Turning of the Week for March 16, 2026

[Bill Boehme]

It was love at first sight. The moment I saw Black Locust Basket Illusion Series #4 by Tim Connell, I knew it was my selection for Turning of the Week for March 16, 2026. I am a huge fan of realistic coiled basket illusion turnings, especially if great attention is paid to detail … and this basket illusion is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The beading, burning, design, and inking are all top notch. Congratulations, Tim, on a job very well done.

 

[David Wyke]

Excellent choice Bill!!!! This is a beautiful piece Tim!

 

[Ted Pelfrey]

Excellent choice Bill!!!! This is a beautiful piece Tim!

I agree with David! Beautiful!

 

[Bob Franklin]

Great choice for sure. I love this one!

 

[Tim George]

It’s beautiful. Hope you are featured in future articles on how to create similar pieces.

 

[Jon]

I have seen a lot of basket illusions, but I had never seen this technique before. That is stunning, and easy to tell a tremendous amount of time and craftsmanship went into that. Very nice piece! Congratulations Tim.

 

[Tim Connell]

It was love at first sight. The moment I saw Black Locust Basket Illusion Series #4 by Tim Connell, I knew it was my selection for Turning of the Week for March 16, 2026. I am a huge fan of realistic coiled basket illusion turnings, especially if great attention is paid to detail … and this basket illusion is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The beading, burning, design, and inking are all top notch. Congratulations, Tim, on a job very well done.

Thank you Bill, I am humbled with the honor and your kind words.

 

[Alan Weinberg]

His work is stunning—time and again.

 

[Mark Fairchild]

congratulations Tim. Well deserved. One of the best Basket Illusions I’ve seen.

 

[Marie Anderson]

Wow! That's an outstanding piece! Great Choice! Well deserved honor!

 

[Tim Connell]

Now that I have a little more time, I wanted to comment a little more on Basket Illusions.

Life really does come full circle some times. The first basket illusion piece I ever saw was one of @Bill Boehme that was posted here. I just stared at it for a long time and the desire to try these types of projects started running deep. I searched for and found pieces by other people here, and elsewhere. Bill, Curt Fuller, Jean-Louis Meynier, Steve Mawson and of course Jim Adkins (and others) all make/have made extraordinary Basket Illusions that are worth of study.

What really stuck with me though was a comment that Bill made about 'burning lines, not sending smoke signals'.

So, thank you Bill, for the honor and for the inspiration.

 

[Charles Kuether]

Tim: Your work is truly worthy of the recognition. The design is striking.
I have a question - How is the inside done/finished? i.e. is it smooth or does it carry the Basket illusion pattern?

 

[Tim Connell]

Thank you Charles.

The inside of these small forms is smooth. Although I haven't made any, when a larger Basket Illusion closed form, such as the degikup is done, typically the form is done in two halves so the inside is accessible to beading/embellishing, they are then glued back together and the outside is completed.

 

[Russ Braun]

Thank you Charles.

The inside of these small forms is smooth. Although I haven't made any, when a larger Basket Illusion closed form, such as the degikup is done, typically the form is done in two halves so the inside is accessible to beading/embellishing, they are then glued back together and the outside is completed.

Segmenting!! Come into the light Tim!! Congratulations on one terrific Basket Illusion piece! When great time and detailing are injected in a piece, the payoff is what this piece delivers…WOW!

 

[David Croxton]

Good choice Bill - and - Awesome piece Tim - Congratulations on your the Turning of the Week!

 

[Bill Boehme]

Now that I have a little more time, I wanted to comment a little more on Basket Illusions.

Life really does come full circle some times. The first basket illusion piece I ever saw was one of @Bill Boehme that was posted here. I just stared at it for a long time and the desire to try these types of projects started running deep. I searched for and found pieces by other people here, and elsewhere. Bill, Curt Fuller, Jean-Louis Meynier, Steve Mawson and of course Jim Adkins (and others) all make/have made extraordinary Basket Illusions that are worth of study.

What really stuck with me though was a comment that Bill made about 'burning lines, not sending smoke signals'.

So, thank you Bill, for the honor and for the inspiration.

Thanks for the kind words, Tim. I am truly honored that my work inspired you.

My first attempt at making a basket illusion came after attending a demo at SWAT by David Nittmann. Somebody asked him if he was concerned about people copying his technique. David replied that you would have to be crazy to do what he does … and if you’re not crazy before you start, you’ll be crazy by the time you finish. I made a small basket illusion and vowed never again. It was a mind numbing experience, probably because I really didn’t know what I was doing. Years later, I attended a Jim Adkins program at SWAT and was in awe of his work. That inspired to try his realistic coiled basket illusion technique. My first attempt showed promise (code for "needs more work"). My next one was much better and I was hooked.