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Basket Day in the Park: An Exploration of Natural & Abundant Materials

  • Mary S. Young Park 19900 Willamette Drive West Linn, OR, 97068 United States (map)

Saturday, August 27, 9am-4pm (set up 8:30am; clean up 3:30pm) Basket Day 2022 will offer an exciting array of classes this year! Options include:

  • Learn to prepare your own cedar bark

  • Make cordage from natural materials

  • Weave a small basket with cedar, cherry bark, and iris leaves

  • Prepare a hard-shelled gourd for weaving

  • Use natural and abundant introduced plant species to weave a small vessel

  • Learn to use a premade willow form to make a willow leaf tray

Classes will be held at Mary S. Young Park,* West Linn, Oregon, with the exception of Gourd Prep 101, held at a private residence in King City, Ore. Covid-19 vaccination is required.

Basket Day is a special class opportunity where the Guild pays the class fee and students pay only the material fee.

Bring your own: water bottle, lunch and snack if you like, and face covering. All classes are appropriate for all skill levels. Because we will be sitting at picnic/folding tables, distancing may not be possible. Please bring your own table/chair if you wish to ensure physical distance between yourself and others.

In the event that state or local COVID-19 safety recommendations suggest additional precautions, they will be explained in an email or discussed prior to class.

Class length: All classes are 3 hours (a.m. or p.m.). Cedar Preparation is available on a drop-in basis (10:00 am—1:00 pm). Each student may take a morning and afternoon class or one class and Cedar Preparation.

*Directions to Mary S. Young Park, 19900 Willamette Drive (Hwy 43), West Linn, OR 97068. There will be signs noting CBBG.

Register by August 5 for classes. Refunds and wait lists until August 5. No refunds after August 5.

To join a waiting list, email the name of the class along with your contact information to ColumbiaBasinBasketryGuild@gmail.com

Cord Making with Natural Materials with James Carthel
$10.00

3 hours. 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Mary S. Young Park

Using grasses, roots, and other natural materials participants will learn to split material into strands for cord making. You are welcome to bring materials that you may want to try cording.

Tools: recommend an awl and scissors

Material cost: $10

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Small Basket in Bark and Leaf with Rosey Covert
$15.00

3 hours. 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Mary S. Young Park

Weave a small basket using hand-processed cedar, cherry bark, and home-grown iris leaves. Participants will use these 3 natural materials to create an elegant, earthy basket. We'll discuss processing and growing natural materials & you'll have a chance to split some cedar if you haven’t done so before. Thisbasket will be woven using twining and plaiting techniques.

Tools: scissors, large eye needle, 4 small clips, spray bottle or soaking bowl

Material cost: $15

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Gourd Prep 101 with Jane Wilson - Registration closed
$25.00

3 hours. 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Jane’s garage and driveway tent with plenty of air circulation in King City (address will be provided)

This class will teach you how to prepare a hard-shelled gourd ready to weave. We will cover: cleaning inside and outside, leveling, gourd design, cutting, and a simple finish with latched philodendron sheath rim. Repairs of cracks and holes will be covered. Material fees will include one gourd, one philodendron sheath, choice of natural material for embellishment and step-by-step printed instructions.

Tools: Cordless drill (if you have one), dust mask (required), pencil, tape measure, compass, awl, Wet Ones wipes, clips, apron. Also bring a chair.

Material cost: $25

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Cedar Prep is Back!

Drop-in 10:00 am-1:00 pm at Mary S. Young Park

The station will be available most of the day. There is no charge. If you are new to getting cedar ready to weave, instruction and help will be available. Be sure to soak large pieces of cedar (just off the tree) for a day or two until it is soft. Large soaking tubs will be available.

Tools and materials: There will be several Jerry strippers in different sizes available. Bring your own cedar to size and brown paper bags for the different sizes. CBBG cedar will be available if you do not have your own.

Natural Material Exploration with Chloe Hight
$25.00

3 hours. 12:30 pm-3:30 pm at Mary S. Young Park

Deepen your understanding of local basketry materials and fundamental weaving techniques. Participants will learn how to harvest and process abundant introduced plant species that can be found in backyards and urban plant "waste" piles such as English ivy, blackberry, daylily, iris, and more. Chloe will guide participants in how to make cordage and weave a small vessel using plaiting and twining techniques.

Tools and suggested materials: spray bottle, scissors, small clips (metal or wooden), clothes pins, awl, and a notebook.

Material cost: $25

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Willow Leaf Tray with Carol Horvath (Waiting list only)
$20.00

3 hours. 12:30 pm-3:30 pm at Mary S. Young Park

In this class you will learn a simple ribbed basketry style over/under weave. If you’ve never woven with willow before, this is a good piece to learn willow handling. Carol will provide premade leaf-shaped willow forms. Guild-grown willow will be used.

Tools: Garden pruners and/or red-handled side cutters. Awl useful but not required.

Material cost: $20

Waiting List: We will take names until August 5 for a waiting list. To add your name, email ColumbiaBasinBasketryGuild@gmail.com with the name of the class and your contact information.

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Later Event: September 10
Juncus Gathering