Here are some snapshots from yet another pair of wonderful workshops with Martha Wetherbee we had here in St. Louis June 24-27, 2004. Martha offered two classes, the third in a series of Nantucket signature nesting baskets and a Shaker spoon basket woven of brown ash.

Nantucket Signature Nesting Set

June 24-26, 2004

Mary listens as Martha explains the importance of starting the base layout with two staves directly opposite each other (this is where the handle will eventually go).

Virgia and Lynanne do some light prep work to the staves.

Lynn has half her staves in and weaves a row in to help hold things in place before she adds the remaining staves.

Martha inspects everyone's stave placement before weaving can begin.

Martha double checks Lynanne's stave count one final.

Annette is off and running on her 8" basket.

Wanda weaves in her first few rows.

Martha relates some of her vast knowledge of Nantucket history as Debbie listens and weaves.

Alan helps Jeana space and straighten out all of her staves after they have been banded down to dry.

As Annette waits for her staves to dry she prepares a batch of weavers by thinning down the tips.

It is the next day and Jeana and Lynn weave on their huge 14" baskets.

Debbie weaves on her 14" as Cindy weaves on her 12".

Virgia and Mary are weaving away too.

The room gets really quiet as everyone concentrates on their baskets.

But, before you know it everyone is over halfway done with the weaving.

Cindy inspects her basket as Debbie heads into the home stretch.

It is the next day and baskets are coming off the molds.

With her basket weaving leveled, Wanda trims the staves level.

Martha helps Debbie glue her rims together.

Jeana sands her rims until they are silky smooth.

All the baskets are off the molds and handles and rims are getting fitted.

Virgia, Cindy and Fern sand on their rims.

Lynanne stars pinning her rims on.

Debbie is having the time of her life and making a beautiful basket to boot.

Mary finishes the last stitch of her lashing.

Out in the garage, Alan applies the finish to the completed baskets.

Cindy, Debbie, and Anne proudly display their completed baskets.

Shaker Spoon Basket

June 27, 2004

Martha talks about the history of the Shaker spoon basket.

Martha explains about the Shaker system of proportions.

Martha demonstrates laying out the base.

With the base woven, it is pinned to the mold.

Virgia weaves her base as Debbie bands her basket to the mold.

Jane gives her basket a "hair cut".

Jeana begins weaving.

Cindy discovers how fast this little basket is to weave.

Lynn is over halfway done weaving up the sides.

Jan is off the mold and ready for the next step.

Anne has her basket leveled and the stave turned down.

Lynn lashes her basket.

After 4 days of intense weaving Alan gives a hand lashing a basket while Cindy finishes up hers.