A new story for my baskets.

Hello,

I am finishing this year with a last custom order. In September, during the Artisan Fair with Open Studios Hebrides I met regular customers and new people. Among them, a lady discovered my work and was really interested to offer a mini blackbird basket to her daughter-in-law. This project is very special because her daughter-in-law is blind, she can only sense some colours, the best one being purple.

This project was a good experience to work on with a new approach. I am very sensitive to the shapes, textures and colours I use and create to produce an object. But this sensitivity is about how I see them with my eyes mainly. I barely use my other senses.

And here I meet this person who tell me that it could be a very interesting gift for a non sighted person ! I was immediately seduced by the idea.

I worked this mini blackbird basket with my hand, especially to choose the driftwood. I made a selection of 4 and passed them again and again between my fingers to feel them and make my choice.

The rope is firm under my fingers, there is a succession of curved edges and wavy lines. The smoothness of the driftwood is sometime interrupted by bumps. The ends are slightly rough.

I now understand that my work is not only visual but also tactile. I had sensed it in a way because you ask me, when I meet you directly, if you can touch them, and you are always surprised of the robustness of the baskets and automatically you hold them with your 2 hands, whatever their size, you appreciate this sensation. This custom order lead me to pay more attention to this tactile aspect and I want to completely include it in my creative process.

I have already say it in previous articles but I will repeat it: you, the clients, visitors, supporters are part of my work and for this I want to thank you all.

Take Care,

Mathilde