CGOTH 2022 - Traditions Week 3

Finally, after a 2-year break Common Ground Traditions Week 3 met in person at McDaniel College!  Everyone was excited to see old friends and make new ones throughout the week of traditional arts offerings. 

The instructor art show in Rice Gallery opened on Sunday to kick off the week.  

For the next five days, I taught a class in Rib basketry.  Students were able to individualize their baskets with color and reed selection.  Most made a melon with a stick handle, a small random weave hen basket and a few students even wove a few reed reindeer ornaments. 

Thier efforts were showcased on Friday evening at the student art show.  Even as the week ended, students and instructors were thinking about next summer's course offerings when we would see each other again. 

To learn more about Common Ground visit www.commongroundonthehill.org 

The Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild held their monthly weave in Gettysburg.  Member Samantha Richards led the group in creating colorful tote bags. 

There were piles of colored reed in a variety of sizes to use to weave the sides.  Some weavers followed a set repetition of colors, a monochromatic color scheme or others used random colors as I choose to do. 

It was a fun activity on the first hot, humid day of the season. 

Interested in learning more about the guild? Check out their website - 

https://centralpabasketguild.com 

 

MD Sheep and Wool Festival 2022

The forty-ninth annual MD Sheep and Wood Festival was held May 7th and 8th after a two-year break.  It was great to see so many people brave the wet and windy weather on Saturday and again on Sunday when the rain stopped and the sun finally reappeared.  

Exclusive for this show, I made a series of wooden based baskets with sheep decoupaged on the base.  All three of these baskets sold.  I will definitely make some more decoupaged base baskets in the future. 

Mark your calendar for next years 50th anniversary event, May 6 & 7, 2023

CPBWG Spring Retreat

After a two-year break, the Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild was able to hold their Spring Retreat at the Gitt Library in Hanover, PA.  The sprawling two story home with wrap around patios and an enclosed porch encircling much of the house was the perfect location for basket weaving with friends.  Guild members were able to enjoy the landscaped grounds full of flowering trees and spring blossom as we worked on our baskets and fellowshipped with each other.  

10" x 18" x 18" tall w/handle

Marilyn Parr  (www.4loveofbaskets.com) traveled from Michigan to lead the 3-day workshops.  I choose to make her large "Ocean Breeze Piggyback" basket.  Shaping was the challenge of this basket.  It was completed with a button and beads embellishment. 

6" x 7" tall w/stand

I also made a small round basket designed to fit an Amish crafted wooden stand, made from walnut and maple. 

 Happy Valentine's Day

I love basket weaving..... how about you? 

Whimsy Exhibit

 Whimsy

Carrol Arts Center, Westminster MD

January 17th - March 5

In conjunction with the Icons of Animation, the CCAC Community Gallery is hosting an exhibit featuring work inspired by fictional characters by local artists.  It features a variety of mediums and characters from the world of Disney, anime, and more.

Queen Grimhilde's Baske of Poison Apples
Reed Basket with Needle felted apples

As a basket maker I am drawn to how many fairy tales include baskets.  Dorothy carries Toto in a basket; Little Red Riding Hood takes a basket of goodies to her grandmother; and Queen Grimhilde disguises her evil intentions toward Snow White by offering her a basket of apples.   The past few years I have been experimenting with needle felting.  This exhibit entry is a merging of my two interests – basketry and needle felting.  The purple basket, signifying royalty, holds seven appealing apples. One apple sits outside the basket with a bite taken out, revealing the poison inside.

Happy New Year

 

I am looking forward to a year full of opportunities to gather with friends, old and new, to weave baskets and more.  Regardless of what 2022 brings, I know I will keep on weaving.  

Best wishes for the days ahead!

Sharon