Eric Taylor Workshop 2015 - recap

I can't believe it has already been a couple weeks since Eric Taylor was here teaching two great basket classes. It was a whirlwind visit, but many beautiful baskets were made and we ate some delicious food.

Unfortunately I was so busy working on my own baskets that I really didn't get all that many photos taken. Of course I don't know why that even matters since I am three years behind getting workshop photos posted to my website, JASkets.com. I really need to drop some of my commitments so I can actually relax and maybe (call me crazy) weave some baskets more than three times a year. Seriously I only get to weave anymore the week I go to John C. Campbell Folk School and during the two workshops I host at my house. I do weave when I vend at the one or two basketweaving conventions (Stateline Friends Weaving Retreat and the Missouri Basketweavers Guild Convention), but I don't count them as I rarely actually finish the baskets I am demoing on my weaving stands.

Anyway, I thought I would share a couple photos from the workshop.

Here's my completed Smith River Creel. This basket was really a lot of fun to weave. I rarely ever weave without a mold anymore, so shaping this basket by hand made me nervous, but I think it turned out really well. I had heard horror stories about weaving the lid, but I actually found it to be a fun challenge. Of course most would call me a glutton for punishment.

This is my completed Mountain Bread Basket. It has a really interesting twill pattern on the two sides, which was also deceptively challenging. This basket, like all of Eric's is chase woven (so woven with two weavers), and I happened to have a light and and a dark weaver. So, my pattern alternates each row light/dark which makes it hard to see. Fortunately in a few years (or quicker if I put it in direct sunlight) the colors will darken and the difference will not be noticeable.

I did catch a few photos of Eric at work. Here he is putting the first four rim pins in for one of the participants. That way he makes sure the rims are nice and level before all of the other pins are inserted.

And finally, the class wouldn't be complete without a trip to Ted Drewes for a Concrete. On the last night Tina and I actually just skipped dinner all together and went back for a second one.

Sorry I don't have more photos to share, but you can see some more on my Facebook page if you like.