Curves: Weekly Photo Challenge

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”

Phyllis Diller

SWEETGRASS

This week our photo challenge, Curves, was timed beautifully as my husband and I had just spent a day sharing our beautiful city with some out-of-town guests. One of the highlights of our lovely Charleston is the beautiful work local Gullah artisans do to create sweetgrass baskets. Skills that were originally brought with slaves in the early 1700s and handed down for many generations, the baskets are made from the grasses and reeds that grow in our sandy soil. The baskets of Mary Jackson are featured in the Smithsonian American Art museum, which notes the graceful curves of her work.

Many thanks to those who sent along birthday wishes for my husband. Our celebration was a great success and we especially enjoyed sharing it with so many of our friends and family members.

Tags: sweetgrass, weekly photo challenge

84 thoughts on “Curves: Weekly Photo Challenge”

Keith Haney on July 1, 2016 at 7:14 pm said:

I love it. Great shot.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:42 am said:
  
  Thank you Keith
  
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Peta Kaplan on June 30, 2016 at 6:21 am said:

Gorgeous very evocative photo!

Peta

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:39 am said:
  
  Many thanks Peta!
  
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Svetlana Grobman on June 27, 2016 at 9:22 am said:

Hi Tina,

Beautiful portrait! (I know it is a funny way of talking about an object, but that’s how it feels to me:)).

How’s your summer going?
Svetlana

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:35 am said:
  
  HI Svetlana! Summer’s been great. Big road trip they the Pacific Northwest underway making it difficult to post and follow friends’ blogs but otherwise terrific! Thanks for stopping in!
  
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Jane Lurie on June 25, 2016 at 2:02 pm said:

Beautiful basket detail, T. The post-processing looks quite painterly.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:30 am said:
  
  Thanks Jane, interesting “painterly” description. It was actually a book cover in a shop window. Very little post processing because the subject itself was painterly 😊
  
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  - Jane Lurie on July 3, 2016 at 1:54 pm said:
    
    That explains it!
rabirius on June 25, 2016 at 7:44 am said:

Excellent.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:24 am said:
  
  Thanks Rabirius
  
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Tiny on June 23, 2016 at 3:36 pm said:

Elegant, clean curves! Beautifully captured.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:23 am said:
  
  Thanks Timy, they’re beautiful in person
  
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Yousuf Bawany on June 22, 2016 at 11:52 am said:

Very beautiful perspective; the intricately woven basket is a true work of art. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:20 am said:
  
  Thank you Yousuf, it’s a wonderful art passed down for many generations. We are lucky to have it so prevalent here.
  
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  - Yousuf Bawany on July 3, 2016 at 12:12 pm said:
    
    They are really beautiful. 🙂
norasphotos4u on June 21, 2016 at 9:11 pm said:

Beautiful artwork displayed in your photo

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:17 am said:
  
  Many thanks Nora!
  
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Amy on June 21, 2016 at 6:53 pm said:

Elegant, beautiful basket via your lens!
Thank you for sharing, Tina. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:15 am said:
  
  Many thanks Amy!
  
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Retired2Travel on June 21, 2016 at 7:17 am said:

Beautifully caught Tina. I love it!

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:11 am said:
  
  Many thanks R2T, they’re quite the local favorites!
  
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Eduardo@Andaremos on June 20, 2016 at 12:53 am said:

You made it glow Tina. I love baskets. They are so … Organic.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:08 am said:
  
  Thanks Eduardo, they are indeed
  
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mithriluna on June 19, 2016 at 10:11 pm said:

How beautiful Tina!

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:01 am said:
  
  Many thanks Mithriluna!
  
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Mary Lynn on June 19, 2016 at 10:09 pm said:

what a beautiful look to a Charleston classic we’ve become accustomed to. Love the lighting!

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:02 am said:
  
  Thanks ML, interestingly I took this one thru a shop window 😊
  
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pattimoed on June 19, 2016 at 6:41 pm said:

Beautiful and graceful curves, Tina. A very happy birthday to your husband, too. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 11:01 am said:
  
  Thanks Patti, and my husband thanks you too😊😊
  
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Leya on June 19, 2016 at 6:34 pm said:

Everything is beautiful about this. Harmony in colours as well.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:58 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Leya. BTW I tried to comment on your last post and it crashed my app 3 times so I gave up. Sorry😒
  
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lexklein on June 19, 2016 at 1:59 pm said:

Did you feature these baskets in another post a while ago? I was taken with the sinuous curves then (I think) and am still now! Beautiful photo of a beautiful piece of art.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:53 am said:
  
  Wow lex, excellent memory. I did indeed feature it in an earlier post 😊 thought it was long enough ago that no one would remember!
  
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  - lexklein on July 3, 2016 at 11:29 am said:
    
    Must be that the photo was so good it stuck in my mind!
wanderingcows on June 19, 2016 at 11:55 am said:

Beautiful. I love the textures.

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:48 am said:
  
  Thanks WC, they do turn nature into art, don’t they?
  
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restlessjo on June 19, 2016 at 11:31 am said:

That smiley quote! Perfection 🙂 🙂

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- rxfrazier on July 2, 2016 at 12:46 pm said:
  
  👍
  
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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:44 am said:
  
  Thanks Jo, I liked that one too!!
  
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tgeriatrix on June 19, 2016 at 11:05 am said:

Very beautiful picture of beautiful baskets!

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:41 am said:
  
  Many thanks!
  
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sustainabilitea on June 19, 2016 at 10:34 am said:

What a beauty, Tina! I’ve read a lot about these baskets.

janet

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:39 am said:
  
  Thanks Janet, they are a beautiful but dying art.
  
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thirdeyemom on June 19, 2016 at 10:14 am said:

Beautiful Tina!

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:36 am said:
  
  Thx Nicole
  
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Grace on June 19, 2016 at 10:13 am said:

Such a beautiful shot, Tina! I love the intricacy of the weaving. Have a lovely week! xx

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:33 am said:
  
  Thanks Grace. Hope alls well with you, you’ve not been posting lately.
  
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  - Grace on July 6, 2016 at 6:24 pm said:
    
    Thank you, Tina. We were away on an anniversary trip and then arrived home to news that my brother has cancer. It’s been a difficult week but hopefully I will be posting again next week. ❤
  - Tina Schell on July 7, 2016 at 2:00 am said:
    
    So sorry to hear that Grace. Hope he fights a good fight!
april kanew on June 19, 2016 at 10:02 am said:

great example of curves!! i always get a warm feeling when i see sweetgrass baskets as it brings me back home!! thanx😘

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:30 am said:
  
  I agree April!
  
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Susan Gutterman on June 19, 2016 at 9:55 am said:

We loved your beautiful city and admired the sweet grass baskets!

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:31 am said:
  
  Glad to hear it Susan, thanks! We are transplants but we love it down here.
  
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Judi Schaeffer on June 19, 2016 at 9:54 am said:

Happy belated birthday Bailey!

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:28 am said:
  
  😊 thanks Jude!
  
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Prior-2001 on June 19, 2016 at 9:50 am said:

I almost thought this GOLD – and then to hear it is a basket – well quite an artsy basket photo Tina – it has so many dimensions….
and glad you are not too post-party exhausted….

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- Tina Schell on July 3, 2016 at 10:27 am said:
  
  Thanks Yvette, the baskets nearly do glow in the sun. They’re quite special
  
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  - Prior-2001 on July 3, 2016 at 2:57 pm said:
    
    😉 ☀️☀️
Chillbrook on June 19, 2016 at 9:25 am said:

Beautiful work photographed beautifully! 🙂

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 12:04 pm said:
  
  Thanks Adrian – it’s a shame that the skills are dying out with the new generation.
  
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Mary on June 19, 2016 at 9:15 am said:

I bet those are beautiful to see, and wonderful to smell. I love sweetgrass.

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 12:04 pm said:
  
  You’re right Mary, it has a very distinctive smell that I love as well. Thanks for stopping by!
  
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janeiwan on June 19, 2016 at 9:11 am said:

What a beautiful post!

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 12:01 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jane – they’re beautiful works of art aren’t they – you could do a beautiful painting of them girlfriend!
  
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anotherday2paradise on June 19, 2016 at 9:03 am said:

A wonderful image for the challenge, Tina. Such lovely work. Happy that your husband had such a wonderful birthday celebration. I wish him many more. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 12:00 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Sylvia – it was terrific and I’m very happy it’s over!
  
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  - anotherday2paradise on July 2, 2016 at 12:07 pm said:
    
    😅
Mabel Kwong on June 19, 2016 at 8:41 am said:

Such a simple yet so beautiful interpretation of this week’s theme, Tina. A smile can do wonders, be it smiling at someone or smiling to yourself. Hope it was a good day with the out-of-towners, and hope they got to learn about the sweetgrass baskets. It is a lovely capture there of one of them and this one looks like it’s glowing gold at the handles 😀 Wonderfully framed 🙂

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 11:40 am said:
  
  Thanks Mabel – it was a beautiful (if hot) day and our visitors took home a lovely bread basket as well as a photo with the artist. The basket in the photo was actually the cover of a book that I shot through a shop window – ya never know do you!?
  
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Sue on June 19, 2016 at 8:36 am said:

Lovely curves here, Tina!

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 11:39 am said:
  
  Thanks Sue!
  
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Linda Wyatt on June 19, 2016 at 8:18 am said:

A basketful of thanks for all the smiles your photos put on our faces!

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 11:37 am said:
  
  Thanks GF! Thanks for the smiles back 🙂
  
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grammiekiawah on June 19, 2016 at 8:09 am said:

I am sending you a very large “curvy” smile. Just picture it!

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 11:37 am said:
  
  Got it! Thanks Suz 😊
  
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DailyMusings on June 19, 2016 at 7:56 am said:

wonderful curves and wonderful saying

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 11:36 am said:
  
  Thanks DM!
  
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Miriam on June 19, 2016 at 7:37 am said:

What a wonderful photo and accompanying words.

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 11:35 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Miriam!
  
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Oh, the Places We See on June 19, 2016 at 7:32 am said:

Over the years, we’ve bought several of these baskets. I’ve even photographed the makers and sometimes their family members who sell from their stands along the highway. I love the composition, the workmanship, and the products. But I really, really love your perspective in this photo! You’ve created an additional masterpiece!

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- Tina Schell on July 2, 2016 at 11:33 am said:
  
  Thanks so much, I too am a big fan of these baskets and the crafstmanship that goes into them. Hope you European adventure is going well!
  
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  - Oh, the Places We See on July 20, 2016 at 8:45 am said:
    
    We’re back from the European adventure. Saw a few great baskets in Romania, but no room in suitcase for any of them. Headed to Pawleys Island for a few days, and I’ll probably see some of the Gullah baskets then. Hope your summer is going well.