BASKET WEAVING WORKSHOP

October 20, 2015.

We car-pooled to Nichols Cove Studio (north of Buckhorn, ON), to attend a workshop led by basket maker, Sandi McNeil.

It was a glorious fall day - just perfect for this workshop to be held outdoors.

We were greeted by one of the owners of the property - Tundra.

After brief instruction indoors, we headed out to the firepit  area to start our "fish" baskets.

First we stripped dogwood and willow branches of their leaves. 

Then Sandi taught us how to use the grapevines collected by Kim and Mara, to make the frame for the baskets and to use the willow and dogwood branches for spokes.

Once we had completed the basics, we headed indoors for a wonderful pot-luck lunch in the studio, where we were joined by our instructor Sandi, and another of the owners of the property, Carol Nichol.

After lunch we carried on with the actual weaving of the baskets, using cedar bark, dogwood and willow "weavers", daylily and siberian iris leaves.

We finished our baskets and showed them off.

We even decided on another, rather non-traditional, use for the baskets.

All agreed that the whole day was a wonderful experience !!!!
Just look at our smiling faces !