Our Friends
Bob's Story
Bob made his living as a mechanic in the oilfield but had to find new work when the oil industry went bust in the 80's. He has worked with wood most of his life. He began building furniture; tables, chairs, gun cabinets, etc. to sell at craft shows. In 1992 he decided he wanted to create something more unique. His wife, Lottie, suggested basket weaving. He is self-taught in his art. He does all the stripping from cypress boards to make the materials for the baskets. He developed the design based on a basket that his wife's grandmother used to have. The basket was used for a number of household chores; from picking vegetables out of the garden to carrying wash out to hang on the clothesline.
The baskets Bob makes today are made to be used for many modern household chores. He makes small to large sets of nesting baskets; picnic baskets, large hampers, trash cans and many sizes in between.
Bob has done renovation work on homes in the St. Mary Parish area. This enabled him to save pieces of old trees that were blown down by a hurricane or other storms. He also buys salvaged wood from other wood workers. He does not cut down trees: he recycles the ones nature gives him.
Sinker Cypress
Cypress trees are synonymous with Louisiana. It is a symbol of our culture and a part of our heritage. During the 1800's logging companies began harvesting virgin cypress trees from our bayous and swamps. Many of these trees were hundreds of years old and massive in size. Once cut they were then floated down the rivers and bayous to sawmills throughout south Louisiana. Many logs were lost during transit only to sink to the muddy bottoms where they stayed for over two hundred years. Recently recovered logs are called "Sinker Cypress". The color of the wood comes from the minerals and sediment in the mud the tree has been buried in for all those years. These tints can be green, red, tan or cinnamon brown. Many people are captivated by owning something that is a part of a different time and place. Bob has crafted many new pieces with red and green sinker cypress creating a true Louisiana treasure.