Baskets 1 Series: Wickerwork with Traycee Bosle

Baskets 1 Series: Wickerwork with Traycee Bosle

6-Part Series

Dates: Friday Afternoons, October 3 - November 7

Time: 1PM - 4PM

Description:

This beginner-friendly series is a wickerwork intensive study for anyone who is interested in learning how to design, plan, and construct basketry made with round material. This series will offer an in-depth look into the tools, terminology, and techniques of traditional wickerwork basketry.

Week 1: all about the basics and all about the base!

The basics: Begins with an introduction to what "wickerwork" basketry is! Wickerwork is a broad classification of basketry, and a lot of different materials fit within the category; a really really basic way to think of it is that wickerwork involves the use of long material that has a round cross section(twigs, reeds, that sort of thing).

The Base: you will learn three different techniques to weaving a square, round, and specialty base. We’ll construct three samples as take-home references.

Week 2: all about the weavers! (the weavers are you! and the weavers are the flexible materials you will be weaving!)

The weavers in basketry are the flexible materials that you will use to weave your baskets! We’ll craft a sampler study showing some of the most common weaving techniques. We’ll weave a wall sampler for you to take home and reference.

Wow! After two weeks, you will have a little library of wickerwork basketry potential!

Week 3: all about planning!

How do you plan and design a basket, project materials, and dye colors for your design? Students will plan, design, and dye materials to use in their own custom creation.

There you go! Traycee will guide you in imagining possibilities!!

Weeks 4, 5, and 6: making it real!

Students will take all they’ve learned and planned for to construct their very own custom wickerwork basket complete with rope-weave handle and woven rim.

This class is designed for all skill levels. Whether you have never made a basket, and never heard of wickerwork, or you have made a bunch of baskets, Traycee will ensure that you feel welcomed in the studio, and she will guide you towards creating a beautiful thing.

Tools, towels and bins (yes, everything you need to make your basket) will be provided.

Tuition: $270 + $55 materials fee

Note: We really want you to join us in the studio! Full and partial tuition scholarships are available to offset some of the financial burden of attending a class.

Please fill out the application here! You can expect to hear from someone on the CC staff within 2 weeks.

If you have any questions, email Jamie Boyle, Fibers Program Manager, at jboyle@contemporarycraft.org, or leave a voice message for them at 412-465-1639.

Materials: All materials will be provided.

Location: Contemporary Craft, Timmons Studios (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201). Note, this workshop will take place in the Paper Studio, which is on the first floor of the building.

There are 2 entrances to the Timmons Studios.

• One entrance is facing Butler Street. To access the Paper Studio from the Butler Street facing entrance, there are a total of 8 stairs to ascend.

• One entrance is facing 57th Street. This entrance is accessible by ramp, with no stairs to ascend. The Paper Studio is located down the hall from this entrance.

If there are accessibility accommodations we can provide, or if there is anything that would be helpful for us to know before you arrive, please leave a message for Jamie Boyle at 412-465-1639 or by email jboyle@contemporarycraft.org.

Cancellations and Refunds: Workshop cancellations are decided three business days before the start date. If workshops must be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, the entire class fee will be refunded by check, to your credit card, or Contemporary Craft account for future workshops.

Refund Policy: Student refund requests must be made at least three business days before a class begins. There will be a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds will be given without three-business days notice. Processing of refunds takes approximately three weeks.

About the Artist

Traycee Bosle is a professional basket weaver at Craftisinal Creative Works—her arts studio in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a member of the Handweavers Guild of America and the Fiber Arts Guild of Pittsburgh. With over 1500 works in several different weaving styles under her belt, you can find her work in homes across the U.S.

Basketweaving is an ancient art that crosses nearly all time, geographic, political, and social boundaries. It’s rooted in history, mathematics and pattern, color theory and design—with so much to offer—yet it’s nearly a lost art. Traycee has made it her mission to share her love for this once ubiquitous and critical skill with people of all ages. Her classes are fun, informative and personalized! She provides hands-on, individualized instruction using her own specially designed basket kits to teach the fundamentals of the art and meet each student where they are in their skill level. Whether you are an absolute beginner or have already made a few baskets, you will walk away with new skills and a beautiful basket you can use every day.

Check out some samples of Traycee's basketry work!