Join us for an extraordinary celebration of American craft as BARN participates in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. This unprecedented week brings accomplished artists from our region and beyond for intensive workshops that will transform your creative practice. Handwork Week offers a unique opportunity to learn from nationally recognized artisans whose work represents the rich diversity of American creativity, heritage, and innovation. Through multi-day intensive workshops, you’ll develop new skills, explore traditional techniques, and connect with fellow makers from across the Pacific Northwest.Be part of this historic national celebration led by PBS’s Craft in America and the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery.
I’ll be offering a deep dive into ribbed, or frame, basket construction. This is the first type of basketry construction I learned, and now have been making for more than four decades. This activity started out of necessity when my sons and I needed baskets to hold all the fruits and vegetables my husband was growing for our family. As stewards of the land around our home and garden, we learned there is a seasonal need to care for the plants by pruning limbs and vines and trimming back grasses and leaves. A smorgasbord of plant materials seemed all around me…if only I knew which ones to gather; or when was the best time to pick or trim; or what parts of plants were most useful; or how to prepare them; or how to store them; and especially what techniques should I know in order to weave with them. I was especially touched to realize that Coast Salish Peoples have been using and caring for the native plants that grow where I live since time immemorial. So there is a lot to learn, which I am excited to share. I am here as a happy weaver and a teaching-artist because of the generosity of my teachers who have shared their generational knowledge with me. I’m honored to be able to share this craft during this transformative week at BARN.
A little bit about BARN
Founded in 2012, BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) stands as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most comprehensive creative learning centers. Our purpose-built 25,000-square-foot facility features 11 specialized craft studios with professional-grade equipment, expert instruction and peer learning in a range of disciplines. Serving over 1,400 members and welcoming more than 10,000 annual participants, BARN fosters a thriving ecosystem for artisans and makers of all skill levels. Our mission: to grow and inspire a creative community through craft, learning, and service.
