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Vladimir Yarish
Birch Bark Basketry
Classes 2008

Slide Show/Talk

Traditional Birch Bark Craft
in Northwestern Russia

1 hour, $8 per person
Vladimir will talk about traditional birch bark crafting found in the northwestern part of Russia. His talk will be illustrated with examples and slides. Expand on this a little…

Note about class materials

Vladimir has gathered by hand all birch bark and roots in the dangerous Russian forest where he watches for big Russian bears. He cleans, prepares and cuts the bark to size as needed for the various weaving projects. The spruce roots he digs, scrapes and peels the bark away and splits into long pieces. Using a knife, he hand carves all wooden pieces such as the tops for the bottle. He individually hand fits the tops to the students' baskets. Vladimir's special handmade Russian kostiks will be lent to students for use in classes.
Tuition charge is $35 per class hour
Minimum number of students: 10
Maximum: 15

Baskets

1. Two Square-to-Round Russian Birch Bark Baskets -- The Basics
All levels
2 ½” diam x 2” high
3 ½” diam x 2” high
8 hours
Materials fee: $55		 Learn how to weave the Russian way of diagonal plaiting and double-woven construction with these two traditional baskets in a square-to-round design. Learn the basics of Russian diagonal plaiting, the foundation for more difficult baskets, and experience working with Russian white birch bark.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
Note: The larger of these can be taught as a 4-hour class, $31
2. Russian Birch Bark Oval Basket with Curls
All levels
3 1/2" wide x 4 1/2" long x 1 ½" high
4 hours
Materials fee: $38		 Learn how to weave a traditional Russian basket of white birch bark. Weaving techniques taught are diagonal plaiting and double-woven construction, and this is a good introduction for those who have not woven this way before. Finish this basket with curls in the Russian style.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
3. Russian Birch Bark Footed Oval Basket with Saw-tooth Rim
Intermediate
3 ½" wide x 4 ½" long x 2" high
8 hours
Materials fee: $45		 Learn how to weave a traditional Russian basket in white birch bark. Weaving tech- niques are diagonal plaiting and double-woven construction with added challenges—Russian-style curls, special saw-tooth rim and added feet.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
4. Russian Birch Bark Tray
All levels
3 ½” wide x 4 ½” long x 1” high
4 hours
Materials fee: $36		 This little birch bark tray is perfect for those students who would like to work with the Russian materials but are intimidated by the diagonal plaiting. This is a straight weave but still includes the double-woven construction.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
5. Nesting Russian Birch Bark Dishes
All levels
4 ½” diameter x 1 ½” high
5 ½” diameter x 1 ½” high
6 ½” diameter x 1 ½” high
12 hours
Materials fee: $145		 Learn a traditional Russian birch bark basket featuring diagonal plaiting and double-woven construction. By the third basket, students really “get it.” Finish these nesting baskets with curls for a lovely set.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
Note: These baskets can be taught individually as well for a shorter class.
6. Russian Birch Bark Canister with Curls
Intermediate/Advanced
4 1/2” high x 3” diameter
12 hours
Materials fee: $115		 The canister is double woven in the traditional Russian diagonal weave. The decorative rim is stitched in place with prepared spruce roots. The instructor individually fits the hand-carved wooden top. Prior experience with diagonal weaving highly recommended.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373) and four 2-inch pony clamps (not clothespins).
Note: The size of this can be adjusted for a shorter class.
7. Choice of Mini Russian Birch Bark Baskets
All levels
Size varies but approximately 2 ½” wide/long x 2” high
6 hours
Materials fee: $22 per basket 		Choose from a selection of five styles of Russian birch bark baskets—contemporary, traditional, diagonal and/or straight weave, all are double woven. The smaller size of these baskets makes them more challenging, but intermediate students should be able to complete two to three baskets in the class time.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
8. Russian Birch Bark Bottle with Carved Wooden Top
All levels
2 ½” wide x 2 ½” long x 5 ½” high
6 hours
Materials fee: $90		 A new class offering, this bottle is woven with Russian birch bark strips of differing widths in a straight weave giving it a contemporary look. It is the double-woven construction typical of Russian work, and features a hand-carved top that the instructor will fit to the bottle.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
9. Russian Birch Bark Basket with Root Decorated Rim
Intermediate
4 ½” wide x 4 ½” long x 3 ½” high
6 hours
Materials fee: $62		 A new class offering, this contemporary birch bark basket is made with a straight weave and double-woven construction. Its subtle shaping and a spruce root rim piece make this basket a beauty.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
10. 5-Cornered Round Basket in Russian Birch Bark
Intermediate
4 1/4” diameter x 2 1/4” high
8 hours
Materials fee: $56		 A contemporary basket with a saw-tooth rim made with diagonal plaiting in an unusual method giving the basket a different look. It is double woven and finished with Russian style curls.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
11. Wall Pouch in Russian Birch Bark
Intermediate
5” wide x 8 ½” high x 1 ¼” deep
8 hours
Materials fee: $55 		This wall pouch is diagonally plaited and double woven using traditional Russian techniques. Decorative pinwheel-shaped curls add interest to its finished look. Russian kostik (awl) will be lent for student use in class.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
12. "Ripples," Contemporary Basket in Russian Birch Bark
Intermediate
4" diameter x 2" high
4 hours
Materials fee: $58 		This basket is made interesting and more challenging by the ripple effect of the sides that give it a modern look. It is a straight weave, not diagonal plaiting, double woven and decorated with pinwheel curls.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
13. Oval Birch Bark Basket Stitched with Spruce Roots
Intermediate/Advanced
3” wide x 3 3/4” long x 2” high
8 hours
Materials fee: $95 		This is a beautiful basket, the foundation of which is a simple oval basket made with the traditional diagonal plaiting, double-woven technique. The challenge is the rim stitched with spruce root that is peeled and sized by hand. Careful stitching results in an elegant basket.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373) and four 2-inch pony clamps (not clothespins).
14. Russian Peasant Shoes in Birch Bark
Intermediate
One shoe is 2” wide x 5 ¼” long x 1 ¾” high
8 hours
Materials fee: $75 		For doll or teddy bear, these are a small version of the shoes worn by Russian peasants. Many corners, diagonal weaving, double woven form a left and right shoe. A challenge!
15. Corners and Pinwheels
Intermediate
3 ½” diameter x 2 ½” high
6 hours
Materials fee: $45 		This basket is made with diagonal plaiting and is double woven; after that its modern look takes over with feet, pinwheels and a saw-tooth rim. Altogether it adds up to a charming basket that will be a challenge to make.
16. Square-to-Round Basket with Saw-tooth Rim and Curls
Intermediate
4” diameter x 2” high
?? hours
Materials fee: $45 		A brand-new class offering, this basket is woven in the traditional way: bias plaiting and double woven. The saw-tooth rim and curls add interest to this lovely basket. This is the foundation for the basket number 17 that follows.
Special tools: Radio Shack 1 1/8” smooth clips (270-0373).
17. Square-to-Round Basket—Saw-tooth with a Difference
Intermediate
5" diameter
x 2 ¼" high
6 hours
Materials fee: $48
10x10 		5 ½" diameter
x 2 ¼" high
8 hours
Materials fee: $53
12x12
A brand-new class offering, this basket starts the same as basket 16 above, but the rim is unique. Instead of a flat rim, this one has a three-dimensional saw-tooth.
Note: A combination class of baskets 16 and 17 would make a very interesting longer class.
  1. Harvesting bark and roots in The North-West of Russia (three   methods of harvesting bark: with sheets, with strips, with cylinders).
  2. Birch bark in ancient Novgorod.
  3. Traditional peasant's articles and needs made of birch bark in   the North-West of Russia.
  4. Using birch bark in housekeeping in peasantry.
  5. Birch bark canisters (constructions, outside decorations and   functions).
  6. Contemporary birch bark crafting in Russia.
  7. My personal activity (studio, teaching students in Russian and in   US, articles).
A Look at Birch Bark--From Forest to Home

Vladimir will talk about harvesting birch bark and roots in northwestern Russia, give some history of birch bark work in ancient Novgorod, and discuss traditional peasants' use of and work with bark for their needs at home. Progressing to the present, he will talk about contemporary birch bark work, both traditional and contemporary. And he will tell about his teaching work and studio in Russia. His talk will be illustrated with examples and slides.