About Us
Founded in 1982 as The Basket Maker's Catalog
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. Beth had also spent numerous days in Ollie and Lestle's kitchen learning the white oak basket process. With Beth aboard,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. Beth continues to teach basket making, create patterns and study the art of basketry every chance she gets.
A part of the rich basket making tradition in Kentucky and beyond
In 2013 one of Scott’s white oak egg baskets was included in the exhibit A Measure of the Earth: The Cole-Ware Collection of American Baskets at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. A Measure of the Earth explores the revival of traditional basketry in America during the past fifty years through works by sixty-three contemporary basketmakers who have gathered and woven with native materials. What an awesome honor!
If you would like to hear more about Kentucky's Basket Making Traditions, as told by Beth Hester, you will love hearing it from her!
A new chapter begins...
In March 2024, The Basket Makers Catalog (TBMC) moved to a new owner, Dani Sue of Dani Sue Creations, as owners Beth Hester, Scott Gilbert and Michael Sims, retired.
Dani Sue Anderson, who is an experienced weaver and teacher who first learned our craft from her grandmother Ardia Herndon, brings fresh excitement and an expanded catalog to our trusted tradition.
To mark this new chapter and better reflect this expanded offering, The Basket Maker's Catalog changed it's name to Basket Maker's Supply and relocated the business to The Basket Barn in Taylorsville, KY, complete with an expanded storefront.
Our promise and commitment remains the same, to provide great service: high-quality basket making supplies, free patterns, chair caning materials, tools, books, videos, and more on our redesigned website BasketMakersSupply.com, all with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.