I became a basket weaver in my mid-thirties as I wanted to be the fourth known generation in my family to do so. Baskets have the longest history of human made products, even before pottery or fabric. Evidence, in the form of stone carvings dating to 20,000 BC, depicts basketry in many forms. Baskets are made from any local plant that is strong and flexible. No matter your background, culture, or ancestry, your forbearers made baskets. Did you know there has never been a machine invented that can weave a basket. Even those 50 cent ones you buy at Good Will were made by someone, somewhere. While living on the right coast with my English background, I first learned to weave white oak split egg baskets and berry baskets. Then on the left coast I became familiar with cedar bark baskets and fell in love with the color, odor, and longevity. Also you don’t kill the tree when you harvest cedar bark or roots. With white oak you have to cut the tree to make the splits used to weave the baskets. Basketry is a very historical craft to learn. Come join me! Judy Rice 509-380-0962

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