Guilders Weave 2009

I started my crafting year off with the Guilders Weave 2009 hosted here in the Hampton Roads area by Tidewater Basketry Guild
In order to attend you must belong to one of six basketry guilds located here on the east coast. I'm a member of Tidewater Basketry Guild so I was able to attend. I almost didn't though. There is a deadline for registeration in September and this year they were full within a week of opening registeration! A few cancellations in November and I was able to attend. I was even able to attend the classes I had hoped for.

Last year, I aquired a box, a big box, full of deer antlers. So I've known for sometime that as soon as the opportunity arose to learn how to do deer antler baskets I was not going to miss it. This years Weavers Guild, did not disappoint me! While I realize not everyone agrees with this, using deer antlers in artwork, I did get my deer antlers from a farmer (family friend) who is an avid hunter. It's not as if the deer were raised specifically for their antlers or were poached illegally. (If you come across this and plan to leave a negative comment in regards to this - don't bother as I will not approve it and it won't be posted).

My first class on Thursday night was taught by Karen Zane. Karen has almost perfected the artwork of deer antler baskets. She has some gorgeous baskets and was a wonderful teacher. In the Frame Antler class I learned how to drill and frame my antler to get it ready to weave into a basket. I also learned how to clean my antlers up and how to polish them to give them a bit of a shine.

I finished the purpose of the class (probably because no weaving was involved LOL) and we even got a little weaving started. Antler baskets are typically ribbed baskets. I need to take a class on this. While I have the idea of it, it's just one of those techinques that I know I could learn alot of things from someone who is more experienced in weaving those style of baskets. So this is a very unfinished basket. Hopefully by April I can have it finished. I'll post when it's done. In the mean time here are some photos to show you what I did get done in class.

This is how the basket will sit when completed. The basket will be behind the antler. Every deer antler basket is unique. No two are ever alike, maybe similar but because all antlers are different, the baskets will be different and take a different shape.


Drilling and prepping the antlers was not as difficult as I expected. Simply just drill a hole into the antler. Sometimes the holes need to be angled. Once it's set, put a little hot glue into the hole and put the reed into the hole. The hot glue insures that it will stay in and not slip out as you are weaving or finished weaving.





My Friday class also involved a new technique for me. I learned how to coil pine needles to make them into a basket. The Pinecone Trinket Box taught by
Dianne Masi and Dory Maier was fun, relaxing and I certainly hope to do more (at the Marketplace on Friday night I spent all my money with Dianne and Dori for more pine needle supplies) In class we were taught the art of pine needle coiling using the wheat and fern stitch. I did not complete this basket. It's not that there wasn't time but I'm always the one in the class where it takes a while before the lightbulb goes off and I figure out what I'm doing. Now that I know what I'm doing I really am tempted to start all over but I won't, I'll finish what I started in class. Dianne and Dory are wonderful teachers. Their class was absolutely a blast. I hope to take one of their gourd classes next year.



For my Saturday class I learned how to make a Mini Antler Basket with Anne Bowers.
We learned how to weave with round reed, add ribs, shape their basket. We added some seagrass, leather, yarns and antler buttons to create a unique one of a kind basket! I did finish this basket in class. Of all my classes I've taken in the last 2-3 years or so I think this is a first for me! I'm really excited how this one turned out. I now see why Anne says they can be addictive. I can easily see myself turning out more of these. I also can understand why the smaller baskets are so expensive. Weaving small is very hard on the fingers.




My last class was on Sunday morning. I'm so glad it was the Random Weave Antler class taught again by Karen Zane. We chose an already framed antler and randomly weaved around the frame. This is seriously a random weave. There is no right or wrong after it's started. Just randomly weave until it's tight and sturdy. I like this. I don't have to think too hard or count any weaves! lol This is definitely a basket of artwork rather than a useful basket such as a market basket.
Embellishments can easily be added to these fancy pieces. I did finish mine although I have not yet added any embellishments. I want to stain it first and well the weather is just not condusive to staining baskets right now so that will have to wait. I believe I'll stain it a nice oak.