Hello friends!

If you haven't already checked out The New Local gallery on Pearl Street please stop by and check out the new baskets I have in the gallery.

I had the opportunity last fall to study in person with my online basket maker teacher in Ireland, Hanna Van Aelst. I went with girlfriends for a trip of a lifetime hiking and touring throughout Ireland ending up in Tipperary for a four day workshop www.hannavanaelst.com. After returning to Colorado in October, I took a workshop from a visiting Basketry artist Annemarie O’Sullivan and her husband Tom McWalter from Studio Amos in Sussex England. https://studioamos.co.uk. I learned how to make the beautiful market basket that is on this page and intend to make more of them that will be for sale at The New Local Gallery and Moxie Bread Company in North Boulder.

My baskets are displayed and for sale at The New Local Gallery at 741 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302. www.thenew-local.org The New Local Gallery is a not-for-profit gallery exhibiting the work of over 65 women artists! Come take a peek! The gallery has handwoven willow baskets on display perfect for holiday dinners.There is a large asymmetrical antler basket, bicycle baskets, shopping baskets, rope coil basket, a willow Polish Tatza and small baskets woven with aspen bases at The New Local. See the tab FOR SALE under my basket selection on this website for a photo of these baskets. TNL gallery- Hours: Mon- Saturday 10am - 6pm. Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Beautiful large wide antler, a Polish Tatza, small inexpensive egg baskets and sculptural decorative baskets are still for sale at The Moxie Bread Co. 4593 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304. Check www.moxiebreadco.com for hours. All prices are the same from either location.

During the past 3 years, I learned how to weave willow into lovely functional and sculptural baskets and I continue to learn through an online course with https://hannavanaelst.com/. The willow I weave is mostly homegrown in our Boulder gardens, undyed and comes in a variety of natural colors. Willow and other foraged fibers from our garden inspire me to create and celebrate Nature.

To see my baskets click on ART - Visit Art Page then click the Baskets tab for a peek at some of my baskets and into the world of willow!

In my studio, I have some plein air paintings in oils and gouache from Colorado and New Mexico. Some of the encaustics, prints and paintings are beautifully framed and ready to hang. If interested in any of the work you see on my website you can contact me through my website contact page.

If interested in beekeeping or our conservation efforts to protect native pollinators and healthy habitat click on the BEES link below to view our BeeChicas website. Here is the link to the Boulder Public Library BeeChicas events page click on SEARCH to view our upcoming winter workshops in 2025.

ART

My work evokes memories, translation and transcendence with the emergence of a narrative that speaks to my heart and spirit. 

Artist Statement

This past year, I have been growing many species of basketry willow and collect Rocky Mountain willow, dogwood and other foraged fibers from our garden to weave into lovely functional baskets. The beauty of Nature brings me closer to our Creator, Jesus and gives me great peace and joy when weaving.

As a master organic gardener and beekeeper, I started keeping honey bees 19 years ago. I’m also passionate about native bees and planting native forage for pollinators and have installed many native bee houses in our garden. Growing our own willow provides early spring forage of pollen and nectar to bees and other pollinators. I’ve made a conscious choice to move from painting with man-made materials, to natural fibers such as willow, vines, grasses, branches and antlers to construct my baskets.

In past years, I’ve participated in nationwide Plein Air Festivals and received the Award of Excellence for Works on Paper at the Santa Fe Plein Air Fiesta in 2018. In 2020, I received an Organic Master Gardener certificate from Gaia College in British Columbia and am working toward a Master Beekeeper Certificate in the state of Colorado. I have an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Southern Methodist University in Dallas TX, 1986.

BEES

BeeChicas are a Boulder-based voice for pollinators, organizers of the Boulder Pollinator Appreciation Month Celebrations, offering workshops around town.  Look for us on the library rooftop tending the bees.