 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Susan Sunflower Thompson Native American Artist, Basketmaker |
Featured Artists
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
My Story
My name is Susan "Sunflower" Thompson. I am Penobscot. My mother, ssipsis, is a full-blood Penobscot and was born in the house next
to the one I grew up in. My father, Ken Thompson, a red-haired Mainer, grew up in Freeport, Maine.
That was when I made my first rosette pendant with Jacob’s Ladder necklace. I learned how to sew by hand and how to work the foot pedal
That was when I made my first rosette pendant with Jacob’s Ladder necklace. I learned how to sew by hand and how to work the foot pedal
of an old Singer sewing machine. My mom made it fun to learn.
of an old Singer sewing machine. My mom made it fun to learn.
Once I was old enough to leave home I traveled across the country, learning how to do custom beadwork and leatherwork. I met a tailor,
Katie Doe, and she taught me how to work with garment leather. Together we designed vests, saddlebags and many other custom items.
During this time I went back to college and earned a BA in Accounting. It seemed a natural progression for me, working with detail and
tracking numbers. I enjoy it very much.
November 4th, 2005 I began my basketmaking apprenticeship with my sister, Master Weaver Pam outdusis Cunningham. I like the
challenge of learning this traditional native art. Every part of basketmaking has its own story, from the people who gather and prepare the
natural materials, to the prep work and weaving that I do, and finally to the gifting or sale of the basket to the person it is intended for.
My Baskets
Since I am a new basketmaker you will be able to watch as my skills improve over time with each new basket. Two baskets I made this
past year are the Artists Basket and the Double Curve Basket. I wanted something to carry my sketchpad and pencils in so I designed the
Artists Basket and made it strong with soft leather handles. On the Double Curve Baskets I knew there was a way to use the Eastern
Woodland Indian motif in such a detailed way and this was it. Often I will use sweetgrass braided by another native, but many times I find
that I need to braid my own to get exactly what I am looking for. On special baskets I like to use sweetgrass that my mother braided. There
is so much variety that goes into making a basket that no two are the same. Each basket has its own story.
A new basket I am currently making are the Sea Urchin Baskets. I weave on various colored double curves and other designs. The covers
have single strands of sweetgrass woven on them, with a triple braid of sweetgrass for the handle. On my newer baskets I have attached a
sweetgrass and glass bead dragonfly pendant to the cover. The dragonflies are the same as the pins I make, but without the hardware.
I have been working on a very small miniature berry basket, about 1" diameter. I like working with the smaller baskets. This one was a
challenge though as I could barely fit my finger inside to bind it. I think it will turn out very nice. It still needs some work, but I will add a
picture when it's finished.
Maine native aborigines have been so creative and artistic through time. Weaving with brown ash and sweetgrass is a part of our life and I
am proud to be able to carry on this tradition.
Wedding Dress Donation to the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, Maine
Early in the summer of 2006 I donated my traditional beaded deerskin wedding dress to the Abbe Museum located in Bar Harbor, Maine.
The dress is shown in the pictures at the top of this page. Included with the dress donation were the deerskin and rabbit fur leggings and
moccasins, all made by me and worn only once. The Abbe Museum was my top choice to receive this gift. After meeting with the employees
and volunteers, and touring the climate-controlled preservation lab I knew I had made the right decision. Check out their website and read
the article they wrote about it. They show a picture of my sister, Pam, and me holding the dress. It was pretty heavy because of all the
beadwork. Click on the link below to visit the Abbe Museum.
Abbe Museum
Double Curves
The Maine Indian double curve design is found throughout our lives. It reminds us of the cycles in life. How we treat others and the world
around us is a reflection of how we treat ourselves. For that love and respect to come back our way, we must first give it out. The double
curve is a symbol of the balance we must strive to keep to have a healthy and happy life.
Woliwoni
My name is Susan "Sunflower" Thompson. I am Penobscot. My mother, ssipsis, is a full-blood Penobscot and was born in the house next
to the one I grew up in. My father, Ken Thompson, a red-haired Mainer, grew up in Freeport, Maine.
That was when I made my first rosette pendant with Jacob’s Ladder necklace. I learned how to sew by hand and how to work the foot pedal
That was when I made my first rosette pendant with Jacob’s Ladder necklace. I learned how to sew by hand and how to work the foot pedal
of an old Singer sewing machine. My mom made it fun to learn.
of an old Singer sewing machine. My mom made it fun to learn.
Once I was old enough to leave home I traveled across the country, learning how to do custom beadwork and leatherwork. I met a tailor,
Katie Doe, and she taught me how to work with garment leather. Together we designed vests, saddlebags and many other custom items.
During this time I went back to college and earned a BA in Accounting. It seemed a natural progression for me, working with detail and
tracking numbers. I enjoy it very much.
November 4th, 2005 I began my basketmaking apprenticeship with my sister, Master Weaver Pam outdusis Cunningham. I like the
challenge of learning this traditional native art. Every part of basketmaking has its own story, from the people who gather and prepare the
natural materials, to the prep work and weaving that I do, and finally to the gifting or sale of the basket to the person it is intended for.
My Baskets
Since I am a new basketmaker you will be able to watch as my skills improve over time with each new basket. Two baskets I made this
past year are the Artists Basket and the Double Curve Basket. I wanted something to carry my sketchpad and pencils in so I designed the
Artists Basket and made it strong with soft leather handles. On the Double Curve Baskets I knew there was a way to use the Eastern
Woodland Indian motif in such a detailed way and this was it. Often I will use sweetgrass braided by another native, but many times I find
that I need to braid my own to get exactly what I am looking for. On special baskets I like to use sweetgrass that my mother braided. There
is so much variety that goes into making a basket that no two are the same. Each basket has its own story.
A new basket I am currently making are the Sea Urchin Baskets. I weave on various colored double curves and other designs. The covers
have single strands of sweetgrass woven on them, with a triple braid of sweetgrass for the handle. On my newer baskets I have attached a
sweetgrass and glass bead dragonfly pendant to the cover. The dragonflies are the same as the pins I make, but without the hardware.
I have been working on a very small miniature berry basket, about 1" diameter. I like working with the smaller baskets. This one was a
challenge though as I could barely fit my finger inside to bind it. I think it will turn out very nice. It still needs some work, but I will add a
picture when it's finished.
Maine native aborigines have been so creative and artistic through time. Weaving with brown ash and sweetgrass is a part of our life and I
am proud to be able to carry on this tradition.
Wedding Dress Donation to the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, Maine
Early in the summer of 2006 I donated my traditional beaded deerskin wedding dress to the Abbe Museum located in Bar Harbor, Maine.
The dress is shown in the pictures at the top of this page. Included with the dress donation were the deerskin and rabbit fur leggings and
moccasins, all made by me and worn only once. The Abbe Museum was my top choice to receive this gift. After meeting with the employees
and volunteers, and touring the climate-controlled preservation lab I knew I had made the right decision. Check out their website and read
the article they wrote about it. They show a picture of my sister, Pam, and me holding the dress. It was pretty heavy because of all the
beadwork. Click on the link below to visit the Abbe Museum.
Abbe Museum
Double Curves
The Maine Indian double curve design is found throughout our lives. It reminds us of the cycles in life. How we treat others and the world
around us is a reflection of how we treat ourselves. For that love and respect to come back our way, we must first give it out. The double
curve is a symbol of the balance we must strive to keep to have a healthy and happy life.
Woliwoni
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(More basket pictures below the story.)
My sister is an artist and continues to achieve
remarkable techniques as she practices the art of
weaving brown ash and sweetgrass into baskets!
Please check back as new inpirations come to life!
To Contact Susan - (Sunflower) ki’sohsskan
Please e-mail her.
remarkable techniques as she practices the art of
weaving brown ash and sweetgrass into baskets!
Please check back as new inpirations come to life!
To Contact Susan - (Sunflower) ki’sohsskan
Please e-mail her.
| To contact me or to place an order feel free to e-mail me. You can also call me at: (207)941-9373 or write to me at: Pam outdusis Cunningham 208 Old County Rd Hampden, ME, USA 04444-1807 |