Here are some snapshots from yet another pair of wonderful workshops with Martha Wetherbee we had here in St. Louis June 22-25, 2006. Martha offered two classes, the fifth in a series of Nantucket signature nesting baskets and the second in a series of Shaker confection baskets woven of brown ash. This marks the 7th year Martha and Alan have come to St. Louis.

Nantucket Signature Nesting Set

June 22-24, 2006

Alan shows off the new 16" basket of the Signature Nesting set.

Annette sands each of the saves for for 6" basket

Jeana begins inserting the staves into her basket after dividing the base into four quadrants.

Cindy gets half of her staves inserted into the base.

Robin double checks the spacing of her staves before she gets too far.

Lynanne works on her 4" basket which seems tiny after working on the larger baskets.

It is always a good idea to double check the number of staves before you start weaving.

With all the staves inserted everyone is ready to start weaving.

The first few rows are always the most difficult.

After a few rows are woven the staves are thoroughly wetted.

After the staves are banded down to the mold Lou makes sure everything is nice and straight.

For the 16" basket I have to use a slightly different method of inserting the staves. The staves are slipped under the band and then carefully bent and inserted into the base.

After allowing the staves to dry Deb is able to start weaving again.

Once she gets going Cindy is going to town on her weaving.

Mary's 14" basket is looking pretty big in comparison to the other smaller baskets.

Martha is excited to see the latest addition to my basket collection.

Martha shows the class the interesting "spider" bottom reinforcements on this interesting New England basket.

The basket not only features the spider bottom, but also a swing handle, unique ears and heavy hand carved rims.

Lou keeps one ear on the history lesson and one eye on her weaving.

Annette admires her 6" basket as she weaves through the first day.

Once you start going up the sides Jeana discovers how fast the basket starts coming together.

After only one day of weaving Lynn can't believe she is almost to the top of the mold already.

After a full day of weaving I have barely gotten around the curve of my basket. Doesn't the 16" look huge next to the 10" we all started out with?

The 2nd day of class begins with everyone happily weaving.

Lynanne is discovering that even though her basket may be small, it isn't any faster to weave than its big brothers.

Jan also discovers that things start coming together faster as you get past the "hump".

My basket is coming along, but this one is even giving me a challenge.

Before she knows it Jan is almost to the top of her mold.

While everyone is happily weaving, Martha gives a lesson on the Bushwhacker baskets of New York state.

This "friendship" basket is one I have had in my collection for awhile now.

Martha explains how the baskets were first confused with Shaker baskets.

She points out the details of "signatures" that make a basket as Bushwhacker.

One of the most obvious details are the handle and ear attachment.

While Mary takes a break, Martha can't resist the chance to do a bit of weaving.

At the end of the day everyone is at the top of their mold, except...

...for me!

But, I do a bit of weaving after everyone leaves and I am able to get my basket to the top and off the mold.

Once the baskets are dried usually only a bit of packing is needed.

Beth carefully checks the level of her basket.

With basket leveled and the "false rim" in place, Lou trims all her staves even.

The third and final day of class is all about rims and handles.

As with all Nantucket baskets the rims are nailed into place.

The smaller baskets while easier to weave are a bit more challenging to lash.

As Lynn demonstrates, sometimes you have to use everything at your disposal, even your mouth.

Robin is about finished with her 12" Nantucket basket.

Robin, Alan, newcomer Deb, and Annette proudly display their baskets.

After a lot of work this basket is going to look great, all I have left to do is lash.

The Nantucket Signature Nest of 9!

Shaker Confection Collection

June 24-25, 2006

laying the base out on this basket is one of the most challenging steps, everything must be perfectly square.

Annette carefully adjusts her base.

Debbie, checks to see if she fits to the mold.

Carol watches as Martha demonstrates how to "upset" the basket.

One four uprights on each corner are folded up to make a crimp ear.

The base is again positioned on the mold.

After pinning and banding, the uprights are spaced evenly and dried to the mold.

Sue can't believe how wonderful the brown ash is to work with.

Debbie checks the spacing of the uprights as she weaves around the corners.

Martha Kay is content to just sit and weave.

Sue thins each end of the weaver so that each splice is nice and smooth.

A shaving "puppy" and wood scraper make the thinning easy.

Like Debbie I am constantly adjusting the spacing of my uprights.

Once all the uprights are spaced the weaving moves along at a steady pace.

Carol makes quick work of her little 4" Sugar Cube basket.

Robin Is just about to the top of her mold.

Martha Kay is also about to the top of her mold.

After leveling,packing and drying Deb carefully folds over the uprights of her 8" Confection Tray.

Deb uses the cabinet scraper to refine the shape of her cherry handle.

After scraping a little sanding finishes things off.

With the rims on Sue begins to lash her basket.

Debbie is excited to get her basket completed, but knows that means the class is almost over for another year.

Debbie, Cindy, Deb, Martha, Mary and Robin proudly display just a few of the beautiful baskets woven this year.