Basket Weaving Classes at The Country Seat, Inc. - make a basket in Kempton, PA - Learn the Art of Basketry by taking a basketmaking class, Weave a basket today! Weave Nantucket, antler, birch bark in basketry class.

Seat Weaving -
Angie's Rush Seating Workshops: Please see above for dates. See Angie's Classes at Country Seat
for more information.
Contact Denise Mill in Emmaus, PA for caning, splint and other types of seatweaving classes at: e-mail or (610) 417-1975.

Please see Murray Hill Weaving for Jean Bove's classes in NH.

Please see our FAQ Page on Seat Weaving for helpful hints and answers to your seat weaving questions.

Maggie Silva - Nantuckets

Nantuckets with Maggie Silva - September 27th, 28th and 29th. Registration will open July 1st (if you wish to register prior to July 1st all fees will be charged/deposited at the time of registration).
First choose the days you wish to attend class - then choose the Nantucket basket you wish to weave (you must choose a basket or baskets that match the number of days you have registered for).
The basket or baskets you wish to weave can be chosen from the list below or you can go directly to Maggie's website: http://www.basketryetc.com/ and choose from anything in her PDF files (please e-mail her for the pdf URL's). Her kit price is the materials fee that is due to her your first day of class.

Print a Registration Page, e-mail or call (610-756-6124) to register which days you wish to attend.
You MUST FIRST register your choice of days with us. All tuition fees ($65 per day) must be paid in advance to reserve your space in class.

~ class times 9 AM - 5 PM on Thursday & Friday. 8 AM - 4 PM on Saturday ~

Please contact us at: classes@countryseat.com. All Tuition fees will be deposited or charged one month prior to the class dates.
(Pre-registration is required for all classes)

Choose from any of the example baskets below or directly from Maggie's website (see link at the end of baskets shown). Please check with Maggie for the amount of material fees due

3 Day Classes:

NH Purse ~ 5� x 3-3/4� x 4� ~
Ellipse Tote ~ 10-1/2" x 5-1/2" x 8" (leather straps)

2 Day Classes:

Arawjo Creel Purse ~ 9" x 4-1/2" x 7"
3" Tiny Oval Purse ~ 3" x 2" x 2-1/2"
Sharon's Baguette ~ 12-1/2" x 6" x 2-1/2"
Tall Boy ~ 6" x 4" x 9�
8" Round Nantucket
Sand Pail (includes shovel)

1 Day Classes:

1-1/2" Oval ~ 1-1/2" x 1" x 3/4" with one handle (higher price for 2 handles)

Coaster Caddy w/Solid Wooden Rim ~ 5� x 1-3/4� (includes Coasters)
Half Pint Salt & Pepper ~ 5-3/4� x 3-1/4� x 2�

2" Heart ~ 2" x 2" x 1"
2-Egg Round ~ 3-1/2" x 2-1/2"
Flower Basket w/Solid Wooden Rim

Print a Registration Page, e-mail or call (610-756-6124) to register.
All fees must be paid in advance to reserve your space in class.

Maggie's website:
http://www.basketryetc.com/

to the top of the page

Traditional Russian Birch Bark weaving with Vladimir Yarish
~ All the way from Velikiy Novgorod, Russia
It will be quite a while before we get to see Vladimir again so in the meantime we have his book.

Purse size: approximately 7-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 5-1/2"

If you are new to diagonal plaiting, start with the Small Square-to-Round Baskets to learn the basics. Two Square to Round Diagonally Plaited Baskets
plaited birch bark square-to-round baskets

plaited birch bark square-to-round baskets

Oval Birch Bark Basket Stitched with Spruce Roots

Wall Pouch in Russian Birch Bark with Pinwheel Curls
birch bark wall pouch

Square-To-Round Basket Variation #3 (3-D rim)
birch bark basket

All materials are harvested and processed by hand with simple tools by Vladimir. He harvestes his birch bark and spruce roots in the forests of Russia. Many of the tools he uses are also made by him.

To purchase Vladimir's Russian birch bark, please contact Ann Harrow at ann@harrow.org.
To view more of Vladimir's Class options, please visit his website: Yarish Basketry

ALL registrations for the Billy Owens White Oak basketry classes MUST be received by July 11th! Since all of the materials are prepared before Billy leaves home, he must have a total student count in advance. Don't wait!

Friday, August 3rd Morning 4 hour class 9 - 1 Casserole cost $70.00 9 1/2" wide x 15" long x 4 1/2" deep (excluding the Oak handle).
Friday, August 3rd Afternoon 4 - 5 hour class 1:30 - 6ish cost $70.00 Large Williamsburg 10" woven oak herringbone bottom, approx. 9 1/2" deep (excluding Oak handle) and a round top approx. 14" in diameter.
Saturday, August 4th Morning 4 hour class 9 - 1 Grape cost $65.00 6" wide x 12" long woven oak herringbone bottom, about 7" deep (excluding Oak handle) and rectangle at the top.
Saturday, August 4th Afternoon 4 - 5 hour class 1:30 - 6ish Large Shopper cost $70.00 6" wide x 12" long woven oak herringbone bottom, approx. 9" deep(excluding Oak handle) and has an large Oval opening.

Students must bring: basic weaving tools, bucket for water, sharp & strong scissors (red handled basket shear, etc.) and an awl or whichever tool they choose for lashing .

Cancellation Policy ~ Cancellation with-in the two weeks prior to class - instructor will ship all materials needed to complete one basket along with the pattern needed for that basket. Class fee refunded only if your space is filled by another student.
All students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Maximum of 12 students, please do not wait to register.

Print a Registration Page. or e-mail or call (610-756-6124) to register.
All fees must be paid in advance to reserve your space in class.

Beginner Willow Classes run from 9-5 all three days
Choose to come one day or all three days, then choose which baskets you want to weave from the list below. Tuition = $80 per day, payable to The Country Seat to reserve your place in class
Materials Fee = please see the materials fee listed with each class - payable to Bonnie on the first day of class.

Danish Fruit Basket Beginner Level - 12" x 12" x 3" Materials fee = $38 This most unusual Danish willow basket is easy for all ages to make as it starts with a provided cardboard template through which an odd number of willow rods are inserted and tied below. Students start weaving with the siding and then go on to the border. The card is then removed and the basket ends with the weaving of the base! Good for teaching to children.
Exploring Baby Rattles All Levels - 2"x 2" x 4" (varies) Materials fee = $30 In this workshop, several designs of baby rattles will be made. The rattle is ancient in origin. The seven willows represent the seven virtues while the seven pebbles contained by the willows represent the seven deadly sins. Hence, the willows contain and balance the sins and provide good luck. The techniques of different rattle design will be explored. Peeled willow will be used.
Spoon and Candle Basket Beginner - 4" x 4" x 9" Materials fee = $32 Using a variety of different colored willow, students will use a loaned mold for the making of the basket. From a simple slath, the basket is woven in randing weave, ending with a simple trac border and a roped handle. This basket is good for spoons and candles when the basket is attached to a wall.
*Sciathog ("Skee-og"* Irish Potato Straining Basket) All Levels - 13" x 13" x 4" Materials fee = $48** This classic Irish frame basket is traditionally used for straining and serving boiled potatoes. Pre-carved and dried rims are provided for students. Students will carve ribs and weave with different colored homegrown willows. This basket is nice for fruit.

8 Hour Classes

Wall Basket - Beginner - 6" x 9"x 8" Materials fee = $48 This small rectangular basket is a good introduction to �square work�. A small base is woven in a screw block. The stakes are then inserted, followed by a randed siding and a rod border. The back is made higher and a hole is left in the back for attaching to a wall.
Oval Muffin - Intermediate level - 11.5" x 7.5" x 6 " H Materials fee: $55 This lovely oval willow basket is made with a mix of peeled white and buff willow. A split stick oval base is staked up with a foot wale. The French randing siding uses alternate buff and white willow. Top waling is followed by a rod border and two side roped handles.

"Early American Life" Lunch Basket - Beginner - 12"X 12" X 12"
Tuition fee = $120 (payable to Country Seat)
Materials fee = $48
This excellent beginning basket was featured in the October 1992 issue of the "Early American Life" magazine. It is made of unpeeled willow with a round base in pairing weave, followed by staking up, waling and flared siding in French randing weave. Top waling, double border and wrapped handle complete the basket.

Advanced Willow Class
Monster Garden Basket
14 inches by 19 inches by 13 inches
willow garden basket

Tuition = $200 for two and 1/2 days, payable to The Country Seat to reserve your place in class +
Materials Fee = $95 which is payable to Bonnie on the first day of class.

This advanced level workshop features the making of a very special garden basket, in unpeeled willow. It was originally designed by Alastair Heseltine. The oval base is made in the French method, with a provided dried and shaped hoop. The woven base then has scallomed stakes attached to it. Waling and siding follow and the basket features four carved and notched feet inserted into the weaving of the basket. A large border and double wrapped handle add to the sturdy "monster" nature. This is a truly beautiful basket. Students should have had much prior basketry experience and prior willow experience is ideal.

Students must bring: several old bath towels, sharp knife, sharp hand held pruning shears (or basket shears), ruler, spray bottle, notebook, basketry clamps, lunch (or take-out is available nearby) and mug. Weight (ex. old flat iron), rapping iron, bodkin & grease horn (if you have them). Bonnie will bring some to share.

Cancellation Policy ~ Class fee refunded only if your space is filled by another student.
All students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Maximum of 12 students, please do not wait to register.

Print a Registration Page. or e-mail or call (610-756-6124) to register.
All fees must be paid in advance to reserve your space in class.

"Bonnie Gale has been a professional willow basketmaker for the past twenty-seven years. With degrees from the University of Manchester and M.I.T., she has trained with professional European willow basketmakers. She is proprietor of "English Basketry Willows" (a small business selling imported European basketry willows, willow basketry books and tools) and founder of the "American Willow Growers Network" promoting the growing and the exploration of the uses of willow. She teaches traditional willow basketry across the United States at major conventions and guilds. She writes extensively on traditional willow basketry and willow growing and her articles have appeared in EarlyAmerican Life magazine, Basket Bits, Basketry Express and Fiber Arts. Her work has been shown in major basketry exhibitions and she is the recipient of numerous awards. In 1999, she was awarded an Artist's Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts. She was asked by Plimoth Plantation to make the large willow baskets featured on the film set in the PBS WGBH Boston television series "Colonial House", first aired in May 2004. In March 2006, her work on living willow installations was featured in "House and Garden" magazine, and her living installation on Long Island was shown in the Fall/Winter 2006 issue of "Vogue Living" magazine. In September 2006, she was commissioned by the Mount Vernon Estate to make a basket to specifically hold Martha Washington's love letters. In 2007, she was awarded an Artists and Communities grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to engage in a large scale community oriented living willow installation at the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 2009, her work was featured in the PBS "Cultivating Life" series. In 2010, she was featured in two segments on the Martha Stewart Show." provided by Bonnie Gale. To read more about Bonnie's accomplishments, please visit her Resum� Page

To learn more about the "American Willow Growers Network" visit English Basketry Willows Site

Free print catalog upon request. Please e-mail us at weaving@countryseat.com with your name and postal address. Catalog #31 is the current print catalog and will be sent with your first order. Please keep the Country Seat Courier newsletters as they contain new products and any changes to the print catalog. New products are added to the on-line catalog as they arrive. If you have placed an order and do not already have them, catalog #31 and newsletters will be sent with the order to keep you up to date.