Our wonderful world of baskets awaits—from traditional to contemporary weaving methods and materials, to the making of fabulous gourd art. You’ll end the week deeply satisfied, with an heirloom, or two, or three.
Basketry Classes
Explore The Studio
Rock Room
Natural light pours into the spacious Rock Room, the main studio for our Basket, Broom and Chair Seat classes. With lots of open space to spread out, a stove for cooking dyes, and a big work sink, this a great space that neighbors our Woodworking studio. The name Rock Room comes from its rock-covered exterior walls that fit right in with its natural surrounding.
News & Stories: What's Happening in Basketry
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December 10, 2024
Browse our 2025 classes digitally...
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November 26, 2024
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November 21, 2024
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November 8, 2024
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July 23, 2024
Browse our 2025 classes digitally...
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June 28, 2024
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March 5, 2024
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March 5, 2024
Winning Forged in Fire and...
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January 24, 2024
Judith Saunders is a mixed-media artist...
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November 9, 2023
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July 24, 2023
Browse our August 2023–June 2024...
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July 24, 2023
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February 14, 2023
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February 6, 2023
"The Folk School Changes You"...
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December 13, 2022
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August 29, 2022
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July 25, 2022
Building on your feedback, we're...
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July 22, 2022
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April 26, 2020
Sue Williams is recognized for the preservation of the Cannon County white oak basket making tradition, one of the most renowned basket making traditions in the United States. Sue’s commitment to education, advocacy, and teaching the tradition has secured a future for the this style beyond the original basket making families of Cannon County, Tennessee. We are delighted to have Sue teach the Cannon County white oak basket style regularly at the Folk School.
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May 16, 2019
If you are interested in basketry, paper art, or weaving, and want to learn new techniques, materials, and form, don’t miss our upcoming class with Aimee Lee, Paper Thread through Asia, scheduled for June 9–15, 2019. You will discover ancient techniques of transforming paper into thread, cord, small weavings, and sculptural basketry. Based on Korean and Japanese traditions of jiseung (paper basketry) and shifu (paper cloth), you will learn to spin one-ply thread and twist two-ply cord in completely different ways.
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March 1, 2018
Did you get a chance to listen to the interview about the Folk School with Pattie Bagley, Mark Hendry and Jack Smoot on The Avenue Lounge Show on WREK Radio 91.1 FM, Atlanta, GA? If you missed the live show modern technology has preserved the interview for all to enjoy, at any time, here on Soundcloud. Learn about some Folk School history and also about Pattie, Mark, and Jack’s personal stories and experiences.
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February 28, 2014
When I found out Pattie Bagley (Resident Artist for Baskets, Brooms, and Chair Seats/local mischief maker) was teaching an introductory rib baskets class, I knew I wanted a spot in the class. Right before coming down to the Folk School to begin my term as a second-time host, I completed my masters degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) – a rehabilitation profession that focuses on working with people to regain function and get back to meaningful occupation (self-care, leisure and work) after illness, injury or disability. Traditionally OTs have used crafts such as basket-weaving as a way to work on rehabilitation-related goals. There is also a strong connection between OT and the Folk School. Murray Martin, who was integral to the growth and success of the Brasstown carvers, was trained as an occupational therapist. For all these reasons, I knew it would be a special week for me. What I didn’t know was that Jan Stansell, an expert basket-maker, long-time Folk School instructor, and recent stroke survivor, would be one of my classmates.
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Weaving, Rugs, Needlework & Thread Art, Lace, Beading, Quilting, Sewing, Basketry, Brooms, Chair Seats, Gourds, Leather Coordinator
Allie Dudley
Allie is a textile artist working primarily in weaving and stitching. After completing a degree in Cinema & Media Studies at the University of Chicago, they turned towards textiles, taking a historical angle, and focusing on traditional tapestries, Appalachian coverlets, and antique stitching samplers. Allie’s weavings have been included in international shows, including the Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award Finalist Exhibition at the Australian Tapestry Workshop, and they are a member of the South Arts 2021 Emerging Traditional Artists Program cohort. Allie now lives in Brasstown with their goats.
Images from the Studio
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