Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The program for our Basket Guild meeting tonight was learning the Karuk way of making beads with beargrass. The Karuk is a tribe in Northern California, and use the beads for ceremonial purposes. We are privileged to be allowed to learn this ancient technique!
It wasn't easy, though, and everyone was glad to have help from their neighbor!
We had a large turn-out in our new meeting place, which is nice and roomy, has a great kitchen, AND has cushioned chairs. Nice!

5 comments:

Carol said...

I always enjoy the basketry when you share it.
I have worked with a little bear grass, but this looks different to me. What do you know about it?
Did you trim the edges? The bear grass I have has very sharp edges and will cut your fingers. When I have used it I have resorted to running a knife up and down the edges to smooth them a bit.

Louie said...

Thanks, Carol! I don't know how to reply to your comments other than leaving a comment of my own - I hope you find it!

I don't know much about beargrass - Jan Smith taught the class, and said she had bought most of what she has, although she has harvested some in the past. She uses a green kitchen scrubbie and pulls the grass stalk through it to remove the sharp edges. Sometimes they use a knife to remove some of the spine, too, if it is very thick. It has such a beautiful sheen! Good luck with your weaving!

Carol said...

I was surprised to see the color as I thought what was harvested was the center stalks that are mostly white in color.
I am going to have to give this a try. I had not thought of a kitchen scrubby but I can see how that would work. I know i only harvest with leather gloves on. I have been cut before when harvesting and it isn't nice!
Are the pieces trimmed at all to make them consistent in width from one end of the stalk to the other? When you harvest it is tapered, just like any leaf larger at one end than the other.(I am assuming this is the same bear grass)

I knew i would have to check back here to get your message-Thank you for responding.

Louie said...

Hi, Carol,
It is probably the same beargrass - yes, it's tapered, and the color is obtained by dyeing. (any basketry dye, or RIT) The stalks are not trimmed - it doesn't show in my photo very well, but the beads are tapered, too. When you begin the bead, you start with the butt end and work toward the tip, so it gets narrower as you go.

Louie said...

Oh, I just went back and looked at my photo - that bead isn't dyed - it is actually pretty white, it's natural color - the photo makes it look yellowish, I guess!