Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild

November workshop with Lene Rasmussen Willow basketmaker Lene Rasmussen, from Lakeshore Willows, taught the Guild the Burkina weave. All students wove a small, sturdy willow basket to take home, some made two!

October workshop: Dolores von Rosen Remembrance weave Old and new members came together for the October workshop to weave the lovely Mountain Range basket designed by the guild member Dolores von Rosen. Sadly, we lost one of our founding members earlier this year. A day filled with laughter and tears. The solid wooden base with a handle makes a sturdy basket with flat reed walls. We learned to chase weave and how to create an undulating rim. The rolled rim finishes this beautiful basket.

September workshop with Stephen Jerome Black ash basketmaker Stephen Jerome travelled from Quebec to spend two days with the guild teaching black ash basketry techniques. Rib basket Fancy ash basket with lid

 June workshop with Martina Obersat Guild member Martina Obersat went back to the basics with this market basket workshop. Beginner and experienced basketmakers took home a--mostly completed--useable and sturdy basket!

May workshop with Joan Carrigan British Columbian basketmaker Joan Carrigan taught us to weave a cell phone pouch using the beautiful natural materials of the Pacific Northwest. Joan lead the workshop in a discussion of gathering and preparation of the materials we would use: red and yellow cedar, willow bark, sedge and beargrass. She encouraged us to create a unique pouch incorporating a variety of the barks and grasses using a variety of techniques, including twining and plaiting.

April workshop with Linda Scherz American basketmaker, Linda Scherz, taught the Guild about the beauty and flexibility of waxed linen as a weaving material. She showed us the basics of making a small, footed vessel. We started the morning weaving the round base and creating the foot with beads. In the afternoon, we created the wall design. Linda is a great teacher and taught, even the most experienced basketmakers, new skills. 

February workshop with  Mavis Kiyoshk Four-generation First Nation basketmaker Mavis Kiyoshk helped us create a small lidded sweetgrass basket. First we beaded the lid centres and then started coiling the base. Mavis, and assistant Martha Sands, provided locally-grown sweetgrass and a variety of threads and beads so we could create our own individualized baskets. Thanks to T K Fibres for welcoming us to her studio space early Saturday morning.

January workshop with Amy Jorgensen Guild member Amy Jorgensen taught us the lovely Hugs & Kisses basket--perfect gift for Valentine's Day! We had a choice of weaving a heart-shaped basket or a more traditional round one. The reed basket was ornamented with X patterns and incorporated an oak handle that we wrapped with natural and dyed caning creating heart shapes. The Guild's Saturday workshop was well-taught and fun.

2018  Guild workshop  program The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild is proud to present the basketry workshops for 2018. The year promises to be filled with new and challenging baskets and techniques. January 20, 2018 Amy Jorgensen -  Hugs and Kisses basket  - all skill levels Perfect for Valentine's Day! Guild member Amy Jorgensen will teach this heart-shaped basket. Learn to create this special shape using flat and round reed, learn to embellish the basket and learn to cover and ornament the inserted handle. ***Workshop start time changed to 8:30 am.*** Learn to create this special heart-shaped basket. Lovely ornament decorate the basket's handle. February 17, 2018 Mavis Kiyoshk - Sweetgrass Coil Basket  - all skill levels Basketmakers will create a small lidded basket sewn in coils. The lid will have a beaded felt centre and the bowl a felt centre. The sweetgrass basket will be created using a traditional First Nation method taught by a ...