Tradition in evolution.

Magic Beans by Donna Kallner
I was working on the kiaha-inspired burden basket during the time of year when our mail box fills with seed catalogs. As I stitched that piece, I was not only thinking about the Native American gatherers who inspired it but also about what I would plant this spring to feed my own family. I was plotting in my head where I would plant the squash and beans native to this continent, and purple pac choi and five kinds of kale. So many choices, all of which would be wonderful. But there's only so much space available. The deer and rabbits never nibble the greens in the garden of my mind. That's the garden where looping variations sprout in unexpected places.

Gathering by Donna Kallner
This piece was inspired by a type of burden basket known as a kiaha. Early collectors called the technique "lace coiling," perhaps due to very reasonable comparisons between these Pima and Papago baskets and European needlepoint lace. In both types of looping, beautiful and complex patterns can be formed by the simple process of skipping stitches. The more I learn about looping's history, the more it reminds me how much we have in common: Across the globe and throughout time, we use what we have to provide for our families. For those we love we will bear any burden and count it as a blessing. Blessings come when you least expect them, so be prepared to gather them when they appear. And even an empty basket can be filled with love.

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