Bonnie Kennedy
__________
I have become a multi-media artist by accident. I became a textile artist when I was about 7 years old when I lifted my Mom’s old Pfaff sewing machine off the floor onto the table so I could make clothes for my troll dolls. I made most of my clothes in school; I made my wedding dress and my husband’s suit. I made clothes for my kids and have always been there to make any special projects needed by my family. I have collected fabric with the intent to learn to quilt when I retired. I got interested in making jewelry in high school but then life got in the way, I got married, had 2 children, and a career. I retired from the Forest Service in 2010 after 31+ years. My friend, Julia, gave me a one-year membership in the Great Basin Basketmakers as a retirement present, and that was it. Basket-making became my new passion. The Great Basin Basketmakers has a group of incredible teachers and I have learned so much. I have also taken classes from visiting teachers and have gone to Alaska twice to participate in the pine needle coiling workshop with Jeannie McFarland. I got interested in willow so am growing my own willow; I took a broom class so tried growing my own broom corn; I got interested in gourds so grew my own gourds. Through all of this, I have learned sometimes your effort to produce your own material isn’t the most cost-effective but I had to try it. As with anything I have done throughout the years, I jumped in with both feet and have tried most everything available. I have found you can make a basket out of almost anything. My goal is to be able to look at a basket and try to figure out how it was made. I use that same theory in all I do. The Great Basin Gourd Society has been a great inspiration with classes to try a new media. Just as with the Basket Makers, the Gourd Society sponsors great classes with incredible teachers. During the shutdown in 2020, I have also been trying my hand at stained glass. There are never-ending possibilities in any kind of art you choose. You can incorporate tools and ideas in multiple media. I strive to learn something new every day. I have attended every class possible and I haven’t been able to decide which medium is my favorite. I still have not made a quilt ? one of these days!