Here are some snapshots from another pair of wonderful workshops with Martha Wetherbee we had here in St. Louis over June 1-3, 2001. Martha offered 2 classes, one a Nantucket Centerpiece Fruit Bowl and the other a Shaker Fancy Lace basket woven of brown ash. For a sneak peek at the baskets we may do in 2002 scroll to the bottom of the page.

Nantucket Centerpiece Fruit Bowl

June 1-2, 2001

After bagels and greeting old faces Martha gets down to business.

Martha demonstrates tapering the first weaver.

Tina works on inserting and spacing her staves.

Wanda begins the fun part, weaving the basket.

Annette speed weaves to the top of the mold.

Martha and Jeana discuss the history of Nantucket baskets.

Debi levels her basket and weaves in the false rim.

Tina sands her rims until they are smooth as silk.

Tina works on shaping her handles until they are just right.

Alan helps Anne fit the cherry rims to her basket.

Anne crimps her rim cover.

Alan drills the handle holes.

Martha demonstrates starting the lashing.

Anne lashes her rim.

Debbie attaches her handles.

Susan and Dorothy make the most of their time in St. Louis by working on evening projects.

With the medallions in place, a coat of finish and a rubbing of wax the baskets are ready to be proudly displayed.

Shaker Fancy Lace

June 3, 2001

Martha shares the history of the Shakers.

Determining the center of the staves.

At first the base is tricky to get the pattern right.

Susan finishes up the base.

Martha passes out the weavers.

With the base woven Martha begins the weaving.

Cindy starts weaving around the base.

After a few rows of weaving it is time to space out the staves.

Cindy quickly weaves to the top of her mold.

Before packing the basket bodies are dried.

Martha Kay thins the tips of her weavers so that the overlap joints are invisible.

Martha demonstrates leveling the basket and adding the false rim.

Barb fits the rims to her basket.

Lynn folds down the staves to the inside of the basket.

Martha demonstrates fitting the rims.

Dorothy and Barb temporarily attach their rims with clips and cable ties.

Martha demonstrates using my "Nantucket Handle Minder" (It works for Shaker baskets too!) to determine the exact placement of the handle. With the location marked it is only a matter of drilling the holes

Martha helps Barb attach her cherry swing handle.

Deb, Renee and Cindy concentrate as they lash their baskets.

Susan and Martha Kay lash their rims.

The finished basket.