Mitchell Webster

Background

About Mitchell Webster

I am Owner and Master Weaver at Heritage Basket Studio & Chair Caning, I weave museum quality baskets, specializing in traditional to contemporary Appalachian Ribbed Baskets, Cane Zig Zag Twill work baskets and Shaker Cat Head Baskets. Examples of my Ribbed Baskets can be seen on my blog, by following the link directly to my posts on Ribbed Baskets: http://hbs1991.wordpress.com//?s=Ribbed+Basket & search=Go All of my baskets are based on the Fibonacci Sequence of numbers, in some form in every basket. In some cases it is the total number of rows, ribs, or stakes in a basket, with any pattern changes occurring on a Fibonacci number in the sequence, I take great pride and craftsmanship in the refining of all of my hardwood basketry hoops and handles, Every handle is sanded from its rough state to a satin smooth feel, stained, and finished with up to 5 coats of tongue oil, providing a hand rubbed finish, before the baskets are woven to the hoops and handles. It is my feeling that when using hard wood handles that these are premier and focal point of my baskets and should be treated the same as high end quality furniture, my goal is not just to have a handle, but to have the beauty of the hardwood be a focal point of the art work being created. The same high quality and attention to detail with all the forms of seat weaving, in the following styles. Hand Caning Pressed or Sheet Cane Splint Bottoms~ Reed, Oak, Ash & Hickory,(Hardwoods dependent upon availability) at the time Rush~ Fiber Rush, Pre twisted Sea Grass Rush Danish Cord Shaker Tape Leather Fiber Medallions (while not a woven style) used to as a "cover up" on many older hand /pressed cane seats. All weaving Basketry or Seat Weaving / Hand Caning, only the highest quality premium reed, hardwoods are used. In hand caning, I only use Nantucket Grade Long Select Cane in all of my work, Nantucket Grade is the highest grade you can buy and is used exclusively in the weaving of Nantucket Baskets.