Billy Owens—Jenkins, MO

Billy is a second generation White Oak basket maker. His dad, Dale Owens, was of course the founder. He now has a third, and even a fourth, generation that are able to help weave baskets. They have had their White Oak basket business, “Owens Oak Baskets”, for almost 30 years in Southern Missouri. All the material used in their baskets is made from White Oak timber grown in the Ozarks, which he personally selects, cuts and then “Hand Splits” with a homemade hand tool made by his dad — called a "Split Knife". Billy has taught at conventions and workshops in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont. In his classes, he enjoys sharing with folks everything concerning "White Oak", from selecting the right tree to how he prepares the weaving material. It is his goal that first and foremost the people in his class have an enjoyable time—as well as leave with a finished White Oak basket that they will enjoy and will last them a life time.

Candace Katz—Springdale, AR

Candace has been weaving for 18 years and teaching for 12 years. Her designs include wood bases woven with reed, maple and cane. She has taught at the Missouri Basket Guild, Land of Lincoln Basket Weavers Association (Camp Tuck), Kentucky Basket Association, North Carolina Basket Association, Stateline, Oklahoma and Kansas weekend weaves. Candace is co-owner with Debbie Hurd in Bases to Weave, a supplier of wood base products for basket weaving. She enjoys meeting new people, visiting with old friends, and sharing tips and tricks. For her, the journey is all about the love of the weave.

Debbie Hurd—Garfield, AR

Debbie began weaving about 28 years ago at a community education program in Arkansas. She happily retired from teaching and is now active designing new baskets, traveling, and working with her local guild. She has taught in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Alabama, and Nebraska at conventions, guilds and small groups. She also taught on the Basket Weaving Cruise in 2010 and 2012. She and Candace Katz co-own the business, Bases to Weave.

Eric Taylor—McMinnville, TN

Eric Taylor is an award-winning professional black ash basket maker, woodworker and trusted teacher. He has been weaving full-time since 1983, when he apprenticed at his father’s basket shop in New Hampshire, learning under two master basket makers. He designs and creates all his baskets, including processing his own materials, drawing original patterns, dyeing wood and making the molds. Every basket is a unique marriage of contemporary woodworking techniques, materials and classic textures. He is currently known for his unique and functional ‘Cottage’ design baskets.

Eric has taught at the Michigan and North Carolina conventions for 16 years in addition to many other conferences around the country. Eric recently moved from New Hampshire and now lives and works in middle Tennessee with his wife, Lynne, and their dog, Chance.

Flo Hoppe—Rome, NY

Flo Hoppe is a full-time studio artist, teacher and author. She began her career in 1971 teaching herself basketmaking from a small booklet published in 1924. Her emphasis is on wicker basketry and Japanese basketry. She lived in Japan from 1968—1971, and on a return trip to Japan in 1994 studied with two master basketmakers. Her published books are entitled “Wicker Basketry” and “Contemporary Wicker Basketry.” She has also co-authored “Plaiting with Birch Bark” with Vladimir Yarish and Jim Widess. She teaches and exhibits worldwide, with teaching venues in England, Canada, Japan, Russia, and Australia.

Mary and Jimmie Earl McKinzie—Washington, IL

Mary’s love of baskets led to her first basket class, offered by her local park district. She soon began weaving at home and getting Jimmie Earl involved. They have been weaving baskets together for over 18 years. Mary is past President of LLBWA, of which both are still active members. They are members of several other guilds and have participated in countless weaving conventions throughout the country, learning a large spectrum of weaving techniques and disciplines. Mary and Jimmie Earl are both juried members of the Illinois Artisans Association and have their work on display and for sale at the Illinois Artisans Center at Rend Lake. In March 2012 the couple started to teach their own designs at monthly weaving classes in the Peoria area. Most of the students were new to basketry, so having two teachers was really helpful. Weaving basics were emphasized and new techniques were introduced during each subsequent class. They now offer basket classes for both beginners and more advanced weavers. This teaching duo retired from their “day jobs” in 2012 and are living their dream of spending more time together, weaving and teaching basketry.