Baskets were essential in the colonial period for gathering, marketing, and everyday household tasks; an indispensable tool in both town and farm life. Participants in this hands-on workshop will create a small market basket using traditional techniques. Working over a wooden mold, each basket will be woven from natural reed and finished with sturdy oak handles and pre-bent reed rims. Students will learn to prepare their material, lay out their base, weave the sides of the basket, attach the rims and handles and lash the basket. All tools and materials will be supplied by the instructor. *Students may want to bring a towel since we work with wet material. *Class price includes materials fee. Karen Wychock Working over wooden molds, in the method of the Shakers, Karen’s baskets are traditional in shape and materials. She weaves both Shaker reproductions in ash and traditional, utilitarian baskets of reed. Native hardwoods such as ash and oak are used to make the rims and handles, and all of her baskets are lashed using ash. Each basket takes on its own character as it is woven in a quatrefoil, twill or fancy lace pattern to appeal to both eye and touch. Karen was an art teacher for 22 years in the Neshaminy School District, Langhorne, PA, before becoming a middle school principal for 15 years in both the Neshaminy School District and the Central Bucks School District. She is a member of the Bucks County Craftsmen’s Guild, the Bucks County Hand Weaver’s Guild and the PA Guild of Craftsmen. She sells her work at various shows and galleries throughout the northeast (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia, and Ohio), and has the earned the distinction of Waterford Landmark Artisan for her commitment to the Waterford Fair and the Waterford Foundation.