Our Teachers
Anne Bowers
Anne is from the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia where she works in her studio designing and teaching baskets. She was a production basket maker for any years, and she brings those skills into each basket that she teaches. Ribbed basketry is her specialty, and some of her baskets have taken on a sculptural perspective in recent years. Anne has participated in many basketry exhibits, shows, and has won many awards for her work. She is a member of the National Basketry Organization. She has taught on 3 basketry cruises, teaches basketry widely and lectures about the woven form. She is in her 42nd year of weaving which still fascinates her. She is soon to have her first book, “Ribbed Basketry: Traditional to Contemporary”, in print. This coming fall will mark her 33 rd year of participation in the annual Over the Mountain Studio Tour. Her goal is to make each student’s class a successful one.
Bonnie Gale
Bonnie Gale has been teaching traditional willow basketry for 39 years. She has taught to 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.
Dianne Stanton
I live and work in Pembroke, Massachusetts. I have been making baskets since 1977 and teaching basket making since 1978. I have tried to learn as many techniques as possible, by reading directions, taking classes and looking at old baskets. It is a joy and challenge to pass on knowledge to students and hope that they, too, will complete the cycle by passing their excitement and expertise on to future basketmakers. Currently, coiling is my favorite technique and I am using stone or wood bases with homegrown sweetgrass that is stitched with waxed linen.
Flo Hoppe
Flo Hoppe has been a full-time studio artist, teacher, and author since 1971.
She teaches and exhibits worldwide. Her published books include Wicker Basketry, Contemporary Wicker Basketry, and Plaited Basketry with Birch Bark.
Jennifer Lee
Jennifer has been enjoying making bark baskets for 40 years. Her interest began with the study of her Native ancestors. All of her materials are self harvested. She has received awards at the Mohegan Wigwam Festival, Saratoga Native American Festival, Kearsarge Indian Museum, Deerfield Craft show and NCBA.
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.
JoAnn Kelly Catsos
JoAnn is an award-winning black ash splint basket maker and teacher from Western Massachusetts. JoAnn’s designs are influenced by traditional Shaker and New England splint basketry, and woven on molds made with help from her woodworker husband, Steve. She has been teaching basketry full time for over 30 years. Her teaching venues include art and craft schools, fiber/basketry conferences, local guilds and private groups across the country.
JoAnn’s baskets have won numerous awards, including Viewer’s and People’s Choice at basketry conventions and fiber/basketry exhibitions. Her baskets are in many private and public collections.
Kathy Petronzio
Kathy started weaving in a local class in South Carolina, and fell in love with basketry. She is influenced by the intricacy of Japanese basketry as well as the beauty, tradition and usefulness of Nantucket basketry. She has and continues to exhibit in shows across the northeastern United States, both group and juried art exhibits and teaches across the country.
Linda Scherz
Linda started weaving in1987. Her interest expanded to designing, teaching, exhibitions and juried shows. Linda enjoys working with a variety of materials, including reed, waxed linen, beads and more. She is mostly self-taught. She is known for her intricate patterns, eye for color and incorporating different materials in her designs. She has won several awards for her baskets. Linda teaches her designs throughout the US. She enjoys sharing her basketry knowledge and experience with her students and to see their progress.
You can see more on her website www.AdirondackBasketry.com
Pamela Hermann
Pam Hermann (formerly Talsky) has been an artist and nature lover her whole life. Her basket career began in 1994 and she has woven and sold over 10,000 baskets. She has taught at conventions and workshops all over the US and in India. Her love of basketry has taken her on a wonderful Journey around the world and created priceless connections with other weavers and life long friendships. Her focus is pine needle basketry, cedar bark and natural materials. She loves to learn new skills and share what she learns with her students. She looks forward to continuing this incredible journey.
Marilyn Parr
I was first exposed to basket weaving in 1977. I took a class through a Community Education program offered at the school. From then on I was hooked! Started teaching in 2013/2014 after I had designed a few baskets for a quilting group. It has now expanded to teaching in several states and I love it. Basket weavers are the best and the friendships made are treasured.
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.