Just finished a two day workshop with Basketmakers of Victoria; eight of us making melon baskets (so called because of their shape). Jean, the tutor, had a wicked sense of humour and heaps of knowledge and hints to guide us through the process: making two rattan circles for the handle and rim; using split rattan to make the god's eyes (binding handle and rim together); inserting rattan spokes to form the framework for weaving the base; and weaving with redhot pocket and cumbungi. Once into the weaving you could tell that everybody was concentrating hard; complete silence with the occasional expletive as a mistake was made!
I really enjoyed the workshop. Go here for photos of the work.