Upon arrival, guests will be greeted warmly by the host, who will share the history of Chill Baskets. Guests will then enter Carrie Hill’s private studio, where they will see her raw materials and workspace. Carrie will take guests through her workshop, share her tools and some of her award-winning creations. She will also present some different weaving techniques she uses and the traditional and modern inspiration behind her designs. In addition to her work, Carrie will speak about the legacy of basket making in Akwesasne and how the Haudenosaunee, the people of the Long House, have created and used baskets made from local materials since the beginning of time. 

Guests will also learn how Carrie harvests and sources her materials locally in harmony with nature. Carrier will also share challenges with sourcing local materials due to the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species that nests in Black Ash trees.

Guests will then get to try their hands at weaving themselves with a project made from Black Ash and Sweetgrass, the two key materials of traditional Mohawk baskets. Guests will enjoy Carrie’s laid back and friendly presentation style and will leave with a connection to both the Akwesasne culture and host. The guests will leave with knowledge on basketry, the materials, traditional cultural knowledge and last but not least, a finalized project that they have been guided to weave.

Carrie Hill is the founder of Chill Baskets. She is an Akwesasne Mohawk fancy basket weaver and cultural educator. Chill Baskets started out as self-care, as a way to fulfil the creative outlet of a new mom, and eventually became a lifelong passion and business. Carrie’s Auntie Laura passed on her knowledge of the tools and techniques of basket-making that allowed Carrie to start Chill Baskets in 2015. A fast learner with a creative passion, Carrie later left her career as an educator to become a full-time basket maker. She was later awarded a New York Foundation of the Arts grant to build a real studio, which was an upgrade from weaving in her kitchen. Having that dedicated space was freeing and gave her the ability to embrace her creativity, as well as provided a venue to hold workshops.

Carrie makes contemporary, decorative baskets, building on the traditional techniques of her family and ancestors. She marries her experience with education and her passion for basket making in her workshops and tours. Born and raised in Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, Carrie sources all of her material locally and enjoys gathering materials, such as Sweetgrass and Black Ash, exploring the natural world with her family. She is consistently inspired by her culture and surroundings. Chill Baskets has now become a multigenerational enterprise, as Carrie has passed on her knowledge to her daughters, who help her weave and prepare materials. 

You can now enjoy Carrie Hill’s “Come Weave with Chill Baskets” tour virtually from the comfort of your own home. Simply click on the link to go to Airbnb’s Online Experiences and find out more about her virtual tour today!