| |
| |
|
Interior Decorating Information |
|
|
|
About Pine Needle Baskets and How to Use Them in Your Home Decor
Have you ever had the pleasure of strolling through a forest covered with fragrant pine needles? Can you imagine those pine needles being crafted into a basket, tray, or sculpture? In this article, you will discover the brief history of pine needle baskets and how to use these beautiful and fragrant works of art in your home decor. Pine needle basketry has most likely existed for as long as pine trees and people have shared the earth. Historical references do not indicate when pine needles were first used in baskets. However, due to the availability of pine needles in their area, Seminole Indians of South Florida are noted to be the first pine needle basket makers. The Seminole Indians used a bone or shell needle to sew bundles of pine needles together with fern roots, sisal, or swamp grass. Some of the baskets were used for feed baskets, to carry water, and for winnowing seeds. Modern pine needle basketry is noted to have begun during the Civil War times (1861-1865) when Mrs. M.J. McAfee of Southern Georgia used pine needles that she bound together with cotton thread to replace a worn hat for her father. She claimed to be the originator of pine needle basketry as we know it today. In the present day, pine needle baskets are most often created using the coiling technique, which is one of the oldest and most universal methods of basket making. The basket is created by coiling and stitching one continuous bundle of pine needles around and on top of the row below. The foundation of the basket is formed with a bundle of pine needles bound together with various fibers such as raffia, split roots, birch paper, yucca, sinew, embroidery thread, yarn or waxed linen thread. Decorative stitches and wrapping techniques are often used to make the basket strong as well as add an attractive element. The most common stitches used are the straight wheat stitch, spiral wheat stitch, fern stitch, popcorn stitch, diamond stitch, the Indian wrap, and numerous knot stitches. The pine needles come from a variety of different pine trees, such as Jeffrey Pine, Long Needle Pine, Monterey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Bill Pine, and Gray Pine. The pine needles are gathered from the newly fallen top layer on the forest floor or picked from a fallen tree or limb and chosen based on their flexibility and length. Once the pine needles have been collected, they are carefully washed, cured, and then stored until use. The natural colors of the pine needles can be used or the needles themselves can be dyed. Embellishments such as colored threads, buttons, beads, nut slices, and cones are often used to enhance the pine needle basket or project. Pine needle baskets make attractive statements in home decor. The following is a small list of ideas on how to use pine needle baskets to decorate your home: ? Display one or a grouping on a bookshelf to create an eye catching display. ? Use them like you would any basket to create an appealing arrangement of silk greenery to accent a special little table or chest. ? Mount a grouping of two or more baskets on a wall for interesting wall decor. ? Place dried flowers in an urn shaped pine needle basket and place it on a nightstand for a charming look next to your bed. ? Use a rounded taller version as desk organizers for your pens and pencils and a shorter version for holding your clips, rubber bands, etc. ? Place faux fruit in a pine needle basket tray for an attractive center piece on your dining room or kitchen table. As you can see, the possibilities are endless on how to use pine needle baskets in your home decor. Today, professional basket makers and hobbyists all over the world are creating these beautiful pine needle baskets. Many pine needle baskets can be found in art galleries, art and craft fairs, home decorating shops, and on the internet. Pine needle basketry is considered to be a lost art that is being revived by today's crafters and artists. With an interesting background and an exciting future, pine needle basketry and projects are sure to be around for many years to come. Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the creator/editor of The Home Decor Exchange and the Home & Garden Exchange. The Home Decor Exchange is a popular home and garden website featuring resources, articles, decorating pictures, free projects, and a shopping marketplace. The Home & Garden Exchange website is a link exchange program and directory dedicated to the home and garden industry, as well as offering free website content and promotional ideas. Please visit both websites for all of your home, garden, and website needs. http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com http://www.HomeGardenExchange.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Interior-Decorating - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Common Waterbed Sheet Materials Several materials are used to make waterbed sheets. Waterbed owners can choose between many different fabric options when buying sheets. Bedroom Furniture Buying bedroom furniture can be an exciting time; unfortunately if you have not shopped for bedroom furniture in awhile or this is your first time to buy bedroom furniture on your own you may not be well versed in the many different kinds of bedroom furniture available.Confusion about bedroom furniture often arises in the different sizes of beds and mattresses available. Bedrooms - Should Be A Safe Haven We spend a great deal of time in our bedrooms, hopefully 8 hours, and decorating ideas for them should reflect that and be well thought out. Very few other places should capture our attention like that of the bedroom. Use A Wallpaper Border For A Budget Backsplash You can add some splash to your kitchen without spending a lot of money by applying a simple wallpaper border for a backsplash. You can get a pretty good bargain on borders in the closeout bin at your wallpaper store or home improvement center, but make sure they have enough of the border to go around the area you want to cover as these bargains are usually close outs and you might not be able to get more!Since most wallpapers come pre-pasted, applying the border is easy. Cookers If you are buying a free-standing cooker, oven or hob to makeover your kitchen, you may want to consider shopping for a few other important kitchen appliances, as well. Agas and cooker hoods are both important tools for the serious cook. Using Psychology of Color to Influence the Mood of a Room The living room is the setting which will blend the people in your life into the occasions of your home. It is the hardest room to decorate because it has to be versatile, comfortable, and entertaining. You Know Your Home Dcor is Frumpy and Stale when?. As a decorator, I have gone into many different homes and met homeowners with questionable taste. One thing I am shocked about is people living in a time warp. All About Closet Organizers Most people like you love to keep everything in its place. They like also to clean up every room of the house often. A Look at Wine Glass Racks Any wine collection is not complete without a collection of wine glasses with which to drink the wine. Wine glass racks can store your stemware easily and elegantly. What You Should Know About Cheap Cuckoo Clocks There are cuckoo clocks available for people with all kinds of decorating or collecting budgets. On Ebay you'll find cheap cuckoo clocks priced from $9. A Guide to Interior Shutters We've all heard of exterior shutters. We see them on houses in every town in the country. Fresh Fruit Baskets From their inception, fresh fruit baskets were exactly that - attractive baskets filled with fresh fruit, carefully chosen and expertly arranged to appeal to customers worldwide. They gained popularity as more and more couples motored through the countryside with the advent of the automobile stopping at roadside fruit stands displaying their freshly picked wares. What Should You Know About House Flooring Having a nice house is everyone dreams. In fact, everybody wants to have their own house. The Magic of Design There was a time people thought the world was flat. At another point in history it was believed that women didn't have the know-how to run a business or change a tire. Top Tips for Keeping Your Home Tidy You've got so much tidying to do, so little time. So what's a person to do? You can either lower your standards and just ignore the mess, or you can think smart and keep your house tidy with little effort. Candle Making Supplies Candle making can be a fun creative hobby. It can also be a great business opportunity. How To Install Window Treatments Like A Pro Tools needed: a battery operated screwdriver, screwdriver bits (Phillips and standard), hex head driver, tape measure, and scissors. Although no special tools are usually required when installing window treatments, it is suggested that you use a battery operated screwdriver or drill to make the job easier. Making Your Home Blossom is Easy Having trouble getting a room in your home to have that certain charm you're looking for? Searching for that perfect painting, sculpture, or table lamp can often be time-consuming, pricey, and/or lead to fights with your spouse. But, one simple and often overlooked way to add harmony to any room is with fresh cut flowers. Do You Really Want The Ceiling Fan Above The Bed? I love the decorative look of a ceiling fan as much as the next person, but there are things to consider when you put one in your house; especially the bedroom. Ceiling fans make wonderful decorating and utilitarian statements in a room. Childrens Furniture Children's bedroom furniture and nursery furniture can help turn a bland and boring bedroom into a fun and cozy retreat. Since there is a wide range of designs and materials available, you can find the perfect children's furniture for your child's bedroom, whether you prefer a whimsical decorating style or practical, sturdy pieces.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |