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March 2024 Newsletter
Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
“Preserving the Art of Basketweaving”
Meets 2ndSaturday each month (Feb. – Dec.) 9:30-2:30
Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 2600 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC
Website: basketweaversofsc.com
Facebook: Upper SC Basketmakers Guild⁹
Contact: upperscbasketmakers@gmail.com
**********************************************************
Other related basket weaving groups you may want to check out:
Dolores von Rosen Basket Guild
4th Tuesday per month 10AM-2PM
Silverstreet Community Center (Near Newberry, SC)
SC Natural Weavers Group currently not meeting but will be again soon stay tuned
Used to meet 3rd Monday per month 10AM-12PM Rensing Center Library, Pickens, SC
Your Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
Minutes from February 10, 2024 meeting:
Debbie Hill opened the meeting with a reminder that we all need to get our membership dues sent in to Denise. Forms are available if anyone needs them.
We had 15 teachers for the weave-in last month and 135 people signed up.
Our guild has been gifted with some beautiful Nantucket molds. We may do a class using them. Judy will keep them for us and set up a procedure for us to check them out to use.
Our plans for the year:
Christmas Festival of trees: we will decorate a tree as a means of advertising the guild. March 9 meeting dedicated to making ornaments for the tree. Please bring any patterns for ornaments that you have.
April 13: Diane, Martha, and Janet are teaching how to make a Cathead basket. The kits are going to be around $20. Basic basket reed will be supplied but if you want to put color in it, some will be provided or you may bring your own. There was a sample basket at the convention and a sign-up sheet at Dennis White’s wood bases booth.
May 11: making kits for newcomers
June 8: Peggy McCarson can come and teach.
July 13: weaving on a glass vase with Debbie Hill and Janet Lampson
August 9 and 10- workshop weekend with August Moon baskets details to follow, but all paid members will receive $20.00 off the cost of this 2 day workshop !!!
September 14: A cane necklace ornament.
October 12: the Nantuckets
November 9: Patti English will teach her Josephine knot basket
December 14: party!
WEAVE-IN UPDATE
Speaking from personal experience, and feedback from many who attended- A WONDERFUL TIME!!! 21 classes in a 3 day period…it was so difficult to choose.
PATIENT and talented Teachers, great vendors, yummy food, an unparalleled raffle, and sweet fun attendees.
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!
Very special Thank you to EVERYONE who organized this event, there were many!!!
Please bring anything from the Weave-In you would like, for Show and Tell at the Meeting on March 9.
Attention-Yearly Membership dues of $20.00 Need to be sent to Denise Gillam including your information by either printing and filling out the form on our website or including that info along with your check…THANK YOU😊
At the March meeting, we will be making ornaments for the Christmas festival of trees. Kits will contain one to make at the meeting for the tree and one for you to take home and make for your own tree or to gift someone. We plan on having 3 stations with different ornaments at each. You don’t need to bring anything other than your normal tools.
Materials will be provided. Pictures next page😊
I’m still trying to get folks to submit bios and a picture for the newsletter, in an effort to get to know our members better.
ANYONE is welcome to send one to me that is a member.
Anything basket related that you would like to submit to the Newsletter is welcome. Special tips in basket making, basket resources or vendors you’d like to share.
I would also like to do a recipe feature each month. If there’s a dish that you’ve brought for our potluck that month, please email me your recipe.
For next month’s Newsletter-please have submissions to me by March 21st. Thank you
APRIL 13 meeting Diane, Janet and Martha will be teaching
Cathead baskets with your own expression.
The fee is $20.00 most materials included along with the pattern and their EXPERTISE. If you have a particular color in your stash that you would like to use, bring it with you.
If possible, please sign up and pay at the March meeting, so they will know how many kits to make up.
Beautiful examples on the next page, to get your creativity going!!
Pictures are visible in email sent to members
January/February 2024 Newsletter
Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
“Preserving the Art of Basketweaving”
Meets 2ndSaturday each month (Feb. – Dec.) 9:30-2:30
Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 2600 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC
Website: Basketweaversofsc.com
Facebook: Upper SC Basketmakers Guild⁹
Contact: upperscbasketmakers@gmail.com
SAVE THE DATE!
Weave-In 2024 is being held February 23-25, 2024
@ Embassy Suites, Greenville, SC
Check website for details.
18 teachers/3 days & nights of weaving fun/raffles/vendors
Tell your friends & neighbors!
If you have volunteered for the event please let Denise Gillam know if you have questions, we look forward to and appreciate your help!!
Shoppers Needed for Raffle Gift Baskets!!
Our guild is putting together 3 themed baskets for the Weave-In Raffle.
*Gardening *Spa /Pampering *Entertainment (wine/snacks)
Please keep these in mind when you are out and about shopping. Pick up some items to help fill the baskets. We want to make them really special. We will not be having any further raffles at our guild meetings this year so that we can focus on these themed baskets. We will try to bring them to each meeting so that you can watch them grow!
**********************************************************
Other related basket weaving groups you may want to check out:
Delores von Rosen Basket Guild
4th Tuesday per month 10AM-2PM
Silverstreet Community Center (Near Newberry, SC)
SC Natural Weavers Group currently not meeting but will be again soon stay tuned
Used to meet 3rd Monday per month 10AM-12PM
Rensing Center Library, Pickens, SC
Your Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
Minutes from December 9th meeting:
Debbie Hill opened the meeting.
There will not be a guild meeting in January as usual but there will be a board meeting at Michele’s house on Saturday the 6th to plan what we will do for the coming year.
Debbie Wilson and Denise Gillam are the chair people for the convention. They reported that the met with the hotel people and picked out the menus. There will be a soup and baked potato bar for one and a pasta bar for the other. There will be salads served with both and meats that can be added separately. We will probably eat inside this year due to possible weather issues in February. We have a nice little cushion if we cancel because of weather and have met our room quota. So we are in pretty good shape at this point. We have 132 students and 18 teachers so far.
Judy Brooks reported on the goody bags. Everything we are putting in there are ready. A few donations will be coming with the teachers when they arrive so we could use help incorporation those items at that time.
Raffle report from Julie Honchar: Still need additions to the 3 themed baskets. And last minute items will be added at the convention start.
We can start setting up at 3pm on Thursday and check-in will be at 2pm.
The next guild meeting will be in February 2nd Saturday.
Attention-Yearly Membership dues of $20.00 Need to be sent to Denise Gillam including your information by either printing and filling out the form on our website or including that info along with your check…THANK YOU😊
Upcoming dates (more exciting project info to follow)
February 10 meeting-Heart Project (pattern and materials provided)prep for weave-in, pot luck
Please bring your donations for the raffle baskets and/or raffle to this meeting or to set-up beginning at 3pm Thursday 2/22
March 9 meeting-cork woven coaster
April 13 meeting-cat head basket with Martha White/Janet lampson/Diane Cameron
August 9 and 10- workshop weekend with August Moon baskets details to follow, but all paid members will receive $20.00 off the cost of this 2 day workshop !!!
Speaking of RAFFLE BASKETS for the WEAVE-IN
We have 2 of these containers we want to fill with goodies for our Spa and Entertainment Raffle Baskets. So if you have some items at home that you would like to contribute or find some nice sale items in your travels, please bring them to our February meeting.
There is also a very large pot for plants (not pictured, sorry) that we need to fill for our Gardening Themed Raffle Baskets. As you shop around a lot of garden items will be on clearance, coming to the end of the season.
Thank you in advance for your contributions 😊
Getting to know our Members
Kristina Few
My passion has always been art in any forms. At a young age, I remember my mother drawing faces and I would practice my drawing using her art work. One Christmas, I got an easel, art supplies, and Drawing books. In Junior high they choose me to design all the stage backdrops. I was the ask to paint panels for a downtown Greenville construction display.
In 1972, I was chosen as an exchange student to go to Europe to study early Christian art for two month during my junior year of collage. It was an exceptional experience and gave me a real insight into the art I saw in my travels. I used every experience to teach my student about art,
I graduated in commercial and fine art education. My first job was to design fabrics. I did commercial art , ads and presentations. It was rewarding. I was working as an ad designer for Mc Donald in Atlanta, but came home to care for my ill father. He passed away at a young age.
Then I decided that teaching art would offer a future with a pension and time during our breaks to sell my work. I have a BA, I MA or Masters, got my 30 above and was Nation Board certified in early and middle childhood art education.
I wrote grants to start a Gifted art program along with the artists in schools core program from the South Carolina Arts Commission. We sponsored over 100 artists in my teaching career. It was a wonderful program and my student got to experience many art forms, such as printmaking, Edgefield face jars, Charleston Gullah basket making , colonial art and recreated Colonial Williamsburg visits, sculpture, illustration doing Christmas Cards . My students were so excited to try new ways to create art. They met the best artists in South Carolina. Many now are professionals that took their love for art into their own work.
I sold my work to specialty businesses and museums such as Winterthur Museum and Gardens, the Biltmore House and Gardens and the Getty museum in CA. I copied Antique or vintage tiles in their collections. Each was hand painted and represented something about the museum. It was labor intensive. I enjoyed seeing my work on display. . Biltmore also commissioned work for their festival of flowers.
I strive for making items that are unique and represent history. My mother encouraged me to me to research my family history and this is why I love Williamsburg and Charleston. My 11th generation grandfather signed the US Constitution. He was the first senator from Ga., William Few. The name William continues in each generation of the Few family. . He was a friend’s with George Washington. Over the years, they wrote letters to each other and visited from time to time. The state of GA. Archives Still have many of those letters. After I retired, I worked in watercolor, did stain glass and started making baskets again. I also make hand built ceramics. I still sell my work even today. It is important for me to try new and creative ways to do Art. It has been a privilege to get to know and work with talented basket weavers in the guild.
😊
CONTENT DEADLINE FOR January Newsletter December 22
As your Newsletter Editor, I’d like to
apologize for the lateness of this month’s
Newsletter. Many of you may know, I had
knee replacement surgery in September,
was recovering well and then fell
November 10 and broke my hip!! Thank
you for the cards, each one truly
brightened my day. Recovery is going
slower than I had hoped, and will miss
seeing everyone at the December
meeting. Hope you all have a wonderful
Holiday Season!!
STILL WOULD LIKE TO receive bios and
pictures from Tina Few and Pati English for my
get to know you spot. It would be GREAT to
start receiving bios from all of our members!!!
Any volunteers? 😊
Pictures are visible in email sent to members
November 2023 Newsletter
Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
“Preserving the Art of Basketweaving”
Meets 2ndSaturday each month (Feb. – Dec.) 9:30-2:30
Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 2600 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC
Website: Basketweaversofsc.com
Facebook: Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
Contact: upperscbasketmakers@gmail.com
Upcoming dates
December 9 meeting Naughty Santa and potluck
Please bring canned/non perishable food to help the
church’s Pantry…they do such wonderful work in the
community
January no meeting
February 10 meeting prep for weave-in, ufo, pot luck
Speaking of RAFFLE BASKETS for the WEAVE-IN…
We have 2 of these containers we want to fill with goodies for
our Spa and Entertainment Raffle Baskets. So if you have some
items at home that you would like to contribute or find some
nice sale items in your travels, please bring them to our
December and February meetings.
There is also a very large pot for plants (not pictured, sorry) that
we need to fill for our Gardening Themed Raffle Baskets. As you
shop around a lot of garden items will be on clearance, coming
to the end of the season.
Thank you in advance for your contributions 😊
CONTENT DEADLINE FOR January Newsletter December 22
As your Newsletter Editor, I’d like to
apologize for the lateness of this month’s
Newsletter. Many of you may know, I had
knee replacement surgery in September,
was recovering well and then fell
November 10 and broke my hip!! Thank
you for the cards, each one truly
brightened my day. Recovery is going
slower than I had hoped, and will miss
seeing everyone at the December
meeting. Hope you all have a wonderful
Holiday Season!!
STILL WOULD LIKE TO receive bios and
pictures from Tina Few and Pati English for my
get to know you spot. It would be GREAT to
start receiving bios from all of our members!!!
Any volunteers? 😊
Pictures are visible in email sent to members
September 2023 Newsletter
Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
“Preserving the Art of Basketweaving”
Meets 2ndSaturday each month (Feb. – Dec.) 9:30-2:30
Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 2600 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC
Website: Basketweaversofsc.com
Facebook: Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
Contact: upperscbasketmakers@gmail.com
SAVE THE DATE!
Weave-In 2024 is being held February 23-25, 2024
@ Embassy Suites, Greenville, SC
Registration will begin 9/1/23
Check website for details.
18 teachers/3 days & nights of weaving fun/raffles/vendors
Tell your friends & neighbors!
Shoppers Needed for Raffle Gift Baskets!!
Our guild is putting together 3 themed baskets for the Weave-In Raffle.
*Gardening *Spa /Pampering *Entertainment (wine/snacks)
Please keep these in mind when you are out and about shopping. Pick up some items to help fill the baskets. We want to make them really special. We will not be having any further raffles at our guild meetings this year so that we can focus on these themed baskets. We will try to bring them to each meeting so that you can watch them grow!
**********************************************************
Other related basket weaving groups you may want to check out:
Delores von Rosen Basket Guild
4th Tuesday per month 10AM-2PM
Silverstreet Community Center (Near Newberry, SC)
SC Natural Weavers Group
3rd Monday per month 10AM-12PM
Rensing Center Library, Pickens, SC
Your Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
Minutes from September 9, 2023 meeting:
Patti English opened the meeting. Denise gave the treasurers report. We have over 100 registered for the weave-in to date. The hotel has stated that there are still king rooms available but the queen rooms are limited.
There is still a need for volunteers for the weave-in especially for set up on Thursday night and clean up on Sunday.
Next month our project for the meeting is preparing items for the goody bags for the weave-in. Judy asks everyone to remember to collect water and tea jugs to bring for that purpose. Since that is not expected to take very long, we should also bring an unfinished project to work on.
The raffle will be on Saturday night of the weave-in. We will have three themed baskets to raffle. So if you see something for the baskets please pick it up. The basket themes are a gardening basket, an entertainment basket, and a spa basket.
Gift cards can also be donated for the baskets. Please bring your donated items for the raffle on Thursday night during set-up. For the Themed baskets please bring items our meetings, because they heed to be assembled prior to the WEAVE-IN.
In November, we will be working on Christmas ornaments.
Submitted by: Janet Lampson
Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wouldn’t it be nice to honor those who are Breast Cancer Survivors by wearing PINK to our October meeting 💗
Speaking of RAFFLE BASKETS for the WEAVE-IN…
We have 2 of these containers we want to fill with goodies for our Spa and Entertainment Raffle Baskets. Soon if you have some items at home that you would like to contribute or find some nice sale items in your travels, please bring them to our October, November, and December meetings.
There is also a very large pot for plants (not pictured, sorry) that we need to fill for our Gardening Themed Raffle Baskets. As you shop around a lot of garden items will be on clearance, coming to the end of the season.
Thank you in advance for your contributions 😊
CONTENT DEADLINE FOR October Newsletter October 27
From Denise Gillam…
Here is the ornament that I will be teaching at the November meeting. $5 each, please.
Simple twined ball made with natural and dyed red reed, includes a jingle bell hidden inside for a nice surprise. Easy and fun to make.
On the next page is 2 great ornaments that Pati English will be offering.
August 2023 Newsletter
Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
“Preserving the Art of Basketweaving”
Meets 2ndSaturday each month (Feb. – Dec.) 9:30-2:30
Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 2600 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC
Website: Basketweaversofsc.com
Facebook: Upper SC Basketmakers Guild
Contact: upperscbasketmakers@gmail.com
SAVE THE DATE!
Weave-In 2024 is being held February 23-25, 2024
@ Embassy Suites, Greenville, SC
Registration will begin 9/1/23
Check website for details.
18 teachers/3 days & nights of weaving fun/raffles/vendors
Tell your friends & neighbors!
Shoppers Needed for Raffle Gift Baskets!!
Our guild is putting together 3 themed baskets for the Weave-In Raffle.
*Gardening *Spa /Pampering *Entertainment (wine/snacks)
Please keep these in mind when you are out and about shopping. Pick up some items to help fill the baskets. We want to make them really special. We will not be having any further raffles at our guild meetings this year so that we can focus on these themed baskets. We will try to bring them to each meeting so that you can watch them grow!
**********************************************************
Other related basket weaving groups you may want to check out:
Delores von Rosen Basket Guild
4th Tuesday per month 10AM-2PM
Silverstreet Community Center (Near Newberry, SC)
SC Natural Weavers Group
3rd Monday per month 10AM-12PM
Rensing Center Library, Pickens, SC
Your Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
Minutes from August 12, 2023
Debbie Hill opened the meeting.
Peggy McCarson was present from Florida to teach her windows baskets.
Several of our members have health issues. Debbie Wilson is going through chemo. Debbie Rouse is also having health problems ( a stroke?).
September – We have several baskets that Denise and Patti have agreed to teach.
October – We did not have a program for October but we have decided to help Judy with the goody bags for the weave-in.
November – perhaps some simple Christmas ornaments.
December – the basket exchange
We have previously planned to have two more raffles to help with the costs of the weave-in. We now have decided that that is not necessary so no more raffles this year.
We have decided to put together three gift baskets for the weave-in to raffle there. The themes are gardening, entertainment, and spa/pampering.
Weave-in 2024 info: our web site: www. basketweaversofsc.com has the online brochure with the classes available to choose from. You can look through and see the baskets. On September 1, the site will go live and you can sign up for the classes you want at that time.
Since Julie has put in so many hours to get the weave-in information online, we have decided to gift her with her registration fee.
Denise gave her treasurers report. We have three new members. We made $170.00 at the raffle last month.
We still need volunteers to help with the weave-in. The sign-up sheets will be on the table near the door.
Everyone is asked to save plastic water jugs and bring them to the October meeting. Submitted by: Janet Lampson
Getting to know our members, Past President and Member-at-large
GET TO KNOW OUR MEMBERS, Julie Honchar Web Mistress (and so much more)
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. After getting married, we moved to New Jersey where I worked as an assistant accountant in a ski lodge. A few years after our daughter was born and getting tired of shoveling snow, we moved to Florida where we purchased and ran a Western Auto Store we quickly learned this was not for us. We eventually moved to the Bay Area California for a few years where we experience the “89 earthquake. After relocating back to Florida, I worked for the American Cancer Society as an office manager and computer tech support for four branch offices. In 2000, we retired and moved to Murphy, NC. We grew tired of retirement and on 9/11 we were filling out our paperwork to get top-secret security clearance to work at the US Embassy, Moscow. Months later we were on our way to Moscow for a two-year assignment. My husband took care of the elevators and I work for the Defense Intelligence Agency in the attaché office for the Air Force attaché. If I told you what I did I would have **** you. Upon completion of our assignment, we relocated to South Carolina. Again not content with retirement, I went to work for Clemson University assisting with research in aging. Finally, retirement stuck and my main pastime now is crafting. I started with gourds, which I sometimes still dapple in and then on to basket weaving. Thank you Debbie Wilson for getting me into baskets – about 12 years ago. I have enjoyed traveling and my bucket list was visiting 30 countries which I have surpassed. Besides crafting, I enjoy working on computers and my skills are all self-taught. This September my husband and I will celebrate 60 years of marriage. We have one daughter who works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She resides in Maryland along with her husband and our beautiful granddaughter.
Your New Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
Our program for August, so happy to have Peggy McCarson back with us teaching!! I hope everyone has signed up for her AWESOME class, if not, contact her ASAP!
PLEASE BE ADVISED…ALL content for the Newsletter must be received at least 2 weeks prior to our meeting date.
EXAMPLE-for the August Newsletter ALL content must be received by August 26. This is particularly important this month, because I am having knee replacement surgery.
Minutes from July 8, 2023 meeting
Debbie Hill opened the meeting with a word of thanks to everyone for all the donations for the church food bank.
Denise presented the treasurers report.
Gary and Janet have agreed to head the clean-up committee. Tina agreed to head the committee to tape on the table signs and the trash bags.
We had a White Elephant sale to raise money for the guild. We also brought in paper and canned goods for the church food bank.
The August meeting: Peggy McCarson will be back to teach her windows basket.
September will have several baskets being taught. More info will come later.
The Tennessee Basketry Convention is coming up July 19-22 in Knoxville and still has some class openings.
The Meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by: Janet Lampson
MEETING TIME
9:30 -10:00 “Meet and Greet “
10:00 MEETING WILL START...please be ready, thank you.
Please try to sit with someone you don’t normally sit with, so we can all get to know our members…we are all such interesting talented folks!
Also, Please be sure you have filled out your membership form with a check, and bring with you to give to Denise Gillam, thank you…there are still some folks that haven’t paid dues, please check😀
2023 Calendar
Saturday August 12 -Peggy McCarson will be back from FL to teach
Saturday September 9 -Multiple teacher workshops, including Denise Gillam’s pie basket
Saturday October 14 -To Be Determined
Saturday November 11 -Debbie Wilson presents Rain stick and please bring items for our Weave In raffle
Saturday December 9 -Christmas “Naughty Santa “
We are so EXCITED!!! WEAVE IN 2024 is just around the corner😀
Dates are February 22-24 2024 Mark your calendars🗓
It will be held again at the lovely Embassy Suites, Greenville SC
In keeping with the EXCITEMENT we have for the WEAVE-IN…
In order to help us fund the event, because everything has gone up$$$!
We will be having raffles in October AND November, please bring some nice items to help us do that😀
We also will need VOLUNTEERS February 22-25 2024, we’re counting on your support to help make this a WONDERFUL Event for EVERYONE involved. More details to follow.
Just to let everyone know, there is another weaving group, that’s using natural materials to weave with. How fun!!!
Naturals and Fibers Group 2023 Calendar of Meetings
There may be fees involved with some or all of these classes, some you will provide all of the materials and other the instructor will provide wholly or partially. We meet the Third Monday of each month, usually at 10:00-12:00 at Rensing Center in Pickens . Sometimes we meet at Nancy’s in Walhalla and we might meet at my house in Travelers Rest for a few of them.
*Start saving and drying your daffodil leaves as flowers dry up
*Start saving day lily leaves to dry
MONDAY August 21– Bring UFO’s
MONDAY September 18– Embellishing Naturals- led by Nancy Basket, Lois
MONDAY October 16-Gourd Masks- led by Debbie Wilson
MONDAY November 20- Naturals ornaments- led by Nancy Basket
August 28- August Moon is coming on August 19th and 20th.
Make sure you checkout our website @
https://basketweaversofsc.com/
For our September 9th meeting we will be having multiple teachers…Denise Gillam will be teaching her lovely pie basket and Pati English has some gorgeous choices as you can see on the next page.
A SPECIAL WELCOME to NEW MEMBERS
Donna Abney
Joan Crooks
Mary Fischer
Kathy Kelty
Cathy Maffett
Ann Watkins
Lisa Johnson
So glad to have you with us, please make yourself known when you come to meetings😀
GET TO KNOW OUR MEMBERS, Michele Hartwell, Newsletter Editor
I was born in Southwestern NY state, lived in Eastern NY state, all over the State of NJ for 28 years, moving to Southeastern FL for 20 years, and here in Greenville SC for 13 years! I fell in love with Greenville many years ago when I was here 2 consecutive years for a Greenhouse Growers convention. Horticulture has been a part of my career as well as a hobby for many years. Never met a plant I didn’t like!!! Most of my working career was spent in Sales or Retail Sales Management…I have sold cosmetics, clothing, plants, nuts and bolts, swimming pools, title insurance, candy (assistant manager of a Godiva free standing store in Palm Beach Gardens) and business publications. I am gratefully a 2 time Cancer survivor.
Peggy McCarson taught me my first basketry class in 2018, at the Mauldin Cultural Center, and started my interest in full size weaving, since I had woven in miniature many times. Dollhouse miniatures, or as I think of the hobby, fantasy interior decorating on a small manageable scale, has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember.
I am blessed to have been married to my wonderful husband, Bruce, for 39 years…we were both married to other spouses, previously. Unfortunately, we don’t have any children together, but we do have 5, very loved, kitties.
Your New Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
Basketmakers Guild minutes from May 13, 2023
Debbie Hill opened the meeting. Health concerns were noted for Debbie Wilson who is doing well. Julie’s husband, Al is home and doing well.
Debbie Hill and Debbie Wilson met with the Simpsonville Arts Council. They asked if we could teach a basket class. They also want an exhibit and sale of our baskets sometime next year. Debbie asked for volunteers and said more information would be coming later.
Weave-In will be in February 2024. 18 teachers submitted proposals and photos of the baskets selected were on display at the meeting.
Martha White is organizing the vendors. Judy Brooks reported on filling the goody bags.
Our treasurer reported we had a sum of $12,809.95. The auction last month brought in $459. A few more memberships will be deposited.
Debbie thanked members who participated in the auction. Materials for our class today, weaving on wine bottles, was provided by the proceeds from the auction.
Pati English will teach 2 baskets next month. These are colorful baskets designed to hold up to 2 rolls of toilet paper.
July will be a stick weaving or a picture frame weaving to be used as a wall hanging. Teachers will be Doug Gaddis , Debbie Wilson, and Debbie Hill.
Peggy McCarson will teach in August. Multiple teachers will be leading us in September.
Denise Gilliam discussed appropriate items for donating to our raffle at the Weave-In. She will discuss this again.
Debbie Hill reminded everyone to bring paper goods to donate to the food bank at the church at our meeting in July. We will also have a white elephant style auction at the July meeting. Bring your items.
After Debbie adjourned the meeting, we had our pot luck lunch. After lunch Marsha, wife of our recently deceased member Terry Gerics, gave a moving talk about how much Terry had meant to others throughout her life and how much our guild had meant to her.
Submitted by Martha White
The Upper SC Basket Makers June meeting program is a Double Toilet Paper Storage Basket, or a smaller Fall Storage Basket for one single roll, taught by the very talented, Pati English. Attached are the photos. If you haven’t requested a kit yet, please contact Pati basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com ASAP or perhaps she might have extra kits. You don’t want to miss this!!!!
For our July 8 meeting, PLEASE bring supplies for the Pantry at the Lutheran Church of our Savior, where we meet. They do wonderful work in the community!
Their wish list: (any of which can be purchased at Dollar stores)
Toilet paper
Dish detergent
Bars of soap
Toothbrushes/toothpaste
Food items such as: canned green beans, tomatoes, tomato or chicken noodle soup
Small peanut butter
Small canned tuna
Canned Vienna sausage
Spaghetti sauce
Cereal
They pack boxes Saturdays at 10 am…
Also attached is a form with pictures for Peggy McCarson’s upcoming class on August 12. So hard to choose which one to make!!! They are all so unique, but you will receive directions for all three!!! Please fill out the form and send to Peggy by July 8 🌞
MEETING TIME
9:30 -10:00 “Meet and Greet “
10:00 MEETING WILL START...please be ready, thank you.
Please try to sit with someone you don’t normally sit with, so we can all get to know our members…we are all such interesting talented folks!
Also, Please be sure you have filled out your membership form with a check, and bring with you to give to Denise Gillam, thank you…there are still some folks that haven’t paid dues, please check😀
2023 Calendar
Saturday June 10 -Pati English presents woven toilet paper holder
Saturday July 8 -Debbie Wilson presents stick weaving and Christmas in July Auction
Saturday August 12 -Peggy McCarson will be back from FL to teach…details to follow
Saturday September 9 -Multiple teacher workshops, including Denise Gillam’s pie basket
Saturday October 14 -To Be Determined
Saturday November 11 -Debbie Wilson presents Rain stick and please bring items for our Weave In raffle
Saturday December 9 -Christmas “Naughty Santa “
We are so EXCITED!!! WEAVE IN 2024 is just around the corner😀
Dates are February 22-24 2024 Mark your calendars🗓
It will be held again at the lovely Embassy Suites, Greenville SC
Hotel liaisons -Debbie Wilson and Denise Gillam
Goody bags -Judy Brooks
Raffle -Julie Honchar and Michele Hartwell
Teacher liaison -Debbie Hill
Vendor liaison -Martha White
Just to let everyone know, there is another weaving group, that’s using natural materials to weave with. How fun!!!
Naturals and Fibers Group 2023 Calendar of Meetings
There may be fees involved with some or all of these classes, some you will provide all of the materials and other the instructor will provide wholly or partially. We meet the Third Monday of each month, usually at 10:00-12:00 at Rensing Center in Pickens . Sometimes we meet at Nancy’s in Walhalla and we might meet at my house in Travelers Rest for a few of them.
*Start saving and drying your daffodil leaves as flowers dry up
*Start saving day lily leaves to dry
MONDAY June 19- Undulating weave on a gourd, different ways to add spokes- led by Debbie Wilson
Small fee for gourds, and weaving materials
*MONDAY July 17-Cordage from day lily, daffodil and other naturals- led by Nancy Basket
MONDAY August 21– Bring UFO’s
MONDAY September 18– Embellishing Naturals- led by Nancy Basket, Lois
MONDAY October 16-Gourd Masks- led by Debbie Wilson
MONDAY November 20- Naturals ornaments- led by Nancy Basket
August 28- August Moon is coming on August 19th and 20th.
e your information with any third party outside of provided by Unionpoint.net
March 2023
Please see your emails for the 4 part newsletter
GET TO KNOW OUR MEMBERS
Debbie Hill, is happy to be our new Guild President. She is originally from Massachusetts (with several ties to the Pilgrims) but has lived in Greenville since 1978. She has one wonderful child, Ivy. Debbie is a retired elementary school teacher and has been addicted to weaving baskets for about five years. She also earned her Master Naturalist Certification in 2021.
When not weaving she is either out in the woods looking at nature, on a boat at Lake Hartwell looking at nature or traveling looking at nature.
Your New Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
MEETING TIME
9:30 -10:00 “Meet and Greet “
10:00 MEETING WILL START...please be ready, thank you.
Please be sure you have filled out your membership form with a check, and bring with you to give to Denise Gillam, thank you.
Minutes from February 11, 2023 meeting:
Debbie Hill opened the meeting with a reminder that we all need to get our membership dues sent in to Denise. Forms are available if anyone needs them.
There were 2 opportunities for service if anyone would like to volunteer: we need a Sunshine person to handle cards for sick members or similar events that may come up and we need a paper goods coordinator to keep track of and let us know when we need to resupply.
Gary Wells volunteered to handle the paper goods. We still need a Sunshine person.
Public outreach opportunities were discussed. If anyone lives in an area that has a neighborhood blog, a post to your blog may be a way to reach prospective new members. Some of the local farmers markets may be another avenue that could be both a public outreach venue but also may provide an opportunity for members to sell some of their baskets.
During March and April meetings Martha and Diane will teach the Elsa basket --- starting in March and completed in April. Be sure to let Martha White mmhwhite@yahoo.com or Diane Cameron cuda400@hotmail.com know ASAP if you want to buy a kit for $30.00, If you want to only buy the directions and the base for the basket ($12.00) but still wish to join the classes you will need to bring your tools and supplies. The beads will be available for those only buying the pattern and base for $1.50 more. The supplies needed are:
Elsa basket supplies: all your basket making tools
Glue
½ “ FO for spokes
¼” FO for weavers
#2 natural for twining base
#2 black ebony for triple twine
3/16 “ FO space dyed
The weave-in is 12 months away in February 2024! Judy is in charge of the goody bags. There will be more volunteers needed as the time approaches.
There was also some discussion about a possible stick weaving project sometime in the future.
Submitted by: Janet Lampson
2023 Calendar
Saturday March 11 -Diane Cameron and Martha White present “Elsa” Part 1 cost $30. For the whole kit, or $12. For only the base and pattern (picture in email)
Saturday April 8 -“Elsa” Part 2 PLUS AUCTION of our dear member (who passed away suddenly) Terry Gerics basket supplies
Saturday May 13 -Debbie Wilson presents woven wine bottle with lights (picture in email)
Saturday June 10 -Pati English presents woven toilet paper holder
Saturday July 8 -Debbie Wilson presents stick weaving and Christmas in July Auction
Saturday August 12 -Peggy McCarson will be back from FL to teach…details to follow
Saturday September 9 -Multiple teacher workshops, including Denise Gillam’s pie basket
Saturday October 14 -To Be Determined
Saturday November 11 -Debbie Wilson presents Rain stick and please bring items for our Weave In raffle
Saturday December 9 -Christmas “Naughty Santa “
We are so EXCITED!!! WEAVE IN 2024 is just around the corner😀
Dates are February 22-24 2024 Mark your calendars🗓
It will be held again at the lovely Embassy Suites, Greenville SC
Hotel liaisons -Debbie Wilson and Denise Gillam
Goody bags -Judy Brooks
Raffle -Julie Honchar and Michele Hartwell
Teacher liaison -Debbie Hill
Vendor liaison -Vacant/Needed
As you may have noticed our dear member Terry Gerics, passed away in September suddenly. She will be missed so much, she always had a smile or a kind word!!! She very generously donated all of her basket supplies to our guild, which we will be auctioning in April to benefit the Guild and it’s members. We are planning to use the proceeds to defray the costs of an upcoming project, to be done in her honor.
In that spirit, we want us all to get to know our members better! If you can, try and engage someone you never spoke with before in conversation, at our meetings. We all are such talented complex individuals 😀
Just to let everyone know, there is another weaving group, that’s using natural materials to weave with. How fun!!!
Naturals and Fibers Group 2023 Calendar of Meetings
There may be fees involved with some or all of these classes, some you will provide all of the materials and other the instructor will provide wholly or partially. We meet the Third Monday of each month, usually at 10:00-12:00 at Rensing Center in Pickens . Sometimes we meet at Nancy’s in Walhalla and we might meet at my house in Travelers Rest for a few of them.
*Start saving and drying your daffodil leaves as flowers dry up
MONDAY March 20-Free form Lamp shade led by Nancy Basket
Find a lamp shade form with a spider and cover the frame with raffia or split kudzu.
We will use wisteria to weave with
MONDAY April 17– Making paper- try some momigami, joomchi and shifu led by Debbie
Supplies will be listed later
MONDAY May 15-Kudzu Weaving on a frame, bring a hammer, frame or 5x7 piece of wood and small nails
*Start saving day lily leaves to dry
MONDAY June 19- Undulating weave on a gourd, different ways to add spokes- led by Debbie Wilson
Small fee for gourds, and weaving materials
*MONDAY July 17-Cordage from day lily, daffodil and other naturals- led by Nancy Basket
MONDAY August 21– Bring UFO’s
MONDAY September 18– Embellishing Naturals- led by Nancy Basket, Lois
MONDAY October 16-Gourd Masks- led by Debbie Wilson
MONDAY November 20- Naturals ornaments- led by Nancy Basket
To help some of our new members and maybe even some of our long time members, I am including this informative list😀
WEAVING TOOLS AND TIPS
§ Awl
§ Bent Tip Packing Tool
§ Clothes Pins or Spring Clips
§ Measuring Tape
§ Needle Nose Pliers with narrow nose
§ Pencil
§ Reed Cutters (Pruning Shears/heavy duty Scissors)
§ Small hand wood plane/shaver, sharp knife
§ Spoke weight
§ Spray Bottle
§ Water container (bucket or dish pan)
§ Old Towel
§ Band-Aids
Optional Tools
§ Bone Awl
§ Diagonal cutting pliers/side cutting pliers
§ Plastic Cable Ties
§ Reed Gage
§ Straight Weave rite™ tool
A favorite weaving tool is a flexible letter opener. It works great for tucking spokes, packing and opening spaces.
Use a vegetable peeler to taper the ends of flat oval reed for rims and overlaps. It is smaller than other tools used for the same purpose.
Use a 17” x 16” quilt mat or other similar size mat that is marked in square inches. It can be used for cutting short spokes, marking centers and laying out a square or rectangular base. When cutting anything longer, run a tape measure underneath the mat and tape the end to the table just beyond the desired spoke length.
Tired of that round handled packing tool or pencil rolling off the table? Use a plastic electrical tie to keep the tool in place – wrap it around the handle and snip off the end. The tie’s locking nub will keep the tool stationary so it will always be handy.
Mark all your tools with your name or initials using a wood burning tool or permanent marker. Any tools left behind from a class or from just weaving with friends can easily be identified and returned.
Sandpaper is a wonderful item to keep in your tool bag to sand handles, bases and to remove pencil marks.
Fingertip thimbles (also called quilter’s thimbles) can be used to help you pack a basket. They are available in small-medium-large sizes and have a small lip that catches the reed so you can save your fingernails.
Use a small wet sponge to pull your weaver through when it becomes too dry or to dampen small areas of your basket.
There are several items that can be used to secure and retie a coil of reed for future use. Place a rubber band, cable tie, VELCRO® straps or a pony tail holder (kind with two plastic balls) around the end of the coil before cutting the last holding tie. The tie will need to be tightened as the reed is pulled. Recoil the reed and hold the coil together with long twist ties, craft pipe cleaners or VELCRO® straps.
Use a staple remover to go between the rim and the basket when you start or end a lasher. The tool has a groove just the right size for the lasher to slide through. A beading scoop can also be used for this function.
Try using an ordinary table knife to open spaces between the rim and basket. A table knife is also handy for guiding cane when weaving chair seats.
Recycle a coffee can with lid or use a small plastic container with lid for seagrass. Pull an end of the seagrass through a hole made in the top of the lid. It doesn’t make any difference if the end is from the outside or inside of the roll. Be sure the lid is tight. Secure the lid with tape if needed. You can pull and cut a length of seagrass for your project without ending up with a tangled mess.
Everyone has experienced the frustration of retrieving a single piece of reed from a coil. We continue to search for that magic solution that will let us easily weave in a solo manner so we don’t have to call hubby or interrupt a fellow weaver. Use a standing coat rack. It has plenty of hooks for reed and you can increase the hanging capacity by using round belt storage loops from your clothes closet and even old shower hooks. Be sure to weight the base of the coat rack. I use a tent weight/sand bag. I’ve had as many as 15 different coils of reed hanging down from the rack. When it starts to get a little messy, coil the reed and hang the coil on the coat rack.
Make your own packing tool from the handle of a spoon. Cut handle from bowl, grind the cut end of the handle to a smooth tapered end.
Browse the aisles of stores you never know what useful “thingamajigs” you might fine to help when weaving. Small bungee cords work well for keeping coils of reed contained. “Quick release clamps are helpful when attaching a rim with attitude.” Ponytail holders can be used to band lengths of reed.
A 10” or shorter strap hinge can be used as a spoke weight. The side can be flip over to weave reed while the other remaining spokes are held in place.
A cloth tube stuffed with pea gravel makes a flexible and heavy spoke weight. When laying out a round or oval base, it can be used to form an arch to hold half the spokes in place and it can be moved as you weave around the base to keep spokes from sliding.
Recycle empty plastic prescription, spice and other small plastic containers to hold small micro clips, needles, cable ties and other small objects.
Check out other GREAT Weaving tips with this link.
https://sites.google.com/basketweavers.org/missouribasketweaversguild/weaving-tips?authuser=0
Courtesy Missouri Basketweavers Guild
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!!
We had our board meeting January 16, which was very productive and includes lots of upcoming fun projects.
Your New Board:
Deborah Hill -President deborahhill54@gmail.com
Judy Brooks -Vice President jdbrooks0226@gmail.com
Denise Gillam -Treasurer denise.gillam@gmail.com
Janet Lampson -Recording Secretary lampsonjc@reagan.com
Michele Hartwell -Newsletter Editor micheleflgarden@gmail.com
Julie Honchar -Web Mistress (+ so much more) jfhonchar@yahoo.com
Debbie Wilson -Member-at-large/Past President artbasgo@gmail.com
Pati English -Member-at-large basketsmyspecialty@yahoo.com
Tina Few -Member-at-large kristina.few@gmail.com
MEETING TIME
9:30 -10:00 “Meet and Greet “
10:00 MEETING WILL START...please be ready, thank you.
Please be sure you have filled out your membership form with a check, and bring with you to give to Denise Gillam, thank you
2023 Calendar
Saturday February 11 -UFOs (unfinished objects) especially if you need help with something
Saturday March 11 -Diane Cameron and Martha White present “Elsa” Part 1 cost $30. For the whole kit, or $12. For only the base and pattern (picture in email)
Saturday April 8 -“Elsa” Part 2 PLUS AUCTION of our dear member (who passed away suddenly) Terry Gerics basket supplies
Saturday May 13 -Debbie Wilson presents woven wine bottle with lights (picture in email)
Saturday June 10 -Pati English presents woven toilet paper holder
Saturday July 8 -Debbie Wilson presents stick weaving and Christmas in July Auction
Saturday August 12 -Peggy McCarson will be back from FL to teach…details to follow
Saturday September 9 -Multiple teacher workshops, including Denise Gillam’s pie basket
Saturday October 14 -To Be Determined
Saturday November 11 -Debbie Wilson presents Rain stick and please bring items for our Weave In raffle
Saturday December 9 -Christmas “Naughty Santa “
We are so EXCITED!!! WEAVE IN 2024 is just around the corner😀
Dates are February 22-24 2024 Mark your calendars🗓
It will be held again at the lovely Embassy Suites, Greenville SC
Hotel liaisons -Debbie Wilson and Denise Gillam
Goody bags -Judy Brooks
Raffle -Julie Honchar and Michele Hartwell
Teacher liaison -Debbie Hill
Vendor liaison -Vacant/Needed
FYI we voted to increase our monthly contribution to the church, our meeting place, from $15. To $25.
As you may have noticed our dear member Terry Gerics, passed away in September suddenly. She will be missed so much, she always had a smile or a kind word!!! She very generously donated all of her basket supplies to our guild, which we will be auctioning in April to benefit the Guild and it’s members. We are planning to use the proceeds to defray the costs of an upcoming project, to be done in her honor.
In that spirit, we want us all to get to know our members better! If you can, try and engage someone you never spoke with before in conversation, at our meetings. We all are such talented complex individuals 😀
We have been invited to be included in the NBO (National Basket Organization) monthly Zoom meeting.
I attended the last meeting on January 24, and it was very interesting! FYI you can sign up for their newsletter without joining at nationalbasketry.org
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