Sudduth’s secret, besides the fastidiousness she demonstrates in achieving the neatest, tightest rows imaginable, is the incorporation of 13th century mathematician Leonardo of Pisa’s Nature Sequence. Better known as Fibonacci numbers, they have a direct impact on Billie Ruth’s weaving technique. “The ratios I use for my overs and unders,” she says, “are the same ones found in the spacing of the spirals on seashells, pineapples, in the arrangements of a daisy or sunflower, even in the spirals that form the curve of an elephant’s tusk. Best of all, Fibonacci goes to infinity, so I’m good for at least another century,” she smiles. And considering that the baskets are made entirely by hand, no two are ever exactly alike.

Watching her work — under one, over one, under two, over three — it’s easy to see she’s a fanatic when it comes to adhering to the natural order of her work. Admits the former school psychologist, “I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to make a living from my compulsiveness.”

National tragedy hits too close to home

The natural, rhythmic order of her days, however, recently gave way to chaos. In a roundabout way, the events of Sept. 11 led her to create a whole new line of basketry, using a different technique, that was in response to the emotions she felt following the terrorist attacks.

It was Sept. 10, 2001, and Sudduth and her husband, Doug, had just begun the long drive to New York City from their home in rural Bakersville, N.C. “My work was to be exhibited at the American Craft Museum in a special show entitled, ‘Objects for Use: Handmade by Design,’ opening on September 12. The show was to be followed by a workshop, lecture and demonstration a few days later.”

To celebrate her first trip to New York, which also coincided with her birthday, the couple had a number of activities on tap. These included a special dinner with the Associate Director of the Metropolitan Opera, one of her many collectors, a visit to the set of NBC’s Third Watch to visit their nephew, who portrays policeman Sulley, and an outing to the observation deck at the World Trade Center.

“Because we had gotten in late the evening before,” Sudduth recalls, “we were still in the hotel room when we heard the Today Show begin its coverage of the World Trade Center crashes.” Like so many, the Sudduths tried to reach friends and family to be sure they were safe. “We have nephews who live within blocks of the World Trade Center and it was hours before we could reach them on their cell phones. And then our younger son, who lives in London, was on holiday in Tunisia.” Although they spoke briefly with him on the 11th, it would be six more days before they got word again, during which Billie Ruth and Doug worried over his whereabouts in the Muslim nation.

Needless to say, their Manhattan sojourn was cut short. “Once we got home, I remained glued to the television set for the next few days,” she says. “I couldn’t comprehend what I was witnessing.” When she decided it was time to get back to weaving, she opted for one of her signature Fibonacci pieces. “It was the ugliest, least symmetrical, unbalanced thing I think I’ve ever woven. Since that didn’t work, I thought I’d try an open weave vessel because it didn’t require as much focus. When I finished, I took out all of my fear, frustration, anger, tears and disappointment on that basket by squashing it as hard as I could.” She then left the studio.

Squash therapy

When Sudduth returned the next day, she could still see the marks her hands had left on the reeds. Mangled as it was, she thought this squashed basket had a certain charm to it. So she made a few more and squashed them, too. “It was a great outlet for everything I was feeling,” she says. And there was something about it that appealed to her. “The basket was such a simple one, but it had a certain character.” This observation led to a few days of experimentation, dyeing the baskets and adorning them with spongy mushrooms. “I’ve used spongy mushrooms for years with the onion baskets I weave, but discovered when I wet them down, they assume all sorts of interesting forms. The more I played, the more I knew the mushrooms were perfect for these new baskets.”

“If people saw these new baskets without me, they wouldn’t think I had woven them. They look nothing like my Fibonacci baskets. And yet, it’s been a great respite, a great outlet for me. I will admit, however, this is as much as I can let go as far as weaving is concerned. I don’t imagine doing anything wilder.”

Sudduth is happy to note that the pieces are selling well, too. “I took a number of them to a show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art,” she cites. “One lady bought somewhere between seven and nine in one fell swoop. Even those people who have major pieces of my work, fell in love with the squashy baskets.” True to form, Sudduth’s even beginning to incorporate the Fibonacci sequence into these new baskets.

Will she continue making the squashy baskets? Perhaps not, but she’s enjoying them right now. And she’s learned a few good lessons. “It’s important for me to continue making the best baskets I can make. But I’m not so caught up any more in the fury of attending event after event after event. The pace of life has been crazy these last few years between attending shows, teaching and weaving. I’m cutting back to teaching just one class per year (she’ll be teaching at Penland School of Crafts this summer in Penland, N.C.) so I can spend more time working on my baskets.” And spending more time with Doug, her sons, and her grandchildren.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Billie Ruth Sudduth 1535 Wing Rd. Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-2399 brsbasket@aol.com www.brsbasket.com

Now that Doug has retired, patrons continually ask when she’ll do the same. “Never,” is another of her practiced responses. “I love doing what I’m doing, and the fact that people make a special effort to come and visit me in my studio and buy my baskets is icing on the cake.” There’s another reason she won’t quit. “I can’t wait for the day when I can teach my one-year-old granddaughter to weave,” she grins. “Who knows what she’ll be able to accomplish?”