Sweetgrass Basketmakers Highway

[NakedPupsAndMe]

The girls & I took a road trip Friday. We drove from Myrtle Beach down to Mt Pleasant, which is just outside of Charleston. On Hwy 17 there is a section designated as Sweetgrass Basketmakers Highway. Some of you may know all about this, but for those who don't, for miles & miles there are this little roadside stands.The African American's in this area make sweetgrass baskets. It is an ancient art form brought by the slaves from Africa. They have passed their craft down thru the generations & it is now considered the official handicraft of the Low Country. If you're interested their website is http://www.sweetgrassfestival.org.

I had to stop & talk with the lady & her grand daughter. And of course, buy another basket. She was making a basket, & teaching her grand daughter the craft. Here are some pics of her stand.




And her grand daughter is in this pic


If you are ever in the Low Country of SC, it is worth stopping to talk with these artists & see their baskets. It is beautiful work.

[retiredhappy]

Do the baskets smell sweet? The Native Americans make braids of "sweet grass" that they burn like incense. It smells so sweet I just love it. Always buy some at pow wows.

[AlmostThere]

What beautiful handiwork. Thank you for sharing the website, pictures and the history behind them.

[Sunseeker]

Those baskets are wonderful, and the fact that the trade has been passed down for generations...! It's so nice you got to photograph that art for those of us that never ever heard of 'sweetgrass'. Bet that little cutie will be weaving her own artwork in no time. Cool.

Looks like I need to take a few more 'Red roads'. We just went through there last month...on the freeway of course.

[avalen]

very interesting indeed, would enjoy seeing that myself

[Bethers]

It's a very interesting stretch of road - with hundreds of these roadside basket stands. It's really hard to decide which one(s) to stop at - and I'm sure they weren't thrilled with me, cuz I stopped but didn't purchase - just wanted to talk with some of them.

Also, when in that part of the country, you need to stop and get some boiled peanuts.

[NakedPupsAndMe]

I love boiled peanuts!! And the baskets do have an aroma. It isn't strong like potpourri or heavily scented. It's a very delicate scent. It smells like clean grass. And Bethers, I only have very small baskets. They are pretty pricey!

[Bethers]

They are pricey - but that's not the reason I don't buy - I have a rule living in my rv - I have to NEED something or be REPLACING something, or purchasing a gift, or I don't get it. This place fills up way too quickly and I always have too much in here