April 1, 2010 -- April’s Fools Day
11:00 am – 2 pm
Larry D. Johnson Community Center
NO FOOLIN’
We will learn how to make cordage and baskets out of recycled materials in honor of Earth Day!!! Bring plastic bags (white and colored), wrappings off of large packages of TP, paper towels, and Kleenex (Costco size.) Try to keep them as whole as possible. We will be ironing, weaving, making cordage and having fun with trash. Please bring your own scissors.
Reminder: Full payment for the retreat is due!!!!
3rd Thursday Workshops
March 18, 2010
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sky Peaks Community Center
Work Basket with Braided Handle
Instructor: Cathy Mena
This is a great work/market basket-11"x 14" with a braided handle. I will prepare all the materials beforehand – upon arrival you will be able to start weaving right away. I am hopeful that everyone will complete this useful basket by the end of class. Please bring your own tools: cutters, awl, utility knife (I will have a few extras.) Also bring your apron, soaking tub, spray bottle, towel and LUNCH.
This is my first teaching class at Great Basin Basketmakers and I am honored to be able to spend the day with you. I have been teaching basket workshops in California for almost 20 years and my specialty has always been usable, hard-working, and practical baskets. I incorporate extra techniques that reinforce the basket, making it extra strong. I love natural dyes and will bring some for you to make your basket unique, plus 4 different sizes of cane for the braid. The fee is $15 member, $20 non-member, with a $15 material fee. For more information call Cathy at 847-7302 or email at catcmena@yahoo.com. Enrollment in the class is limited to 12.
To view a picture of this basket click here:workbasket.pdf

April 15, 2010
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Larry D. Johnson Center
Twined Nylon Mason’s Cord Basket
Instructor: Pat Wescott
This is a basket made from nylon and/or poly cords over waxed linen spokes. It is not an easy basket because of the slippery surface of the nylon. It is a small basket because of the techniques. You will learn to make arrows, stacks, checkerboard, three-rod wale, and other twined stitches. You can choose to try them all or use just a couple of techniques.
Materials and supplies needed: packing tool or awl, 18” ruler, scissors, beads (optional-hole large enough to thread 7 ply waxed linen), bring a small jar (2-3 inches across on the bottom and 3-4 inches tall), and large eye round needle. Class fees are $15 for members, $20 for non-members. There will be a $5 materials fee that is for the waxed linen and mason’s cord. The mason cord comes in very bright colors only. This is an intermediate class with the class size limited to 12. For questions or more information contact Pat at (775) 465-2769 or email at graybadgers@hughes.net.
3rd Saturday Workshops

April 17, 2010
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Sky Peaks Community Center
Bias Plaited Paper Basket
Instructor: Karen Olson
Here’s a basket you can make using old road maps. It would be a great basket to make using maps from a trip as a memento or make a basket for a friend far away—the possibilities are endless. So dig out those out of date road maps or a sentimental map and come join us for a fun day of cutting and weaving.
Materials and supplies needed: Old road maps or atlases, cutting mat, rotary cutter or exacto knife, scissors, alligator clips or clothes pins, and an awl. Bring any embellishments you have such as decorative brads, buttons, beads, etc. Class fees are $15 for members, $20 non-members. For more information contact Karen at kvolson@charter.net or 775-852-5401.