Ponderosa Pine Basket Weaving Workshop with Wenatchee River Institute and Christi Lewis

Ponderosa Pine are one of the most iconic trees in the Wenatchee Valley. Grasp the art of basket weaving with pine needles from local weaver Christi Lewis. The course offers a fabulous 1 : 7 teacher to student ratio! Learn to create a basket of home-baked, glycerin and dyed ponderosa pine needles with a unique and beautiful ammonite fossil base (shown in image above). Each course participant will take home a finished basket. Beads as well as natural materials from the forest will be also included to embellish your craft! "My grandmother, an artist in her own right, encouraged my love of nature and art at every opportunity. We were forever exploring the Lake Wenatchee forests and beaches for rocks, moss, sticks -anything that could be converted into a pinecone bird, a mobile, wall hanging, or simply enjoyed as nature’s art," reminisces Christi. It wasn't until Christi and her husband Doug retired from teaching and moved to Lake Wenatchee with their dog Scooter, that she mastered pine needle basket artistry after seeking instruction on the internet, scouring numerous books, and with a great deal of practice. Christi now finds joy in sharing her basket weaving artistry and skill with others. Course cost: $75 WRI-Member, $85 Non-Member, with lunch included from Leavenworth's Dan's Food Market