Beginnerland
Beginner Mind
Dear Kay,
It went so fast, our virtual Summer Camp on Friday where Anne Weil taught us all how to make a basket.
I’d worried that three hours was going to feel long, that I’d get the hang of this basket thing and tap my toes waiting for everybody else to catch up. How hard could a basket be?
Guess what: I was the one trying to catch up with everybody else.
It was me at the back of the class, trying to get my spiral to coil, trying to understand the feel of this crispy raffia, trying to do something I’d never done before.
I learned new vocabulary. Witness the “fountain of raffia.”
I fiddled with my needle and yanked raffia out of a spectacular tangle (my bad: if I’d been patient, I would have heard Anne Weil tell me not to cut the tie that keeps all the strands tidy)—and I loved every minute of it.
At one point I caught myself thinking, What if this basket is wonky? Ego stuck her head in.
But at this late date, Ego is a rare visitor when it comes to making stuff—I’ve made enough that I know some of it is going to be great, and some isn’t. It was OK to sort of suck at basketmaking. It reminded me of early days of learning to knit, the unfamiliarity of it. Twenty years from now, I’ll have this thing down.
After class ended, I kept at it all weekend long. So fun. This wonky basket, almost done at this point, is a treasure, even as my bundles of eight strands often shrunk to three or four, even as the whipstitch was anything but rhythmic. It felt really good to let go of my internal critic, and to have small expectations.
Thanks to Anne Weil’s calm approach, I never doubted that the only thing keeping me from being a maker of decent baskets is time. It’s just a matter of time.
How are the baskets coming along, fellow Summer Campers? And for those of you who weren’t there, what’s new in your making life?
Love,
Ann
PS Our next virtual class, where you can tap into your own beginner mind, is coming September 6, when Natalie Chanin, the founder of the legendary company Alabama Chanin, teaches her method of simple handsewing. Read all about it here.
PSS If you’re jonesing for basketmaking and you missed our Summer Camp, you’ll find all sorts of basket kits at Anne Weil’s site, Flax & Twine. And other kinds of kits, all gorgeous.
I think your basket looks great!
I’m a third of the way through a loom weaving class. First of three projects–a wool scarf–is complete but with some variances in width and rather wonky selvages. I plan to wear it proudly regardless. I may never become a weaver, but learning about the process is very interesting.
Camp was the best. Anne is such a patient and reassuring teacher and time flew by. I was right there with you poking along at my own pace and having a massive tangle to pull from (having not listened to keep the raffia tied). I’m loving it! It will be wonky but it will be my first basket. Thanks so much for having this class and ‘see’ you at Cecelia’s and Natalie’s sessions. I’m all in for learning new things.
I have just started curving mine up. Will it be a shallow basket or one with steep sides? Who knows at this point ♀️ I am a beginner. Will it he wonky? Oh yeah. Will my mom like ny camp project when she receives it? She will make sure I think she does lol.
It was such a fun way to spend a summer afternoon and to learn something new. (Ditto on cutting that tie before I was told not to)
Like me, you are brave enough to be bad at something new. I also cut the tie off the bundle before starting, because I “knew” I’d be late and didn’t want to hold up the class. Turned out my daughter let me know she was coming last minute and I became a straggler availing myself of the recording.
Summer Camp is one of your best ideas ever. I’m excited to see what you have for us next year.
I really enjoyed summer camp this year. I had to watch on rerun but still felt I was part of it. Like everyone else so far I cut the string on my first bundle and have a mess of raffia. I’m a former basket maker but had never done a raffia basket and am in love with the craft all over again. Anne is a great teacher and this class was just downright fun. I think I made every mistake possible and still love the result. Thanks Anne and MDK for a glorious day!
I enjoyed my basket making experience! The finished object looks a lot like what a 4th grader would bring home to Mom after a week away at sleep over camp, but hey, I finished it. Ann — your basket looks great! And Ann Weil is an awesome instructor, so if anyone is interested go to her website.
Ditto. Cut the string.
I had so much fun at MDK Summer Camp! I’ve never tried anything remotely similar to basket making so I was an absolute beginner. I was amazed that I actually “got it” more or less and finished my wonky basket the next day. Little does my poor sister-in-law know that she is getting it for Christmas. But until then, I am showing it to everyone who will look at it!
I enjoyed working with this strange new material and I thought of all of the people making amazing baskets over time, that were essential to their lives. Mine will, alas, not be essential. Or a a thing of beauty, but I always enjoy learning to make new things. The materials in the kit were excellent and I loved the colors. Three hours went by in a flash, with only a tiny bit of residual stiffness in my hips from sitting pretzel style the whole time. I need to remember to stretch. Anne’s instruction was encouraging and complete. A fine way to spend afternoon. Thanks.
Just LOVED learning to make a basket with my 7-year-old granddaughter. I’m working on our (pink, of course) basket every night and love the peace and gentle tug and struggle it provides–I get a wee bit better with every round. Thank you for this opportunity, the community, the lightheartedness. MDK makes the world a better place and me a better person.
When you learn that the joy is in the actual “making”, rather than the object, then you have achieved nirvana!
YES!
Beginner Mind. My mantra with each new knitting project (or piano practice or exercise class) even if I have been at it for awhile. 5 years in the case of knitting. Ohmmm, anyone?
I made a basket once, years ago. I dragged my mother out of the house to go to a class with me. Of course her basket was lovely and mine was… almost recognizable. But the experience is a treasured memory.
I make pine needle baskets. Sounds like they’re much easier to make than using raffia.
I’m gonna research this! I love the idea of foraging while camping.
Your basket looks great, Ann! I thoroughly enjoyed summer camp and Anne’s calm, creative teaching. I’ve recently found my way back to basket making after about 40 years, but I’ve never wrangled a raffia fountain before – it’s been a fun learning experience. Thank you for putting our summer camp session together, and I’m looking forward to being back in the MDK camp craft hut again in 2025!
I have to save mine for my vacation – so “camp” for me will begin July 29th. Your invitation to stay with my “beginner mind” is noted and I will be sure to give ego something else to critique as me and raffia begin our new relationship. Thanks Ann Shayne!
My basket-in-progress is wonky as yours but my ego’s attitude is “wow who knew I would be so awesome at this? Will my talents never end?”
Only kidding a little bit. I feel like Beginner Mind might be a muscle and if so, mine has gotten a lot of work and is very robust.
I could sit and make baskets with Anne Weil for weeks!
Kay
It looks wonderful!
In part thanks to your partnership with Case for Making, I’ve rather gone down the rabbit hole of drawing and painting. And man, am I bad at watercolor! but having fun all the way :). I often remind myself how many hours it took me to get good at knitting (manymany) – now I just need to keep giving myself permission to be bad for all those hours at watercolor. (And I also signed up for the Natalie Chanin workshop – maybe I’ll finally be brave enough to break out that Alabama Chanin skirt kit!). Thanks for the continuing inspiration (she says, as she goes to look at basket kits…)
I’m on my final row, with the wraps all snugged close together. I am being very forgiving with my work and feeling the joy of a nearly finished object.
Summer camp forevuhhhhhh!
Summer camp was great fun! Just like arts & crafts, my favorite part of “real” camp. I’d love to do it again someday. Still plugging away at my wonky basket, but I know I’ll be proud of it, whatever it ends up looking like.
I really enjoyed the class and have finished my little basket. It’s just what I wanted! I’d love to see others’ creations. Is there a way to post photos?
Yours looks great! Mine is coming along slowly but I’m enjoying the process. It feels really good to learn something new! I hope that you’ll offer more classes like this so we can continue to learn new things.
I loved your story. It brought back memories of learning basket weaving in school. I went to a Catholic school in the Philippines where starting ing 3rd grade when our fingers were gaining more dexterity, we had to take Home Economics every year learning embroidery techniques, crochet and basket weaving!
I loved this class. Who knew basket making is the thing that has been missing from my life all these years?
TBH, raffia is not my favorite. I will soldier on, but my next basket (and there will be a next) will be something kinder to my hands.
Thanks always to MDK for providing me with the learning opportunities I needed even if I didn’t know it.
I was in the class and loved it. I too wish I had not cut the ties, but I’ve dealt with worse tangles. Weaving or sewing with raffia is an interesting experience. The process is taking longer than I expected (I’m still working on my basket), but it’s a meditative process too. I feel my blood pressure going down while I sew. This was my first class through MDK, and it was a wonderful experience.
Do you all remember the easy A college class “Underwater Basket weaving 101?” Well I somewhat feel like I’m under water trying to make that little coil as small as I can get it! But I did it – somewhat! So good to give the mind and fingers a good push and then head for the wine!