Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild

How did it all begin? My first basketmaking experience was in the mid 1980’s, a large egg basket woven on grapevine rings and ribs. The place was the patio at the London home of my new mother-in-law, the teacher was Betty Britschgi and I loved every minute. This was the London guild of weavers and spinners basketry study group and we were meeting each month to make a basket. I think there were 7 baskets under my belt before the group folded for lack of leadership (one of the baskets still isn’t finished!!!). We had been rotating teaching among the members and I remember meeting in someone’s kitchen one night (she is now a SOBG member) where Betty taught Amy’s Basket from Lyn Siler's book. There wasn’t much basketmaking through the ‘90s but Betty Britschgi gave me some cuttings from cultured basketry willow which came from Edna Baker, a former London guild member, and today it is my main crop, Green Edna. In 2000 Ankaret Dean sold me cuttings and that summer Jule Koch gave me ...

When setting up the year's program, a range of techniques and materials is covered, from manufactured reed to naturals and from beginner to intermediate level. Monthly meetings feature a class for members and guests. Here is the look of the program for the current year including a couple of classes that were cancelled due to winter weather. A few kits for the February onion/garlic basket are available for $15. JANUARY - Willow tension tray FEBRUARY - Onion/garlic basket MARCH - Coiling on a gourd APRIL/MAY - Divided tool basket with swing handle JUNE/JULY - Lined cat head bread basket with feathered corners AUGUST - Round reed bowl SEPTEMBER - Tapestry basket in natural materials OCTOBER - 2 day workshop with Dolores Von Rosen featuring her award-winning double wall market basket with hexagonal overlay NOVEMBER - Multi-coloured round reed decorator balls - photo coming soon! Some guild members are meeting in July to set up the 2010 program which will feature a number of rib bask...

This is an intermediate level basket but lots of help was available to beginners. Every basketmaker needs a good tool basket. This one features a divider and a liner complete with pockets! The swing handle folds down out of the way to make it easier to find that tool. Nancy was our teacher but lots of mentoring was happening around the room. Here we are at work. Look for a class photo next month when all 16 baskets are completed!

Yarn, thread, weeds, wood, all natural fibers have moved me, since I was child weaving pot holders under a tree on a hot day. Basket weaving for me started about 20 years ago on a hang gliding trip with Dolores von Rosen and our men. The men went off early one morning and Dolores drew me into her weaving web in a dim orange and brown motel room, where hanks of reed were hanging everywhere. Looking now at my first basket, the whole scene comes back and makes me laugh. After that day, she could count on me for years to attend her basket workshops. When Dolores after retirement moved back to South Carolina, I decided to teach workshops in my basement for a few years, while continuing to learn from Grace Kabel and other Michigan weavers. The von Rosen friendship stayed alive with our US/Canada trips back and forth - always including basket weaving. One can never be skilled enough or run out of design ideas - I was hooked. After retiring from 40 years of teaching special education,...