In 1982 Scott Gilbert began making white oak and honeysuckle baskets and marketing them at local and regional venues including the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen and the Kentucky Crafts Marketing Program. He studied with Ollie and Lestel Childress, 4th and 5th generation white oak basket makers from Park City, Kentucky, and, in 1984, began teaching basket workshops and classes in Allen and surrounding counties in Southcentral Kentucky.
Michael Sims joined Scott in 1986; the two made white oak handles for shops and basket makers across the country. Their largest project to date was an order for 17,000 white oak handles that were used in a Cover Girl Cosmetics display.
Beth Hester, Scott’s wife, joined in 1987 and The Basket Maker’s Catalog grew into one of the nation’s finest basket making and chair caning supply shops. Over the years Beth and Scott taught basket making classes across the Southeast, including annual workshops at Historic Rugby, Tennessee in white oak and honeysuckle. Today Beth continues to teach basket making, create patterns and study the art of basketry every chance she gets.
