Last week I decided to make my friend Margot a belated birthday gift. She is very crafty herself and I wanted to make her something handmade so I thought I would have a go at wrapping rocks with basket material. I have literally been collecting rocks for years and have jars and jars full of them. Plus I used to be a basket maker and have a plethora of unused reed that has not seen the light of day since we moved here twelve years ago.
I have had this idea in my head since I saw the work of Del Webber on Artisaway.com (if you haven't visited Elsa Mora's website you must go!). Del's craftsmanship is amazing and I would love to learn how to do some of the more complicated wrapping techniques.
As you can see below I ended up making three so far, but hopefully this is only the beginning. I would like to experiment with working in metal pieces or buttons.
I also loved photographing these. Everything came together perfectly. I have owned (and never used) these place mats for years and my mom had just given us a flower arrangement for our anniversary that included chrysanthemums. It is so much fun to arrange all the elements and to see how they interact and come together to create something totally new. Also, the light on the back porch was lovely and although you can't hear it through the photos, cicadas were singing in the background. The photo below is one of my favorites...maybe because it reminds me of a piece of sushi.
As I was weaving around the rock below it reminded me of making God's eyes when I was young. I can still picture my awkward and wonky creation hanging on the family room wall. I think it hung there for decades.
I usually like to end with a quote but I couldn't find anything that perfectly suited this post so I wrote a short poem.
Around smooth stones
I spin cocoons
The stone and I transform
If you are interested in my work I invite you to visit NessyPress.com.
So lovely.
ReplyDeleteThey are just beautiful, the reed looks so pristine and orderly against the smooth stones! You're so talented, I didn't know you had basket weaving skills in addition to all of your other talents.
ReplyDeleteGorgeousness!
ReplyDeleteLovely - I'm glad you reached out to Eric and I about St. E. I am enjoying your website/blog. The stones looks so peaceful - serene maybe is a better word - they evoke a sense of calm in me.
ReplyDeleteI want to see your buttons.
ReplyDeleteI design Handbags
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PAMELA L MASON
Do you make tutorials for these? They are so calming, serene, and lovely! I feel better just by looking at them. Exceptional work.
ReplyDeleteThank you J.M. I don't currently make tutorials for them. I mostly just do it by trial and error. Glad you like them!
ReplyDeleteI searched for books on the topic, but didn't find any. :~(
ReplyDeleteYour work is so beautiful, I'd like to try my hand at it.
J.M.,
ReplyDeleteI haven't come across any books on it either. The closest thing you might get is a basket-weaving book. Are you in Cincinnati? I was thinking maybe this summer I might offer a few courses on block printing on fabric, but I could also have one on rock wrapping. I also recommend picking a design you like and just trying to make it. It is best to soak the reed first in water...it helps it to tighten up when it dries.
There was a a book out- Tying it all together” the author is a fishermen, that wraps rocks in his spare time?
DeleteI live in Rhode Island. Years ago, I caned some chairs and realized things went better when the cane was wet. Easier to manipulate and better on my hands. :D Recently, I found a book called A Time to Weave by Jane Patrick. It has several weaving ideas that can be used for rocks, and one that is done with a rock. That's all I could find, but I'll take your advice and try my hand at easy designs and deconstruct them on paper before I give it a try. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of that book...I will check it out. If you've done caning you will have no problems. Let me know how it goes! I would love to see your work. -V
ReplyDeleteI love these stones. Agree with many of the comments about them looking serene and peaceful. I made a basket with willow and try my hand at tapestry weaving. How do you finish the wrapping at the back to get the ends to stay in place?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments Lyng. I gave these stones away so I don't have them in front of me to see how I finished them. But I am sure I probably tucked the loose ends in around the back. I work with wet reed so when it dries it usually tightens up a bit and things hold snug.
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to work on these cane-wrapped rocks, I find it quite slippery and hard to keep tight as I work, any tips?
ReplyDeleteI read above it will tighten as it dries, so maybe I'll just start on a more square rock - my problem seems to be it slides up to a narrower part of the rock as I work on the next wrap.
R Linden,I know exactly what you are talking about. I don't have a perfect solution for you except to try your best to keep it exactly where you want it with your free fingers and keep going to the next layer. Usually if you can get a couple more layers it will be where you want it. If it is still not where you want them you can weave a little on the backside to keep the back in place or tie a knot on the backside with thin reed to keep them where you want them.
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in making some. Any chance you can advise me on what materials to search for, weight, width and supply sites. I would appreciate any guidance you have.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to know the supplies and lists of reeds you use and where to get the supplies.
DeleteSue,
ReplyDeleteIf you send me your email address I will send you the list of reeds that I used for my class. You can email me at nessy@nessypress.com.
¡Bello!
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