Native American Baskets on Display at the Jackson Lake Lodge

 I always look for baskets during my travels.  The following display of Native American basketry was in the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.  A portion of the David T Vernon collection was gifted in 1976 as a way of honoring John D Rochefeller's desire to include the art within the Jackson Lake Lodge. 

Off Track Art Spotlight Artist of the Month

For the Month of June many of my weavings, vessels, gourds and baskets will be on display at Off Track Gallery in Westminster, MD.  They show the influence of nature in much of my work. Many of the pieces incorporate branches, vines, shed antlers I find as I walk around my wooded property.  Some of the creations use pine needles, shells, pods and other natural materials.   I enjoy combining traditional basketry techniques with a more contemporary look. 

          Stop by OTA gallery to see my artwork firsthand.  The gallery is open Friday, Saturday

           and Sunday from noon to 4pm 

Pine needle free form around a seed pod with beads and natural accents. 

Melon Basket with a Twisted vine handle

Pod shape basket with natural accents

Tobacco basket with reed star accents

 

CPBWG Spring Fever Retreat with Bonnie Rideout

Bonnie Rideout (www.bonniesbasketsil.com) was the guest instructor for the CPBWG's Spring Fever Retreat. 

It was held at the Gitt Memorial Library in Hanover, PA.  It was built in the 1920's as a summer retreat for the family.  Set on landscaped grounds, the house is a sprawling two story home with wrap around patios encircling much of the house.  It is the perfect place to t sit outside and weave while enjoying the spring weather. 

 

I made a tote basket "Sheep Happens" with leather handles and a sheep embellishment on Thursday evening. it included the use of D-rings with the handle and lashing with fabric. 

11" x 7" x 9" high

Saturday, I wove the large "Desert Breeze" basket.  It starts with a filled base.  It is woven with a variety of techniques including 3 rod wale twinging, weaving a cross stitch, and using overlays and interior covers for round reed ends. 

Leather braided handles and an embellishment complete the basket.  

19" x 13" x 9" high

Silver and Sassy Market Basket

 I spent Saturday with the Deer Creek Basketry Guild making a market basket with a unique metal weaver and handle inlay.   Joanne Sheriff led the class. It was a very enjoyable workshop, complete with a potluck lunch.

Participants had a choice of colors to select from. 

  

The finished basket is 8" x 11"  

12" high to the top of the handle. 

Anne Bowers Basket Workshop

           

     Deer Creek Basketry Guild hosted Anne Bowers for a series of basket classes.  I took her class to make the medium size Labyrinth Basket, a low tray that measures 20" across.  The base is woven in a unique design that allows no space between the weavers.   

    If you ever get a chance to take a basket class with Anne, don't hesitate.  She is a marvelous and knowledgeable basket weaver who is eager to share her craft. 

 

Twig Basket on display at the Oregon Trail Museum

 When I travel, I always look for basket from the area.  Often the baskets are made using native materials specific to the geographic location. 

This random weave twig basket was displayed in the Oregon Trail Museum in Oregon City, Oregon.  Travelers made containers using the materials they found.

This basket used thick vines and twigs.  It looked very study.  It certainly stood the test of time. 

Guilders Weave 2026

 Tidewater Basket Guild hosted its annual Guilders Weave over MLK weekend.  All events were held in the Mariott Hotel in Newport News, VA.

Weavers and instructors arrived for 4 days of basket workshops and lots of fun and fellowship.  Participants came from all over the East Coast and Midwest. 

This year I spent the weekend immersed in pine needle weaving. 

I had two classes with Lori McCoy.  Both projects coiled pine needles around a center disk.  One project added beads and was a made into a night light.  

The second project was around a disk of dried flower incased in resin. It was designed to be used as a suncatcher. 

                                                                                             

 Pam Philpott prepared a Fire Tree seed pod to be coiled around.   It was a random weave of pine        needles of our own design. I added wooden beads within the coils.  I added  natural pods and a feather as the finishing accent. 

  

  The Cracker Basket was coiled around a wooden oval   It was a more traditional stacked coil vessel  using the "V" stitch.