Los Angeles Basketry Guild and Misti Washington Gourd & Basket Guild
Proudly Present Marsha Orr Special Classes
October 18 & 19, 2025

Marsha Orr made her first basket in 1987, and she has been hooked on basketry ever since.  After 17 years of teaching at CSU, Fullerton, Marsha began teaching basketry through Fullerton Parks and Recreation’s Community classes.  She taught there for three years before retiring to Menifee.  She says, “I find joy in teaching and practicing this ancient art and seeing the look of discovery and satisfaction as my students create their own basketry art.”  She has been regularly teaching at the Fallbrook School of the Arts, the San Diego Craft Collective, as well as her home studio. 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!  Classes are for all levels of basketry experience.  Price covers class fee, teacher expenses and materials, most of which are hand-prepared by the teacher.

Teacher will provide materials, basins, spray bottles, measuring tapes, pencils and some tools to share.  Tools to bring:  sturdy scissors and a towel.  Students who have standard basketry tools, are encouraged to bring them. 

Make check payable to MWGBG.  When mailing your check, include a note with your name, email address, phone number, and class choice(s) and mail to: MWGBG, c/o Willie Ziegler, 1120 Pepper Drive, Spc. 159, El Cajon, CA, 92021.  Email Willie Ziegler (wznvrhpn@aol.com) and let her know you’ve mailed a check, what classes you want to register for and if you have any questions.  Exact location of classes will be shared after registration is confirmed.  Registration Deadline: October 15, 2025.  $25.00 fee for cancellations before October 12 and no refunds after October 12, 2025.

Two Classes in San Diego Area
(El Cajon, CA 92021)
Saturday October 18: 9:00am – 5:00pm (8 hours, includes lunch break)
Sunday, October 19: 9:00am – 6:00pm (9 hours, includes lunch break)

CLICK HERE for printable version of the above class information.

Another Fun Basket & Gourd Class Day!
August 3, 2025

We thank the teachers (Carol Lang. Marsha Orr, Grace Swanson, Willie Ziegler and Pam Watson) for teaching such wonderful classes and the students for supporting this traditional day of celebration.  We also thank the set-up and break-down team for making it an enjoyable experience for the students. Our appreciation also goes to the students who stepped up to help with clean-up and breakdown!

Below are photos and brief descriptions of the 2025 classes. If all goes well, the Guild plans to offer classes the first Sunday in August 2026.

Below you’ll see examples of classes that have been offered over the past few years.

Deb Curtis Special Classes - March 2025

Lissa-Jane de Sailles - September 2024 (Los Angeles & San Diego)

MWGBG and the Los Angelest Basketry Guild were pleased to offer classes with Lissa-Jane de Sailles. She lives and works on Jerrinja/Wandi Wandian Land on the south east coast of New South Wales, Australia. Lissa-Jane teaches fiber art locally and internationally and works with basketry techniques to create sculptural forms and installations with locally foraged natural fibers and textiles. This is a rare opportunity for us to learn from an Australian basketry artist! We are taking advantage of the fact that Lissa-Jane will be in the USA this fall to teach at the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild “Tidal Twinings” retreat.

Thanks to Jennifer Wool - June and July 2025 Series
(Los Angeles & San Diego)

The Los Angeles Basketry Guild and Misti Washington Gourd and Basket Guild were pleased to offer classes with Jennifer Wool. She has been a popular basketry teacher for many years and has been creating 3-D artworks for over 40 years, including pottery, gourds and fiber arts. Inspired during her regular hikes in the foothills near her home in San Jose, CA, Jennifer gathers interesting sticks, rocks, and fibers that she incorporates into her work. She enjoys the creative process and finds teaching her skills to others very satisfying.

Cael Chappell - February 2024 (Los Angeles & San Diego)

The Los Angeles Basketry Guild and Misti Washington Gourd and Basket Guild were pleased to offer classes with Cael Chappell. He has been working with basket weavers in Africa since 1991 and began to weave his own baskets in 2017. Using his innate understanding of basketry, he quickly developed his own unique style of whimsical weaving. His baskets exhibit personality and life which engages the viewer. Cael’s work has been featured in many exhibitions and publications, and he has received prestigious artistic awards for his artistry. He is a popular presenter at weaving guilds and is writing a book on twining in waxed linen thread. To discover more about Cael and see examples of his wonderful artwork, visit his website: https://caelchappell.com/

Thanks to Judy Zugish and the students
for participating in the March 2023 series of fun Special Classes!

The Los Angeles Basketry Guild and Misti Washington Gourd & Basket Guild were very proud to have presented the wonderful classes with Judy Zugish listed below. This was the inaugural cooperative venture between our two guilds, each hosting two all-day willow bark classes in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas by master basket artist Judy Zugish.

Judy Zugish, basketmaker, began experimenting with cultivating fibers and using them to invent contemporary, sculptural basket forms. She gardens in the Pacific Northwest, where she grows, nurtures and collects fiber plants for her creations. A teacher since 1988, at home and abroad, she designs her classes to explore delicious natural materials, applying good techniques with a touch of the unusual – just because it’s fun! To learn how Judy cultivates and prepares willow in her 40-year-old garden to make her unique pieces, you might enjoy this video interview: https://youtu.be/U8kIkTqx88k.