Featured Teachers
Jan Beyma (Wilmington, NC)
Jan has been teaching weaving baskets for over 30 years. She has taught at NCBA, GBA, Guilders Weave, KBA, Bluegrass, MBG, Odyssey, Oklahoma, Stateline, Stowe and TBA conventions, seminars and for her local Port City Guild. She loves to stimulate the interest of basket weaving and sharing tips with others while also learning new tips from her students. She considers herself a non-traditional Nantucket weaver as she finds common things to use as molds for classes and usually incorporates a twill weave into the baskets. Her talented husband makes all the wood parts for her creations.
Classes: TH-4-17, FR-8-26, SA-6-41, SU-4-62
Sheree Bingheim (Millstadt, IL)
Sheree's passion for basket making began in 1985 when she took a class through an adult education program in MI. She has been teaching students for 8 years now at events including 2017 MBG Convention, 2019 Land of Lincoln Spring Fling, 2020 Basket Art Guild (Decatur, IL), The Bead Place, (Fairview Heights, IL) and currently at Artisans Off Main (Belleville, IL). She has been a MBG member for 28 yrs. While not yet retired, she can only dream of full time basketry. Her other interests include fiber art and jewelry design. She lives in Southern IL with her husband, cats, chickens and peacocks!
Classes: TH-FR-10-1, SA-3-33, SA-4-34, SU-4-52
Jeanne Dudley (Independence, IA)
Jeanne is a retired High School Visual Arts teacher---teaching 33 years. She has her MA in Fiber Arts and Art Education. She has been a basket weaver since 1985 and designs most of her own patterns. Several of Jeanne's basket weaving skills are incorporated into the making of her hand tied Brooms. She has been tying brooms for 18 years. Jeanne has taught basket weaving and broom making in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. She has a weaving studio in her home where she gives classes. Jeanne is a member of many local and national Weaving Guilds.
Classes: FR-6-28, SA-6-38
Debbie Hurd (Garfield, AR)
Debbie began weaving over 35 years ago at a community education program in Arkansas. She retired from teaching first grade Reading and is now actively designing new baskets, traveling, and just having fun weaving! She has taught in many states for conventions, seminars, small groups and guilds. She also taught on many of the Basket Weaving Cruises.
Classes: TH-4-13, FR-7-24, SA-6-47
Gina Kieft (Rothbury, MI)
Gina began weaving baskets at her local Community Ed classes. She loved it from the start! She has been teaching for over 25 years, written over 200 patterns, had works published in two magazines and has won several awards. The opportunity to teach her love of basketry is a great thrill! Trying new mediums and new techniques is something Gina enjoys; however, twill is her favorite! Gina is also now a “colorful girl” selling dyed reed all over the country. You will find her quality dyed reed and other weaving material on her web site – http://www.ginasbaskets.com
Classes: TH-FR-12-2, SA-8-36, SU-4-59
Julie Kleinrath (Grand Junction, CO)
Julie has been weaving since 1990 and teaching since 1993. Julie's baskets have been exhibited in galleries and have won several awards. She has taught at conventions and for private groups in over 35 states. She is currently working out of her studio located in Grand Junction, CO. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing the joy on her student’s faces when they finish their first basket.
Classes: TH-4-16, FR-6-22, SU-4-53
Karen Kotecki (Dousman, WI)
Karen's new license plate holder says it all - "Weaving For The Love of It". Weaving almost 25 years has not dimmed her love and enthusiasm for all things baskets. Now retired, Karen can spend even more time with her passions, and designing and teaching basketry.
Classes: TH-4-4, FR-8-20, SA-8-35, SU-4-65
Annetta Kraayeveld (Helena, MT)
It’s hard for Annetta to remember a time when she was not making something - she is a maker. In the early 1990’s, she discovered basket weaving after stumbling upon a book and begging a lesson; she quickly began making baskets, experimenting and teaching basketry. What started as a hobby soon became her life’s work. As a teacher, Annetta focuses on mastery, basketry techniques and stretching perceived limits. As a maker, her work is somewhere between traditional and contemporary. Annetta has served on the board of the National Basketry Organization (NBO) and is Immediate Past President.
Classes: TH-4-7, FR-8-29, SA-8-45, SU-4-55
Bev Larson (Lafayette, IN)
Bev has been weaving since 1988 and teaching since 1999. She loves to share the joy of basket weaving with those around her and has done so by teaching in Indiana, Illinois, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, and the Caribbean on the Basket Weaving Cruises. Making basket weaving fun, relaxing, and inspiring is Bev's goal. In 2009 she added broom making as an offshoot of weaving and it too is now a passion. In 2016 Bev received the honor of being named an Indian Artisan by the State of Indiana for both broom making and basket weaving.
Classes: TH-4-14, FR-8-18, SA-8-37
Nancy Matthews (Clarksville, TN)
A professional educator for 40 years, Nancy loves to teach. Her sister taught her to weave, but she was not hooked until she made her first rib basket. Her mission is to develop and teach techniques that simplify rib basket construction and result in a more enjoyable weaving process. She enjoys weaving all types of rib baskets and designing new variations. For her, the best part is watching students learn new techniques and create their own unique baskets.
Classes: TH-4-8, FR-8-25, SU-4-60
Mary and Jimmie Earl McKinzie (Washington, IL)
Mary’s love of baskets led her to weaving classes, soon involving Jimmie Earl. Now weaving together for over 25 years, both are juried members of the Illinois Artisans Association. Mary is Past-President of LLBWA in Illinois. Students are surprised to discover that Mary and Jimmie Earl both teach, but quickly appreciate the extra instruction this unique teaching duo provides. They enjoy designing, weaving and teaching basketry at home, at guilds and conventions in IL, MO, IN, OH, KY, TN, OK, KS, NC and FL, and on the Basket Cruise.
Classes: TH-4-11, FR-8-19, SA-8-49, SU-4-57
Barb McNally (Indianapolis, IN)
Barb's beading obsession began in junior high with a purchase of some beads from the local Ben Franklin store. She started stringing love beads but moved on to bead weaving. The beading took a back seat to basket weaving but came back with a vengeance. Barb's work room now overflows with reed, handles, Delica beads and too many beading books.
Classes: SA-6-40, SU-4-54
Pam Milat (Southport, NC)
Pam, a MO native transplanted to NC, has been designing and weaving baskets for 20 years. She teaches a variety of techniques with designs from utilitarian to artistic that encompass texture and her own vibrant colors. Pam belongs to several basket organizations and teaches baskets at conventions/events both locally and nationally. She loves catheads, twills, ribs, & all baskets with Gretchens!
Classes: TH-4-5, FR-8-23, SA-6-42
Marilyn Parr (Stanton, MI)
Marilyn started weaving over 40 years ago, making her first basket at a Community Education class. About 10 years ago, some basket weaving friends suggested she try her hand at teaching. They invited her to their guild to teach and that is how her love for designing began! Marilyn also works with a couple of Amish gentlemen that help put her ideas into reality. Marilyn has traveled and taught in many states and on the 2020 & 2024 Basket Weaving cruises. The friendships that have been made are a blessing and she wishes she had started this journey earlier in life.
Classes: TH-4-3, FR-8-32, SA-8-46, SU-4-61
Cindy Pauchey (Walters, OK)
Cindy has been weaving baskets since 1984 when she owned a quilt/cross stitch shop. While ordering fabric for the shop she noticed a “Weave your own basket” book. Well, she was hooked! Since then she taught art for Lawton public schools for 28 years, continuing to weave and teach classes from her home. After retiring Cindy has had the joy of teaching at basket weaving conferences in Texas, Michigan, and Missouri. Not a better retirement job anywhere! Recently she's been honing her basket skills, learning new ways to connect teaching skills with students.
Classes: TH-4-6, FR-8-31, SA-8-48, SU-4-56
Mary Price (Mesa, AZ)
“The Wanderlust Weaver” of Sunset Ridge Basketry! Mary is a full-time traveling basket weaving instructor. Her love for basket weaving began in 1996 when her sister taught her a market basket. Within that first year of weaving, she started her business, sold her baskets at many Chicago area craft shows, and started teaching others from her home-based studio in Woodstock, IL. Designing baskets and teaching is her passion, offering practical, functional, colorful reed baskets. You can find her basket kits & patterns on her website www.SunsetRidgeBasketry.com.
Classes: TH-4-9, FR-6-27, SA-8-44, SU-2-51
Bonnie Rideout (Decatur, IL)
Bonnie wove her first basket in 1994 and quickly caught the “basket bug”. In 2006 she created her business, “Bonnie’s Baskets”, teaching others how to weave. Shortly after that she began designing her own baskets, which she absolutely loves to do! In addition to teaching locally, Bonnie loves to travel to teach. Outside of her home state of Illinois, her travels have led her to 17 other states and she looks forward to adding a few more to that list! Bonnie's website is www.bonniesbasketsil.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy.
Classes: TH-4-10, FR-8-21, SA-6-43, SU-4-58
Lorelea Roberts (Louisville, KY)
Lorelea Roberts, a basket weaving expert from Louisville, Kentucky, has a 30-year journey that began in Vermont. Her craft extends beyond traditional baskets, using diverse techniques and materials. She's taught in several states and served as President of the Kentucky Basket Association. Lorelea is passionate about meeting fellow enthusiasts and sharing her weaving artistry. Join her for an inspiring mix of tradition and innovation in basket weaving.
Classes: TH-4-15, FR-8-30, SA-8-39, SU-4-64
Edie Romvari (St. Louis, MO)
Edie loves weaving baskets and started weaving with reed about 12 years ago. She has taught several weaving classes in the St. Louis area. Edie's dream was to weave with willow and has had several opportunities to attend willow weaving workshops, both nationally as well as internationally. While she does not claim to be an expert, she is rather curious and wants to explore the many uses of willow weaving.
Classes: SA-6-50, SU-4-63
Cathy Sylvester (Independence, MO)
Cathy Sylvester is a retired middle school teacher and has been weaving, designing, and teaching basket classes for over 30 years. Cathy has taught at previous MBG Conventions, Oklahoma and Iowa events, among a variety of other venues. She teaches basket classes, designs and creates patterns, and sells patterns and embellishments from her Tanglewood Baskets studio in Independence, MO. Cathy especially loves combining hardwoods into her basket projects. Her husband, Rob, hand mills wood from their property and makes hardwood bases, handles, and accessories for her basket projects.
Class: TH-4-12