Pine Needle Basketry 2 | Beading Classes:-:

Pine Needle Basketry 2 | Beading Classes:-: Today I will be teaching  at Harlequin Beads in Eugene, Oregon and am getting my beads, feathers, buttons, wire and all the fun things that help to add beauty to a pine needle basket.
When I started making  baskets in the 80's I only wove with raffia and learned many stitches and techniques with this natural fiber. Through the years I have added other fibers and treasures to my creations. Those are the things I will be teaching today. Today the class will be about adding Bling  to your basket or maybe you want to make a necklace!

Elk, out my back door.

We live in a  scenic area with very few neighbors  and have the awesome joy of having a herd of elk visit us on a regular basis.
Yesterday was the first time this season they brought out their calves in our back field. They do this every May,  so this year I was wondering when I would see them.
 For about a week there have been only a few coming from the woods out back,  not the usual 20-40 we usually see.
There are nights they sleep in the field and we wake up to them, sometimes having breakfast on my flowers.

 Although I am an avid gardener of mainly flowers, the vegies are fenced in, and every year  I loose many plants, I still relish cohabitating with them.
Just another day in paradise!
www.pineneedlecreation.com

CBBG Tidal Twinings 2013 Fall workshops "It's Our Nature"

I will be teaching a basket making workshop (Pine Needles) of course in September in Rockaway Oregon.
It feels like a great honor to be a part of these very talented artists whose work  has inspired me. The theme name of this years event is "It's Our Nature".
Check out the web page and register for one of these workshops at this site. Hope to see you there.http://www.basketryguild.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/2013FallRetreat.11602802.pdf

A little bit about myself

If you read the interview on me by Create! Eugene http://createeugene.com/2013/06/meet-the-artist-sheri-smith-pine-needle-creations/ , you know a little bit about me.
I am an artist, but as most artists, I don't make a living at it. That is the dream of course, although I think teaching my basket making skills will allow me to create and share my passion at the same time.
Since the  Holiday Farm Restaurant burned down last April 2, 2012 my life has changed considerably. Although I relish me evenings at home  and my free weekends, my income has diminished considerably.
Prior to the fire I had been a landscaper by day and I continue to do this.  I get my creative juices out my designing and planting gardens. I love perennial gardens with loads of flowers and texture.
I am currently working on an amazing landscape on the river with a canal running through it as well. It has been a life saver in many ways.
Gardening and basket making seem to go hand in hand!

This is an article that I did with Create! Eugene/ Eugene A Go Go

http://createeugene.com/2013/06/meet-the-artist-sheri-smith-pine-needle-creations/