Willow Gathering 2012

June 21st 26th, 2012

On the campus of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa

Willow Gathering 2012 will be a gathering of willow enthusiasts, teachers and students, for the purpose of learning, sharing, and immersing themselves in all things willow. Classes will be offered in a range of styles and techniques from 3 notable instructors, Donna Kallner, Katherine Lewis and Sandy Whalen. The site for the Gathering will be in The Baker Village area of Luther College in Decorah, IA. Housing will be available on site or you may choose from one of Decorahs motels, B & Bs or area campgrounds. Jo Campbell-Amsler and Lee Zieke Lee are the hostess/planners for this event and look forward to sharing this willow experience with you!

Conference Location
The conference will utilize the Baker Village facilities at Luther College located on the north side of Decorah. This is a unique student residential area of townhouse-style units set apart from Luthers central campus. The Scandinavian-style of Baker Village emphasizes simple clean lines, light woodwork and contemporary furniture. Lodging is available for attendees in these townhouse units. Classes and noon meals will take place in and around Shirley Baker Commons, a lovely meeting facility with limestone fireplace and covered porch overlooking a large restored prairie and adjoining woodlands. Review photos and descriptions of Baker Village and Shirley Baker Commons at: www.luther.edu/reslife/residencehalls/upperclass/bakervillage

Featured Basket Makers

Donna Kallner White Lake, Wisconsin

Katherine Lewis Mount Vernon, Washington

About Decorah
Nestled in the rolling hills of beautiful northeast Iowa, Decorah fits everyones image of the quintessential rural town. Perched on the banks of the Upper Iowa River, Decorah offers many recreational opportunities such as a new bike-hike trail, trout fishing and river sports. Downtown Decorah boasts a vibrant mix of shops, galleries, restaurants, a wonderful food coop and a bustling farmers market (Saturdays 8-11AM). More information about Decorah is available at www.decoraharea.com

Sandy Whalen Milford, Michigan

Willow Note Jo Campbell-Amsler

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Questions? Contact jocamsler@hotmail.com ziekelee@mabeltel.coop 319-465-5376 http://www.willowridgebaskets.com

Lee Zieke Lee

563-735-5570 http://www.willowglennursery.com

Donna Kallner White Lake, Wisconsin Donna Kallner is a full-time fiber artist and teacher known for the contemporary ways she uses ancient techniques to tell timeless stories. Donna is the author of New Age Looping and founder of the New Age Looping Study Group on Facebook. She teaches around the country, online, and at her home studio in rural northern Wisconsin. Donna blogs at Two Red Threads. Learn more at http://www.donnakallner.com.

Quixote Coiling
Thursday / Friday 14 hr (2 days, 7 hrs/day) This class uses coiling with willow and the basketmaker's buttonhole stitch as the foundation for form and dimensional embellishment. Youll make a simple 3-rod coiled vessel from a round base, choosing from several shaping options, then add willow crown-knot windmills to the surface and fill areas defined by the arms of the windmills with looping. Students should bring: an old bath towel, sharp scissors, needle nose pliers and a leather thimble. Cost: $185.00 (Class fee $155.00, Material fee $30.00) Weaving Level All Levels

Willow Spirit Constructed Vessels

Saturday / Sunday 14 hr (2 days, 7 hrs/day) For thousands of years, basketmakers have made vessels by folding, cutting and stitching sheets of bark. In this class, we replace that bark with a fabric laminate made of contemporary art cloth colored and patterned with willow. You'll learn a variety of ways to use willow to dye and print fabric. You'll sample new ways to conceive, model and build hand-stitched sculptural forms, and create two vessels that incorporate willow in the surface design. Students should bring: An apron and a thimble. Leave everything else at home and come ready to play. Cost: $185.00 (Class fee $155.00, Material fee $30.00) Weaving Level - All Levels

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All materials provided in each class for completion of the project. Please check Students should bring for tools needed.

Katherine Lewis Mount Vernon, Washington Katherine Lewis is a willow basketmaker in the Skagit Valley of Washington State, USA. She has a small farm where she and her husband Steve Lospalluto grow much of the willow used in her baskets. She has taken courses in willow basketry from accomplished basketmakers from England, Switzerland, France, Scotland and the US. In 2011, she is headed back to Europe to visit several basketry festivals and basketmakers in France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic. While the techniques used are traditional, each piece is unique and not bound to any specific tradition. Katherine's goal is to weave willow baskets that are useful and durable while reflecting the natural beauty of the willows. Learn more at: http://www.dunbargardens.com

Scottish Rope Coil

Thursday / Friday - 14 hr (two days, 7 hrs/day) I call this basket a Scottish rope coil, because I traveled to Scotland to learn the technique from Lise Bech, a Danish basketmaker living now in Scotland. To create the coil weave, we start with slender weavers of graduated lengths. The willows are sorted precisely, and the weave creates a coil that gives this basket its distinctive look. Students will learn both the technique, and the principles required to correctly sort materials for this basket. As part of this class, we will see photos of this kind of work by a number of weavers to inspire our creativity. Techniques used: twined base, over the outstretched stakes base wale, coil weave, 5 rod border with follow on. Size: (approximate) 16 diameter, 7 high Students should bring: willow awl, sharp garden pruners (Felco brand recommended), ruler, several clothes pins, and a weight (2 ziploc bags of gravel, 1 qt size), sharp side cutters or basket shears. Cost: $245.00 (Class fee $170.00, Material fee $75.00) Weaving Level Hand strength required, willow experience helpful.

designing baskets. No twining! Techniques used: frame base, scallomed stakes, waling in two directions, randed or slewed sides, 4 or 5 rod border, willow handle with traditional handle wrap. Students should bring: Fixed blade knife (instructor will have knives available to use and for sale), rapping iron, willow awl, weight (3 pounds worth of rocks in a sack), ruler, sharp pruners, (Felco recommended). Size: Shopper 17 L x 12 W x 8 H (basket) 16 H (handle) Magazine 15 L x 6 W x 10 H (basket) 17 H(handle) Cost: $235.00 (Class fee $170.00, Material fee $65.00) Weaving Level - Experience with willow is helpful; comfort using a knife essential. Some hand strength advisable.

Irish Potato Basket

Monday / Tuesday - 10 hr (day one 7 hrs, day two 3 hours) This lovely colorful tray has its origins in rural Ireland where it was woven by country folks as a strainer for their cooked potatoes, with different open weave centers used in different counties. We take this rustic basket and using a mix of willow varieties, turn it into a beautiful and useful basket. Beginning with a traditional Irish open center, students will twine the base in a mix of colors of willow. The sides are staked up using traditional stake and strand willow technique, followed by a strong 4 rod base wale. The sides are then woven in additional rows of 3 rod waling and bordered down with a 5 rod border. Techniques used: twining with hidden joins, waling, 5 rod willow border, Irish open center start. Students should bring: willow awl, rapping iron, sharp garden clippers (Felco recommended), weight (3 pounds worth of rocks in a sack), and several clothes pins. Fixed blade knife optional. Size: (approximate) 14-16 W x 3-4 H Cost: $200.00 (Class fee $150.00, Material fee $50.00) Weaving Level - Previous experience twining advised.

Scallomed Oval Baskets

Saturday / Sunday - 14 hr (two days, 7 hrs/day) You may choose between two shapes, oval shopper with cross handle or oval magazine basket with lengthwise handle at the beginning of the class. Then you may choose between two side weaves, slewing or double French randing. (Slewing is shown on the shopper and double French randing shown on the magazine basket). We will weave the base on an oval hoop frame, and scallom on the stakes. Learning to cut scalloms and attach stakes in this way will open up a whole new way of

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Tools for sale & some to borrow will be available during classes. Check for more details with Lee or Jo.

Sandy Whalen Milford, Michigan

Willow has been my love from the start. It makes such beautiful, honest, useful baskets. Growing willow is a part of the whole experience and started me on the path to learn from many willow instructors, traveling to England, Germany, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. I have taught at various Guilds and Conventions across the country, won many awards at the Association of Michigan Basketmakers and even wrote a chapter in a book entitled Natural Baskets. I love the strength and character of willow and enjoy sharing what I have learned with others.

Ginger Jar
Saturday - 8 hr class A very unique round willow basket with a jaunty woven lid. Students will learn how to shape the basket inward with two tiers of willow and top with a 3-rod border. After weaving the lid, you will learn to make hinges. A noose and hasp, with a willow peg completes the closure. Size: Approx 7" to 8" base tapering to 6" to 10" high Materials provided: Bark Willow, handouts, closure materials Students should bring: Willow basketry tools and one beach or long bath towel. Cost: $160.00 (Class fee $110.00, Material fee $50.00) Weaving Level Intermediate willow experience helpful

Day Pack
Sunday 8 hr class Need a basket to toss over your shoulder to tote a quick lunch and water bottle or some other treasure? This is the one for you. The modified base weaving affords a flat side that will easily rest against your side. The bottom wale gives a rounded shape while the French randed tiers provide the necessary height. For added design and flair, a follow-ontrack is woven into the 4-rod border. A comfortable woven strap completes the basket. Size: Approx 12" L x 8" W x 10" H Materials provided: Willow in several bark colors, choice of Shaker type straps, handouts Students should bring: Willow basketry tools and one beach or long bath towel. Cost: $160.00 (Class fee $110.00, Material fee $50.00) Weaving Level Intermediate willow experience helpful

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Trout River Catering, highlighting local ingredients, will provide daily lunches (included in class fee). DELICIOUS!

Willow Gathering 2012

Registration Form

June 21-26, 2012

Each class fee listed below (except Tuesday) includes a lunch catered by Trout River Catering plus a morning and afternoon beverage/snack break. Place a by each class you wish to take.

2 Day Classes
Thursday/Friday June 21-22 (14 hours) 9:00am 5:00pm ___ Scottish Rope Coil ___ Quixote Coiling $245.00 ($170 / $75) $185.00 ($155 / $30) Name:_________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________ City,State, & Zip: _______________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________ E-mail address: _________________________________________ $75.00 pre-payment fee is required to be sent with the $25.00 registration fee and form. These fees are refundable only if you are not assigned a class. * Classes will be filled on a first come basis. Send those registrations and fees in early! Class confirmation letter will be sent after December 1st, 2011. The balance of all fees are due after class assignment, no later then March 1st, 2012. These fees are non-refundable after March 1st, 2012 unless class is canceled.

Saturday/Sunday June 23-24 (14 hours) 9:00am 5:00pm ___ Scallomed Oval Baskets $235.00 ($170 / $65) ___Willow Spirit Constructed Vessels $185.00 ($155 / $30) Monday/Tuesday June 25-26 (10 hours) 9:00am -5:00pm & 9:00 am-Noon ____ Irish Potato Basket $200.00 ($150 / $50)

1 Day Classes
Saturday June 23 (8 hours) 8:00am 5:00pm ___ Ginger Jar $160.00 ($110 / $50)

Sunday June 24 (8 hours) 8:00am 5:00pm ____Day Pack $160.00 ($110 / $50)

$_______ Willow Gathering 2012 Registration Fee (non-refundable) - $25.00 $_______ Total of Choices Above _____ If my class choices are already full, I would be interested in the other classes. (Please check if applicable). _____ Check or Money Order enclosed for $100.00 U.S. (pre-payment fee of $75.00 & registration fee of $25.00) payable to:

Willow Gathering 2012 Mail to: Jo Campbell-Amsler WG 2012 21552 Stone Bridge Rd Monticello, IA 52310
Jo Campbell-Amsler Lee Zieke Lee

Questions? Contact jocamsler@hotmail.com 319-465-5376 563-735-5570 ziekelee@mabeltel.coop

Baker Village Housing (housing option)

Stay on site at the Baker Village Housing at Luther College. Single or double bedrooms with shared living space 6 people per townhouse. Housing available Wed (June 20th) thru Tues (June 26th) more details about housing at : www.luther.edu/residencehalls/upperclass/bakervillage

Baker Village Housing fee = $40 per night. Nights needed ( each): Wed __ Thurs __ Fri __ Sat __ Sun __ Mon __ Tues __

Total nights x $40 per = ______ total housing fee. I would like to be placed in the same townhouse with: _____________________________________ Check or money order (U.S.) for total housing fee payable to: Willow Gathering 2012 Please send separate housing fee with final class payment, no later then March 1st, 2012.

Willow Note

If you would like to make other housing arrangements, check out http://www.decoraharea.com/lodging.html for

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other places to stay in the Decorah area.