When people see these sculptures, they usually ask questions, such as:
- How long does it take you to make a basket?
- How did you ever come up with this idea?
- Where do the stones come from?
- Why do you use both sterling silver and "Argentium" Sterling Silver?
I have been a stone and beach glass collector for as long as I can remember. Stones are resting around our house in various vessels both inside and out. When Bruce and I moved from Maine to Florida, of course the stones traveled with us. All the stones used in the bases were collected from many beaches along the Coast of Maine.
During my vacation to Maine last summer (2004), I was picking up stones with my best friend, Kate. Actually, she watched me pick up stones, as she meditated on the rocky outcropping overlooking the beach. I had a brainstorm! "I can make sterling silver baskets and put stones into the bases. I can also make sterling silver serving utensils, like forks and spoons with stone handles. This could be my new direction and departure from jewelry!" I was so excited that when I got home I went right to work putting my theory into action; the first basket was copper and THE PROCESS WORKED! I was off and running. I dug through all my stones and found several perfect specimens. Before I knew it, I was experimenting with adding cabochons on the posts and beads in the weave. These baskets sculptures are delicate, because the sterling weaving wire needs to be thin in order to accommodate the tiny beads woven in.
Each basket has proven to be a very exciting and unique personal experience for me. The time it takes to create one of these sculptures is dependant on the complexity of the design. I am a perfectionist. When I make jewelry, sometimes the process is tedious. Making these beautiful sculptures has freed me. I now create with a very playful attitude. I have a dozen more baskets planned, each with a very different look and I have no desire to make two the same. It's usually the stone that drives the shape and color theme. It's so much fun to create something that I know has never been done before. In fact these baskets are so different, the base assembly has a copyright.
My mind is constantly working to improve the product. In the planning/design stage the big question, "what-if?" is ever present. So, there are two new improvements planned for my line going forward. The first is the use of "Argentium" Sterling Silver (a patented product, US Patent No.6,168,071). This is an anti-oxidizing silver, which is extremely tarnish resistant. The need to clean this silver is virtually eliminated. I am discontinuing the use of regular sterling silver. The second improvement is, the stones used in the bases are tumbled. I am using granite and other tight-celled hard stones that bring up a light shine when tumbled. The tumbling process takes about 21 days. The light shine helps to resist finger oils (which can be washed off from the non tumbled stones with soap and water).
This summer I will be working on the serving pieces with stone handles.
I hope you enjoy my baskets as much as I do. Please drop me a line and share any thoughts you might have.
Thank you.
