Basketry
My basketry obsession began one summer vacation in Michigan, where I made my first basket. After growing up in Portland, Oregon and later attending Oregon State University, I took a teaching position in Germany with the Department of Defense Overseas Schools. I honed my basket skills for several years, selling my baskets at bazaars on military bases. I retired to Portland in 2004. I then joined the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild and began taking workshops and attending retreats. In doing so, I expanded my experience and knowledge and was able to develop new creative styles. I now enjoy creating and selling a variety of basket styles. I use a variety of grasses, reeds, and barks to create my baskets. Natural materials include reed, cedar, ash, pine needles, and sea-grass. I incorporate additional design elements like driftwood, horns, and antlers and add wooden bases to make them sturdy.