• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Mail
  • The Store
PrairieWood Basketry
  • PrairieWood Basketry
  • A Gallery of Work
  • Blog
  • The Store
  • Resources
  • Teaching Schedule
  • About Me
  • Menu
Blog - Latest News

Getting to know Jill Robinson

August 3, 2016/0 Comments/in Out and About with Basket Weavers /by Annetta K

 

Jill RobinsonIf you were watching the Super Bowl 50 in January (2016), you may have caught a glimpse of Jill.  No she wasn’t in the stands or the half time show, she was the Texas basket weaver on the Reliant Energy commercial. She says it was only a few seconds – but hey those were prime time seconds Jill!  (Curious? Links to the commercial are below.)   Jill is an accomplished basket and gourd artist, so it’s no surprise she was chosen to be included in the commercial. 

Jill works out of her home studio in Austin, Texas.   She is an active member of her local guild, Hill Country Weavers, and several state guilds, including the Texas Basket Weavers Association.  You can find Jill’s work at exhibits and art shows in Texas and you can find her teaching locally and at conventions all over the United States.  Check out her website, http://onebasket.net/ to find out where she will be teaching and exhibiting next.  And while you are there, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy her basket and gourd gallery –truly inspiring!Jill Robinson

Jill’s basket journey started back in 1986 with fly fishing in Maine.  Jill’s husband Joe* is a fly fisherman and for several years he spent his summers teaching fly fishing for L.L Bean.  The first year he did this, he arrived in Maine before Jill and discovered “Baskets of Joy” Maureen Joy’s shop. He encouraged Jill to check it out when she arrived.  Of course that lead to weaving her first basket.  In addition to learning to weave at Baskets of Joy, Jill also worked at Baskets of Joy for the next two summers. Jill has a degree in textile and clothing design and was a loom weaver, so it’s no surprise that basket weaving appealed to Jill’s  love of color, design, texture and three dimensional art.Jill Robinson

Two of the most influential people in Jill’s basket journey are Tom and Connie McColley.  From 1990-2000, Jill and her husband Joe, would spend two weeks in West Virginia attending the McColley’s White Oak Basketry School. Working with them was wonderful in so many ways.  Joe is a fantastic woodworker and so he loved the beautiful woods and oak splitting part and Jill loved the entire experience, but particularly the weaving. Tom and Connie’s creativity continues to inspire her.

Jill Robinson

Eight or nine years ago, Jill got interested in gourds.  She has started by taking a gourd class here and there at basket events, and eventually found herself attending the Wuertz Gourd Festival and taking classes with gourd artists from across the nation.  Color, carving, texture, naturals – Jill is hooked!  Recently Jill has put together a gourd presentation. It’s informative and a great introduction to gourd art and artists.  Ask her to share it at your next event!Jill Robinson

Jill retired from her full time job a few years ago to devote her time to her art.  She splits her time between basketry and gourd art – very different, yet complimentary art forms. Jill finds both of them very satisfying. If you get a chance to take a class with Jill or an opportunity to purchase her work, you will be glad you took it!

Jill Robinson

 

A few years back, I had dinner with Jill at the Missouri Basketweavers Guild annual convention. The basket community is not that large, so I knew who she was and had long admired her work –that dinner together was the start of a wonderful friendship.  I have so enjoyed getting to know Jill. Her basket weaving story is so interesting and her work so beautiful, so I was tickled when she agreed to let me interview her. Thank you Jill.Jill Robinson

*amazingly Joe, Jill’s husband, has also starred in a Super Bowl commercial – but I will let you ask Jill about it when you meet her!

And here are the links to the commercial – enjoy Reliant Energy’s Super Bowl commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvfTOFCbEk0Jill Robinson

And a second Reliant Energy commercial staring Jill 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EfxJoAruX4

 

 

Tags: art exhibit, basket event, Basket weaving, basketry, gourd class, learning to weave baskets
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get My Newsletter

  • Sign up HERE - - - and I will send you an email (with a link) when I add a new blog post!

Instagram

Follow Me!

Recent Posts

  • 2020 & Zoom Gatherings to Come
  • Baskets to watch for in 2019
  • September Adventures
  • Weavin’ on Route 66
  • June – basket classes and baskets

Categories

  • Basket Weaving Events
  • Basket Weaving Tutorials & Techniques
  • In the Studio
  • Life in this House
  • New Baskets
  • Out and About with Basket Weavers
  • Resources for Basket Weaving
  • Tools for Weaving Baskets

Archives

  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • FAQ
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cart
  • Account
  • Send Me an Email
alt text here
2020©Copyright - PrairieWood Basketry & Annetta Kraayeveld
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Mail
A visit to Dianne Gleixner’s Studio Weave the World!
Scroll to top