Soon to be a lost art - Spanish moss weaver

[blugiraffe]

Excerpts from St Pete Times article:

In centuries past, Florida had dozens of people like her, Spanish moss weavers. Now Florida is unpleasantly complicated, and she is the last of her kind.

"Spanish moss was very important in the South and in Florida.....It was used for everything. It stuffed mattresses and pillows and furniture. It was used for insulation. If you boil Spanish moss — let me warn you, it really stinks — you'll have this brew that makes this amazing fertilizer. And this is where I come in: In the Civil War, the Confederate soldiers all had Spanish moss blankets. And that's what I still make.''

http://www.tampabay.com/features/hum...icle968162.ece

Sad to think this type of weaving will be lost with her.

[CallMeKelly]

Fascinating and inspiring, thank you for sharing!

What terrible suffering she has been through, I just can't imagine that pain.

[kolleen9]

What an amazing article. Thanks so much for sharing.

When I hear about dying arts, I get a pit in the bottom of my stomach... :sigh:

-Kolleen

[velcromom]

This makes me want to go out and see if there is any Spanish moss in my area! How cool. And the artist sounds like an interesting person, I hope that she will pass on her skill to others.