The Basket Maker's
Forest Retreat
with Sandra Kehoe

The Basket Maker's
Forest Retreat
August 7-9, 2026

Weaving is an age-old craft. Whether you're working with basket materials or plant and animal fibers, weaving is meditative and calming. Medicine women from long ago used to weave as a way to enter into trance, while they wove magic into their lives.

Today, weaving is a beautiful art, and especially when making baskets as you end up with something not only beautiful but useful.

During this class, Sandra will teach you how to craft a basket using natural materials in the ribbed-basket style.

They are visually gorgeous, and so sturdy for taking to the weekend market, carrying food harvested from the garden or for storing balls of yarn. So many uses!

Your weekend of basketmaking will also include time to wander our forest trails, drink from our sacred spring and enjoy the peace and quiet of our woods.

The Bark Cone Basket

When you arrive on Friday, Sandra will guide you through the process of making a bark cone basket as pictured to the right. A fun and simple project to warm up your fingers before beginning with a more challenging project - crafting your own ribbed basket like pictured above.

This sweet bark cone basket is perfect for holding flowers and greenery throughout the seasons.

Your time during our Basket Maker's Forest Retreat will be relaxing, nourishing and fun as you share in the age-old craft of weaving with others, surrounded by a forest and expansive, hillside views.

Itinerary

Friday, August 7th

12:00pm Arrival(Lunch will not be provided, but a snack will be.)

1:00pm Opening Circle

2:00pm Bark Cone basket making

5:00pm Time on your own

6:00pm Dinner

7:30pm Fire Circle & Weaver's Story

Saturday, August 8th

8:00am Breakfast

9:00am Ribbed Basket Class with Sandra

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Continue basketmaking

4:00pm Siesta

6:00 Dinner

Sunday, August 9th

8:00am Breakfast

9:00am Continue basketmaking

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Final basket completion

3:00pm Closing Circle & Departure

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Residential Registration

Includes:

2-night stay in Cabin

single & shared occupancy

All meals with food allergy and sensitivity accommodation

Instruction

Single Cabin Fee: $975

with payment plan

Shared Cabin Fee: $795

with payment plan

View Our Accommodations

Commuter Registration

Includes:

All meals with food allergy and sensitivity accommodation

Instruction

Fee: $675 with payment plan

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Your Facilitator

About Sandra Kehoe

Sandra studies traditional willow basket making from teachers around the US, Denmark and the UK. She has a strong focus in rib style willow basketry and weaving with bark. She teaches basketry classes and workshops in multiple mediums, at craft and art schools around the Northeast. Sandra grows and harvests willow on her farm in the Mohawk Valley of NY and is a member of the national Basketry Organization.