Stateline Friends Weaving Retreat 2016!
Each April, Pam Feix, Debbie Cates and the Whitewater Basket Guild in Richmond, Indiana host a spectacular three day basket weaving event, Stateline Friends Weaving Retreat. Four hundred people (basket weavers, basket teachers and vendors) gather together to weave baskets, learn new weaving techniques, stock up on basket kits and supplies, enjoy each others company, catch up with old friends and make ones. 
That’s right, Eat, Sleep Weave about sums it up. 🙂 Many of us look forward to this basket event all year long, staying up until the stroke of midnight so we can register on opening day (typically registration is full by the fourth day!).
Everyday there were 20+ basket classes happening in one large room. So. Much. Fun.
I was excited to teach three classes: Qoph, Three Squared and Recursions. I had great classes and great students! I also vended – well, my friend Mary came along to vend for me. She worked hard but did find some time to weave.
After three days of watching basket classes of all kinds, she tells me next time she’s going to take classes!
Tony Stubblefield was vending next to us. Between customers, he kept busy demonstrating his weaving stands. He made some absolutely beautiful baskets over the weekend!
And now a peak at my classes:
Qoph – from start
to almost finished.
Three Squared – beautiful inside
and out.
There was an attempt to get a picture of me demonstrating my ‘head trick’. Sorry, not this time 😉
Recursions – big
and little.
On day three, Joe made a sign ‘MBWM’. I think he was feeling a little out numbered, so he’s starting a new group Male Basket Weavers Matter. Good luck, Joe!
Thank you Debbie, Pam and the Whitewater Basket Guild – you’re the best!
Stateline Friends sounded like allot of FUN. I will try to attend next year. The two friends I know that went had a wonderful time. It is such a nice event. Everyone should know about it but then it will be harder to get in. Next year I plan on being one of the Stateline Friends hopeful weaver and be on the midnight watch for registration. Annetta It looks likes your classes went well. I want to do your new pattern Recursion in both sizes. See you at Jabez. 🙂
I’ll be sure to bring Recursion for you Cheryl. And I’ll look forward to seeing you at Jabez.
Hope you (and I) get into Stateline next year!
This was my first time attending this event. I had so much fun! Everyone is so nice, friendly and helpful that I immediately felt right at home. Of course Annetta helped a great deal with that also.:) Thanks so much! I can’t wait to go again next year and when my chaotic life settles down I am going to look into other events like this. I had a blast being Annetta’s seller and seeing all the beautiful baskets that were woven. I can honestly say these instructors are the best! I never saw a bad basket that had been woven and my eyes were opened to a lot of new stuff!!!
Mary, It was such fun to have you come along, and its even better that you had a great time. As they say so many baskets so little time – next time I hope you have time for a few.!