Sweet grass basket making was brought to South Carolina by slaves who came from West Africa. These functional baskets were used on the plantations and sold for extra income for the slave owners.Today the West African descendents keep the basket making tradition alive in Mount Pleasant.Charleston SC, this heritage is pass down generation to generation from grandmother to mother to daugther and in some cases to exstended family member now.It is still practice til this day where entire family members weave these baskets.The men and the boys go out to harvest the material while the ladies and girls weave the baskets.
We also make the traditonal popcorn wreath (seasonally) great for over the fire place and door way.and of cause the the old fashsion and original bread baskets. The everlasting palmetto rose-the story goes that the young ladies would give these roses to a love one going off to war,'' that the rose and the love one would return soon
We are now located in Atlanta- region of Stone Mountain
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Generations: A Family Tradition
Michael Ellis was born in 1961 and in a resident of charleston SC. After living in Atlanta GA. for over 25 years now.He and his wife Jovelyn started their own business weaving and selling sweetgrass baskets from their home.Now for five years he and his wife goes to some of the many well known arts and craft shows in and around the Atlanta GA. area.Michael was taught how to make baskets from his Grandmother and mother at the age of seven..Jovelyn is another story!she was born in the Philippines we have ony been married for five years now.she learn how to weave sweetgrass baskets from my mother and whats unique about her baskets is she have her own destinct designs just as I do. basket making have only been past down from mother to duaghters in the family but never to outsiders in the past.But now is taught to extended family members. Going out to collect and harest the raw materials for his mother as he was growing up, then moving to Atlanta GA.to go to technical school. Althrough he was always still with his heritage Michael never abandoned the art,even after moving there.I just kind of put it on hold but not completely.I didn't weave any basket at the time.But he would go out and collect the raw material for his mother every chance he got during school breaks.Michael's ancestors who were slaves from West Africa who bought this traditional art form which have been pass down from generations to generation in his family.Now I have my own family now fourth generation I now can see that at lease one of my little one's little Michael junior is taking interest in the art already he is only 22 months old.And I can say even if he does not stick with it at lease he will know how to carry it on.They is a old saying in Charleston! come a day, their will sew!''their will'',time will come''their will sew'' hey look at us
