Martha Kemp

Martha Kemp

Martha Kemp is a Wisconsin Native living in Egg Harbor, one of the beautiful areas in Door County. Creating art has been part of her life even in her youth but pine needle art is close to her heart. 

Kemp was attracted to pine needle coiling after seeing a stunning basket. She loved the earthiness and beauty of creating something useful with what nature provides. The process of using long leaf pine needles is called coiling which is one of the oldest forms of basket weaving. The ancient art of coiling is part of America's history for the Native Americans used this art to create baskets for every day use and more elaborate and beautiful baskets for ceremonies. Kemp uses dyed, natural or baked pine needles along with waxed thread and stitch section to make each piece unique.