2023 Guild workshop programme

 

The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild is proud to present the basketry workshop schedule for 2023. We have a great lineup of instructors this year that will teach students of all skill levels new materials, processes and techniques. The blog will be updated as teachers, descriptions and photos become available.

The workshops are help every third Saturday of the year (except January, February and December) at the Chatham Cultural Centre. All workshops require pre-registration.

If you are interested in attending, please e-mail (SWOBG.TREASURER@gmail.com) or message us through Facebook. 

Saturday, January 21, 2023
No workshop this month.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

No workshop this month.

Saturday, March 18, 2023 - Louise MacDougall - Winter Twill Basket (beginner/intermediate level)

 

 

Guild member Louise MacDougall will teach her beautiful Winter Twill Basket. Learn how to weave a twill basket on a solid wood base using 7 mm spokes and flat oval weavers. The rim will secure the basket. The completed basket will sure be a conversation piece! Dimensions are: 10" diameter and 11" high.

Saturday, April 15, 2023 - Louise MacDougall - Spring Tote Basket (beginner level)

 

 

Guild member Louise MacDougall will teach her Spring Tote Basket.  It is 11" long x 5" wide and 1" high. This tote is made with 5/8" flat reed as spokes and 7mm reed as weavers. The colourful overlays and the wooden swing handle offer a unique quality to this all-skills level basket .

Saturday, May 20 & Sunday, May 21, 2023 - Karen Kotecki

 

Karen Kotecki will offer students a choice of a one-day or two-day basket to weave.

One-day basket - Flower Knots (intermediate level)

 

Flower Knots

 

Karen Kotecki will teach students how to start an oval reed basket, on an oak base with narrow slot, eliminating the need for twining. A simple Japanese twill weave gets you up the sides. The shaping challenge is to get a graceful turned-up oval shape. Frame the centre Flower Knot section with twined arrows. Learn to braid the 6-strand flower knots, using bleached cane, that weaves like leather when wet. An over/under weave finishes the top section. Finish with the stacked and lashed rim that uses oval/oval as a rim filler. This basket is 7" long x 7" tall x 5" wide.

Two-day basket - Stylish Trash (intermediate level)
 

Stylish Trash

 

This basket is woven over a round plastic IKEA trash container which stay in the basket after it is woven. Insert spokes into an oak base glued to the mould. The narrow slot hold spokes securely and eliminates the need to twine in the spokes.  Learn the technique that reverses and unreverses the visual direction of the twill. You decide how many times you want to zig-zag. We'll talk about using Fiboncci numbers as guides.  Triple twining secures your weaving at the top. The rim is a three-step braids woven around a twined core, using the remaining spoke length.
This basket is 12.5" tall x 12" in diameter.

Saturday, June 17, 2023 - Martha Sands - Colourful Dish (beginner/intermediate)

 

 

Guild member Martha Sands will teach this lovely colourful basket. Martha will focus on how to weave this complicated twill pattern. The basket measures 5 inches tall and 8 inches diameter.

 

Saturday, July 15, 2023 - Amy Jorgensen - Basket with Spoons  (beginner/intermediate)

*** Workshop cancelled ***

 

Amy Jorgensen will focus on Fibonacci twill. The basket is 10 inches tall and 8 inches diameter.

Saturday, August 19, 2023 - Martina Obersat - Rib basket with random weave rim (beginner)

 

If you want to weave something a little different...

Guild member Martina Obersat will teach the basics of a rib basket: three-point lashing, rib insertion and shaping. After the basic shape is established and stabilized, students can get as creative as possible. A random weave border, using round reed #6, is woven around the opening of the basket to accentuate the shape. Students can add beads, feathers, leather, etc. to ornament. Basket measures approximately 8 inches.

Saturday, September 16, 2023 - Dale Adamson - Gourd baskets (beginner)

Dale Adamson will focus on weaving a wicker basket on a gourd base. These gourd baskets are 10 inches tall.

Saturday, October 21, 2023 - Nancy Hager - Rib basket with naturals (beginner)

 

Guild member Nancy Hager will focus on using natural materials to create a rib basket--honeysuckle for the rim and handle and day lily cordage for the weavers. The size will be about 3" x 3" x 3". A lovely Essex County-sourced basket!

Saturday, November 25, 2023 - Workshop TBD & Annual General Meeting (AGM)

 

*** Please note: this workshop and meeting is scheduled for the fourth Saturday in November ***