My 3 year basket making apprenticeship is ending this summer, and over the last year I've been processing my own black ash splints.
There's a lot of growth rings that come off a tree that just aren't suitable for fancy baskets. They're too thin to split and shave, or their grain is wonky, or they're discolored or otherwise ugly. I couldn't bring myself to waste them by throwing them out so I stashed them away until I had enough for a big basket.
It's uneven, it's wonky, it's rough and not at all refined. It goes against everything I've learned about making pretty baskets for collectors.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cfh_HkLzkWg/VvKePapa9HI/AAAAAAAAFTw/rw71J6abtV00Hvg_D_KihcDwEj1BpwvwACCo/s576-Ic42/IMG_20160322_223147.jpg)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mFLUCBNsSmI/VvKePUUsSII/AAAAAAAAFTw/_yEzCpxasxYe800lOMc9qwgdvITjIyg1QCCo/s576-Ic42/IMG_20160322_223249.jpg)
It will be joining me in the woods as soon as I have a good strap for it.