2020 program

The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild is proud to present the basketry workshop schedule for 2020. The blog will be updated as teachers, descriptions and photos become available. The year promises to be filled with new processes and techniques and a wonderful weekend full of basketry activities. 
All workshops are postponed indefinitely until we can meet again as a group (Chatham Cultural Centre is closed due to COVID-19). This website will be updated as required. 

January 18, 2020
No workshop this month.

February 15, 2020
No workshop this month.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Teacher: Amy Jorgensen

Easter Basket by Amy Jorgensen

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Teacher: Nancy Hager

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Teacher: Karen Kotecki

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Teachers: Will and Jane Elliott

Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, 2020

Teacher: Stephen Jerome

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Teacher: Martha Sands

Saturday, September 12
Teacher: Eileen LaPorte
***Please note: This Guild workshop is the second Saturday in September!***


Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2020

WeaveON 2020 Basketry Weekend Retreat

The retreat will be held at the Holy Family Retreat House in Oxley, Ontario. The Retreat House is situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Erie between Amherstburg and Leamington, Ontario.
The class schedule is: Friday, September 18: 1-5 pm, 6-9 pm; Saturday, September 19: 9:30 am-5 pm, 6-9 pm; Sunday, September 20: 9:30 am-3 pm with breakfast and lunch.
For more information, click on the link: Weaveon2020.com.

Saturday, October 24, 2020
Teacher: Martina Obersat

***Please note: This Guild workshop is the fourth Saturday in October!***

Saturday, November 21, 2020
Teacher: Louise MacDougall

November workshop with Debbie Bigham

Debbie Bigham taught the Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild how to hand cane a stool. We wove a traditional seating pattern by repeatedly weaving layer upon layer to create a strong seat for the stool. Most of us completed our stools to take home.

 

WeaveON 2020 Basketry Retreat

September 18-20,  2020

Sponsored by Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild

For more information, visit the website Weaveon2020.com.

October workshop with Nancy Hager

Guild member Nancy Hager designed the tapestry basket woven on a mold. This is a creative project, so every weaver, after completing the base, could use a variety of colours, textures and materials to personalize the basket. Nancy brought in a variety of natural materials (many from Essex County, Ontario) and threads, yarns and waxed linens. Every student took home a unique basket.

September workshops with Michigan basketmaker Gina Kieft

The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild hosted Michigan basketmaker Gina Kieft, from ginasbaskets.com, for two days of weaving. Both days Gina taught three different baskets (from beginner to advanced) to students with different basket skill levels. It was impressive to watch!

On Friday, the workshops were held in the garage of Guild member Nancy--almost weaving outdoors on a very warm (almost) fall day. The beginner level was a large reed basket woven on a slotted base with a sturdy rim and handles. Other students wove black ash to create a flat patterned piece to be framed in Gina's spalted handmade frames. We all completed our basket projects . 

On Saturday, the workshops taught by Gina Kieft were at the Chatham Cultural Centre. Gina taught three different baskets at three different skill levels. All of us gained in our knowledge and skills with this workshop. 

August workshop with Amy Jorgensen 

Guild member Amy Jorgensen created a sturdy, practical basket with interior dividers. This flat reed basket was fun to learn.

July workshop with Martha Sands 

Guild member Martha Sands invited the guild to her house and taught us the techniques of the own pattern -- Garden Naturals Basket. Martha collected all the materials from her garden (or close to it); materials included sedges, day lilies, rushes, cattails and barks (elm, birch, willow). The day was a wonderful experience and thanks Martha for your hospitality. 

 

June workshop with Amy Jorgensen

Guild member Amy Jorgensen organized a workshop to weave Marilyn Parr's basket kits featuring leather handles and wooden bases. Many beautiful basket were completed.

May workshop with Joyce Tomlinson

Joyce Tomlinson taught the Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild the techniques to weave around a mold. The glass vase is woven with reed, cane and waxed cotton cord. The tapestry pattern is created using colour and cord texture. The matchstick rim finishes the vase beautifully.