This channel is where basketry artist, Matt Tommey shares information on basket weaving using free natural materials found in the garden and in nature. You'll find interviews with basketry artists, information on how to weave a basket, natural basket weaving materials, basket weaving classes and more. Please comment, subscribe and share!
For more information including a free resource called 7 Tips for Making Baskets with Natural Materials, visit www.MattTommey.com/basket-weaving-classes
I'm so thankful we remembered you do basket weaving with kudzu! We have about half an acre of kudzu and looking for some activites for our boys to do with their hands. This is a great intro and we'll be watching more to learn!
Kudzu is definitely the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks Japan. Seriously, though, I've spent the last 6 years restoring my farm house down here in Murphy. I'm finally at a point that I can stop and do something fun. I've been watching this kudzu patch grow while I was busy with building walls and roofs. Now is the time to make it into my visions. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. In the past I would have just experimented when working with a new material but thanks to RU-vid I have more of my creations turn out.😂
Im moving to Kentucky in the next 2 years to homestead . Been looking at property I was amazed by the amount of Kudzu and was wondering what i could do with it to create an income. This definitely seems like a great start! Thanks gor sharing!😊
Thank you for the video! I live surrounded by woodlands and I would love to work basketry using native, locally-harvested plant materials instead of raffia or other imported materials.
Yessss. Thank you. I admire your skill and am just now getting bit by the bug to make a basket (or weave SOMETHING) from these discarded fronds and seaweed ❤
Thank you so much for your generosity in posting this workshop! This is wonderful and so accessible for beginners (like me!). It's a joy to see how you capture beauty in these lovely, natural materials.
The tool you used to split the kudzu was interesting. An entire scholarly show was made trying to find out why Indians carried around these stone or bone tools that had one, two, or three holes in it. The scholars refused to believe it was for splitting vines or shaping arrow shafts, or starting fires.
Amazing artisan. I live near eucalyptus jungle & has tried to do some weaving unfortunately with no good results. How can I keep the eucalyptus bark permanently moist so to prevent it from coiling and drying? I'll very much appreciate your advice.
Hi Matt, I was wondering if you can use Hops vines to make baskets? I’m just trying to plan my garden for the summer. I’m in Calgary, Alberta so I am just trying to find something that grows here well.
PS close up and in person is even better😅. I remember Matt was like a kid in a candy shop when the colors arrived and the start of using encaustic medium! I remember seeing the wasp nest inside. Wild!
I live on land that has been owned by my family about 200 years. I made fortresses inside kudzu growth and would swing across the creeks on the vines when I was a kid. Just this week I started trying to weave with kudzu. I've never woven a thing in my life! I'm glad I came across your video today because I was having a heck of a time splitting the vines. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'll have to see your wares in person soon. Asheville is just over the hill from me. 😊
Uncle Matt, I bought the bundle of 2 classes Nov 23, ‘22. I can only find one I can open now. The bark basketry. I am finally ready to start my basket making. I’ve got my tools, gloves and ready to collect my kudzu! Already have where I’m getting the tree bark this spring. So I’m excited. I need the other video about twining back so I can review. My iPad had failed and I don’t know if that affected things. I can look at profile. Shows I bought bundle. But I gain access from my homepage where I favorited Bark video. PLEASE HELP!!! I can send copy of purchase. Thanks! PS. Best price, place to get the Bora-care? That stuff is high!
Just over a year ago I moved from PA to KY. I'd heard of kudzu but never knew anyone who made baskets with it. Your video was very interesting. I'll have to check out your other information.
Is Kudzu legal in the US? It was once brought in and took over fields trees, util. poles and banned then in the South. It will overgrow everything and damage the natural permaculture. It is a foreign (Japanese jungle with it's huge leaves it blocks sunlight below) Better check before you try to plant this.
No actually I haven't heard of it being edible and Iive with tons of it. I've heard goats absolutely love it and farmers will actually rent their livestock out to clear kudzu-overgrown land for housing, etc. There was another resource I came across where a creative crafter was making beautiful craft paper out of kudzu but it was a very arduous process using blenders and screens (a process to break down the fiber and to drain water as well as to dry the paper). Since these plants are very invasive and choke out natural flora, it's nice to hear of new ways to eradicate the stuff. Kudzu grows so thick from tree to tree that it actually creates walls that blocks sunshine and natural light. We literally have mountains of the stuff in Tenn.
hi! from Japan! I really enjoyed watching this and your other videos as well! I'm so happy to find your channel,cos I've just started weaving Kudzu and making some baskets myself recently! I can learn a lot of things from your videos! Thank you! Arigato! I am looking forward to your new videos !
