JoAnn Kelly Catsos 2013 BLACK ASH BASKETMAKER & TEACHER catalog BLACK ASH SPLINT BASKETRY KITS Thank you for your interest in my black ash splint basketry kits. This truly is a family business: I design and weave the baskets and write the patterns. My husband, Steve, and our son Chris pound and process the black ash splint. We also make the wooden molds and other basket parts in our woodworking shop. We hope that you enjoy our quality kits. Each basket kit contains the pattern and all the black ash weavers, rims, and handles required to make the basket. The mold is not included in the kit, but please note: most molds are used to create several different baskets. I travel to teach these and other original designs. If you are interested in hosting a black ash splint basketry class, please contact me. Basketmaking is fun; please share this catalog with a friend. Steve and JoAnn Catsos in their shop in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts. Photograph by David Wiechnicki Happy Weaving! CLOVERLEAF BOWL Cloverleaf Bowl Kit 4” Mushroom Mold Cloverleaf Bowl Pattern Stakes and Rims SPIRAL STAIRCASE $55 $30 $4 $12 This basket evolved from my love of the quadrafoil twill pattern found in fancy Shaker basket work. Woven of light colored sapwood, the contrast against the wide center cherry stakes and rims makes this an exquisite little bowl. It is a small version of the Elegance Bowl. The Cloverleaf Bowl measures 4 ¼” in diameter. Weaving Level: Intermediate/Advanced BERKSHIRE BACKPACK This charming basket was inspired by the spindles of a graceful, winding, wooden spiral staircase. It has a twilled base, darker stakes, and white weavers on the twilled sides, lashed maple rims and an unusual diagonal handle. Spiral staircase is woven on a wooden mold and measures 4 ¼” in diameter and 1 ¾” deep, without handle. Weaving Level: Intermediate Spiral Staircase Kit 4” Mushroom Mold Spiral Staircase Pattern Handle & Rims $55 $30 $4 $14 SMALL COUNTRY GATHERING BASKET This little pack basket is named after the Berkshire Mountains, near our home in Massachusetts. It is chase-woven of black ash splint over a puzzle mold that must be taken apart to be removed. Although small in size, it has all the features of a full size pack– lashed rims, an ash handle, a leather harness with buckle, and ash skeds on the base. Full sized black ash backpacks were originally used by trappers to carry their supplies through the woods. This pack measures 2 ¾” long, 2” wide, and 4” high, including handle. Weaving Level: Intermediate This addition to your basket collection features tapered ash spokes and ash weavers, woven over a wooden mold. Maple rims and handle complete this quaint country basket. It is 4 ½” in diameter and 4 ½” tall. Berkshire Backpack Kit Berkshire Pack Puzzle Mold Berkshire Backpack Pattern Handle and Rims Extra Leather Harness $65 $55 $4 $12 $12 Weaving Level: All Small Country Gathering Basket Kit 4” Mushroom Mold Small Country Gathering Basket Pattern Maple Handle and Rims TOMATO PINCUSHION BASKET BUTTON BASKET WITH QUADRAFOIL LID This low cathead basket is fitted with a classic red tomato pincushion that is filled with wool fleece and is perfect for a quilter. It uses basic black ash splint basketry techniques, such as forming the ‘cat ears’, chase weaving on a wooden mold and lashing a hardwood rim. The Tomato Pincushion basket measures 4 1/4” in diameter x 1 1/2” deep (3” with cushion) Inspired by my 9” diameter sewing basket with quadrafoil twill pattern, this small button basket has all of the classic features of the larger basket. The lid incorporates a quadrafoil twill pattern and the bottom is a classic cathead shape. Woven of black ash over two separate molds, this challenging basket is completed with hardwood rims. The Button Basket measures 4 ¼” in diameter. Weaving Level: Beginner/Intimediate Tomato Pincushion Kit 4” Cathead Mold Tomato Pincushion Basket Pattern Hardwood Rims Extra Red Tomato Pincushion $65 $45 $4 $8 $20 Weaving Level: Advanced DIAMOND BOWLS TWILLED ASH BOWL These charming twilled bowls are woven out of natural and stained black ash splint over a wooden mold. They feature a diamond design in the base, twilled sides, black waxed linen rim filler, and lashed hardwood rims. Pattern includes directions for two designs: Black Diamonds and Diamond Reflections. Each basket measures 4 ¼” in diameter and 1 ¾” deep. The base and sides of this bowl are woven in a 2/2 twill pattern with the darker brown stakes contrasting with the whiter weavers. Woven with ash over a 4” mushroom mold, this graceful bowl is completed with a sawtooth rim. The inner rim is hardwood and the outer rim is splint. The Twilled Ash Bowl is 4 ¼” in diameter and 2” deep. Weaving Level: Intermediate Diamond Bowls Kit 4” Mushroom Mold Diamond Bowls Pattern Hardwood Rims $55 $30 $4 $8 Weaving Level: Intermediate $50 $30 $4 $14 Button Basket Kit 4” Mushroom Mold (lid) 4” Cathead Mold (bottom) Button Basket Pattern Hardwood Rims $80 $30 $45 $5 $12 Twilled Ash Bowl Kit 4” Mushroom Mold Twilled Ash Bowl Pattern Twilled Ash Bowl Rims $50 $30 $4 $8 SMALL COUNTRY BREAD BASKET CHERUB This little basket was originally designed to introduce basketweavers to mold weaving with black ash. Simple, yet classic, it is chase-woven on the cathead mold and completed with ash handles and a hardwood rim. The Small Country Bread Basket measures 4” in diameter and 2” tall. Great for beginners! This precious little basket is based on the 6” Quadrafoil Lidded Cathead. Although much smaller than the original, this basket contains the same basic elements: a classic cathead bottom, quadrafoil twill design on the lid, and a “captured” lid. Hardwood rims and handle complete this basket which is woven of over two wooden molds and measures 4 ½” in diameter and 6 ½” tall. Weaving Level: All Weaving Level: Advanced Cherub Kit $100 4” Mushroom Mold (lid) $30 4” Cathead Mold (bottom) $45 Cherub Pattern $6 4” Hardwood Rims $14 Cathead Handle $8 Small Country Bread Basket Kit 4” Cathead Mold Small Country Bread Basket Pattern Ear Handles and Hardwood Rims $50 $45 $4 $16 SHAKER KITTENHEAD SHAKER PINCUSHION WITH SAWTOOTH RIM The Shaker Kittenhead is based on an antique Shaker basket and is a great introduction to black ash splint basketmaking. A bit of patience is suggested, due to the small size. The Shaker Kittenhead is 2 ¾” in diameter and 3” tall with handle. This basket was inspired by an antique Shaker pincushion at the Shaker Museum in Old Chatam, NY. It features a stylish sawtooth edge and is woven over a kittenhead mold. Furnished with a velour pincushion filled with fleece, this pincushion is made to be used and comes with a choice of blue, red, or green fabric. This basket is 2 ½” in diameter and 1 ¾” in depth (2 ½” tall with pincushion). Weaving Level: All Shaker Kittenhead Kit Kittenhead Mold Shaker Kittenhead Pattern Handle and Rims $40 $25 $4 $14 Weaving Level: All Shaker Pincushion Kit Kittenhead Mold Shaker Pincushion Pattern Fabric & Fleece Rims $40 $25 $4 $6 $8 QUADRAFOIL TUB CHUBBY CAT This chunky cathead is the smaller version of the 6 inch diameter Classic Cat. Basic black ash splint basketry techniques, such as forming the “cat ears”, chase weaving, notching a handle, and lashing a hardwood rim, are used. The Chubby Cat is a prime example of a Shaker basket and measures 4 ½” in diameter and 6 ½” tall with handle. Weaving Level: Beginning/Intermediate Chubby Cat Kit 4” Cathead Mold Chubby Cat Pattern 4” Hardwood Rim 4” Cathead Handle $55 $45 $4 $8 $8 This lovely basket is based on an antique Shaker quadrafoil tub basket thought to have been made at the Mount Lebanon Shaker Community in NY. The delicately woven quadrafoil twill pattern is the focal point of the basket’s bottom. Woven of finely prepared black ash splint over a wooden mold, the basket is completed with black ash side handles and lashed maple rims. This Quadrafoil Tub measures 6 ¼” in diameter and 2 ¾” deep, including handles. Weaving Level: Advanced Quadrafoil Tub 6” Tub Mold Quadrafoil Tub Pattern Maple Rims & Side Handles $105 $40 $6 $18 COUNTRY CATHEAD QUADRAFOIL LIDDED CATHEAD This rustic country basket is based upon an antique Shaker cathead basket. It utilizes heavy-weight country splint. The wide stakes and weavers make it a great introduction to black ash splint basketry. The Country Cathead is 6 ½” in diameter and 8 ½” tall with handle. Weaving Level: All Country Cathead Kit 6” Cathead Mold Country Cathead Pattern Rims and Hoop Handle $65 $60 $4 $20 Lidded Cathead Kit $120 6” Mushroom Mold (lid) $40 6” Cathead Mold (bottom) $60 Lidded Cathead Pattern $6 6” Hardwood Rims $16 6” Cathead Handle $10 SHORTY CAT Shorty Cat Kit 6” Cathead Mold Shorty Cat Pattern 6” Hardwood Rims $55 $60 $4 $10 This low version of a classic Shaker cathead basket is a great introduction to weaving with black ash over a wooden mold. Students will learn to chase-weave, form the classic “cat ears” and lash the hardwood rims to complete the basket. The Shorty Cat basket is 6” in diameter and 2 ½” deep. This basket was inspired by an antique Shaker basket found in the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA. Although small than the original, it contains the came classic design elements: the quadrafoil twill design and a captured lid. This cathead is woven of finely prepared black ash over two different molds and finished with hardwood rims. The Quadrafoil Lidded Cathead measures 6 ¼” in diameter and 8 ½” deep. Weaving Level: Advanced Weaving Level: All FRIENDSHIP BASKET VIBRATIONS This eye catching basket features stakes that are two different widths and is woven of black ash with three accent bands of elm bark. The maple rim is double lashed. This basket was originally designed as a thank you gift for friends that allowed us to harvest ash and elm trees from their property. This low cathead basket is similar to Shorty Cat: 6” in diameter and 2 ½” deep. Weaving Level: All The 1/1/2/2 twill and reserve twill pattern of Vibrations is striking due to the contrast of the stained brown stakes and white weavers. The basket is started on a mold, then removed and shaped by hand. The hardwood rims have a brown waxed linen rim filler and the basket is lashed with waxed linen. Weaving Level: Advanced Friendship Basket Kit 6” Cathead Mold Friendship Basket Pattern 6” Hardwood Rims $60 $60 $4 $10 Vibrations Kit 6” Cathead Mold Vibrations Pattern Hardwood Rims SHAKER MEMORIES SMALL SEWING BASKET WITH QUADRAFOIL LID This finely woven cathead is reminiscent of the baskets woven by the Shakers for sale to tourists, also referred as “The World’s People”. The twill design gently spirals up the side of the basket, which is 6 ½” in diameter and 8 ½” tall with the handle. Similar to the Button Basket, this small sewing basket with quadrafoil twill on the lid has all of the classic features of the small basket. Woven of finely prepared black ash over two molds, this beautiful basket is completed with hardwood rims. The Small Sewing Basket with Quadrafoil Lid measures 6 ¼” in diameter. Weaving Level: Intermediate Shaker Memories Kit 6” Cathead Mold Shaker Memories Pattern 6” Cathead Handle & Rims $70 $60 $4 $20 Weaving Level: Advanced Small Sewing Basket Kit 6” Mushroom Mold (lid) 6” Cathead Mold (bottom) Small Sewing Basket Pattern 6” Hardwood Rims $105 $60 $5 $10 $110 $40 $60 $6 $14 COUNTRY BREAD BASKET This country basket is inspired by traditional Shaker cathead baskets. It is made of heavy weight country splint and made to be used. This is a great introduction to black ash splint basketry. The Country Bread Basket is 6 ½” in diameter and 3” deep. CLASSIC CAT Country Bread Basket Kit 6” Cathead Mold Country Bread Basket Pattern Hardwood Rims $55 $60 $4 $10 The Classic Cat is a prime example of a Shaker basket, and a great introduction to black ash splint basketry. Basic black ash basketry techniques, such as forming the “cat ears”, chase-weaving, notching a handle, and lashing a rim, are used in making this basket. It is 6 ½” in diameter and 8 ½” tall with the handle. Weaving Level: All Classic Cat Kit 6” Cathead Mold Classic Cat Pattern Cathead Handle and Rims Weaving Level: All $65 $60 $4 $20 KNIFE BASKET LIDDED KNIFE BASKET This lovely basket is identical to the body of the Lidded Knife Basket. The maple handle and rims complete this basket that measures 8” long, 5” wide, and 3” deep. Weaving Level: All Knife Basket Kit 8” Knife Mold Knife Basket Pattern Maple Rims and Handle This beautiful basket is based on a Shaker basket woven at Mount Lebanon community. The basket is woven of precisely prepared black ash over a classic knife mold. The lid is woven in a modified quadrafoil twill pattern and completed with a sawtooth edge. Hardwood rims, handle and stretcher bar finish off this very challenging basket. The Lidded Knife Basket measures 8” long, 5” wide, and 3” deep (without handle). Lidded Knife Basket Kit Knife Mold Lidded Knife Basket Pattern Rims, Handle & Stretcher Bar $120 $60 $6 $26 DIAMOND TWILL BUREAU BASKET This newly designed basket is woven with precisely prepared black ash splint over a wooden mold. The stakes are brown from the heartwood, while the whiter weaves come from the sapwood. The twilled diamond pattern and lashed maple rims add a touch of class to this beautiful basket. The Diamond Twill Bureau Basket is 8” long, 5” wide, and 3” deep. Weaving Level: Advanced Weaving Level: Intermediate SMALL KNIFE BASKET Small Knife Basket Kit 4” Knife Mold Small Knife Basket Pattern Hardwood Handle & Rims $65 $60 $4 $22 Diamond Twill Bureau Basket Knife Mold Diamond Twill Bureau Pattern Maple Rims $65 $60 $4 $12 BUSINESS CARD BASKET $45 $40 $4 $16 This adorable basket is a half-scale version of an antique Shaker basket woven at the Mount Lebanon Community in NY. This basket is woven of black ash over a wooden mold, and topped with hardwood rims and handle. The Small Knife Basket measures 4” long, 2 ½” wide, and 1 ½” deep. Weaving Level: Intermediate This useful little basket is just the right size to display your business cards. Woven of black ash splint over the same mold as the Small Shaker Knife basket, this basket features hardwood rims that are double-lashed. The Business Card Basket measures 4” long, 2 ½” wide, and 1 ½” deep. Weaving Level: All Business Card Basket Kit 4” Knife Mold Business Card Basket Pattern Hardwood Rims $40 $40 $4 $8 DESIGN YOUR OWN TWILL BOWL The twill patterns on these bowls are striking due to the contrast between the stained stakes and the whiter black ash weavers, which come from the sapwood of the tree. These instructions will give you many possibilities for twill patterns, allowing you to design and weave your own twill bowl. The basket is 6” in diameter and about 3” deep. Weaving Level: Intermediate Twill Bowl Kit (stained stakes and rims) 6” Mushroom Mold Twill Bowl Pattern Rims $70 $40 $5 $12 SMALL ELEGANCE ELEGANCE Small Elegance is a smaller version of Elegance, inspired by the quadrafoil twill design found in antique Shaker baskets. This basket is truly elegant: woven of finely prepared black ash splint over a small mushroom mold and topped off with lashed maple rims. Elegance measures 6” in diameter and 2” deep. Inspired by the quadrafoil twill design found in antique Shaker baskets, this bowl is woven of finely prepared black ash splint over a wooden mushroom mold. The basket is completed with lashed maple rims (choice of natural or black stained stakes and rims). Elegance measures 9 ½” in diameter and 3” deep. Small Elegance measures 6” in diameter and 3” deep. Weaving Level: Intermediate/Advanced Weaving Level: Intermediate Small Elegance Kit 6” Mushroom Mold Pattern Maple Rims Elegance Kit (natural stakes & rims) $100 Ebony Elegance Kit (black stakes & rims) $110 9 ½” Mushroom Mold $50 Elegance & Ebony Elegance Pattern $5 Elegance Rims $14 Ebony Elegance Rims (stained) $16 $65 $40 $5 $8 SNOWFLAKE BOWL LIGHTNING BOWLT The lightening bolt pattern on this bowl is striking due to the contrast between the stained brown stakes and the lighter black ash weavers. The 6” Lightening Bowlt is 2” deep, and the 9 ½” Lightening Bowlt is 3” deep. Weaving Level: Intermediate I developed this snowflake, or 8 point twill, pattern from the quadrafoil twill found in Shaker baskets. The design is highlighted due to the darker heartwood stakes and the lighter sapwood weavers. Lashed hardwood rims complete this 9 ½” diameter, 3” deep treasure. Weaving Level: Advanced Snowflake Bowl Kit 9 ½” Mushroom Mold Snowflake Bowl Pattern 9 ½” Hardwood Rims $115 $50 $5 $14 6” Lightening Bowlt Kit 9 ½” Lightening Bowlt Kit 6” Mushroom Mold 9 ½” Mushroom Mold Lightening Bowlt Pattern (includes both baskets) 6” Hardwood Rims (stained) 9 ½” Hardwood Rims (stained) $70 $110 $40 $50 $5 $12 $16 SHAKER TRINKET TRAY This black ash basket was inspired by the Shaker Fancy Tray and is woven over the same mold. It is made with a lengthwise hardwood handle and with classic Shaker proportions. The corner uprights have been split to allow for a graceful curve. This basket measures 5” wide, 12” long, 2 ½” deep, and 5” tall (including handle). Weaving Level: Intermediate Shaker Trinket Tray Kit Shaker Fancy Tray Mold Shaker Trinket Tray Pattern Hardwood Rims Hardwood Handle CRACKER BASKET $90 $60 $4 $12 $12 SHAKER FANCY TRAY This basket is the reproduction of a rare antique Shaker basket in my private collection. The basket is constructed like the original, with the addition of delicate ear handles. This reproduction basket is 5” wide, 12” long, and 2” high. Cracker Basket Kit $80 Shaker Fancy Tray Mold $60 Cracker Basket Pattern $4 Cherry Rims $12 This useful black ash basket was inspired by the Shaker Fancy Tray. Moldwoven of finely prepared whiter sapwood weavers and brown heartwood stakes, the corner stakes have been split to allow for the graceful curve of the corners. Cherry rims are single lashed. It measures 5” wide, 12” long, and 2 ½” deep. Weaving Level: Intermediate Shaker Fancy Tray Kit Shaker Fancy Tray Mold Shaker Fancy Tray Pattern Rims and Ear Handles STEVE’S FISHING CREEL BERKSHIRE BRACELETS Inspired by my husband Steve, an avid fly fisherman, this small basket is a replica of a fly fishing creel. It is woven of black ash over a 5 piece pine puzzle mold, which must be taken apart to be removed. The fleece patch and hand-tied fly are extra. Steve’s Fishing Creel is 3” long, 2 ¼” wide, and 2 3/8” high. Made of black ash splint, these quick and easy cuff bracelets are woven on a metal bracelet blank that is adjustable to any size wrist. Several twill patterns are shown, but many are possible. These bracelets, named after the Berkshire Mountains in MA, are ½” wide. Weaving Level: Intermediate Steve’s Fishing Creel Kit (fleece & fly not included) Steve’s Fishing Creel Mold Steve’s Fishing Creel Pattern Fleece Patch and Hand-tied Fly Wooden Lid, Latch, & Leather Straps Steve’s Fishing Creel Rims $60 $50 $4 $5 $12 $8 TWILLED ASH CUFF BRACELET Weaving Level: All $85 $60 $4 $22 Weaving Level: Advanced Berkshire Bracelet Kit Berkshire Bracelet Pattern ½” Aluminum Bracelet Blank $15 $3 $1 CUFF BRACELET WITH BRAID Made of black ash, these cuff bracelets are woven on a metal bracelet blank that is adjustable to any wrist size. Many twill patterns are possible (material for only one is included in the kit). The Twilled Ash Cuff Bracelet is 1” wide and 6” long. Woven of natural and dyed black ash, these delicate looking cuff bracelets are woven over a metal bracelet blank that is adjustable to any wrist size. The Cuff Bracelet with Braid is ½” wide. Weaving Level: All Weaving Level: All Twilled Ash Cuff Bracelet Kit (choice of wine, blue, or green) Twilled Ash Cuff Bracelet Pattern 1” Aluminum Bracelet Blank $20 $3 $1 Cuff Bracelet with Braid Kit (choice of wine, blue, or green) Cuff Bracelet with Braid Pattern ½” Aluminum Bracelet Blank $15 $3 $1 METAL PUSH PINS WEAVING STAND & POST Weaving with black ash splint over a wooden mold is made easier with the use of a hardwood weaving stand and a metal post. This weaving stand has 5 holes for ease in adjusting the position and angle of your mold while weaving (all molds feature holes on the bottom to secure easily to a weaving post). Use your own clamp to secure the weaving stand to your table or bench. Hardwood Weaving Stand Metal Weaving Post $15 $5 These metal push pins are the best I have found to hold the basket to the mold in the preliminary steps of weaving. Package of 20 Metal Push Pins $5 ALLIGATOR CLIPS These 1” alligator clips are my prefered clips for securing stakes in the last steps before rimming a basket. Package of 20 Alligator Clips $6 “FISKARS” SOFT-GRIP SCISSORS These Fiskars brand soft-grip scissors feature a long blade and sharp cutting tips and have become my favorite tool for precision cutting. “Fiskars” Soft-grip Scissors $15 JoAnn Kelly Catsos BLACK ASH BASKETMAKER & TEACHER (left) Quadrafoil Sewing Basket with Tray, photographed by Jeff Baird. Black ash splint, maple rims. Quadrafoil twill pattern on basket body, inner tray, and lid. 10” diameter. I’m honored that this basket has been donated to the Smithsonian American Art Musum. It will be included in the exhibition The Cole-Ware Collection of American Baskets, from October 4, 2013 until January 12, 2014 at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC. JoAnn Kelly Catsos is an award-winning black ash splint basketmaker and teacher from Ashley Falls, MA. Influenced by traditional Shaker and New England splint basketry, JoAnn designs and weaves black ash baskets on molds made with help from her woodworker husband, Steve. She has been teaching basketry full time for 28 years. Her teaching venues include art and craft schools, fiber/ basketry conferences, local guilds and private groups across the country. She has won numerous awards, and her baskets are featured in a number of books and magazines, including 500 Baskets. In 1999 JoAnn was honored to have an ornament on the official White House Christmas Tree. She has also received her Certificate of Excellence in Basketmaking: level I from the Handweavers Guild of America, becoming one of the first two recipients in the country. In October of 2012 one of JoAnn’s baskets graced the cover of The Crafts Report magazine. JoAnn lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, Steve. They have three grown children. JoAnn Kelly Catsos 90 Polikoff Rd. Ashley Falls, MA 01222 (413)441-1969 joannkellycatsos@gmail.com www.joannkellycatsos.com CATALOG DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER CATSOS
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