| Dot has been weaving baskets for the last 17 years. She began weaving by taking an adult education class at a local school. Since that time, she hasn’t stopped weaving. In 2002, she started “Baskets by Dot” as a way to share her love of baskets and to make room in her house! All of her baskets are hand woven with reed made from rattan vines. The vines are cut into different size reeds much like trees are cut into different sized boards. Dot then cuts the reed into lengths for spokes. Smaller sized reeds are used for the weavers. All reed is soaked and worked with when wet to keep it from cracking and breaking. Most of the wooden bases that are used are made from pine boards produced here in Maine. Dot incorporates clay bases and handles into some baskets. These clay items are made by a local Maine artist. Some baskets have curls or weavers that are made from maple strips. When finished, the baskets are given a “hair cut” to trim off most fine hairs.
When not weaving, Dot is a full time special education teacher at the high school level. |
