Well, I've found a craft that I just don't jive with, and this is it. Several years ago I took a one-day class through my local Parks & Rec department on how to make a pine needle basket. I learned the basics that day and began a basket. After class, I bought the needed supplies. Then I put "Complete the Basket" on my annual To Do list. It stayed there for about five years. That should have given me a clue! I wasn't about to go yet another year without making a basket. So on the last day of 2004, I got out all the supplies, bleached the pine needles, re-read the appropriate chapters in my book, and started. I learned that the basket I started several years ago was not going to be suitable for finishing. So I started a new basket, using some rafia as the "sewing thread." After several rounds, I was just unhappy with the way it was going. The natural rafia shreds a lot, and couldn't take the tugging needed to get through the needles. I wanted to use the little white center I'd found, so that meant I needed to take the whole thing apart to start over. I mostly wanted to learn the technique. I knew my first basket would not be a masterpiece. So I used some string I had on hand as the sewing thread ... thus the gaudy orange neon color. This second basket of the day went much better the first. But I really had trouble finding a rhythm in making it. The trouble with pine needles is that you have to keep adding in new needles every two or three stitches. So just when the coil was feeling good in my hand, I'd have to stop and add more needles. I am very stubborn sometimes! After waiting all this time to sit down and create a basket, I just didn't want to give up! I finally decided that I could call my creation a "basket" if I could just complete the bottom, turn a corner, and begin going up the sides. As you can see, I only made it a few more rounds before giving up. The finished size is about five inches across, and about one inch deep. But I *did* complete my first basket. Or ... should I call this my "One and Only Pine Needle Coaster" ... which might be more accurate. The book is used is quite lovely ... and in great shape. But since I'm not likely to make a second basket, I'm ready to sell it.