What You Will Learn

During this workshop, we’ll work with two natural materials that have been used across cultures for generations: gourds and pine needles.

We’ll begin with an introduction to gourds: what they are, how they grow, and how they’ve been traditionally used for vessels, tools, and art. Before any weaving begins, we’ll scrub and clean our gourds together, connecting to the full process from raw material to finished piece.

Participants will then learn the basics of pine needle weaving and how to use it to embellish and transform a gourd.

Along the way, I’ll share cultural context, highlighting Indigenous, African, and global traditions that use gourds and coiled basketry for everyday and ceremonial life.

All materials will be provided, including prepared gourds and pine needles.

No prior experience is needed; this class is beginner-friendly. Participants will leave with a finished or nearly finished woven gourd, along with the skills and confidence to continue exploring this craft at home. Pine needle bundles and gourds will be for sale for future projects at the end of class.

Where

Berkeley - exact meetup info provided with registration

About Abeni Pierson, your instructor

Abeni "Abi" Pierson [ahh-ben-knee] (she/her) is a California-based fiber artist and educator originally from the suburbs of Chicago. She studied fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago, but after witnessing the environmental harm and wastefulness of the fashion industry, she shifted her path toward more sustainable practices rooted in nature. Today, her work is dedicated to keeping the language of weaving alive and folk arts by teaching both youth and adults.

Ticket Options (choose the rate that is right for you)

Adults

• $225 Pay it Forward (these tickets allow us to offer Community Supported tickets. Please choose this if you can.)

• $200  Standard Ticket - (our standard ticket)

• $175 Community Supported (these tickets are for people who could not attend without community support.) 

Children (recommended for age 14 and up)

• $150 per teen (must attend with an adult)

More Important Details

These programs are very popular and often fill up very quickly. We encourage you to register right away if you'd like to attend!

You will receive a registration confirmation once we've received this form + your payment + your signed liability waiver. Our programs fill up quickly, and we cannot hold your spot until we've received all 3. If you submit your registration in the evening or on a weekend, it may take us 12-24 hours to send the confirmation. 

• This class is capped at 15 participants. 

• If you register and can no longer attend, you can gift or sell your ticket to a friend. We are not able to offer refunds. 

• Our classroom is wheelchair accessible.

• This class is best for people age 14 and up.