Edna says, “I got lost in basket weaving and loved every minute of it.” (Edna Campbell, basket Maker and All Peoples member Louisville, KY)
Edna Campbell has been a basket weaver for more than forty years. Edna’s weaving is a way to express her creativity. Not only has she made many styles of baskets, using many techniques and materials, but she also caned chairs and experimented with other crafts.
Edna took her first basket weaving class in the 1980s from Ardia Herndon of Taylorsville, Kentucky, a dedicated basket weaver and teacher of the craft. Ardia’s baskets are primarily hand dyed and made of oak, and inspired Edna’s work.
Over the years, Edna combined her love of weaving with another passion of hers—volunteering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. One year, Edna coordinated the creation and donation of 80 baskets which were given to attendees at a Susan G. Komen kickoff dinner. These baskets were made by Edna and weavers from all around Kentucky. One of these memorable baskets was purchased by Diane Sawyer.
Edna worked for AT&T for 17 years, during which time she raised 3 children (Hugh, Tonya and Troy), served on a PTA board, was a traveling soccer mom, and milked 13 dairy goats twice a day to supply her son and other babies allergic to cow’s milk.
Edna worked at Bacon’s and Dillard’s lingerie departments and became one of the foremost bra fitters in the southeast region, then became a corporate lingerie executive employee. Putting her work experience as a bra fitter to use, she fitted at James Graham Brown cancer center, volunteering for 28 years, helping underserved and uninsured women. Edna led for breast cancer fittings and education programs for the African American retreats. She was awarded the Bell Award for her volunteerism. Governor Steve Beshear appointed Edna to serve on the State Breast Cancer Advisory Committee. Edna survived breast cancer, then her son Hugh died following a 9-year breast cancer journey. Edna’s weaving was a way to be creative and to remove her from the everyday stresses breast cancer brings.
Edna’s positive attitude, her smile, and her beautiful baskets have brought joy to many people. A few of her baskets are in this exhibit at All Peoples. We hope you will appreciate the designs of the baskets presented for your enjoyment.
Kentucky Quilts
The quilts on display here are part of the Appalachia Quilt Project, a partnership of the Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists (LAFTA) and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, with help from quilters across the Commonwealth. The aim of the project is to call attention to the families displaced by flooding in Eastern Kentucky more than two years ago, who are still without permanent safe homes. Most quilts were newly made, to be given to each family as they move into their new home. The quilts here are deemed “heritage” quilts and quilt tops, too delicate for everyday use, but beautiful to display.
You can help this project and the families by:
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Bidding on these heritage quilts when they go up for auction or raffle later this year, or
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Making a donation online at https://www.appalachianky.org/