Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Basketmaker Janet Northern to Create Honeysuckle Baskets at Kentucky Artisan Center

On Friday, March 17, Janet Northern of Mt. Vernon, will create baskets from Honeysuckle vines and Hickory bark, from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

Janet Northern has been making baskets for twelve years and is primarily self-taught. She utilizes the wood and natural vines that she finds and gathers in the region surrounding her Rockcastle County farm to create her baskets. The Eastern Kentucky woodlands give Janet inspiration as well as material from which to work.

To prepare the honeysuckle vines, Janet boils the vines for 30 minutes and then strips off the outer bark to reveal the honey colored, pliable surface of the vine. When the vines are freshly cut they are pliable, but over time they dry out and need to be soaked in water to re-soften them. Janet’s smaller baskets are often made with reed and driftwood. 

Starting with an interesting piece of wood, Janet begins to design her asymmetrical one-of-a-kind basket forms, often creating multiple openings. She soaks the honeysuckle vines in water, attaches them to the piece of wood chosen, and begins to weave her forms into asymmetrical and beautiful shapes.

Works by Janet Northern are regularly available at the Kentucky Artisan Center located just off located just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping, and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 680 artisans from all across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov 

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Commerce Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.