school, I took four years of rivercane and honeysuckle vines, so I learned all three.”

Welch plays an important role in her community, not only as a master basketmaker and mentor, but also through her craft shop. “There’s a lot of families that don’t have as much income as others. They rely on being able to sell their crafts during the winter time. That’s why I decided to have the shop in my home. And I know everybody and I can buy more from the ones that don’t have as much as others… I don’t mark them up a big lot cause I didn’t do this to make money. I did it to help them… That’s just the way I am.”