Class Content: Students will be provided with a prepared gourd that will be decorated with alcohol inks like in example (D). Once dry it will be coated with several coats of UV varnish then a coat of wax. If you wish to draw on your gourd instead like example (A) bring a couple of felt tip pens.

After an early lunch, students will start weaving southern longleaf pine needles onto the gourd using the simple or spiral stitch. Students will learn how to start a basket, how to wrap a coil to add color, how to add a bead, and how to add thread when it runs out. Ways to add texture to your basket will be taught as well.

The gourds are prepped ahead of time by the instructor. Prepared gourds have been cut, the guts cleaned out, sanded, holes drilled with proper spacing, wood petrifier added to the inside, formula 49 applied to the outside, and the interior sprayed black. Pine needles will be preconditioned using a turkey roaster and glycerin. A material fee of $88.00 is included in the price of the $178 two-day class fee.

Provided: Dessert (Email Kathy ahead of time if you are gluten free or have a nut allergy. 865-660-6400 or info@GracehillArt.com) BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH.

Supply List: All alcohol inks, varnish, and wax to decorate the gourd are provided. Roughly 5 to 8oz of southern longleaf pine needles, dyed or natural color, in a glycerin bath, choices of artificial sinew or jewelry twine, and beads. How many beads depend on what you pick out. These are your supplies to make the basket.

IF YOU WISH TO BRING A SMALL DEER ANTLER OR PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD OR OTHER NATURAL WHAT NOT WE’LL SEE IF YOU CAN WEAVE IT ONTO YOUR BASKET.

If you wish to have a gourd with cut outs on the sides like example (B) and (C) Bring an extra $7 with you and contact the instructor ahead of time. If you wish to use some Palm Inflorescence like example (B) and (F) (the squiggly stuff) you can buy that for $1.50 a strand. If you have a piece of driftwood or other wood that you would like to mount a “gourd top” on like example (E) and (F) contact Kathy ahead of time.

She will also provide different-sized sewing needles, clips, and gauges that stay with the instructor. She’ll have a few extra pairs of scissors and pliers she’ll bring with her but if you have a pair you might want to bring them from home. She’ll have an assortment of prepared gourds in different shapes, but mostly round, cut with a wave in the gourd rim rather than straight across. (Adds interest.) The rim you sew on can take many forms. No two baskets are ever the same. You will have plenty of time to finish this basket.

Biography: Kathy works in several mediums, primarily alcohol inks and pine needle basketry. She currently sells her art in her newly opened art gallery, Gracehill Fine Art and Basketry, in Townsend, TN. She is the recipient of the State of Tennessee Art Commision’s 2024 Fellowship in Craft.

Instructor Website: https://www.GracehillArt.com