My interest in Native American arts and crafts, particularly Northwest basketry, led me to basket making. I wanted to understand and better appreciate what went into making a basket, from gathering and processing natural materials, to styling, and forming the basket. The logical course, it seemed to me, was to learn how to make baskets.

I took my first classes in the mid-’00 with Kim Black and then Margaret Mathewson. I would take a class about once a year. And that was the only time I made a basket. 

I learned of the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild through a gallery show many years ago at the Multnomah Art Center. Work commitments prevented me from stepping up my involvement and my weaving. I finally joined the Guild when I was close to retirement and now give much more time to weaving. 

I enjoy working with natural materials, but twining has become my favorite technique. I use full-turn twining to create cylindrical bags in the style of Wasco (Sally) bags.