Schoolhouse Basketry… the wonderful work of Melissa Sherman.

While in her thirties, travels led Sherman to New Mexico. “Living there, I was fortunate to be acknowledged by the Pueblo Indians for my basketry skills. The family lines of these Southwest people and their extended knowledge of the Hopi basket was like going to graduate school,” she describes. “Throughout, baskets were treasured, the single most important possession in every family. Today, I can tell the tribal origins of a basket by looking at colour, weave and raw materials like yucca leaves, rabbit-brush, galleta-brush and so on. The patterns tell a story and those teachings are never lost.” She then moved to Wisconsin where she owned her own studio for over 10 years – Now she has moved to The County and we are glad she did! (PS. Melissa creates the most gorgeous mittens out of reclaimed cashmere and 100% wool….and we have these too in wonderful colours!)