Spending a Few Moments with Dave Longaberger

The Collector's Club Field Trip gathering in April was a wonderfully fun event held at Longaberger Homestead in Ohio.  After weaving, shopping, listening, visiting, eating, meeting, and shopping some more, I had a few moments before the final drawings in the afternoon.  I went to the Dave Longaberger Memorial at the Homestead and enjoyed some quiet moments watching the happiness of the Collectors Club members from afar, listening to the bluegrass music backed by the trickling water of the memorial, and knowing that Dave would've enjoyed all of it.

How Did the Barn Basket Turn Out?

The Longaberger Barn Basket that I wove at the Collectors Club Field Trip in April has barn-door accent splints and a unique barn-roof handle shape. Longaberger is definitely celebrating America's farming roots this summer, with returning baskets like the Measuring, Fruit, Berry, and Gathering Baskets that were originally used on Ohio farms . . . but not in the fun, bright stain colors Longaberger offers this summer!

The beautiful lid was available at the Homestead, as well as a fun tractor cut-out.  The Barn Basket was definitely different from the other (probably 6-8) Longaberger baskets I've woven over the years.  However, the camaraderie with a weaver and excitement of creating something beautiful and useful remains the same with each weaving experience. From the music to the activities, Longaberger's Collectors Club event was a happy place to be.

Longaberger Is All About Happiness

Can you buy happiness?  No, but you can create it yourself.  What makes you happy?  I'm happy when meeting and eating with family and friends, enjoying quiet time at home, learning new things, reading, cooking (sometimes), and doing other everyday things.
While speaking at Longaberger's Collectors Club Field Trip in April, John Rochon Jr. shared the idea that the best product that Longaberger offers is happiness. Before you laugh at that, think about it.  If you have Longaberger products, do they make you in some way happy?  If you are a Collectors Club member, do those special events and offers make you happy?  If you're a Consultant or Leader, do you have many friends and memories that make you happy?  Sure you do!  I think Rochon is right.  I'm impressed he was able to put it that simply. 

Longaberger has given me lots of happiness.  This might seem crazy, what I'm 'bout to say:  From the friends I've made to the things I've seen and the places I've been (and with a houseful of baskets and pottery!), my Longaberger experience has been unusually happy.  Come be happy with us!

Weaving My Longaberger Red Barn Basket with Molly

There's nothing like weaving a Longaberger Basket yourself, or at least with a little help from a skilled Longaberger artisan.  I attended Longaberger's Collectors Club Field Trip at Longaberger Homestead in April, where weaver Molly Slate helped me create the perfect keepsake:  My own Red Barn Basket.  

 Weaving at the Homestead is so special.  You get to work with a friendly Longaberger weaver, learn about her or his favorite baskets, hear a good story or two, meet nearby weavers, imagine what it might be like to have this special skill and career, and head home with a wonderful memory that you can also use.  Molly was patient, friendly, and fun.

I'm sure Molly and the other weavers have to assist some guest weavers more than others, and I needed lots of help!  It was another wonderful Longaberger experience.  I'll be watching for Molly's initials on baskets I receive in the future.  Although you had to attend this event to weave a Red Barn Basket, there are other choices to make.  If you travel to Longaberger Homestead or attend a Longaberger event such as the Basket Bee (Longaberger's annual convention), you too can make your own American treasure.