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Baskets created from honeysuckle, willow at KAC

September 15, 2008

BEREA - On Saturday, Janet Northern of Mount Vernon will create baskets using honeysuckle vines and willow bark from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

Northern has been making baskets for 13 years and is primarily self-taught.

She utilizes wood and natural vines she finds and gathers in the region surrounding her Rockcastle County farm to create her baskets.

The eastern Kentucky woodlands give her inspiration as well as material from which to work.

To prepare the honeysuckle vines, Northern boils them for 30 minutes and then strips off the outer bark to reveal the honey-colored, pliable surface of the vine.

When the vines are freshly cut they are pliable, but over time they dry out and need to be soaked in water to re-soften them.

Her smaller baskets often are made with reed and driftwood.

Starting with an interesting piece of wood, Northern begins to design her asymmetrical one-of-a-kind basket forms, often creating multiple openings.

She soaks the honeysuckle vines in water, attaches them to the piece of wood chosen, and begins to weave her forms into asymmetrical shapes.

Northern also creates baskets from the inner bark of willow trees. These usually are started with a criss-cross pattern and a square bottom.

She tapers the willow bark into varying widths depending on the size and function of each basket.

The bark is kept supple by soaking it in water before weaving.

Works by Northern can regularly be found at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, 975 Walnut Meadow Road, just off Interstate 75 at exit 77.

The center's exhibits, shopping and travel information areas all are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the caf from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from more 100 counties from all across the commonwealth.

For more information call (859) 985-5448 or visit the center's Web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov.

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