Sharron Eckert Featured Artist

Sharron Eckert Met regularly throughout 1998 with master teacher, Elisabeth McCutcheon, for individualized instruction in pine needle craft. Elizabeth prefers the traditional materials and methods, emphasizing natural raffia as the thread for coiling and for embroidering the teneriffe (the center).

In 2002, Sharron participated in a class taught by master crafter, Judy Mofield Mallow, who introduced her to other threads and natural materials. Ms. Mallow is a fifth-generation pine needle basketmaker whose work is displayed in museums and sold at fine galleries and craft fairs along the eastern seaboard.

Sharron has demonstrated work with pine needles at both local and reginal festivals. Her work has been accepted for the consignment gallery at The Appalachian Center for Crafts (Joe L. Evins) in Smithville, Tennessee. In 2003, two of her pieces were accepted for the annual Open Juried Show at the Oak Ridge Art Center, with one of the pieces, "Plaid Raffia", being award Honorable Mention. She received a Blue Ribbon for "Mirror Swirl" at the Annual Awards Show of The Art Guild at Fairfield Glade.

Sharron uses various threads including waxed linen and raffia. Her Centers are often the embroidered teneriffe using raffia, or nuts or wood. She also uses sculpted gourds as a base for the pine needles.

Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Agate "Blue Agate Bowl"	Pine Needles, Raffia, Yarn "Patterned and Free"		Basketry, "Blue Curved Gourd"
Pine Needles, Raffia "Starburst"	Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Wood "Tri Colored Thread Basket"		Pine Needles, Raffia "3 Inch Bowl"
Basketry, "Red Gourd"	Pine Needles, Raffia "Swirl Mirror"		Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Wood "Black Thread Pointer Plate"
Pine Needles, Raffia, Walnut Slice "Nut Handle Bowl	Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Agate "Grey Agate Bowl"		Basketry, "Lavender Gourd"
Pine Needles, Raffia, Yarn "Mirror Yarn"	Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Wood "Martha and Will, 50th"		Pine Needles, Raffia "3 Ring Teneriffe"
Basketry, "Green Gourd"	Pine Needles, Raffia "Pine Canoe"		Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Walnut Slice "Square and Round Nut Basket"
Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Walnut Slice "Nut Center Bowl"	Basketry, "Purple Gourd"		Pine Needles, Waxed Linen Thread, Wood "Wooden Center Plate"
Pine Needles, Raffia "Flower Center Bowl"	Pine Needles, Raffia, Wood "Wooden Center Small Handle"		Pine Needles, Raffia "Pine and Plaid"
		Sharron is shown demonstrating her work at a local festival. Traditional Pine Needle Raffia Basketry is a coiling technique using long leaf pine needles and raffia. Pine needles of 12-13 inches in length result in a smoother item than shorter needles. Raffia is a natural material made from the leaf stalks of the raffia palm. It can be shredded into suitable widths for use as fine thread. Currently centers can be wood, nuts or other materials, but for traditional centers, intricate teneriffe patterns are embroidered with raffia on wire shapes and woven in open spaces.