I am a transplant from North Louisiana living in New Iberia since 1985.  I have been a crafter all of my life thanks to my grandmother.  With a degree in art education from La. Tech,  I taught in Louisiana public schools for 25 years before retiring in 2007.  For the last 10 years, I taught art and was able to include in the course work pine needle baskets as well as other fine crafts.  I learned the art of pine needle basket making from Andrea Thompson, a Miss. Artist, who taught a class at the public library.  After about 4 years of working constantly at basket making, I had my first showing at an arts festival in my hometown.  I was encouraged to display my baskets the following fall at Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette.  Over the years I have done demonstrations, taught workshops, and exhibited my basketwork in galleries and craft shows.  I achieved the level of Master Artisan in the Louisiana Crafts Guild in 2008.

A basket begins with a tiny coil called a worm.  From this wee beginning an adventure unfolds.  It is always a mystery story that builds until it ends.  The most common question is, “ How long did it take to make?”  The answer is, “As long as it took!”  The process is time consuming, but I never watch the clock.  I find the process soothing to the mind and spirit, much like meditation.  The work brings a great deal of personal satisfaction and inner peace to me.  Oh, and by the way, I don’t think I am really a basket case.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Louisiana Crafts Guild, my teachers, my family, and my friends who have encouraged me and made it possible for me to continue practicing  my craft.  I especially want to thank my precious daughter- in-law, Hannah Killgore, whose beautiful photography and graphic skills have helped make this show possible.  A special thanks to my husband, John, without whom, I truly would be “  A BASKET CASE!”