My 3 year basket making apprenticeship is ending this summer, and over the last year I've been processing my own black ash splints.
There's a lot of growth rings that come off a tree that just aren't suitable for fancy baskets. They're too thin to split and shave, or their grain is wonky, or they're discolored or otherwise ugly. I couldn't bring myself to waste them by throwing them out so I stashed them away until I had enough for a big basket.
It's uneven, it's wonky, it's rough and not at all refined. It goes against everything I've learned about making pretty baskets for collectors.
It will be joining me in the woods as soon as I have a good strap for it.
