Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Drawing from traditional English rush weaving techniques, this workshop will delve into working with locally harvested cattail leaves found here in the Catskills. This unique course will extend the student’s basket weaving skills through constructing smaller baskets and culminating with weaving a sun hat. Expect to leave Sugar Maples with the knowledge and practice to harvest, prepare and weave baskets from this abundant wetland plant. No previous basketry experience required! From the knowledge gained, students will be prepared to investigate Nature and select, harvest, and make objects of beauty from what they find.

Renee Baumann is a Catskills-based chef and designer who specializes in working with wild plants and fungi. She rediscovered her childhood love for basketry when she was unhappy with the sourdough bread baskets she could buy and decided to make them herself. She works in many media, builds cob ovens, bakes bread and pastries and obsesses over finding and eating wild mushrooms.

Learn more: instagram.com/renee_makes_things/

Fee: $340 + $40 Non-Refundable Registration Fee