After a months-long hiatus, it’s time to get back to writing about how I made Harvest Time. Yes, even after 7 parts, there’s more to show! In Part 8, I share photos and commentary about the miniature storage containers that the wee folk used to hold and haul their produce both above and below ground.

So far, I’ve written the following posts about Harvest Time:
The overview introduces the piece.
Part 1 features moss making.
Part 2 is about making the turkey tail mushroom.
Part 3 shows the construction of felt leaves.
Part 4 gives a peek at embroidering the plants.
Part 5 is about making the toadstool mushroom.
Part 6 covers the underground tunnels, roots and stones.
Part 7 shows how I made the wee folk harvesters

This past year, I’ve focused on completing the Four Seasons series, so that all 4 scenes could be included in my exhibition in Vermont, which will be on view for 3 more weeks. The Wee Worlds of Salley Mavor is at the Southern Vermont Arts Center until Jan. 7, 2024. Thank you to all of you who’ve traveled from near and far to see my work in person. Your enthusiastic response makes me feel that all the stitching is worth the effort!

During the months that I worked on the landscape and figures for this piece, I looked forward to creating the storage containers, like the promise of something sweet at the end of a meal. Throughout the process, there were many moments of busy work when I let my mind think ahead and plan out future stages of the project.

I envisioned baskets, sacks and barrels made to scale with felt, beads, wire and thread. The containers didn’t have to actually be woven or hold anything, they just had to look convincing.

I searched through my collection of beads and put aside several candidates that were the right size and shape. As you might imagine, I have a lifetime supply of beads to choose from!

Using an oval wooden bead as a form, I wove a basket by creating the warp and weft with wool/silk yarn.

Nestled in with the baskets are some rustic clay beads that worked just fine without embellishment.

This wheelbarrow is modeled after one that my grandmother used in her garden. Her’s was designed to carry a bushel basket that could be removed.

I made the basic basket shape out of felt and then stitched it with wool/silk yarn. The tricky part was making it appear 3-dimensional when it’s actually quite flat.

I constructed the wheelbarrow’s handles and stand out of wire, which I wrapped with brown embroidery floss. The whole thing is less than half an inch deep.

For some containers, I covered beads with felt first and then stitched a woven pattern onto the felt.

Wire also came in handy for adding structure to the top rim of some baskets.

I sewed glass beads inside the baskets, taking care to hide the thread as much as possible. The wee folk have stored a goodly stash that should help sustain them through the cold winter ahead.

Stay tuned for Part 9, which will be the last post in the Harvest Time series. It’ll be about making the embroidered trees in the background sky. I promise not to make you wait for months to see it!

In the coming year, I will share photos, videos and commentary about making Summertime, which you get a glimpse of in this post.

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