Off Track Art - Duet Show

I will be displaying a variety of baskets, each made with cats head bases at Off Track Art Gallery during the month of September. 

The exhibit is part of the gallery's Duet series featuring hand painted silks and tinsels by member Carolyn Seabolt and my cats head baskets.

The exhibit, " A Tisket a Tasket, a Cat in a Basket" opens Sept 7th.  An opening reception is Saturday, September  9th from 5pm until 7pm. Hope to see you then!

Cats Head Basket

Cats Head Baskets have a distinctive base with four woven peaks at each corner allowing the base to arch up while the four corners support the vessel.  This low  basket features a two color band with a cream reed twist to form a window effect.   Once the band is woven the sides are turned in quickly to form the rimmed opening at the top.  This basket is based on a pattern by Judith Olney, called Windows Globe Basket.

Cathedral Window pattern with reed twist.

Mini Ash Basket

 

I wove a miniature ash basket using a pattern by Annetta Kraayeveld ( www.pairiewoodbasketry.com ).  The small basket stands 2 3/4" high on two woven legs.  The basket is 2 1/2" by 2 1'2".  Small pinecone seeds and naturals are attached to one side for an accent. 

 



Weaving first leg

Both legs woven

Week 2 of Common Ground - EGG BASKET Class

Step 1 - Handle & God's Eye

Week 2 of Common Ground on the Hill at McDaniel College brought more weaving fun while I led a new group of participants through the steps of creating a traditional shaped egg basket.




Step 2 - Adding Primary Ribs



Step 3 - All ribs in place

Everyone in the class made an egg basket using colors of their choice. They used the colored reed in different patterns on their basket. Some weavers had time to make reed reindeer and napkin baskets as well.   The student art show held on the last day of Common Ground gave everyone a chance to display their weeks work.

Hen Basket Class at Common Ground

Sample Hen basket by Sharon Schaeffer

Each afternoon I taught a group to weave a hen basket during week one of Common Ground on the Hill. The yearly two week event is held at McDaniel College.

It was a fun week of socializing and relaxing while learning a new craft.  Some class members were beginners while others had  experience weaving baskets, but not this style of  rib basket. 

Everyone selected colors and patterns to individualize their basket.  Friday evening all the baskets were on display as part of the Student Art Show.

Day one -   forming the armature

Outdoor weaving

Baskets by students in the Hen Basket Class

Common Ground 2017 Gallery Show

Handmade Rib Baskets by Sharon Schaeffer are on display in Rice Gallery

Join me for the  Opening Reception on Sunday, June 25 from 4:30 to 5:30.  Work by all Common Ground 2017 Visual Art instructors is on display in the Rice Gallery on the second floor of the Peterson building on McDaniel College.

Dying Reed



Common Ground on the Hill 2017 is a week away!  I will be teaching a basket class during both weeks - a Hen Basket during week 1 and an Egg Basket during week 2. 




I have been busy getting supplies ready for the classes.  Yesterday I spent the morning dying reed.  Class members will have a rainbow of colors to choose from  as they select a color palette and design bands of color for their individual baskets.






Basic dye supplies





Green dye bath





Bundles of reed drying