What Weaving Teaches Me

What weaving teaches me is that life is not perfect.
We take the strands of fibers that we have
and keep coiling and creating something beautiful
that could help us carry what we need in life.

By Teresa Mei Chuc 

​I started learning coil basketry in October 2018 with my teacher Gloria Sanyika (African and Blackfoot Indian). I really love the method. It is meditative, healing and allows me to be creative. 
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My first coil basket. October 27, 2018
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My first coil basket. With my coil basketry teacher, Gloria Sanyika.
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My first basket made of yucca fibers and juncus textilis. November 22, 2018
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My second coil basket. November 12, 2018
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My second coil basket
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My third coil basket. November 21, 2018
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My first willow basket made of sandbar willow. November 23, 2018
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March 11, 2019 - I wove this butterfly basket for my kids.
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March 11, 2019
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April 18, 2019 - I wove this dolphin, mountains, rivers and ocean basket for my love, Jo.
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April 21, 2019 - I wove this small, dolphin tobacco basket for my mama.
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May 31, 2019
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June 11, 2019. My first time weaving a basket with a turtle design.
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Sandbar willow basket. Friday, June 14, 2019
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Gray whale. Monday, June 17, 2019
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Thursday, June 20, 2019
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Thursday, June 20, 2019
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July 23, 2019. Weaving a basket backpack (in progress...)
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July 24, 2019. Made my first twine basket. Taught to me by Aunty Sisquoc.
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August 1, 2019 - I finished weaving my basket backpack. This is the biggest and tallest basket I have weaved so far.
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August 10, 2019 - I finished weaving my basket backpack and sewing on the leather straps that I had made.
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August 25, 2019 - I finished weaving a little basket for tobacco or seeds.
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August 25, 2019 - I finished weaving my little tobacco basket and braided a strap to carry the basket.
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September 2, 2019. I weaved a turtle basket pendant.
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December 27, 2019. I weaved a small basket tray with a turtle design.
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December 28, 2019. I weaved a barrette with yarn.
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January 16, 2020. Finished weaving a basket tray.
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March 24, 2020. I weaved a hair barrette.
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March 23, 2020. Wearing the hair barrette that I weaved.
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April 11, 2020. I finished weaving a basket to carry hope, love and medicine. I added some strands of beads and shells.
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June 13, 2020. I weaved a barrette with a tortoise design.
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October 29, 2020
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November 18, 2020
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November 24, 2020
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December 9, 2020. I finished weaving my first pine needle basket.
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Bottom foundation of my first pine needle basket.
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December 11, 2020. I made my first coyote gourd/pine needle basket.