Gardening, growing plants, and being outdoors close to nature are things Jane likes to do. Never willing to let winter put a stop to gardening, Jane started making baskets with the tail-end of a fall's garden gleanings on a crisp afternoon just before there was sure to be a hard freeze. Jane wanted to have something from her garden to enjoy over winter to tide her over until spring. Things have evolved, now Jane purposefully grows and gathers basket-making materials. Anytime after the last leaf has fallen from the trees, but before the first leaf buds, Jane prunes trees, bushes, and vines specifically planted in her gardens for making baskets. She uses the branches and twigs in creating her sculptural baskets. Twigs that have been pre-dried are used as support; otherwise, Jane uses the fresh-cut flexible trimmings to weave into basket forms. In using natural materials, Jane has found one has to be able to work with the medium, not against it. It takes a sensitivity that comes from listening to what your hands are feeling in the materials. Some commercially purchased basketry materials that require soaking before being woven are used to add elements of variety. The various colors in the baskets are due to the natural color of the weaving materials. Once a basket is completed, it is allowed to dry, then sprayed with a clear satin finish. The overall form of these baskets is visually intriguing. Having both the interior and the exterior exposed adds to the dynamics of the pieces. Consider using these pieces as free-standing sculptures, or mount any of the baskets on a wall at eye-level or higher to make quite statement.
