Nature Provides

Nature Provides, is a set of five sea treasures, each with its own Reed Canary Grass cocoon basket.

When we first moved to the derelict farmhouse, that we now call home, I wanted to work only with materials that I could gather locally and preferably on our own land.

I spent the first spring and summer here, experimenting with every plant that I could find, that seemed to offer some potential. In one area of our garden, right outside the window where I now sit to work, my mystery grass was growing. I found that the blades were very strong and didn't split like many grasses do, when it was twisted. I used it for cordage and plaiting and looked forward to it growing up again this year.

I am so happy to finally have a name for this wonderful grass. The stems of Reed Canary Grass are used in traditional Cedar Bark basket making. I wanted to take a different approach though, using the blades and splitting them down into fine strips to use for my tiny coil baskets.

I have been delighted with the results and here I have used it to cocoon two shells, a piece of white sea pottery, a piece of brick and a piece of exposed aggregate, all collected on my walks around the islands.