Basket Brain

It was a busy weekend at Oil and Cotton, but we did have some time to slow down and weave amazing Algonquin Baskets with Jan Schmidt. If you missed out on this month's basket class, don't you worry. On March 16, Jan will be teaching a  Easter Basket Class here at Oil and Cotton.  You'll never want to use anything else to collect your pretty pastel Easter eggs and sweets.

Rainbows and Baskets at Oil and Cotton

Weave a rainbow basket with us on Saturday, July 7, 10-4pm. Jan Schmidt will once again lead Oil and Cotton students through the magical process of weaving loose reeds into a beautiful and functional art objects. Jan has built a following of students due to her expertise and ability to communicate her craft to others. Don't miss the opportunity to spend a day with new friends and learn the art of basket weaving.

This basket is constructed around a swing D-handle. It’s a fun beginner basket because it has a lot of color and basic techniques are used such as start/stop rows, twining, rimming and shaping. Jan developed this pattern when she ended up with a lot of scrap color left from other baskets. Beginners welcome.

Round-up of April Workshops at Oil and Cotton

Thanks to Scott Horn for a wonderful introduction to leather working, tooling and dying. Look for more leather workshops this summer and fall. Above, Scott shared examples of leather tooling made by his grandfather as well as his own work.

If you missed our popular Bicycle Basket Class, be sure to register for the New England Tote on May 19, 10-4pm. Master weaver Jan Schmidt will take you through the "ins and outs" of weaving your very own basket from start to finish.

This past Friday evening, Andrea Estrada taught students their "abc's" one stroke at a time. Andrea's next class, Pen and Ink Calligraphy, will delve into ink and metal pen nibs.

Paper Artist Brooke Herrin taught a class of lovely the ladies how to transform the mundane into something beautiful. Here, students are toning coffee filters with color before forming delicate paper roses.

Master seamstress, Casey Stallings unraveled the mystery of inserting an invisible zipper. Join our Fiber Arts Circle on Thursday evenings for more fiber related classes this spring and summer.

Basket Weaving at Oil and Cotton

Basket weaving is the process of weaving unspun vegetable fibers into a basket or other similar form. Traditional basketry is made from a variety of fibrous or pliable materials including pine straw, stems, animal hair, hide, grasses, thread, and wood.

Next Saturday, Jan 11 from 10-3pm, students will learn an open weave pattern and make a functional bulb basket in one class day. The basket is woven in the round in your lap and takes on a beautiful organic shape.  This is a wonderful beginning level basket weaving class, all levels are welcome. Visit our website to preregister online.

The basket begins by making a star pattern of reeds that are held in place with a weight. Then a small thin reed is woven around and around to form the bulbous body of the basket.

A pretty leather strap is added so that the basket can hang from a door knob or hook. The open weave basket ends up looking like this...BEAUTIFUL!

Jan has developed a series of classes for Oil and Cotton that will be taught monthly. Students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of this beautiful craft should consider registering for:

Large Market Basket - Feb 11
Double D Basket - March 25
Bicycle Basket - April 21
New England Tote - May 19
Summer classes coming soon!

Square Utensil Basket this Saturday 10-2pm

Join us and learn the "ins and outs" of  basket weaving. All levels are welcome to this instructive workshop. Students will weave and complete a functional and sturdy square bottom basket, ideal for storing utensils, tools, or odds and ends. The basket is built from a solid wood base and comes up to a round. Learn basket weaves as well as rimming. There are only three more spots available, pleas visit the website to register.
Instructor: Jan Schmidt
Price: $50

Bulb Baskets for Spring

This past Saturday, Jan guided our class through the steps of weaving a basket in the round. Each student formed a six pointed star shaped base of round reed and then wove a spiral to form the basket. A leather handle was secured with a waxed linen thread. We had a full class of wonderful students, each left with baskets woven and shaped by their own hands. Look for more basket and loom weaving this summer and fall.

Weaving at Oil and Cotton

We hosted our first weaving class this weekend. June Covingtion introduced students to the basics of frame weaving. Spiderweb looms were fashioned from fallen branches and a variety of hand spun and synthetic fibers were woven into the tree limbs. The results were beautiful.

Leather Dancing Pouches and Tote Baskets this WEEK!

Learn to make a small leather "essentials only" shoulder strap pouch, perfect for the dance floor. A basic pattern and leather will be provided. Students will learn to cut, punch and sew leather. We have an extensive selection of natural and dyed leathers to choose from. Friday, November 19th 6-8pm. Price: $65

Tote everything from groceries to books. This is a very strong basket using shaker tape that wraps all the way around the bottom. Shaping is most important in the weaving of this basket. Different color options offered.13”x9”x11” high. This class is appropriate for beginners. Jan Schmidt will lead us through the entire process of this lovely basket on Saturday, November 20th 10-4pm. Price: $65

Our first week...

We had two children's classes this week. We studied Mexican folk art, analogous colors and neighbors.

Our students helped tidy up after class. See the century plant collage/paintings produced during class...

Friday evening was spent experimenting with bottle cutting. Kim tried out heating the bottle with a flame. Thanks to our students Kim, Bruce, Clint, Victoria, and Mary!

Our bicycle basket class was a great success. Jan taught a full house. Each student wove a complete basket. Sweet!

Thanks to our super students!

Bottle Cutting and Bicycle Baskets

BOTTLE CUTTING AND BICYCLE BASKETS THIS WEEKEND AT OIL AND COTTON

EMAIL US AT OILANDCOTTON@GMAIL.COM TO REGISTER...

BOTTLE CUTTING
Friday, September 17^th, 6:00-8:00pm
Since prehistoric times, bottle containers were created from clay or asphaltum sealed woven containers. Early glass bottles were produced by the Phoenicians. In this workshop we will learn how to use a glass cutter, a combination of cold and hot water, and fine grit polishing paper to make drinking glasses from recycled Topo Chico bottles. The bottle necks may used to make light fixtures, funnel, or paint brush holders…
Teacher: Shannon Driscoll
Age: adult
Price: $45

BICYCLE BASKET
Saturday, September 18^th, 10:00am-4:00pm
This sweet bike basket can hold a lot of weight with its solid ash wood bottom. Learn all the basic weaves and shaping using rattan reed and seagrass. Finish it off with leather straps and a sturdy metal handle so you can take your basket with you. Jan has developed a series of classes for Oil and Cotton that will be taught monthly. Students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of this beautiful craft should consider registering for the full Fall 2010 series.
Teacher: Jan Schmidt
Age: adult
Price: $65

POLISH PAPER CHANDELIERS
Thursday, September 23^rd, 6:00-8:00pm
Learn the traditional art of the pajaki, a paper chandelier. These colorful examples of Polish folk art have recently popped up on many design blogs. Use various materials such as tree branches, feathers, decorative papers, twine and shells to construct this sweet interpretation of an old fashioned craft.
Teacher: Shannon Driscoll
Age: adult
Price: $50

CLAY CONSTRUCTION AND GLAZING
Two Saturdays, September 25^th and October 2^nd, 10:00-11:30am
In part one of this two-session workshop, students use their hands to build artwork out of earth clay. The clay will be fired to prepare for week two, when students learn to glaze their ceramics. Pierette’s classes offer the opportunity to learn intuitively with the guidance of a nurturing and experienced teacher.
Teacher: Pierrette Lacour
Age: kids
Price: $65 (for two sessions)

FLAT FELTING BASICS
September 25^th, 1:00-4:00pm
Felt is the oldest textile known to man, and has been created for centuries all over the world for use as clothing, shelter, rugs, and art. Participate in this non-woven fabric making legacy. Lizzy has developed a four part workshop series that will explore the traditions and process of felting from dying wool rovings to using felt to draw, build and as a way to create both decorative and functional objects. Students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of this versitile art material should consider registering for the full four part series.
Teacher: Lizzy Wetzel
Age: adult
Price: $65