Thunder Gourd Workshop. Participants of all skill levels will transform a raw gourd into a stunning, one-of-a-kind work of art. Learning the foundational techniques of gourd artistry — from safely carving and drilling your gourd to decorating it with your own personal flair. Whether you’re picking up a gourd tool for the first time or looking to refine your craft, this workshop welcomes everyone to the table.

Come by our Open Studio at the Sparks Masonic Center to weave a round reed garlic basket and to learn more about the Great Basin Basketmakers. Free to observe. $5 material fee to participate. RSVP by emailing: gbbreno@gmail.com. If you have these tools, bring scissors and a small awl.

Instead of our regular meeting, members can come help make spider starts--laying out the sixteen spokes, then twining three rows. Then our public guests can complete the weaving July 16. As we all know, the start is the hardest part.

This is Part Two of the Pine Needle Basket. All you need to bring is the Pine Needle Starter that you made on June 4th, a pair of scissors, and your lunch. Everything else will be provided. The pine needles have been donated by Betty Hulse. For more information contact gbbreno@gmail.com.

Join us June 4 and June 18 to make a Pine Needle Starter basket or medallion. We will start it after the meeting on June 4, then complete it Thursday, June 18 from 9:30-3:30 at the Sparks Masonic Center. We will learn a couple of stitches that will help you complete beautiful baskets in the future.

All you need to bring is a pair of scissors, everything else will be provided. The pine needles have been donated by Betty Hulse.

The cost of the class is $35.00 for members, $45.00 for non-members, plus $10 Material Fee. RSVP, email: gbbreno@gmail.com.

Please join if Open Studio and/or Hex Do-over with Karen Olson. Please join us if you have an unfinished project. Usually there is someone available to help or answer question. If you previously took the Hex Basket class and would like to do-over (it always helps to make a second basket to get the gist of the project) please sign-up for the Do-over class at no charge. I’ve been practicing and I think you all are at the intermediate level, so it should be a breeze and definitely make more sense. We will be using all the same size reed which should flow together better. I will be dying reed for the baskets so drop me an email designating your special three colors. have an unwished project.

Join us for our general meeting and show and tell of our recent classes. There will be many interesting varieties. We will be gathering donations for the Retreat silent auction. Remember that even those not attending the retreat can contribute and support the Great Basin Basketmakers. Donations should be basketry related, such as baskets, tools, books, supplies, etc.

We will begin with our business meeting, then have show & tell, the we break for lunch 12, bring your own sack lunch. Our meeting program begins at 12:30pm. Join Gayleen Roy in making a pine need medallion. We’ll be foiling pine needles around a simple center and adding some embellishments.

This basket is based on a Shaker basket used to make cheese. The basket size and shape will be determined by the length and number of 1/4” flat oval reed spokes used. The hexagonal weave is the basic structure of this basket.

Sew a rope basket after the General Meeting on March 5, 2026.

At this workshop, you can choose what type of paper basket to make. You can construct a square basket similar to the blue/green one or weave a mat, then make it into a folded basket purple/orange. The baskets are made with painted watercolor paper either 90lb (folded basket) or 140lb (square basket). The baskets are finished off with either plastic telephone wire or waxed linen.

Come learn how to make a Coiled Rag Basket from your scraps or tie-dyed or batik fabrics. This is an excellent technique for making hot pads, trivets, and placements. Fabric, cording and needles will be provided.

Our new meeting time will be at 11am with doors opening at 10:30am. The agenda will be: business meeting, show and tell, brief lunch, then begin our program about 12:30. We will be making name tags (for those of you who do not have name tags, or maybe tired of your current name tag and want to create a new one.) There will also be beads and materials available to make a chain or necklace for your name tag. Free.