This basket is an essay in and of itself!

Folded spruce bark, with a birch strip weave inlay. Stitched with cedar root. The edges are lined with dogwood that’s sewn in with brain tan buckskin thong. The rim and the cotton thread were purchased.

Quite possibly the most technical basket I’ve made yet. No cracks in the bark, it just finished curing. It’s a big, beautiful basket made of tree skin, roots, twigs and deer skin.

I will write a field note about this basket’s birth, it was an experience for sure. Threading roots and praying to the tree spirits and basket gods. Haunting logging roads, balancing on windfall, watching for bear dens at dusk. Firm but gentle hands. Pleading with and folding to the process. Drunk on spruce resin, weaving into the wee hours of the night after work.

I’m a high school art teacher by day, a wilding by afternoon and on the weekends.