If you're looking to engage with the local community and take up a creative pastime, look no further than the Mary Ann Young Center's basketmaking group in Blaine, Minnesota. The center's current basketmaking maestro is Frances Shirley, a retiree who transformed her passion for weaving baskets into an opportunity to educate and inspire others. Her guidance over the last five years has elevated the craft to award-winning heights, with several creations taking top honors at the Minnesota State Fair.
The invitation to join the group is open to all—no prior experience necessary—and sessions convene on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 10 a.m., according to the City of Blaine website. This welcoming collective is composed of individuals ranging from the novice to the virtuosic, all interweaving their skills and styles to compose pieces as diverse in function as they are in form; and everybody there is always eager to share their techniques. The atmosphere is amiable, fostering both fun and the unfurling of creativity.
In the true spirit of community and creativity, the group ensures that all necessary tools and materials are on hand, with just a nominal fee required for personal basket supplies. It's a chance not only to learn an age-old craft but to do so within the nurturing environment of like-minded souls.
Whether you're looking to craft something with a practical bent or purely for artistic expression, the canvas of interlaced reeds and fibers offers endless possibilities—no two baskets emerging from the MAYC are ever quite the same, a testament to the individuality of the group's members. Don't simply take our word for it, go see for yourself and "join in on the fun!" as the basketmakers at MAYC would say.
