Tags
Basketry, chair caning, seat weaving, Stable Homelife, The End of Era, The Start of a New One, time to move forward
Have you ever been faced with insurmountable odds? You tried as hard a s you could to make things work in the face of adversity?
Many years ago God Blessed me with the ability to weave baskets that I learned from a dream, later came chair caning, for years I made and sold baskets at a local farmers market and local art galleries.
I felt truly blessed by God and what purpose He had in mind by giving me this ability, however like all of us, we have up and down times in our lives, we try to make it on our own but in the end we must ask God what he wants for us in life.
Hardships befell me in 2006, however I persevered with the baskets, it was one of the only things that kept me from falling into deep depression. I knew that God gave me this gift for a reason, and once again I persevered.
Over the past two years it has been nothing short or an ongoing struggle to keep the basketry and chair caning / seat weaving alive, with limited resources, very little assistance financially to make a go of it, and to keep it going, I was just about to give up. Then a studio space came along, a ray of bright golden sunshine amidst to dark and despairing gloom. Perseverance once again took hold and I persevered, however unfortunately due to the trials of 2006, I was unable to supply my studio with needed supplies
Being a person that likes to be self sufficient, and a home body at that, with strong Mennonite values of home life and drive for life, this stable home life left and in hopes the studio would be a way to take me back to a stable home life, alas it has not, now face with the past 1 3/4 years of living a very bohemian and nomadic lifestyle I have been overwhelmed with the desire to return to a stable and centered home life.
While the bohemian and nomadic lifestyle may be just right for many people out there. I am drawn back to that stable lifestyle. Apparently you cannot have a stable home life, and do your art work at the same time, I have prayed about it and it seems that in order to have the stable home life I must sacrifice the baskets and chair work and use my studio rent money to help find that stable life once again.
Through prayer over this matter I again have been blest to go to smaller forms of art that do not take up the space as for basketry and chair caning / seat weaving, I often wondered why it was that I would lean to do these things years ago, when I had the basketry, now I know I was being prepared for the day like this when I have to make a choice between a stable home life and God’s Gift to me
So in essence I am saying that when my lease is up in my Afton Studio, I will give up what I have been given, and work at art forms that can be done in a home like setting not requiring the space needed for the baskets and chairs. I will be persuing, photography, work in precious metal clay. It is time to move on, and start the year 2014 out on a better note of less struggling and hopefully a better more stable living situation. Once again I can return to canning, freezing, dehydrating as well. Several friends are now helping me look for a mobile home, and I am hoping to once again have a settled and routine oriented life.
There is work in the studio I will be finishing up over the next couple of months, before moving on.
Thank you to everyone, customers, friends and all of the wonderful people I have met and learned to know over the past 20+ years, in basketry, seat weaving and hand caning.
I will continue with my blog and a new website to showcase my new art work, as well as Mennonite and Amish cooking and recipes, gardening if I am fortunate enough to find a home when I can once again do these things.
Life is Ever Changing and it must be my time to change.
Heritage Basket Studio 
Wishing you all the best “Pest”…..I hope and pray that you find what you need.
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Hi Anna, so long since we have talked.
Yesterday I went to the studio, and it was so emotionally draining, just looking at what I have done over the years, knowing once all is gone 25 years of experience will vanish forever.
However I will have photography and precious metal clay, bead work and glass fusing to replace it all. I really wondered over the years why I was learning to do these things when I had enough on my plate from Basketry and Seat Weaving, however GOD DOES MOVE IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS! He knew years ago I would need these skills at this precise time. Which has made saying good by to basketry/seat weaving easier (not emotionless) but easier.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment Anna, you are a dear friend!
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No matter what, Mitchell, you have left your mark with your basketry. I am sure there are many people who are enjoying what you have made them. Now you are moving on to a different expression of your art. I do miss talking with you, hopefully we can more often.
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Thanks for the nice comment Anna,
You know several people have commented on where did the photography come from? Well you know wealthy artists can afford to have their work professionally photographed (Iam am very far from wealthy) so the fact is that I was going to have to teach myself to be at least a semi professional photographer to photograph my own baskets and art work to submit to juries, so this is just a natural progression of that process) though now without the baskets, more the photography on its own and for the precious metal clay jewelry. God does move in Mysterious Ways!
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Those types of decisions are so hard, but once made can give so much relief. Here is to hoping that the next cycle blesses you with peace and calm.
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Hi Shelly, thanks so much for your supportive comment, it really helps during tough times like these. Am I saddened it must happen? YES, however a stable home and independent home life is much more important tome me, than what I have experienced. I go forward looking at it as a new chapter in my life,
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Oh dear Mitchell, I am sorry to see you leave the basketry and chair caning, but certainly understand. There comes a time when you have to make decisions about closing a door and opening the window to something else on the horizon. Now that you’ve made the decision, I’m sure the weight has been taken off your shoulders and now it’s just a matter of time, to clear out and move on. Wishing you all the best my friend as always.
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Wow you must have been sitting on the computer Cathryn I just hit send. LOL
Indeed a weight has been lifted from me, I am so ready to leave behind this wild ride of Smoke and Mirrors, grandiose talk, with no substance, and the illusions of grandeur presented to me over the past two years, that never comes to fruition. Hard to believe there are those out there like that.
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