Workshop: Mini Pine Needle Basket

The Space Coast Weavers and Fiber Artists will meet on Saturday at the Merritt Island Public Library.

Fonda Haddad of Mims will present a workshop: "Making a Mini Pine Needle Basket with an Ornamental Center."

Fonda has been making baskets for 50 years, primarily Appalachian style, but currently twined reed and coiled pine needle baskets. She uses gourd shards, seed pods, stones, and jewelry pieces for the center and embellishments. Fonda is one of the founders of the Space Coast Weavers and a member of Florida Tropical Weavers Guild. She frequently conducts workshops for both groups. She teaches gourd crafting and basketry at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.

Fonda will bring a selection of centers as well as dyed and natural pine needles. We will dampen the pine needles, trim the tips and attach them to the centers using waxed linen or cotton thread. Then we will continue to coil and attach the pine needles to form the sides of the basket.

Fee for the workshop is $10. Students should bring an old towel and scissors. Fonda will supply everything else. You may bring your own center, no bigger than 2 inches wide with holes drilled all around the edges.