Rose Sward

Middleburg, FL

Artist Statement:

Hi, I am Rose Sward.
I live in Middleburg Florida and I’m a Pine Needle Artist.
I have been making pine needle creations for going on 5 years. I am self taught and thoroughly enjoy using the talent God gave me to create these one of a kind pieces of art.
All the pine needles I use are picked up by hand, by my family, out of my daughters yard in Middleburg Florida.
Once they are picked up I put them in a tub and pour boiling water over them along with glycerin dish soap, soak them for 30 min., rinse them and pull the caps off the ends. Once they are soaked they become pliable and easier to manipulate.
The needles are kept slightly damp and sewn in a coil style with heavy thread. Sometime the pine needles are sewn on to dried gourds, or have other items added to them such as stones, driftwood, deer antlers, seeds, shells and glass or ceramic beads.
Once a creation is complete it is left to dry for 3 – 4 days and then sprayed it with a light coat of lacquer.
The process is long and not always easy but its worth it when I see the look on peoples faces when I tell them, “These are created with pine needles”