s Art in downtown Lanesville, Gloucester, MA this summer. I would provide a kit of beads, center, linen thread, and pine needles to make your first basket with 2 Tues Morning in person instruction sessions for a $99 for both sessions. There would be limited space check out my basket website: www.GloucesterWomanBaskets.com to see examples of my work and a bit about my Pine Needle Basket Journey.
The kits I am making are really nice. This is a small project to get you started with the basics. You will learn the supplies you need to make more baskets, how to start a basket, how to coil and stitch with waxed irish linen thread, add beads, and wrap rows as well as finish your basket. #pineneedlebasketry #melissaabbottdesigns #abisart #gloucesterma #learnbasketry
https://capeannpoweryoga.com/book-abis-1 click to sign up for the pine needle basket workshop please. Limit 10 people so if you are interested sign up soon. scroll thru to find date Aug to sign up for the class. Payment is by Venmo to Elizabeth DeAngelis ( Venmo address in link) All Materials provided in a kit. Any questions or concerns or if you want to pay by cash or check please PM me. Class will be held at Abi’s 4 Art in downtown Lanesville #gloucesterma #learntomakepineneedlebaskets
Link to sign up thru Facebook: https://fb.me/e/UQoSU4l8
Link to Abi’s Art: https://bookabis4art.as.me/pine-needle-basket
Friday, February 2, 2018
Swirling Prosperity
Green jasper cabochon and beads, amethyst, chrysoprase, turquoise, and some glass beads with bees waxed irish linen thread. Florida Long leaf pine needles#merittisland #melissaabbottdesigns took one year for me to make 14”x14” by 3” high with an asymmetrical shape. “Swirling Prosperity”
Basket started winter 2017 in Merritt Island, FL and was worked on sporadically for 1 year. Finished on Feb 1, 2018 at Cocoa Beach, FL
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Heart Healer
Finished this Pine Needle Basket started in 2016 yesterday in #merrittisland #florida #pineneedlebasket #melissaabbottdesigns #paua #ruby #rosequartz #baskets
Paua Shell in center, Amethyst Beads, Ruby Zoisite ( most expensive ones in Basket), Rose Quartz, and some Czech glass beads in a few rows. Irish Waxed Linen thread, beeswax from my hives... Pine needles sourced on Merritt Island Florida after a windstorm in 2016.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Willow Lobster/Crab Traps as made in the UK called Withy Pots
Dave uses bricks to weigh down the pot, tying them to the sides of the pot to stop it moving about. Apparently they use these in small trawls with bouys on either end just like we do in Gloucester, MA.
The start of the pot is done on this wooden pillar which holds and stabilizes the beginning weave.
One of Dave's students making a full size Withy Pot.
Weaving the bottom of the Pot
Trimming off the entrance
Skeevers or sticks are used to hold the bait in the trap. I imagine they use a whole fish like they did in the old days in the wooden traps we used. My Dad always put a whole fish on a nail. These days we use bait bags.