Billy Ray’s path as a basket maker ranged from first weaving sweetgrass baskets in South Carolina to New England black ash pack-baskets and river cane in the Southern Highlands. His focus now is weaving traditional white oak and splint baskets and teaching basketry.
He is a retired magazine editor who worked for titles ranging from WoodenBoat and Cooking Light to On Your Own and Mariner magazines. He lives in Camden, Maine.
Click Email to contact Billy.
The following article appeared in Garden & Gun magazine. Click on the images for a high resolution pdf view.
Hello, Billy Ray!
Your website is so professional looking! I really
enjoyed reading each narration. I even shared
it with Geri Peters and told her to be sure & show
it to Leona. I look forward to seeing what you
will add to this site in the future!
Jerry Hamilton
Thanks, Jerry. I’m looking forward to sharing more about great basketmakers such as Leona. Their artistic gifts need support and appreciation.
Hey Billy!
WOW! Beautiful baskets!!! Found your site thru linkedin~ Great to see your work, it’s lovely~
Deb
The nature of the weaver and the nature of the weaving reflect the strength, diversity, chaos, beauty and endurance of our natural world. Thank you.
Hey, Billy. I remember the days when you were learning how to make the sweetgrass baskets! You’ve mastered the art/craft beautifully…everything here is gorgeous.
Thanks, Karen. Sweet memories; I miss Charleston—and the days spent making baskets under the Angel Oak.
The baskets are beautiful. Nice website. I will bookmark this and come back for more updates.
Hey Billy Ray!
Just surfing on company time, wondering what happened to one of my favorite editors… I knew you had talent but now I’m positively jealous.
Great web presence, wonderful baskets.
Billy Ray…..your talents have no end, apparently.
Hope you are well and happy.
Gina
My husband just showed me one of you baskets and of course as a basket lover I want it. Your work and website are amazing! I look foward to seeing more of your work. Jan
Thanks for your kind words, Jan. Happy to make you a basket any time.
Just read the article in The Birmingham News this morning and have just gone through your web site. Wonderful baskets! I’m impressed that you harvest the white oak tree and make the splits. We’ve done that, but not enough to master it. Will continue to follow you here and admire. – Judy Smith
I just saw the article in ALABAMA mag. this morning. Wow!! Again you continue to do wonderful work keeping the craft alive with the highest standards. Keep up the good work and I expect to see more about you and your work in the future. George Shelton
Billy,
Taught myself to do white oak baskets after my wife collected several during antique searchs in north Alabama. This was in the early eighties–still have a rotting shaving horse under a rotting shed. Time streams by and life overtakes us with its ups and downs. Like you, I found baskets an art form based on utiliiarian needs–art that infroms us best.. My wife also collected a number of country chairs with hickory bark seats worn slick and tough as steel. The chairs are engineering masterpieces of the minimal use of wood. Gum, red oak, and hickory bark. The rails were seasoned before inserting into the green gum stiles–no nails, screws, plugs or glue needed.
Cancer got the wife in 98 but I still have her collection and forever grateful she opened my eyes to simple beauty.
Mastered tools and wood very young–got scars from foot adzes and every wood working tool with an edge, but baskets was a most enjoyful side trip.
Make art, baskets and don’t look back.
Reuben Register
experience. the Early fall after the sap falls is the time to harvest white oak–they prefer the north side of hills like beech
Billy, I have read everything on your website and watched the video. It all kelp me glued to the pages and scenes. I especially liked the part about you and your dad visiting the old home place. I have to pause with the bragging and say that if it were not for your dad and many brave men like him, neither you nor I would have been able to live the wonderful life we have lived and lived exactly the way we chose to live it. He deserves everyone’s utmost respect.
James Marsh
Hi Billy! I had lunch with Jennifer the other day and she gave me your website. Your baskets are just beautiful! After working at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, and visiting our daughter in the Southwest, I have become enamored with baskets. I love their beauty, and historical context. When are you going to exhibit in Maine?
Thanks for the kind words and appreciation for this special craft. I’ve heard great things about the Abbe, especially as a gateway to the Native American basket makers in Maine. I have a multimedia assignment to do on these basketmakers to complete this summer, and I’ll also be in the Rockland / North Haven area mid-summer on. Appreciate any leads or connections you might suggest.
No plans to show, but I do have a couple of basket projects I will complete while in Maine. One of those, I hope, will show up in a gallery.
Please get in touch with me directly, and tell me more about the Abbe. I’ll refer you to a couple of excellent sources for more on Southwest baskets. billyrsims@yahoo.com
My great grandfather was a locally known white oak basket maker. I have a few memories of sitting and watching him weave his baskets and they are so precious to me. He passed away when I was very young so I never got the opportunity to learn the craft from him. I’m hoping that my Dad and I can sometime soon try and make our own basket together. Wonderful, wonderful baskets you’ve made and a beautiful website.
Oh my, I would just love to learn basket making like you all are doing! Do you know of classes or workshops for a complete novice from California?