INTRICATE II"x3.5" BASKET Honeysuckle DEBORAH DUVALL

ALL OUR HONEYSUCKLE IS GATHERED, PROCESSED AND DYED BY HAND. IT GROWS IN A SHADY GROVE SACRED TO THE CHEROKEE WOMEN.  WE COLLECT IT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WHEN THE SAP IS IN THE ROOTS. 

THE HONEYSUCKLE RUNNERS FLOW ACROSS THE FOREST FLOOR, SEEKING SUNSHINE.  SOME ARE MORE THAN 50 FEET LONG. MURV AND I COLLECT THE STRAIGHTEST AND THE MOST UNIFORM RUNNERS, ONE BY ONE, AND ROLL THEM TOGETHER IN HEAVY BUNDLES. THE BUNDLES ARE PLACED IN LARGE POTS AND BOILED FOR TWO HOURS.  NEXT EACH RUNNER IS INDIVIDUALLY STRIPPED TO REMOVE THE OUTER BARK LAYER.  (WITHIN THIS BARK LAYER LIES A SUBSTANCE, MEDICINAL, THAT INVOKES A STRANGE TINGLING SENSATION IN THE HANDS.  IT IS USED IN SOME CULTURES TO TREAT COLDS AND FLU.)  FINALLY, THE STRANDS ARE WOUND INTO  LITTLE COILS AND STORED UNTIL TIME TO DYE.

I LIKE TO USE ANALINE DYES BECAUSE THE COLORS ARE BRIGHT AND RESISTANT TO UV SUN DAMAGE.  I ALSO USE BLACK WALNUT AND ONION SKIN DYES AS THEY TOO ARE QUITE PERMANENT. 

MY TEACHER KATHY VANBUSKIRK, A CHEROKEE NATIONAL LIVING TREASURE AS CHOSEN BY THE TRADITIONALISTS IN CHEROKEE COUNTRY.  SHE TAUGHT ME THE DOUBLE WEAVE, IN WHICH TWO STRANDS OF HONEYSUCKLE ARE WOVEN IN AT THE SAME TIME.  THIS METHOD RESULTS IN BEAUTIFUL, UNIFORMLY SHAPED BASKETS.

YOUR BASKETS CAN USE A DRINK NOW AND THEN, AND IT WON’T HURT A BIT TO RINSE OFF THE DUST WITH CLEAN WATER ONCE IN A WHILE.   ENJOY THEM!                       DEBORAH DUVALL