Whether you like colors or naturals, this year’s Starved Rock weaving event has something for you.  

Margaret Harness, owner of Willowe’s Basketry, Greenfield, Ind., has created “Sunset at Starved Rock Tote” for this year’s project.  Two kits will be available and both options come with wooden tie-on with “Starved Rock, 2009 LLBWA”

Kit #1 has colors that are reminiscent of a sunset	Kit #2 is made from natural Reed

The basket is 12” long, 10” wide and 10” tall, not including the handles. The basket uses a 6 by 12” oval slotted base and has leather handles. It is woven with 5/8” flat, 11/64” flat oval, 3/8” flat dyed or natural, and seagrass. You can complete the project in over, under weaving or use a twill weave.  Don't forget the special tie on:

Margaret is offering several options for supplies:

A full kit with dyed reed is $35

A full kit with natural reed is $30

A partial kit with pattern, base, leather handles and the tie-on is $24

Individual components are: $3.50 for the pattern; $8.75 for the base; $11 for the leather handles; $3.75 for the tie-on.

Registration

Registration is due by April 15. A registration form is included in this newsletter. Besides the cost of the basket, there is a $30 registration fee that covers the cost of renting the facility (at Starved Rock State Park Lodge, Utica, IL), a continental-style breakfast and lunch.

Please note, there is no maximum number of registrants so all who register will get in. We will not be sending out confirmations.

The order of the day

The day will begin at 8 a.m. with check-in and a continental breakfast. Weaving will begin about 9 a.m. Lunch will be served in the Great Hall just outside our weaving room. Please be sure to make your lunch selection on the registration form. Lunch includes entrée or sandwich, salad, coffee or iced tea and dessert.  There will be a short membership meeting during lunch.

Shopping!

Margaret also will have a vending area at the event. You can visit her Web site at www.willowes.com to see her selection. She won’t have space to bring everything so if there is something you really want, you may pre-order it by contacting her at basketry@sbcglobal.net or by calling 1-800-230-3195. She will bring the items to Starved Rock, saving you shipping costs.

Show and Share Table

As always, there will be a show and share table so weavers can bring their latest creations for all to see.& 

Membership

You don’t have to be a member of /span> Land of Lincoln Basketweavers to come to this fun event but this might be a perfect time to join so you can receive our newsletters and learn about other LLBWA events throughout the year. Dues are $15 a year. A membership form is on the Web site at www.llbwa.com. Mail your form and a check made out to LLBWA to Marcia Hammerstrand, 16 Fountain Lake Court, Bloomington, IL.. 61704.

Questions?

If you have questions about the Starved Rock weave, please contact Mary Ann Ford at 309-663-4926 or by e-mail at maf823@comcast.net