August 13, 2023

Dear Friends,

I missed writing to you on Wednesday, and even though nothing is requiring me to write twice a week, when I miss one, it feels like neglecting an obligation or deserting my post.  But I have an excuse.  A valid reason.

This past week has been finals week at the university.  I retired from the university at the end of August, 2021, after 26 years as a university professor.  Had a great career teaching environmental and Earth sciences.  It was time to retire.  But I continue to teach as an adjunct, and during this summer II session was teaching an on-line course in environmental law.

Summer II lasts only five weeks, and the course, offering the same material as in a long semester course, is highly compact.  Students have to really push to get all their work in, so I was constantly grading for a few weeks.  This past week especially, being finals week, was quite intense, and did not allow time to send you an e-mail about our shop.  Grades must be turned in tomorrow.

A most interesting class occurred here at our shop, taught by Penny.   Week before, Donna produced an item that was totally new to us, a rope basket.  I don’t have a clue how it’s done, but by some means, she was able to wind a clothesline rope around and around, shaping it all to form a bowl with the rope stacked all on top of itself.  Somehow she added a stiffness to it that makes for a really solid and decorative basket.  I was really impressed.  Then later, Penny made one as well.

So yesterday, Saturday, Penny held a class in making rope baskets.  I would love to have taken the class.  Would love to learn the technique, and have a nice little catch-all basket to put on my desk.  And then maybe another one to put on my bed table.  Maybe a third one to put on the kitchen table to keep a few dog biscuits in.  And of course the absurd sophomore thought jumps into my head that if I make several more, I will have to make a basket case, at which point I’ll probably sound like basket case.  In seriousness, I do want to make at least one.

If you visit our shop in the near future, be sure to ask to see our rope baskets. And if you happen to get interested in doing this, there's another rope basket class on August 24th.   Hopefully you are continually monitoring our classes schedule, which is quite extensive, and will be able to take some really enjoyable classes, building your skills as you go.  We also take requests if you think of a class you would like but don’t see it on our list.

Chip