Basketry
I was introduced to pine needle basketry in 2018 when I lived in Truckee where I had an endless supply of pine needles in my yard. When I moved to Reno in 2022, I joined the Great Basin Basketmakers and Nevada Gourd Society where I’ve been learning basket weaving techniques while working with different natural plant materials as well as man-made materials. Now whenever I go for walks in my neighborhood or in the wilderness, I look at plants and branches differently, and wonder the possibilities weaving it. I love the process of making baskets and letting the material speak to me as I weave. My long-term goal is to share my knowledge of basket weaving to younger generations so that they can continue this ancient craft that dates back as far as 20,000 BC, predating the weaving of cloth and early pottery.
No. 1: Pine needle, waxed linen, walnut, 5"x1”. Atelier Truckee Pine needle basketry workshop led by Michelle Haselton (@lakesbasincreations). My first basket! Truckee, CA March 2018
No. 2: Pine needles from my yard, raffia, 5.5” round x2,5”. Truckee, CA, March 2018
No. 3: Pine needles, waxed linen, walnut center, wood beads, 6.75” round. Truckee, CA, April 14, 2018
No. 4: Pine needle, waxed linen, 2.5" round x 7/8”. Nevada Museum of Art’s Miniature Pine Needle Basket workshop led by Audrey Frank, native Nevadan Washoe/Paiute. Reno, NV, May 19, 2019
No. 5: Pine needles from my Truckee yard, hemp string made in Romania, 2.5” round x 1.5”. Truckee, CA, May 19, 2019
No. 6: Pine needle, waxed linen, walnut center, 2” round x 1.25”. Truckee, CA, May 19, 2019
No. 7: Knitted Love Fest Fiber’s Chunky Ridge pattern, US size 50 (25mm) knitting needles, and 50 yard ball of Love Fest Fiber’s Tough Love hand, felted yarn, made in Katmandu, Nepal using pure New Zealand wool. Truckee, CA, May 25, 2019
No. 8: Milk carton, two t-shirt. Great Basin Basketmakers free up-cycle basketry workshop at South Valleys Library, Reno, NV, August 6, 2022
No. 9: Tension Tray, round reed 10” x 9”, Great Basin Basketmakers workshop, Sparks, NV, August 6, 2022
No. 10: Tule, 10"x10"x2", Great Basin Basketmakers and Great Basin Native Basketweavers convergence at Stewart Indian School, Carson City, NV October 14, 2022
No. 11: Red Cedar Bark (cut into strips with a Rigby cutter), Hamburg cane, waxed linen, unfinished. Great Basin Basketmakers workshop, Reno, NV January 15, 2023
No. 12: Fabric selvage, cotton rope, 5"x2". Reno, NV, February 2, 2023
No. 13: Deer antler, oval reed, round reed, seagrass, flat reed, 11"x10"x9". Great Basin Basketmaker workshop led by Bonnie Kennedy. Sparks, NV, March 19, 2023
No. 14: Rainstick made with PVC pipe, chicken wire, pebbles, round, flat & flat-oval reeds, sea grass, feather, beads, leather, 18"x2". Great Basin Basketmakers workshop led by Kaylee Mayne, Sparks, NV April 16, 2023
No. 15: Tree branch, rope, sea grass, flat reed, tule reed, 25"x8.5", Reno, NV, May 14, 2023
No. 16: Round reed, sea grass, coconut twine, flat reed, 10"x9"x9.5". Josephine Knot Hen Basket workshop led by Jennifer Wool, Zephyr Cove, NV, May 17, 2023.
No. 16: Round reed, sea grass, coconut twine, flat reed, 10"x9"x9.5". Josephine Knot Hen Basket workshop led by Jennifer Wool, Zephyr Cove, NV, May 17, 2023.
No. 17: Twined Round Reed Tray, 13"x2". Workshop led by Leah Brady, Zephyr Cove, NV, May 18, 2023.
No 18: Tule. 5.5"x6"x3.5". Great Basin Basketmaker and Great Basin Native American Basketweavers convergence. Workshop led by Leah Brady, Stewart Indian School, Carson City, NV July 15, 2023
No. 19: Seagrass, twine, rope, unknown plant, wood beads, 15"x5"x5". Techniques workshop led by Polly Jacobs Giacchina at CNCH, San Luis Obispo, CA, August 3-6, 2023
No. 20: Random weave of unknown plant leaves, 7" x 5" x 4". Techniques workshop led by Polly Jacobs Giacchina at CNCH, San Luis Obispo, CA, August 3-6, 2023
No. 21: Gourd, paper cord, waxed linen, beads, gourd dye, 5" round x 4.5". Nevada Gourd Society's Gourd Bowl with Tie-dyed Rim workshop led by Susan Lester, Carson City, NV, September 10, 2023.
No. 22: Kentucky Black Willow basket (unfinished), workshop led by Jennifer Zurich, St. Mary's Art Center, Virginia City, NV, September 27, 2023
No. 23: Cordage made with Iris leaves and bark from Indian Hemp. Great Basin Basketmakers workshop led by Betty Hulse, Reno, NV, October 5, 2023
No. 24: round reed, 8" round x5". Flo Hoppe Double-Triple Basket (techniques 3-rod wale, Japanese weave, 2/2 four rod walks, hidden joins. Workshop led by Karen Olson, Sparks, NV, November 16, 2023
No. 25: reed, 12"x18"x7.5". Janice's Market Basket pattern from The Basket Maker's Catalog. Workshop led by Nettie Fox, Sparks, NV, October 19, 2023.
No. 26: Waxed linen, 1.5" round x1.5", Sparks, NV, January 13, 2024
No. 27: Round and flat reed, 8" round x 5.5". Double Criss-Cross basket workshop led by Karen Olson, Sparks, NV, January 18, 2024
No. 27: Round and flat reed, 8" round x 5.5". Double Criss-Cross basket workshop led by Karen Olson, Sparks, NV, January 18, 2024
No. 28: Cotton rope knotless netting around glass vase, 6" round x 10", Reno, NV, February 19, 2024
No. 29: wood-burned and painted gourd, 1.5" round x 1.5". Nevada Gourd Society wood-burning miniature basket workshop led by Ken Poole, Minden, NV, March 10, 2024.
No. 30: flat and round reed, 9"x9"x6.5", Cherokee Wheel basket workshop led by Bonnie Kennedy, Sparks, NV, March 21, 2024
No. 31: Wood-burned and painted gourd, seagrass, waxed linen, wood beads, 3.5"x3.5"x4.5", Reno, NV, April 2, 2024
No. 31: Wood-burned and painted gourd, seagrass, waxed linen, wood beads, 3.5"x3.5"x4.5", Reno, NV, April 2, 2024
No. 32: Willow. Irish Creel Basket workshop led by Ely Goodwin, Reno, NV, June 4-5, 2024
No. 32: Willow. Irish Creel Basket workshop led by Ely Goodwin, Reno, NV, June 4-5, 2024
No. 33: Reed, 13"x11.5"x8.5" Abby's Tote designed by Marilyn Margrave, workshop led by Nettie Fox, Sparks, NV, July 18, 2024
No. 34: round reed, 8"x8"x4.5". Japanese weave base inspired by Kari Lonning's book "The Art of Basketry. Workshop led by Bonnie Kennedy and Betty Hulse, Sparks, NV, September 19, 2024
No. 35: Round Reed Garlic Basket, 5"x5"x4" (with handle 7"), Great Basin Basketmakers workshop led by Karen Olsen, Sparks, NV, October 3, 2024
No. 36: Japanese paper cord, 1.5"x1.5"x1.125". Twining techniques workshop led by Cael Chappell, St. Mary's Art Center, Virginia City, NV, October 8-10, 2024
No. 37: Waxed linen, 1.5"x1.5"x3.25". Twining techniques workshop led by Cael Chappell, St, Mary's Art Center, Virginia City, NV, October 8-10, 2024
No. 38: Tule, waxed linen, wood beads, Guinea feathers, leather strap, 3"x2"x.75". Pouch workshop led by Nettie Fox, Sparks, NV, October 17, 2024; No. 39: Flat reed, 6-ply waxed linen, leather strap, 3" x 2" x .75", Reno, NV, October 23, 2024
No. 39: 5.5 yards of cordage made with Iris leaves, Reno, NV, November 7, 2024
No 40: Five-point start ornament made with a willow branch at Feather River Land Trust's nature center grand opening, Beckwourth, CA, December 7, 2024.
No. 41: Plaited 5"x4"x4" basket made with one National Geographic map. January 24, 2025, following instruction in Jane Patrick's book "Time to Weave."