Contributed by Charice Chambers
A wise woman once said, “When you weave a basket, you weave a bit of yourself into it: your joy and your energy. “ Colleen Anagick likes to believe that she leaves a bit of herself in each basket she makes.
Weaving reeds into useful and beautiful works of art is her best stress reliever. As a crisis clinician since 2008, Anagick works as a part of a behavioral urgent response team dealing mostly with suicides. Anagick has successfully dealt with stress for over twenty years through the relaxation brought on by crafting beautiful baskets. In 2007 she injured her foot, and was immobile for nine weeks. Used to a lot of activity, she searched for something to do, and discovered basket-weaving classes. One class led to another, and by 2009, she was the instructor!
In 1997 Anagick met nurse Sharon Hamilton at the hospital. A California transplant with a very decidedly creative and adventurous side, Hamilton’s avocation was flower arranging. She and Anagick shared not only their creativity, but discovered a common passion for racquetball. Together they participated in weekly games, leagues, and tournaments for nearly twenty years. It was natural that Anagick would introduce Hamilton to the art of basketry as a part of that friendship. Soon Hamilton, too, was hooked on this new adventure. The duo spent many hours crafting baskets for friends and relatives. They even organized and taught a few basket making classes.
Then Covid hit.
While many others were working hard at gaining their Covid twenty, the friends were busy birthing their infant business: Soul Sisters Basketree. Often, when they got together, they listened to Darren Hardy podcasts. The sessions were oriented to goal setting, business organization, and tools for success. Anagick and Hamilton thought that they should apply what they were learning, and start a business. Basketry was the obvious choice. For them, it was a way to finance their hobby and share their love of basket making with others.
Soul Sisters sells a wide variety of baskets from small wall hung conical creations, great for dried flowers, attractive storage for silverware or napkins, or a variety of other storage solutions, to large hearth style containers ready to display your treasures. Anagick and Hamilton also produce coin baskets. These medium sized woven wonders feature Alaska quarters set in the base of a colorful basket, a perfect gift to send outside. The duo’s most unique basketry is the Adirondack backpack. This type of reed backpack, trimmed either in decorative braid or leather, is often used for grape harvesting in France and Italy. It hints of many other unique uses as well. Soul Sisters also hosts a variety of basket making classes. With Christmas just around the corner, Soul Sisters basketry can take the guesswork out of shopping. Each basket is unique and these two designers are constantly working to create new and different patterns and products. Hamilton recently created a multicolored platter anchored on either side with horn handles, a truly magnificent piece.
Matsu Senior Services Gift Shop is proud to add Soul Sisters Basketree to their fine collection of local artist-rendered products. Anagick and Hamilton will even be hosting basket-making classes at the Center.
The gift shop is located in the Palmer Senior Center building at 1132 S. Chugach Street in Palmer. We invite you to follow us on Facebook, check us out at www.matsuseniors.com, or contact us at giftshop@matsuseniors.com.
