Monday, June 19, 2017

Pine Needle Baskets

It was a beautiful day at Sholom Park when I walked last Thursday morning.


And imagine my surprise when I met two lovely ladies, picking pine needles out of the shrubs. 


 I knew immediately what they were doing because we've bought some of the Pine Needle Baskets at Art Fairs here in Florida. I stopped and talked to them both and took a few pics of them gathering their supplies.


I came home and did a little research on the history of Pine Needle Baskets.


According to the website HERE

"A pine needle is the leaf off the pine tree. The technique of creating crafts from pine needles is called coiling. It is one of the oldest forms of basket weaving in the world.
The Seminoles were needle basket weavers. They would use their baskets to carry and store goods in. Their baskets were woven so tightly they would even hold water. The Seminoles utilized a sea shell as a sewing needle to sew bundles of pine needles together with sisal or swamp grass.

Sadly pine needle art is another example of an early American craft being lost to time. It can take up to 20 hours just to create a small bowl. Today pine needle baskets and trays are considered works of art and you are most likely to see them in museums or collections." 


I'm so happy to have a few of these baskets and would love to find more. 


They look pretty on display with any number of things in them. 


I have seashells in one and my husband's little turtle collection in another one.

 
Have you seen anything out of the ordinary this week?

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE.

37 comments:

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...


well now I have! I have never seen or heard of pine needles weaving before, thanks for the introduction! They are lovely..

Stacey said...

I've never seen pine needle baskets but they are beautiful! I bet you never meet a stranger on your walks. ;)

Out of the ordinary - my dad moved into his new historic home last month. There seems to be a resident rat living in the storage shed behind his house. It practically joins the conversation when you are out in the yard. He's so cute!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, this park sounds like a great spot for your walks. I did not know about the pine needle art. the baskets are beautifully done. I love your shell and turtle baskets. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What wonderful baskets!

Decor To Adore said...

I have seen a few pine needle baskets and they truly are works of art. So wonderful to learn a bit of history behind them. Have a lovely day!

Maggie said...

how fascinating I shall look for a pine needle basket when we visit Florida next month. Our weather this week is very much like the weather we're anticipating during our vacation and already my husband is complaining! The most unusual thing to have happened here was on Saturday night when our neighbours held a big party complete with fireworks at midnight and at 1.00 am directly across several fields from us a firework display worthy of WDW woke us up, M,selle Fleur was terrified and tried to climb into bed with us! We live in rural Normandy for heavens sake, this sort of thing never happens here and then there were 2 in one night!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Those baskets are lovely! I love hand made things and craft fairs are where you find them mostly these days. It's been so hot but a trip to the mountains was a fun getaway last week for me. Hugs!

Tomoko said...

It is very interesting to see the pine needle bowls and to know of its history.
They are so elegant, and of course your seashells and your husband’s turtles in the bowls are pretty. I hope I could see pine needle bowls in a museum in person, some day!I am always interested in handmade tools woven with natural plants.Thank you for sharing. Happy day to you!

Vee said...

How interesting! They are beautiful and nothing that I have seen before visiting you. Maybe you can find a class!

SImple and Serene Living said...

I purchased a book on Ebay a few years ago on making pine needle baskets and I have never done it. I need to take it out and look at it again. They are so beautiful. xo Laura

Janey and Co. said...

Well...that is something new to me. I use to hate the pine needle that fell on our driveway in. Oust on. never knew I could be using them to make a basket!

Yes, I did see something unusual this week. A mountain Lion ran out from under the deck when I was on it. thankfully he was in a hurry to get away!

Arlene G said...

That is similar to the old basket I shared from the Vann House, Diane. It is an art. I am glad some people are keeping it going.

Susie said...

Diane, What a cute post. I loved learning about the baskets. Your shell collection and your hubby's turtles are so nice. Love the pictures. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

I've never heard of pine needle baskets. Yours are very pretty. Our neighbors white pines are dropping needles now. I imagine it takes quite a lot of needles to make a basket. Have a nice afternoon. ♥

Rose said...

I had never heard of pine needle baskets, but do have a couple sweet grass baskets.. These are wonderful...

Jeanie said...

If you ever want to take up pine needling, I'll be happy to send you loads from our pines up north -- nice, long needles that cover the back yard! I love the name of your park, Diane!

Linda H said...

My mother had a similar basket, purchased in FL I'm sure as my parents traveled to FL many times. Guess I never realized it was made from pine needles. If you decide to take it up as a hobby, we could send you a truckload of needles. We have a very tall pine hedge with about 40 trees, each about 60' tall... Lots of needles!

Cherdecor said...

I never heard of pine needle baskets. Thank you for sharing your basket with us. They are so neat and definitely an artform.

Connie said...

These bring back memories. When I was a little girl and we lived in Largo (not the island but the city near Clearwater) The ladies would sit in the shade together and visit while working on pine needle baskets. I would walk around and gather pine needles for them. I've always loved these baskets, they are so pretty and they hold a special place in my heart, of childhood memories :)

handmade by amalia said...

We have a lot of pine woods around here. I'm amazed I've not come across this beautiful craft before.
Amalia
xo

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

I've never seen a pine needle basket. I'd love to see one being made.

Jeannie Marie said...

That was fascinating, I haven't seen the pine needle baskets before and was so glad you posted some examples. How fun to run into people involved in old crafts. I did a post when I ran into a lady making and selling Sweet Grass Baskets in South Carolina. Also new to me. I loved a well made beautiful basket. Nice to stop in again. I'm up in Ohio for awhile but will be back before winter sets in!

Anonymous said...

How interesting to have happened upon these ladies! I have seen the basket at craft fairs and enjoyed reading the history and photos you shared here. Blessings to you today.

Sylvia said...

Hi, I did not know about pine needle baskets either. Thanks for sharing a little about the craft. Love to learn new things. Have a great week. Sylvia D.

Acorn to Oak said...

I love pine needle baskets and have wanted to learn to make them. Maybe someday. In the meantime, I'll just admire them. That one you showed in the first photo sure has a pretty design!

A Casa Madeira said...

These sea shells are beautiful.
I loved the pictures.
Good continuation of the week.

happyone said...

What pretty baskets they are. I've never heard of them either.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Those are wonderful baskets. We saw a movie about how they make them and one of the Shell needles and some sample baskets at a visitor center on Pine Island near where we live in Florida. There is an Indian Mound memorial park.

Deborah Montgomery said...

Those are beautiful works of art. I've only seen pillows stuffed with pine needles for the smell of pine. I imagine that would be much easier to make one of those! It is wonderful to see people trying to keep up the old arts. xo Deborah

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Diane, what a fun walk and to meet up with these crafty ladies. Love the pine needle baskets. They are beautiful works of art using nature. I love this!!
Thanks for sharing the info too. Wishing you a very Happy Summer Sweet friend. xoxo

Lowcarb team member said...

I'd not heard of these before, but aren't they great.
Love how you've done your mosaic.

Hope your week is going well

All the best Jan

Anonymous said...

Diane, I've not seen pine needle baskets before. How interesting! I wonder if the pine needles are hard to work with?

Happy@Home said...

How pretty they are. Although we are surrounded by pine trees and pine needles too, I have never seen a basket made from them. I do have a sweet grass basket that I bought in Charleston.

Red Rose Alley said...

That is such a pretty pine needle basket. All the work that goes into it is amazing. wow, they're so tightly woven they could even hold water. You don't see these beautiful baskets that much any more. I'm glad you have a couple. Love those little turtles. : )

~Sheri

Cranberry Morning said...

How interesting and pretty those baskets are! I've woven baskets, but with reed, not with pine needles. They must be so slippery to work with. So nice that someone's doing that! Have a great rest of your week, Diane!

BeachGypsy said...

hello my sweet friend! I've seen many of the ladies making the sweet grass baskets here, but never have I seen the baskets like in your post! I love to see new things and learn about them! Hope y'all are doing well.....I'm trying to get caught up with everybody, and I've been busy tonight reading back posts and trying to catch up! Is it very hot there? It's been hot here and lots of small rains.....the gardens are loving it and growing fast. Y'all got any big weekend plans?

Jaybird said...

I have a pine needle tray that was made in central Florida about 55 years ago. It has a wooden bottom and the sides and handles are tied onto it and then woven up. I am afraid that it is getting brittle, so I hung it up and use it for a picture frame for one of the grand kiddos. Your bowls are lovely!! Thank you for the story.
Blessings,
J