Judith Saunders and Karen Tembreull
Workshop: Explore Basketry with Both Traditional and Contemporary Materials and Innovative Techniques
Dates: April 19-25, 2027
Judith's Projects
Karen's Projects
Athabaskan
Ripple Effect
Sauna Caddy
About Judith and Karen
Judith Saunders
A Norfolk, VA native, Judith retired from the Norfolk Public School System, following thirty years as an art educator. While teaching, she took a class at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN for recertification credits. The class was “Plaited Basketry” with Shereen LaPlantz.
“That class in 1986 truly changed my life. I continued weaving on my own, not taking another class until I retired in 2002 when I joined guilds and attended conventions taking classes with as many teachers as possible. I learned from every teacher, but found I never remade a class basket. I believe that weaving on my own all those years is why I still prefer designing baskets rather than following patterns that are someone else’s design. “
Judith is currently a member of the National Basketry Organization, the Handweavers Guild of America, as well as several regional associations and guilds. She has taught basketry workshops in Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania including the John C. Campbell Folk School, NC.
Judith has had work in many juried exhibitions including NBO Exhibitions, Hand Weavers Guild of America’s Small Expressions Exhibitions and her work is included in the Contemporary Basketry Artists section of the book Plaited Basketry with Birch Bark by Vladimir Yarish, Flo Hoppe and Jim Widess and in the NBO 2016 Winter Quarterly publication where her work is featured on the cover and includes her member profile.
Karen Tembreull
Karen Tembreull is currently active with her local Buellwood Weaver’s guild as well as the Finnish American Folk School. Her work is represented and available at Aura Design Collective in L’Anse, MI., Peace Pie in Marquette, Mi. and through her Etsy site - BarksnRoots. She has taught at Conventions, guilds, and Folk Schools across the country for the last 30 years, most recently at Shenandoah Creates in Luray, Va., April 2025, and the Barks and Roots Symposium in Hancock, MI, in 2024. She is a member of the National Basketry Organization.
Karen’s work has also been published in: 500 Baskets A Celebration of the Basketmaker’s Art, Weaving History A Basket Heritage Project (Where her baskets are included in the collection at MSU Museum), National Basketry Organization’s - All things Considered VII, and their spring 2014 Magazine, and most recently, the Voyage Michigan Magazine.
Her new piece entitled “Nightshade,” was recently shown at the National Basketry Organization’s Conference show July 29th through October 18th, 2025, at the Minneapolis Textile Center.
Workshop Details
Judith and Karen will be co-teaching for this unique basketry immersion experience. The students will be divided into 2 groups, 1/2 will be with Judith the first two days, the other 1/2 with Karen. For the 3rd and 4ths days we will switch groups. On the 5th day we’ll all work together to finish up our projects.
Judith’s Projects:
The two full days with Judith will emphasize designing individualized projects. A variety of materials will be available for use and experimentation including her pre-painted watercolor papers and tooling copper for plaited pieces; waxed cotton cords, found objects, etc. for looping, twining, random weave and more organic and mixed media forms. Materials fees for projects made with Judith will be paid directly to Judith at the workshop
Karen’s Projects:
For Karen’s students, three baskets are available for preselection of which students are required to choose a minimum of two. Each basket requires hand strength and dexterity. The baskets available are as follows:
Sauna Caddy
This functional, Bias Birch double woven basket, is a beautiful introduction to traditional Nordic bias woven basketry. Students will learn to weave a bias rectangular shaped basket with taller ends and straight bias rimming. There will be enough material to play with curl design applications. The Lake Superior driftwood handles will be pre-made to fit your basket with copper nugget washers and brass screws to secure them.
Size is approx. 7” x 4 1/2” x 4 3/4” tall, Material cost: $115
Athabaskan Influence
This basket is based on Traditional Alaskan Athabaskan birch baskets. It is a different take on Birch bias plaiting with a sewn-in double birch base and a spruce root rim and foot with leather fillers, stitched with waxed cotton cord. Students will learn a folded bias plait, double buttonhole rim stitching and an interesting base lacing. The birch bark star will be taught as an accent to the basket. Materials for the star are included in the materials price.
Size is approx. 6 x 6 x 5” tall, Material cost: $125
Ripple Effect with Petal Rim
Karen developed her Ripple Effect Technique blending her love for lace work with basket weaving. It incorporates between-weave twining with a chased (continuous) twill weave followed by a cord twiner which includes a knotted element during the twining. The Petal rim is a weaving technique that Karen learned from Judith Saunders, finished with a simple double track border. Students will learn both of these techniques as well as twining and triple twining.
Intermediate basketry experience is helpful with this basket as it involves many multi-stepped techniques and patience.
Materials - Elm bark, Cedar Bark, Birch bark, Waxed Cotton Cord, Material cost: $145
Tools/supplies to bring:
Karen and Judith want each student to bring excitement and willingness to experiment.
For Judith’s Sessions:
Students should bring small sharp scissors and a small flat packing tool. For new weavers, Judith will have tools that can be used during class. Individuals who will be plaiting with painted papers and/or copper should bring smooth copper or stainless-steel micro clips. Judith will have some that can be used during class if an individual is unable to purchase some prior to class.
For Karen’s Sessions:
Micro clips (the copper ones without teeth work best) scissors, an old towel, small flat packing tool, sharp pocketknife, small angle cutters, small narrowed tipped scratch awl (some will be available to borrow), clothes pins, spray bottle.
Overnight Packages
5-Day, 6-Nights Overnight Package Includes: 6 nights onsite lodging, private chef prepared meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and 5 days of instruction in a private venue.
Supply fees paid directly to instructor.
Meals and Lodging: $1,172 per person private room, $757 per person shared room
Tuition/Fees $730
Non-refundable deposit of $250 due to hold workshop space. The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to workshop start date.