Stowe Basketry Festival

Teacher Bios

Our Teachers

Flo Hoppe

Flo Hoppe is a full-time studio artist, teacher, and author. She began her career in 1971 teaching herself basketmaking from a small 1924 booklet. Her published books are “Wicker Basketry”, “Contemporary Wicker Basketry”, and “Plaited Basketry with Birch Bark”. She has taught in England, Canada, Japan, Russia, and Australia.

Pam Wilson

Pamela Wilson finds great satisfaction in creating beautiful works, and in sharing her love of basket makings with other weavers. She has taught for Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild, Deer Creek Basket Guild, Bedford Basket Guild, High Country Basket Guild, Tidewater Basketry Guild, Penn-Jersey Basket Weavers Guild, Northeast Basketmakers Guild, Wildwood Basket Guild. She is a longtime member of the National Basketry.

Tina Pearsall

I have been weaving for 30 plus years. I took a class at my local library and was hooked. Because I am also a quilter, I like to call basket weaving my instant gratification hobby. I have taught at the Basket Weavers Guild of Eastern LI.

JoAnn Kelly Catsos

JoAnn Kelly Catsos is an award-winning traditional black ash splint basket maker living in the Catskill Mountains of NY state. With the help of family and friends, she processes black ash logs into weaving material for her baskets. During the past 40 years, she has taught workshops throughout the US. JoAnn’s gaskets are included in many publications and are part of private and public collections, including the Smithsonian.

Marilyn Parr

Marilyn Parr started weaving over 40 years ago. It was suggested that I try my hand at teaching and I loved it. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with a couple of Amish gentlemen that have helped me put my ideas into reality. I have traveled and taught in over a dozen states on the 2020 and 2024 Basket Weaving cruise. The friendships that have been made are such a blessing and I just wish I had started this journey earlier in life.

Dianne Stanton

Dianne’s vast wealth of knowledge in all styles of basketry is evident, as is her repertoire of classes that ranges from bark to ash, twining to twill, sweetgrass coiling, and hand shaping. Inspiration for her artwork comes from nature, Native American basketry, and her family. She has taught at major basketry conferences throughout the country, as well as in Canada and Japan. Dianne has been making baskets since 1977.

Bonnie Gale

Bonnie Gale has been teaching traditional willow basketry for 41 years. She has taught hundreds of guilds, art schools, basket conventions and to all ages across North America. She is the recipient of many awards, including a NYFA Artist Fellowship as well as being featured in numerous television programs, books, and articles. Since 2004, she has completed over 50 living willow structures. Recently, she started making willow caskets. Her web sites include www.bonniegale.com; www.livingwillow.info and www.americanwillowcaskets.com

Sandy Bulgrin

Sandy Bulgrin has been teaching basket weaving for over 38 years, having started by instructing 4-H children, which she continues today. Sandy enjoys teaching at the museums in her area along with many continuing education programs in the schools in Wisconsin and Illinois. She has taught at many state’s basket events, gourd events, and retreats. Sandy organizes the Basket Weaving Cruise.

Mary Annunziato

Mother of 3 and grandmother – Mary started the Wooly Pine business with the thought that everybody should be able to enjoy a pine tree all year long. After transforming the tree into a beautiful pine and teaching here and there – people asked “What else do you teach?”. This inspired her to start designing wool: wreaths, lavender, carrots, pinecones, and sunflowers. Mary still enjoys basket making, painting, and hand stitching which she attributes to her ability to create wool projects.

Susan Baxter

In the eighties when I was an engineering student, there was talk about taking Underwater Basketweaving as an easy elective. No such course existed at Clarkson, but after graduating, received a basket-making kit. Best present ever as I have been weaving ever since. With over 34 years of weaving experience, I still find challenge, intrigue, and delight in basket design and creation.

Ralph Simpson

I began teaching in 2019 and have taught over 40 full-day workshops since then. My chosen materials are locally foraged plant fibers and I employ traditional weaving techniques. I have taken many workshops from many instructors including at the Stowe Mountain Basketry Festival in 2022 (6 workshops), and 2023 (5 workshops). I like teaching and at the end of the day, everyone leaves with a completed basket.

Jennifer Lee

Jennifer has been enjoying making bark baskets for 40 years. Her interest began with the study of her Native Ancestors. All materials are self-harvested, except the hemp cord for straps. She has received awards at the Mohegan Wigwam Festival, Saratoga Native American Festival, Kearsage Indian Museum, and NCBA.

Annie Brock

Annie Brock started weaving baskets in 4-H at the age of 7 because her mom wanted a basket. She wove through 4-H up till she aged out at 19 years old. While in college she started designing patterns with waxed linen between college classes and even made a basket for an independent study which went on to win many awards. While she enjoys weaving with many different basket materials her favorites are waxed linen and painted paper. Now after a collective 27 years of weaving experience, this will be her second year teaching.

Jesica Clark

Jes Clark (they/them) is the farmer and weaver at Willow Vale Farm in Stanfordville, NY. Jes weaves traditional and contemporary functional pieces and the basket forms created are a result of their conversation with each stick of willow. All of their willow is grown without pesticides using regenerative practices and with loving care. Jes has been teaching weaving since 2018 and has taught hundreds of students ranging from absolute beginners to experienced weavers looking to refine their craft.

Trisha Brown

Trisha Brown of East Freetown, Massachusetts is an avid basket maker, collector, and instructor. Growing up in the basket business, D.E.L.S. Nantucket, she wove her first basket at the age of 7 and was immediately hooked! Trisha started teaching in 2005 and devoted her professional career to the art of Nantucket basketry. When she is not on the road or teaching at the shop she enjoys spending time with her family. She is very active and always keeps busy. Trisha collects orchids, enjoys making Sailors Valentines and other shell crafts, and has recently become quite the crazy cat lady!

Linda Scherz

Linda started weaving baskets in the fall of 1987 shortly after moving to Northern NY. Her interest in weaving quickly expanded to designing, teaching, exhibitions, and juried shows. Linda enjoys working with a variety of materials, including reed, bark that she harvests, waxed linen, beads, and other materials. While much was self-taught, she has attended conferences to learn other techniques and to work with other materials. Known for her intricate patterns, eye for color, and incorporating different materials in her designs keeps it exciting for her. Through the years she has won several awards for her baskets. Linda teaches her designs throughout the United States for various guilds, conferences, art centers and organizations. She enjoys sharing her basketry knowledge and experience with her students as it’s rewarding to see their progress and excitement with what they have learned and made. You can see more on her website. www.AdirondackBasketry.com

A Note About Tools!

Tools needed for each class are noted at the end of each class description. Please make your best effort to make sure that you have what is needed. Tools are available for sharing but it can often slow down class progress.

For those flying to Vermont, Stowe Basketry Festival water buckets will be available.