Our History

2020 
The 24th state convention, "Weave Away with KBA" in person was cancelled because of COVID19.  
On October 3, 2020 we held our Annual Board meeting on Zoom marking our first Virtual Convention and offered  classes.  
On December 5, 2020 we held Virtual Holiday Weave that had 4 classes/teachers.  
We also adopted "Weave Away with KBA" for a permanent name for our Convention.  
Officers were retained for 2021.  

2019
The 23rd state convention, "KBA Leaves the Weaving to you", was held at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset on October 3 - 5, 2019
Officers:  
President, Patti Roach
President Elect, Open
Past President, Lorelea Roberts
Secretary, Boo Shea
Treasurer , Gail Loeser
Communications, Sandi Dailey
Representatives-at-Large
Martha Ross, Sue Dennedy, Jody Epperson, Angela Irwin, Laura Noe, Judi Stimmel

2018
New website  KentuckyBaskets.org. 

2005
The 9th state convention—“A Decade of Memories, Friends, and Baskets”— was held at the Convention Center in Corbin on July 14-16.

New Officers:
Kay Ragland, President
Elsbeth Kramer, President-Elect
Sharon Toadvine, Secretary
Patti Feather, Western Region Representative
Karen Henderson/Pam Mitchell, Newsletter Editors
Sheri Yanero, Historian/Librarian

2004
The 8th state convention—“Twillin’ ‘n’ Toten’”—was held at the Hurstbourne Lane Holiday Inn in Louisville on July 29-31.

Altruistic Activity: Many KBA members wove Pink Ribbon Twill Baskets following a pattern written by Laura Lee Zanger; the baskets were used as centerpieces for the Cure Survival (for Breast Cancer) Kickoff Dinner 
in Louisville on October 5, 2004.

New officers:
Becky Josvai, President
Jo Ann Chaffins, Newsletter Editor  

2003
KBA joined the National Basket Association.

With its new responsibility of coordinating state conventions,  the Board decided to no longer host November Weave sessions.

The 7th state convention—“Weaving Through A Thankful Heart”—was held in Frankfort at the Capital Plaza Holiday Inn on November 13-15.

New Officers for 2003-2004:
Julie Peoples/Becky Josvai, President
Jan Treesch, Western Region Representative
Jo West, Western Region Representative
Martha Newby, Central Region Representative
Delores Mudd, Central Region Representative
Karen Galloway, Eastern Region Representative
Charlotte Haney, Eastern Region Representative
Peggy McAllister, Newsletter Editor

2002
KBA’s website was established at www. geocities.com/Kentuckybaskets

The KBA Board took over the responsibility of coordinating the state convention each year.

The by-laws were amended to combine the offices of Treasurer and Vice-President—Membership.
The 6th state convention—“Woven in the USA”—was held at Midway College on August 1-3.

The November weave was held at General Butler State Park, Carrollton on November 7-8.

New Officers for 2001-2003:
Martha Ross, President
Mary McAllister, Past-President
Julie Peoples, President-Elect
Kay Ragland, Vice-President—Programs
Ginni Howard/Barbara Morris, Vice-President—Membership
Doris Meador, Secretary
Vickie Goodman, Western Region Representative
Peggy Alderson, Western Region Representative
Karen Higdon, Central Region Representative
Delores Mudd, Central Region Representative
Yvonne Summers, Eastern Region Representative
Sharon Toadvine, Eastern Region Representative
Martha Newby, Newsletter Editor

2001
Plans were made to develop a website for KBA.

The 5th annual state convention was held at Midway College—“Camp Wannaweave”—on August 2-4.

The November Weave was held on November 2-3 at Natural Bridge State Park.


2000
The 4th state convention—“Simple Pleasures…Tomorrow’s Treasures”—was held at Midway College on August 3-5. Ruth Thompson coordinated the event.

The November Weave was held at General Butler State Park at Carrollton on November 3-4.

New officers for 2000-2002:
Martha Ross, Vice-President—Membership
Ruth Thompson, Vice-President—Programs
Karen Higdon, Treasurer
Karen Wilson, Central Region Representative
Sharon Blankenship, Central Region Representative
Nancy Inman, Newsletter Editor

1999
KBA worked with the Kentucky State Fair from the organization’s inception; in 1999, as a result of their efforts, new classifications were added to the Baskets category and the Kentucky guilds each sponsored one of the categories and paid for the prizes.

The state convention—“Basket Bee Mania”—was held on August 5-7 at the Executive Inn, Rivermont, in Owensboro. Eighty-nine members attended and took classes from 18 teachers.

The 4th November Weave was held on November 5-6 at Rough River Dam State Park

New officers for 1999-2001:
Mary McAllister, President
Sharon Toadvine, Secretary
Donna Stout, Historian/Librarian
Sally Law, Western Region Representative

1998
The Big Sandy Basket Guild was formed in Pikeville. (Pike, Magoffin, Lawrence, Floyd Counties).

The second KBA convention—“Friendships Intertwined”—was held at the Kentucky Leadership Center on Lake Cumberland at Jabez. Bessie Bain and Martha Newby were site coordinators for the event, held on July 30-31, August 1.

The November Weave was held at the Holiday Inn—Capital Plaza in Frankfort on November 6-7. The weave followed a Christmas theme and was coordinated by Linda Finney.
 
1997
In 1997, a new weaving guild was formed in Louisville—The Derby Guild.

KBA members participated in The Kentucky Craft Market Event in January and sponsored a November Weave at General Butler State Park in Carrolton on October 3l-November 1. At the November Weave, everyone wove the same basket, taught by Rosemary Graves and Kay Ragland.

“Basket Treasures for 1997” (our first convention) was held July 31, August 1-2 at The Louisville Holiday Inn on Gardiner Lane. Coordinators for the event were Delores Mudd and Kathy Stonestreet-Seaton.

Officers elected in 1997 were:
Martha Newby, President
Bessie Bain, Vice-President—Programs
Rosemary Graves, Vice-President—Membership
Delores Mudd, Treasurer
Vicki Poteat, Western Region Representative
Jan Treesch, Western Region Representative
Ruth Thompson, Central Region Representative
Ardia Herndon, Central Region Representative
Dr. Mary Wiss, Eastern Region Representative
Kay Ragland, designated Past President for 1st term
Linda Finney, Secretary
Paula Gron, Historian/Librarian


1996
In 1996, KBA began to take shape. Paula Gron’s design won the KBA logo contest and our identity was born.

The newly-formed group organized a one-day open weave and picnic held at the Perryville Battlefield StatePark on June 1, 1996.

The 30 weavers in attendance enjoyed an open weave session, a dye party, a pot-luck picnic and the Blue-Gray Basket Design Challenge. Weavers who entered the contest were Janice Parker, Ardia Herndon, Delores Mudd, Paula Scott, and Jan Treesch. Jan’s design—the Civil War Victory Basket—took honors as Viewer’s Choice.
On November 9, 1996, the first KBA November Weave was held at the Hampton Inn in Bardstown. Sixty-nine KBA members attended the one-day weaving session where they signed up to take classes before-hand.

At year’s end, KBA had 194 paid members.

​1995
Thirty-eight charter members met at the County Extension Office in Versailles on September 30, 1995 to form the Kentucky Basket Association. Jennifer Klee, Woodford County Extension Agent for Home Economics, was instrumental in the process.

Officers elected were:
Martha Newby, President
Rosemary Graves, Vice-President—Membership
Linda Finney, Secretary
Delores Mudd, Treasurer
Kay Ragland, Member-at-Large
M.D. Hill, Central Membership Rep
Ardia Herndon, Central Member-at-Large
Frances Whitaker, Eastern Membership Rep
Vicki Poteat and Jan Treesch,Western Members-at Large
Paula Scott, Newsletter Editor
Paula Gron, Historian/Librarian

With the chartering of The Kentucky Basket Association came the formation of three weaving guilds:
Kentucky River Dreamweavers, Versailles
Bluegrass Basket Guild, Taylorsville
Anne’s Rib Basket Guild, Harrodsburg

*Woven Together in Western Kentucky Guild was formed before KBA was chartered.