Crafts Business Magazine

JoAnne Russo: Weaving Together the Past and the Present

"Being an artist or basketmaker wasn't something my guidance counselor recommended," says JoAnne Russo of Saxtons River, VT. But, she has woven a successful career for the last twenty years by doing just that--making baskets.

Early on, JoAnne had the desire to create. At age four she learned how to crochet and "just made stuff up, figuring things out by asking my grandmother and by trial and error. As she grew up, she tried knitting, sewing, embroidery and lots more. "I made sweaters for all my stuffed animals, crocheted curtain pulls and lots of knitted scarves!" she says. When JoAnne went to the University of New Hampshire she focused on printmaking and lithography and graduated with a fine arts degree.

Making a living with this degree was a long time coming. After graduating, JoAnne waited tables in the York, ME area while trying to find the right direction for her career. "I dabbled in stained glass, knitting for a clothing designer, and other handmade things, but nothing seemed right."

In 1984, a friend taught her how to make a reed basket. JoAnne says, "I was hooked." "In Yankee magazine, there was an ad from a basket material company that sold a kit with materials and directions. I bought two kits for two different types of baskets then just bought materials to make more." JoAnne says she that once she figured out how to make the basket form she no longer needed the kit. "It's like learning to knit and purl, once you know the basic stitches, you can knit a sweater. I knew how to make a round bottom and square bottom and from there could create any shape and size."

Read more in this issue of Crafts Business