Baskets, and how they became a part of my life..
My husband and I lived the first four years of our marriage in North Carolina. It is there, in March of 2000 that I wove my first basket. I immediately connected with the art, and wove many a basket on the large front porch of our small southern home. The Smoky Mountain Range, which we lived near was full of basket weavers of all kinds... i was inspired by all of them I met! I gave many of my first baskets as gifts, and then got in to doing craft shows in the tourist towns of the mountains.
In 2002, we moved out to the great Northwest... a change for sure, but one thing came along... basket weaving. It was here that I got into lots of teaching (basketweaving) and also had my baskets in local shops, and markets.
Most of the baskets I weave now are my own designs, and I find so much satisfaction in turning my ideas into a truly useable item! I dye all my own colors for the baskets on my stovetop, and also make my own stain for the baskets out of pecan shells. Most of my designs are practical, and useable all around your home and farm. I put many of them to test, using them myself for almost everything!
I do not as yet, have 'a shop of my own' , but it has been in the conversations of my husband and I many times... I have a space in my basement where I weave, and also weave a lot on my patio when the weather is nice. I am so blest to be able to do what I enjoy, and still be home, doing all the 'mom jobs'. I know God has been good to bless me with basketry and I praise Him for it often. I love people, and meeting new people, and this has been a wonderful way to do it!
