Basket-Weaving Class at the Belly-Dancing Center
Posted by Avital Pinnick on October 23, 2009
Earlier this week, my Russian office-mate Masha asked me if I would come with her to a basket-weaving course at Arabesque, the center where she studied belly-dancing for several years. It is located on the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University. I’ve always wanted to learn how to make baskets, so I jumped at the chance. Our first meeting was last night.
Eight of us showed up. The teacher, Nuni Yavnai, is an Israeli woman who learned how to make baskets in Asheville, NC, at Earth Guild. By the way, if you want to get in touch with her to set up a basket-weaving workshop or whatever, she has given me permission to post her contact details here. Her email is nuni9999@gmail.com and her cellphone number is 050-9112434. I also found a site (in Hebrew) about a workshop she offered in Pardes Hannah.
Nuni shows Shira how to weave in the “chasing” technique with two reeds around an even number of spokes.
We soaked 1/2″ flat reeds, pinned them to the table, and began the base with narrow round reeds. This is the half-completed base of my basket.
One thing that struck me was how everyone’s baskets seemed to match their clothing! I think this woman’s name is Tamar but I’m not sure. I just liked this photo.
My basket on the left, Masha’s on the right, just before we learned how to put on the finishing edge.
Baskets make interestng hats. Masha took this shot of me wearing the base.
Masha modeling her basket in the car.
Here is my finished basket. I’m so proud of it!
Ann said
Your basket is beautiful! I would love to learn how to make one and must look for a course to take. I’m so impressed that beginners can make a complete basket in an evening.
apinnick said
I was surprised, too! I thought we’d come home with a tiny, misshapen candy dish or whatnot. Everyone made beautiful baskets. The teacher dyes the reeds herself, so there were lots of beautiful colours to choose from. She deliberately didn’t bring in a basket made from the instructions she gave us because she said that when she did, all her students ended up making identical baskets. This was much more fun, creating our own shapes.
Ann said
What a wise teacher she is! Each basket looks great and I love how they’re not identical. Such pretty colors too.
Devra said
Hey Avital! This is a great post, I love the photos and the descriptions. It’s almost as good as hearing about it in the van, plus getting to see the photos adds so much. It looks like it was a fun evening. Masha’s photo of you is EXCELLENT. You look great.
See you Thursday, or not. 😉
apinnick said
I’ll tell Masha that she can be my official photographer!
pam said
How great you shared the image of you in your basket hat! I love it!
And your first basket is lovely – like the shape very much.