The Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild held its final monthly weave day at Gravel Hill. Member Pamela Wilson lead the workshop. Members could choose between two different round reed baskets.
I choose to make the basket above. The Japanese inspired basket is woven with #3 round reed. It features a Rjinko base and a circle of eight Josephine knots. A rim of #8 round reed is attached with a series of three rod wale rows.
Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild held their October basket workshop at the East Berlin Community Center on Saturday. Twenty members gathered to weave a Sunflower Basket taught by member Joanne Sheriff.
The basket begins with an eight inch round oak base with a sunflower carved into the base. Using natural flat oval reed the sides are gently raised for 20 rows. A row of thin green and wider brown reed is woven to suggest a flower once the golden reed curls are attached.
The curls are added on both the inside and the outside of the basket to make the petals of the sunflower.
The Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild hosted the 19th annual Weaving Odyssey in Gettysburg Sept 19-22. Twelve different instructors from around the USA came to share their expertise and love of weaving.
I began my weekend of weaving by making basket in the shape of a Pineapple - the universal sign of hospitality..
Laura Lee Zanger led the class. The basket begins with a basic round base. Once the sides are woven the basket is made to look like a pineapple with the addition of reed curls. The raffia bow and welcome sign complete the perfect welcome basket.
Saturday was spent weaving a tote basket with Dianne Gleixner. The tote has a wooden base. The main body is woven with alternating dark brown and smoked weavers with natural round reed using the Japanese Diamond weave to accent the middle band. A row of paired triple twining is above and below the decorative body. Leather handles complete the tote .
I ended my Weaving Odyssey with a two-day class taught by Laura Lee Zanger. She helped us weave a large Cherokee-style Cowee Burden Basket, traditionally used for gathering corn.
The basket transitions from one shape with a 1-3-5 twill pattern to another. The top rounded bowl of the basket features a arrow design band around the basket.
The Annual Members Exhibit is currently on display at the Carroll County Art Center in Westminster, MD. The show run through November 2nd. It features a wide range of styles and media in all of the gallery space.
I submitted this twill weaving. It is woven around a wooden 12' x 36" frame.
This collage of past arts center events is also on display. The Arts Center is preparing to celebrate 50 years of bringing the arts and culture to Carroll County. Imagine my surprise to see a blast from my past included. Can you find it?
Members of the Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild gathered on Saturday to weave market style caddy baskets.
Using the "Lucy" pattern from Bright Expectations Baskets we first wove an inner basket directly on top of the base. The larger basket sides were woven, the handle inserted and the rim was attached.
It was a fun day and we all left with a basket suitable for holding picnic supplies, craft supplies or baby diapers.
During the July Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild meeting, members wove a simple square basket with a handle for this years service project. The completed baskets will be filled with toiletries and delivered to the VA Family House in Pittsburg.
After lunch member Marilyn Julius lead us in making large reed flowers for outdoors. We used dyed #7 round reed to form the petals and #3 round reed to create the flowers center. The flowers were attached to a 1/2" dowel to serve as the stem. It was suggested to seal the reed flowers with a poly spray before "planting" them out doors. I also painted my stem green.