Anne Coleman Basketry Workshop Weekend

The Quad Cities Basketry Guild (located in the Davenport, IA area) would like to extend an invitation to all weavers who may be interested in attending a workshop-format  basketry weekend with Anne Coleman, a nationally known artist and basketweaver.  

Anne will be teaching her unique baskets at the Long Grove, IA Community Center on October 8th, 9th, and 10th, 2010.  For pictures of the baskets and registration information click HERE. 

There will be good food, door prizes, a well-lighted and spacious weaving area, and a warm welcome extended to all.  

Wolf River Fall Workshop

The Wolf River Basketry Guild's Fall Workshop is September 24-26th.  Class lists and registration information was sent a few weeks ago. A wide variety of different basket styles are being offered;baskets with lids and handles and shaping details-even a miniature chair, a a two tier footstool of shaker tape and even an ash necklace. 


The event is being held at Comfort Inn & Suites in Shawano. Instructors include Dona Nazarenko, Sandy and Steve Atkinson and Karen Griffith. Reservations are due August 1. If you want contact information send me an email or phone and I will share the name and number. 

Basketry Classes at Sheep & Wool Festival

Several basket weaving classes are being offered at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival this September 9-11 at the Jefferson County Fair Park in Jefferson, WI. 


Pre-registration has already begun and the deadline to register is August 21.


Sandy Bulgrin, co-owner of Basket Bits Magazine, is teaching two gourd classes. Philodendron Gourd uses waxed linen to attach a philodendron sheath, beads and feathers onto the rim of the gourd. Woven Gourd uses smoked reed for spokes, a variety of colors and types of reed and beads and feathers to decorate the gourd. 


Bev Larson is teaching a 6" round 10" tall Knitting Basket Tote with a lid and shoulder straps designed either with a solid lid or with a hole to pull yarn through. 


There are also dozens of knitting, rug hooking, spinning, felting, loom weaving, carding and dyeing workshops offered. If you don't want to take a class there are dozens of vendors, sheep and sheep herding competitions and shows, sheep auctions, and even cooking demonstrations.   HERE is the festival's website. 

Update on Wolf River Guild

I noticed the Wolf River Guild's Website is up and running again.

Their Spring Workshop is Friday (5:30-9:30) and Saturday (8:30-5:00) April 9 & 10. Workshop instructors will be Annetta Kraayeveld and Denise Arzberger. Click HERE for their website or it is always on the right listed under Guilds.


(Remember you must be a member of their guild to attend the Spring Workshop.)

New Weaving Opportunities

Lots of new workshops and classes in the area are coming up in the near future;

>Lake Country Guild has information about Basket Fest 2010 online. It will be held in West Bend April 30, May 1-2. Some wonderful teachers, nice vending, beautiful baskets. HERE is the link to their information page. Look for the links to class descriptions and registration forms. Registrations start January 31 so.... start reading!

> Marlene and Dawn will be teaching some classes this winter/spring through MPTC. Descriptions will be posted when I get more information.

> Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point has a whole bevy of classes in a wide range of areas from dying silk scarves, to making hypertufa planters to blacksmithing. I have taken several classes there and always had a great time. On May 22, Regina Reilly is teaching a Pine Needle Cracker Basket. HERE is the link.

> Weavin' in Winona is June 25-27th. Class list is not posted yet but HERE is their website.

> Wolf River Guild's Spring Workshop is coming up. You must be a member to attend the spring workshop but then...you can always join if you really love the basket! For some reason I am unable to access their website. Will fix this when I can.

> East Troy Basketry always has lots of fun classes. Their link is on the right.

Please let me know if you are aware of a class you would like me to post.

Wolf River Baskerty Guild Fall Workshop

September 18-20, 2009

Comfort Inn & Suites, Shawano

I got my registration information about the Fall Weave in the mail yesterday. I guess I am on some privileged list as the information in not on their website yet.

Registration is $40 for 1 day or $65 for 2 days. Materials Fees are listed by each workshop. There is no fee for Friday evening, the fee is worked into the cost of the basket. Registration deadline is August 31, but we all know it is best to register early.

Saturday's Hot Sandwich Buffet and Sunday's Soup and Sandwich Bar are both $12.50

I scanned the important stuff. Click on the page to make it larger.

Weaving in Wabeno with JoAnn, May 11-13

JoAnn has a couple of cancellations due to illness for next week's basketmaking session and she asked me to notify everyone in case you would be interested. It sounds REALLY FUN and JoAnn said the group always has a good time together.

JoAnn will be teaching at the Crystal Bell Inn in Wabeno. HERE is their website. The class will be a fun, nonstop basketweaving experience from midday on Monday, May 11 through midday Wednesday May 13. Wabeno is in Forest County, about 20 miles southeast of Crandon, and only a couple miles from the Northern Lights Casino at Carter. It's on Hwy. 32 and is about two hours' drive from Oshkosh.

Again, this session starts midday on Monday, May 11 and runs through midday on Wednesday May 13.

JoAnn says the cost is $110 for two nights' lodging at the Crystal Bell and breakfasts and about the same for making two or three baskets and her teaching fee. So maybe about $225 total.

Everyone needs to bring a snack or something for lunch and the group goes out to a nearby restaurant for Mon. and Tues. suppers. Contact JoAnn right away if you or someone you know would be interested in attending.

I thought the Crystal Bell looked familiar! Don had sent me some pictures from a previous years class to add to the slide show and I had not gotten around to putting them on the blog. Click below to see them. Beautiful place to weave.

5 days of Gathering and Weaving in California

Donna sent me the information about this volunteer opportunity with the USDA Forest Service . Thanks Donna!

The whole experience sounds so amazing; the opportunity to gather and process beargrass AND weave with the San Francisco Bay Urban Indian Basketweavers. Wow, a once in a lifetime weaving experience in beautiful Northern California!

Here is the link for information about the Forest Service's volunteer program Passport in Time. Click on "Current Programs" to find the listing for "Weaving Connections 2009". Note the application deadline is April 26th.

Arcata Field Office - BLM

Weaving Connections 2009

CA-3826
June 28-July 2, 2009 (including Sunday)
Must commit to full session
"Weaving Connections" provides an opportunity for the public to interact with traditional basketweavers in a five-day campout. Volunteers will gather and process basketry materials and be introduced to basic basketweaving skills. Volunteers will also assist in the restoration and enhancement of a beargrass habitat, a plant important in traditional basketweaving. The partners in this undertaking are the Bureau of Land Management's Sacramento, Arcata, and King Range offices, the San Francisco Bay Area Urban Indian Basketweavers, Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria, and the California Department of Transportation. The project will take place within the King Range National Conservation Area along the Pacific coast of northwestern California. Join us for this very exciting Bureau of Land Management PIT project!
Number of openings: 20
Special skills: Must be willing to work and interact with people of different cultural backgrounds
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Volunteers will camp in an established campground; vault toilets and sun showers; all meals and beverages will be provided
Nearest towns: This project will be in the King Range National Conservation Area; Whitethorn, less than 5 miles; Shelter Cove, 5 miles; Garberville, 25 miles
Applications due: April 26 , 2009

Women's Retreat

When I was at ETB yesterday I saw a flyer about a retreat Eileen Mirsberger was presenting with Annette Johnson, chaplain at St. Elizabeth hospital in Appleton. Eileen wasn't working and no one seemed to know much about it. It doesn't sound like a heavy weaving weekend but, might be nice to go for a quiet weekend with a friend who is not a weaver but willing to learn.

"Embracing Our Oneness: A Basket Weaving Experience"

February 20-22, 2009

Come celebrate our oneness with the earth, each other, ourselves and God. Through this basket weaving weekend experience discover how the various fibers of our life and the lives of others have been shaped, woven together and formed into the creation that is you. No basket weaving experience necessary just a willing and adventuresome heart open to weaving, humor, sharing and amazement. In unity with one another ourselves and God may we know that oneness that brings courage and peace.
The weekend is presented by Eileen Mirsberger and Annette Johnson. Eileen is the owner of East Troy Basketry in East Troy, WI and is an experienced weaver, teacher of weaving, and writer of basket patterns. Annette is a full time chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, WI. and has been weaving for a number of years. The retreat is limited to 40 people.
Begins with a 7:00 p.m. supper on Friday evening and ends with the noon meal on Sunday.
Offering: $195.00 includes meals, room and materials.
HERE is the website for the Center.

From the Land

I saw a little flyer at my bank in NFDL yesterday advertising

"From The Land"
A Gathering of Traditional Crafts and Skills
October 25-26
Saturday 10-4 & Sunday 10-3
On the Toll/Londowski Family Farm
One mile west of the Hwy. 49/Co Road J intersection
Green Lake

"Knowledge and techniques given from the heart by people who truly enjoy what they do"

There will be speakers, story tellers, music and crafts.

Partial list of crafts.......
First item up Baskets (this has to be one of us right?) , Bead Art, Whimsy, Folk Art Painting, Wood Carving, Pottery, Rugs and Weaving, Homemade Soaps, Wood Furniture, Metal, Jewelry & Clothing, Pasture-fed Beef, chicken and Lamb, Smoked Meats, Honey.

It sounds wonderful. And, I can talk my husband going if I explain he can buy meat and my daughter into coming along if I promise her jewelry and soap.

I found a website with a map. Click HERE to go to the site.

Watercolor Paper Basket Class

Sandy Bulgrin (publisher of Basketbits) will be teaching a Watercolor Paper Basket Weaving Class at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point on Sunday, June 8th from 1-4. During the class, watercolor paper is painted, cut it into strips and finally the strips are woven into a basket. There are various styles, shapes and sizes of baskets that can be woven. Cost is $45.

Go to; http://www.shakeragalley.com/pages/history.html and click on "Calendar" for more information.

Mineral Point is a charming place to visit and only about 1 3/4- 2 hour drive from our area. We enjoyed staying overnight at the 1840's Stagecoach Inn on the Shake Rag Alley property which gave us time to stroll through all the interesting shops and galleries downtown not to mention visiting the wonderful restaurants. ( Since I'm not a beer drinker or much of an alcoholic beverage drinker in general..... I was totally smitten with the homemade nonalcoholic root beer and cream soda at a restaurant with a microbrewery. I had to go back the next day for another glass !)

Wolf River Basket Guild Spring Workshop

The Wolf River Basket Guild is having their Spring Workshop April 11 & 12 at the Richmond Town Hall, County MM, Shawano. The Spring Workshop is FOR MEMBERS ONLY, so to attend you must join their guild.

HERE is a link to the class offerings and registration form.

Weavin' in Winona

My sister-in-law Deanna has been raving about the workshops at Weavin' in Winona for several years. Here is the LINK to the Weavin' in Winona website. Dates this year are June 20, 21 and 22. You can attend for one, two or all three days. A wide variety of basket classes are being offered including this cute little basket pictured above on the left.

Also, don't forget Marlene and Dawn's classes are coming up. Look back at the January 19th post for information.

Basket Weaving Classes

Dawn and Marlene are offering some great intermediate projects
through Moraine Park.

They are also teaching some beginning classes, starting
already January 28th, if you know someone who wants to learn to weave.
Call 1-800-472-4554 or 920-922-8611 to request registration.

#304-406-001 Intermediate Basket Weaving - Wood Base
Mondays Feb. 25 to March 10 6-9:20 PM, 3 nights
$27. 01 plus supplies
Taught in Princeton

#307-406-002 Quilter's Tote
Mondays April 14- April 28 6-9:20 PM, 3 nights
$27. 01 plus supplies
Taught in Green Lake

#304-413-002 Holiday Theme
Tuesday May 6 & May 13 6-9 PM 2 nights
$17.81 plus supplies
Taught in Ripon

Reduced Tuition of $4.00 for those over 62