Here are some snapshots from yet another pair of wonderful basketry workshops with Martha Wetherbee we had here in St. Louis June 24-27, 2010. Martha offered two classes, the ninth in a series of Nantucket signature nesting baskets and the third in a series of reproduction Bushwhacker baskets woven of brown ash. This marks the 11th year Martha and Alan have come to St. Louis!

Nantucket Signature Nesting Baskets

June 24-26, 2010

The classroom area before...

The classroom area after!

We jump right in. Alan gets the big #16s started.

Martha supervises the start of the baskets.

Beth gets to work on her tiny #0.

I start on the first quadrant of my (2nd) #6.

Wanda is moving along on her #2.

Kate works on the first of her Signature Nest, the #10.

Mary carefully spaces the staves in her huge #16.

Martha helps Janice with the spacing of her staves.

I have all of my staves inserted and begin weaving the first couple rows.

Wanda gets right to work on weaving her #2.

Lynn works on her #0.

Martha gives Peggy pointers on starting the weaving.

Peggy gets right to work on her weaving while Lynanne gets the final staves inserted on her tray.

Alan gives Janice some tips on getting the weaving started.

Martha inspects Mary's first rows of weaving.

Martha checks in on Beth's progress.

Everyone settles into weaving the first few rows.

Lynanne works on her first few rows.

After the first rows are woven I band my basket to let the staves dry.

Lynn makes quick work of her #0.

Jane settles into a few solid days of weaving on her #16.

Mary weaves away on her #16.

I am all smiles as the first day comes to an end.

Jane's basket is banded for the night.

As the morning begins Martha helps Beth get the tiny ears of her #0 inserted.

Janice weaves away on her #10.

Peggy does the same.

Kate follows suite.

Lynanne is discovering just how many staves are in her tray.

Before I know if I have my #6 woven to the top of the mold.

Jane is making progress on her #16.

I level my basket and insert the false rim.

Lynanne's basket is coming along.

Euline is almost to the top of her #14.

Kate is almost to the top of her mold.

Peggy is getting there too.

Janice takes a break from weaving to check some of her packing.

Martha shows Jane their set of nesting oval trays.

Martha helps glue a set of tiny rims.

Wanda has her rims on an is pinning them in place.

Martha and Wanda admire her sweet little basket.

After two days of solid weaving Jane is ready to have some help removing her basket from the mold.

After the basket is leveled and a false rim inserted the staves can be trimmed flush.

Two days of weaving and my basket is woven, rimmed and handled.

The cherry rims, handle and ears contrast beautifully with the ash uprights and cane weavers.

Lashing finishes off the basket.

Janice has her basket leveled and the staves trimmed.

Martha helps Kate mark her rims for a perfect fit.

Martha shows Kate how to refine the scarf on her rims.

Alan helps Lynanne fit her rims and integrated handles onto her tray.

With the handles and rims installed Lynanne begins lashing.

Martha checks the handle fit.

Peggy drills pilot holes for her rim pins.

Jane sands her rims one last time.

Alan demonstrates how the rim covers will fit onto the basket.

Peggy and Kate lash their rims.

Mary lashes her big #16.

Alan applies a final coat of finish to the baskets.

Euline and Kate proudly show off their completed Nantucket Signature baskets.

Jane proudly displays her completed #16.

Martha and Lynanne show off her complete Nantucket tray.

Bushwhacker Basket

June 26-27, 2010

Martha displays a selection of antique Bushwhacker baskets along with the reproduction we will be making.

Each upright has to be tapered in the center and Martha checks each one with a set of calipers.

Lynanne cuts each upright by hand.

With all the uprights tapered the weaving can begin.

Janice starts the first layer of the base.

Martha gives Paul a hand starting the weaving.

After the first few rows another layer of uprights is added and the weaving continued.

It is time for the glasses when working on my #3 Bushwhacker.

Martha has us weave on small "bump bottom" molds to get the "kicked up" shape of the base. The Bushwhackers would have used their knees.

The weaving continues until it is the diameter of the mold base.

Once the proper size the base is flipped over and centered on the mold.

After banding the uprights to the mold for the night Martha starts the morning with the history of the Bushwhackers.

Martha demonstrates starting the weaving.

Paul tapers the top of his staves.

I am almost over the edge of the mold and ready to start up the sides.

Jane weaves up the sides of her basket.

Natali is enjoying working on her #5 Bushwhacker.

Janice scrapes the tips of each weaver so the splices are invisible.

With the basket bodies woven, Paul and Natali sand and oil their rims and handles.

My rims and swing handle is cable tied to the basket.

Leanne lashes her basket.

The baskets are lashed with a wide ribbon of brown ash.

Martha poses with Peggy and Janice and the beautiful baskets they made in the workshop.

Some show and tell. Martha describes a new sewing basket she made.

The Shaker-style sewing basket features mini baskets around the rim to hold sewing notions.

Martha had me prototyping a small Bushwhacker "friendship" basket.

My completed basket.