Springtime in Vermont!

I am back home, after almost six weeks of traveling. The daffodils are in bloom, and it is great to be back.

So many wonderful memories - the people, the places, the people....

Here is one of my favorite photos from the trip, taken at the Basket Gathering by Andrew Dilley.

I am already looking forward to my next trip!

Our Surface and Shape Class at Contextart

A class of experimenting, sharing, and lots of fun!!

Glenese Keavney

Sue Spigel, our token Kiwi

Olivia Hutchinson

Lissa-Jane De Sailles

Jillian Culey - her studio and her baskets

.... in process.....

Our Cathead Basket class at Contextart, in the Blue Mountains

and Fiona, who had to leave before the class photo!

The Blue Mountains in NSW

Sublime Point - with Ariel, Janet De Boer, Jude Skeers, and Pippa

The Three Sisters

A lovely day with Doris Gordon in Sydney

Our driver was very happy to welcome us aboard the Red Explorer bus!

Queen Victoria Building

A wonderful dinner of dark chocolate and espresso!

Really?? In Sydney??

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Manjabu (fish trap) 1985 - 1987, by Anchor Kalunba. Made of burney vine and hand spun bark fibre string.

Detail - untitled by George Tjungurrayi from Kiwirrkura, Western Australia. Synthetic polymer paint on canvas.

Craft NSW

You just never know who you will find. I strolled into Craft NSW in the Rocks in Sydney, expecting to see Jude Skeer's knitting, and there was Jude himself!

Sydney!!

In and around Royal Park, Melbourne

Peppercorn tree, with Anne Newton's house in the background

never too many gum nuts

Lorraine Connelly-Northey

"Narrbong" at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

"Lorraine Connelly-Northey is a Waradgerie (Wiradjurie) artist from Swan Hill, who uses found objects - industrial, agricultural or organic - to create objects and installations related to the history and culture of her Waradgerie people and her own connection to the land, such as the narrbong, or string bag."

The Farm at Blackwood, VIC

Anne Newton has welcomed us to The Farm with open arms

Anne and her new adopted daughter Jillian Culey

Tim Johnson and his bits and pieces

The Basket Gathering at Bacchus Marsh

It is hard to put into words just how wonderful it was to be a part of this gathering. About 10 makers from other countries, 140 wonderful Australian basketmakers. There was sharing, laughter, wine, making, chatting, eating....... Days of just enjoying each other, the materials, learning new techniques and tricks, meeting people, catching up with old friends.

Just a few photos to give an idea of how very wonderful it was.....

Dragonfly by Di Pearce

Exchanging baskets with Lee Cole

Gum tree bark

part of the installation by Tim Johnson

with Ann McMahon

Marion Matthews and her first large basket

with Anna Lizotte

a woven leaf - part of Tim's community installation

a "proper" tea in Daylesford

I had to travel to Australia to room with Polly Jacobs Giacchina (from San Diego). It was worth it!!

Marion Gaemers and Robin Levey

with Therese Flynn-Clarke, aka "Media Tart"