A trained horticulturalist with a degree in agriculture, Shari was first exposed to basketry in 1999 when she took her first course at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. “The endless possibilities for form and function attracted me instantly to basketry when I was introduced to it. The added pleasure is finding elements from nature that blend in beautifully with a new basket to provide the finishing touch!”

Shari continues to attend upgrading course, as well as pursuing numerous self-training sessions.

Having worked with fiber for the last twenty years, Shari finds she really enjoys working with rattan because of its flexibility for design and its ability to absorb color readily. Shari’s method of employing a variety of basketry techniques within the same piece allows for both quality of construction and creative input. Shari resides in Sydney, where she divides her time between basketry and gardening.