"I am proud to be an artist designing and selling American crafts. My success is determined by the pride and originality of my products and the delight of customers."
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The Artist and Founder, Wanda Summers
I started weaving baskets 24 years ago, several months after the birth of my son, Eric. A friend invited me to attend Mother's Club at church for a basket weaving class. I found this activity to be so interesting and fun that I went to the library to study the history of this ancient craft. I learned that basket making is one of the oldest and most practical crafts still practiced today. It was fascinating to find that baskets were made to meet so many needs of day to day life. Indians were the true masters of this craft and still are. Unlike the Native Americans who cut yucca plants and split wood. I went to the store to buy my materials: reed, splint ash wood, dye, and stain.
I loved designing new patterns and developing new ideas for functional and decorative baskets. I did my first show 6 months later and sold out int he first hour. I knew this was it. God had shown me the talent he blessed me with and I've had a successful Business ever since. I also teach basket weaving classes and find them to be challenging and rewarding. I'm very proud of the rewards of my success. I love traveling all over to show and sell my baskets. I especially enjoy going to charming, quaint, historical towns that I otherwise would have never visited.
I hand dye all my colored reed and custom mix an oil base stain for my baskets. I have designed a woven star made from ash wood splints that has become my "signature" item and one that I am extremely proud of. I always add several new patterns to each show for my customers to add to their collections. I received many compliments on my work and have regular customers at many of the shows I do year after year. I also do special orders on request.