The Tennessee Basket Association held thier annual weave this week in Alcoa, TN. Although this was a week later than we thought it was, we were still able to make it to the convention, and really had a good time! I might have mentioned a week or so ago that it was very hot in Blairesville, GA when we were there. Well, even though I was raised in SC and GA, I was obviously mistaken about what HOT is, because it was even hotter in Alcoa this week!!
Joni had fairly full classes in TN. We had several "set" classes for everyone to make a particular item, but also had a large proportion of students taking "Students Choice" classes. This is where each student picks an individual, unique project of their very own to complete. Once again, minis were popular for After-Project weaving.
One very positive thing that we have been noticing lately, impacts the future of basket weaving. We had noticed over the last few years that there were very few "younger" people weaving at conventions and at private guilds; at least it seemed that most weavers were very "experienced". We have been noticing the last year or so that there are more and more younger people weaving. By that I mean in their teens and 20's, well outside the expected demographic for basket weavers. As I have said many times before, I consider Joni-Dee the Joni-Appleseed of Nantucket basket weaving. Her goal is to get as many people addicted to Nantucket basket weaving as possible. Not necessarilly to make the perfect basket the first time out, but to help them develop the skills and love of Nantucket baskets that will stick with them for life. I hope from these recent observations that she is being successful.
The hot trend continues this week into the upcoming Woodland Retreat in Summerfield, NC. Denise will be on the way down to NC shortly and, after a side trip to GA to pick up dye for "A Good Day To Dye", will join us Thursday evening. We will have the Woodland Retreat, then Joni will take a much needed break and go to the lake house for a much needed vacation with our kids and grandkids. Then, after two quick workshops, Joni will take an even moire needed break and, you guessed it, weave baskets. She has set up a group to go to Eric Taylor's studio in TN to MAKE baskets. She loves to teach you all, but she started that love by learning to weave herself. I am really happy for her that she is taking some time for herself. Then, in September, we go to Maine to build our Northeaster Dory sailing boat, before moving into the fall mega-trip to TN, MI, and FL. We are finalizing our calendar for 2017 and are booking events into 2018 and 2019 now, the future of Nantucket basket weaving looks pretty bright at the present!
Please take a look at the Monkey Trap picture below. Joni has completed the next basket in this line, which the O'Possum Trap. The Monkey Trap is 6" diameter, the O'Possum Trap is 4" in diameter. The complete line of Traps will come our over the next year or so, and will include the Hamster Trap (2"), the Chipmunk Trap (3"), the O'Possum Trap (4"), the Raccoon Trap (5"), the aforementioned Monkey Trap (6"), the Otter Trap (7"), the Beaver Trap (8"), and the ROUS Trap (9"). All fans of the Princess Bride book and movie will already know that ROUSes are Rodents of Unusual Size!
I also wanted to take a moment to thank all of Joni-Dee's students out there. Joni loves to see the love of Nantucket basket weaving bloom in others. We know that Nantucket baskets require a lot of specialized skills and learned techniques, but the end result is more than worth the effort. Joni does this for her love of Nantucket Basket weaving, and to see you all enjoy yourselves and take home beautiful projects is very fulfilling for her.
Sorry, I will get off my sentimental soap box now and go back down to the shop! Please feel free to share this blog with others and, if you feel it is worth it, encourage them to subscribe so that they can follow automatically.
Take care. It may be hot as Hades out there, but its still a beautiful day, don't let it slip away.
Dave Ross
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