My Craft

The day after Christmas in 1991 my home was a total loss due to a fire. Connie McColley asked what she could do to help. At that time of year rebuilding was not possible and I shared with her that I was so bored with all of my crafts having burned. She brought a wonderful care package of needed items and with that, a lot of basket making materials. I had never made a basket in my life but it was something to do. I made some perfectly horrible containers with this material but discovered I enjoyed it. ]

Later, I took classes from Tom and Connie McColley. They are very well known white oak basket makers and have won many awards all over the United States for their work. Their basket schools were widely known and many basket makers were born in a little town in Chloe, West Virginia. I had a great interest in using materials that I did not have to pay for so I experimented with many different things. My baskets now are a combination of all natural materials including but not limited to; hickory, honeysuckle, poplar bark, white oak, English ivy, grapevines, green briar, palm products and the list goes on.

Of all the different things I have done, basket making is my passion. When motivated I cannot stop, staying up all hours of the day and night building my inventory.

In addition to actually making the baskets, I feel a strong need to share the craft with our youth. With the modern world as it is with computers and technology so many of the heritage crafts are or will be lost if we do not pass it down.

I never turn down an invitation to go into the schools and show the young ones the old ways. I have done many shows where I set up my lodge or teepee , wear my buckskin clothing and demonstrate the craft, usually drawing crowds wherever I go.

Presently I am seeking an new home for the teepee and my work in Virginia Beach.