Materials
The base material for this basket and the braid detail near the opening are black ash splints.Watch this informative YouTube video on how one would process black ash into splints for weaving. With the encroachment of the emerald ash borer and the subsequent decline of the black ash population in forest stands, this purse stands as a lasting reminder of the devastation created by this invasive species, and is a reminder of the tradition of weaving with black ash (McCullough 2013). The soutache details, thinly braided handles, and tassels are made of basswood fibers. These fibers are made by making splints from basswood bark, and then processing those splints by keeping them submerged in water for several weeks. This allows the outer bark to easily separate from the inner bark, which is more pliable and flexible for making fibers. The inner bark is then distressed to remove the cellulose from the cell walls, and you are left with a strong, thin fiber (Grove). The soutache details were also sewn onto the basket using these basswood fibers. These details were also seemingly dyed green and red - because the rest of the basket is made with natural materials, it can be assumed that these were also dyed with natural dyes. Some natural red dyes include bloodroot, maple trees, elderberries, sycamore bark; some natural green dyes include foxglove, sorrel, artemisia, and chamomile. See Pioneer Thinking's article on natural dyes for more a more comprehensive list of dyes and how to use natural dyes.