Judith Littledeer

Patricia Allen

Susan Bolen

Mary Brewster

Jonathan Bock

Ken Foster

Franka Gabler

Jeff Grandy

Christian Guenther

Charlt Hoffman

David Hoffman

Ellen Hurst

Joseph Holmes

Christine Loberg

Ken Maggard

Amy Morgan

Putt Putman

Toby Raetze

Terry Robinson

John Rogers

Norma Rogers

Duncan Spencer

Heidi Vetter

 Through the Seasons

A basket maker's poem by

J. Littledeer

Through the seasons I have gathered

Twigs and limbs and roots and shoots

Of willow, in the Winter,

When its leaves have dropped,

Of laurel in the Summer,

When its berries have grown strong,

And its leaves are aromatic,

Of sourberry, in the Autumn,

When its fruit has fed the birds.

But none is gathered in the Spring,

When the Earth is feeding life back into the branches.

For life is sacred and must not be hindered

And growth and time will give what we need.

Through the seasons I have woven

Baskets of utility, baskets of beauty, baskets of endurance,

In the Winter, by my fire,

Warmed by the work of my hands, I have seen it grow,

In the Summer, by the river, hearing the waters' flow,

I have felt the strength of Alder branches

Full of 'kindness' that fills my hands and into my basket goes,

In the Autumn, under the oak trees' colors

I have felt the strength of branches

That would become the endurance of my basket.

But in the Spring I have rested from my works

And counted the peaceful days a precious time

To watch, to grow, to gratefully wait for what I need.

California basket maker Judith Littledeer makes Osage style willow baskets inspired by traditional Native American ideals passed down from her grandmother.

"Littledeer" is the Indian name given to me by my grandmother.  She told me stories about my Osage ancestors, and how they found everything they needed to live well in their woodland surroundings.  Her influence on me shows in my baskets.  She taught me that utility and beauty can exist in gracious harmony, and that simplicity can give life to elegance.

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