Here is a picture of my basket made from nature. (Two angles). I picked a base twig with a cool, natural loop in it, thinking I could hang this basket from that end. Eventually, when I put it in my writing room I’ll do just that, but for picture sake, it is resting now on a sheet. I was sort of annoyed that Mark took the picture before I had a chance to “clean up” the basket. That is when you tuck in and tie off little ends of material in the weave. You wait for the project to dry a bit before doing this step. So if any basket connoisseurs are out there thinking I am a sloppy basket maker – well, it is only because you are peeking before I had a chance to tidy up. If you look carefully, in this basket you’ll see sea grass, corn husks, palm tree fluorescents, and big dried flower leaves (the things that look like ribbon.) The end product is very stiff and solid, as dried material from nature gets in time. Anyway, it may not be perfect, but you can be sure no one else in the world has one since it is free form and original. I think originality counts for something. I had plans to give this one away to a teacher of mine who has a deep love of nature, but now I’m thinking I could do better.. My firsts always are a learning thing. Maybe next time, I’ll stick with items I find on my own land – blackberry vines, string from around the horses hay, etc. That would make the making of it more fun, and it would come with a secret story. I like a little hidden history in my gifts. Even if I am the only one who knows what makes it uniquely mine.
About Ginny East Shaddock
Ginny East has long employed blogging to poke and prod life. She believes reflective writing reveals deeper connections and teaches us about our relationships with ourselves and the world at large. Her blog is laden with long essays that go completely against the recommended tips for successful blogging, and the fact that her selected subject matter has no goal or specific theme means she is unlikely to build an audience or create a platform for her writing or other work-related endeavors. Ginny comes to the page for personal reasons, and whether she has an audience for these entries is a moot point.
Ginny retired in January 2025 after many years as a business owner. Certified yoga therapist, and teacher of dance, yoga, and writing. She was excited to have time to devote to writing, personal reflection, and deepening relationships. She has a Master of Fine Arts in writing from Lesley University and a BA in business management from Eckerd College.
As an author, Ginny has won the Royal Palm Literary Award two times, once for historical fiction and once for the memoir category. She also won the New Southerner Literary Award and her piece was selected for the magazine's yearly anthology. She has a memoir, My Million Dollar Donkey, a book that explores social issues, education, and personal awareness gained during a period when she attempted to live a simple life in the Georgia Mountains. The book was born of insight from her daily introspection gained by blogging on this site. She also is the author of The Enlightened Writer, available on Kindle and through Amazon or Bookbaby. This book combines Eastern philosophy with writing wisdom for authors seeking insight and guidance on writing a memoir as a spiritual act.
Heart of Ginny 