JoAnn Kelly Catsos

bio

JoAnn Kelly Catsos is a black ash splint basket weaver and teacher from Ashley Falls, Massachusetts. Her work is heavily influenced by Shaker basketry; she weaves miniature black ash baskets on molds made with help from her husband, Steve. She exhibits and teaches her original basketry designs at conferences and craft schools across the country, and she has won the Viewer's Choice award at many state conventions, as well as having her baskets featured in a number of books, including Splintwoven Basketry by Robin Taylor Daugherty and the recent publication of 500 Baskets.

In 1999 she was honored to have an ornament on the official White House Christmas Tree. She also recently received her Certificate of Excellence Level I in Basketmaking from the Handweavers Guild of America, becoming one of the first two recipients in the country.

JoAnn and her husband also own and run Berkshire Splint, a black ash splint company. On top of preparing all of the materials used in JoAnn's baskets, they also supply companies and basketmakers around the country. They harvest the black ash logs near their home in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, process the logs into strips of splint, and make the wooden molds, handles, and rims needed for each basket. The materials that they prepare are also used for the many classes that JoAnn teaches at craft schools and basketry conferences throughout the country.

JoAnn enjoys teaching, but always looks forward to time spent weaving her own special baskets. Twenty years ago, her baskets were based on traditional Shaker and native New England utilitarian styles. The clean lines have remained, but her baskets have evolved into smaller, more finely woven, intricately patterned vessels. To obtain the symmetry that she desires, each of her baskets is woven over a wooden mold that is removed once the weaving is completed.

Weaving high quality miniatures with splint 1 /64 of an inch wide is definitely a challenge, and incredibly rewarding. JoAnn's goal is to maintain the highest quality of craftsmanship possible in both her miniature and other black ash splint baskets.

JoAnn lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband Steve and their three children.



	JoAnn Kelly Catsos BLACK ASH BASKETMAKER & TEACHER


	BIO	SCHEDULE	GALLERY	CATALOG	LINKS


	bio JoAnn Kelly Catsos is a black ash splint basket weaver and teacher from Ashley Falls, Massachusetts. Her work is heavily influenced by Shaker basketry; she weaves miniature black ash baskets on molds made with help from her husband, Steve. She exhibits and teaches her original basketry designs at conferences and craft schools across the country, and she has won the Viewer's Choice award at many state conventions, as well as having her baskets featured in a number of books, including Splintwoven Basketry by Robin Taylor Daugherty and the recent publication of 500 Baskets. In 1999 she was honored to have an ornament on the official White House Christmas Tree. She also recently received her Certificate of Excellence Level I in Basketmaking from the Handweavers Guild of America, becoming one of the first two recipients in the country. JoAnn and her husband also own and run Berkshire Splint, a black ash splint company. On top of preparing all of the materials used in JoAnn's baskets, they also supply companies and basketmakers around the country. They harvest the black ash logs near their home in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, process the logs into strips of splint, and make the wooden molds, handles, and rims needed for each basket. The materials that they prepare are also used for the many classes that JoAnn teaches at craft schools and basketry conferences throughout the country. JoAnn enjoys teaching, but always looks forward to time spent weaving her own special baskets. Twenty years ago, her baskets were based on traditional Shaker and native New England utilitarian styles. The clean lines have remained, but her baskets have evolved into smaller, more finely woven, intricately patterned vessels. To obtain the symmetry that she desires, each of her baskets is woven over a wooden mold that is removed once the weaving is completed. Weaving high quality miniatures with splint 1 /64 of an inch wide is definitely a challenge, and incredibly rewarding. JoAnn's goal is to maintain the highest quality of craftsmanship possible in both her miniature and other black ash splint baskets. JoAnn lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband Steve and their three children.

JoAnn Kelly Catsos 90 Polikoff Rd. Ashley Falls, MA 01222 catsos@roadrunner.com 413.229.2655