About Carol Antrim Expertise I can answer most questions about basketry techniques, and how to or where to find instructions/instructors. Also most questions about the materials used in basketry, either preparation and/or sources. I cannot answer questions regarding value or appraisal of baskets. Nor can I address questions about locating cheap wholesale baskets for gift basket businesses, or how to fill such baskets or conduct such businesses.
Experience I have been weaving baskets since 1986. Studied with Native American basket makers from several Woodland tribes as well as with teachers from coast to coast and Canada,Japan and Russia. Have taught basketry in Indiana, Ohio, New York, Montana, Michigan and Tennessee. Had acceptances in shows and won awards in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, including purchase awards to the permanent collection at Minnetrista Cultural Center. Twice had baskets at the Indiana Governor's residence in the Indiana Arts and Artist Program, and was in 'Innovation--Baskets and Beyond' an invitational at The Firehouse Gallery in Damariscotta, Maine in 1999. My work can be viewed at http://cantrimbaskets.com/
Organizations Member of the Virtual Basketmakers Guild http://home.sprynet.com/~cpantrim/
and the Indiana Basketmakers Association http://www.indianabasketmakers.com/
Question How do I harvest and prepare Yucca for weaving in traditional
Southwest style coiled baskets. I have been weaving coiled
pineneedle baskets for years and would like to experiment with
other fibers. I would also like to harvest and prepare Iris and
Lily leaves if possible.
Answer Hi Sally,
I'm sorry, I have never harvested the yucca and worked with it traditionally....fun to experiment with though. It doesn't dry as much on the first drying as most fibers so you can weave with it as soon as you pull it off the plant if you like.... I think someone on the pine needle group http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Trail/9114/index.html was soaking it and splitting it several years ago....looked like horsetail when finished, gorgeous stuff but have no idea if it was truly traditional.
There are a few books that I use for harvesting and preparing materials from the roadside and gardens.
FIBRE BASKETRY edited by Helen Richardson
A wealth of information on selecting and preparing natural materials for
basket making in Australia but many of the same materials can be found in
the US.
NATURAL BASKETS (Maryanne Giloolly)
Designs and techniques for making over twenty unique baskets from
materials collected along roadsides and fields, in woods, and your own
garden.
Other books I also refer to are:
BASKETRY TODAY WITH MATERIALS FROM NATURE: WEAVING, TWINING, PINE NEEDLES,
PLAITING, COILING, FREE FORM by Dona Z. Meilach. Out-of-print but can be
found on internet thru used book sources.
BASKETRY & WEAVING WITH NATURAL MATERIALS by Pat Dale. Covers natural
materials, techniques, & projects. Again from Australia, but much
information applies to US.
EARTH BASKETRY by Osma Gallinger Tod. Chapters include gathering,
preparing, and weaving of natural materials.
FROM VINES TO VESSELS by Beryl Lumpkin. Vine gatherer's handbook.
Information on identification, gathering, & preparation of natural
materials
