Sunkota Ridge Baskets

Step behind the weave and discover the heart of Sunkota Ridge Baskets—where passion, nature, and heritage come together in every handcrafted piece. Each basket is shaped not by a mold, but by the rhythm of the hands and the whispers of the Appalachian Mountains. Inspired by the Great Smoky National Park and named after cherished natural landmarks, A handcrafted piece of nature to remind you to pause and reflect! Sunkota Ridge Baskets don’t simply hold the things we gather, they hold the special moments we never want to forget🧡

This makes my day everytime🧡

A big thank you to those that took advantage of the sale and also those with special orders🧡 Christmas is coming- last day for special order is November 15th. Will close special order date before then pending available spaces!

Fall is here, and it's the perfect season to pair two of life's greatest joys—crisp mountain hikes and cozy basket weaving! 🍂🍁 Whether you're trekking through the golden trails of the Great Smoky National Park or curling up with reeds and rhythm at home, there's magic in every step and every weave. Our handcrafted baskets bring the spirit of the season and the soul of the Appalachians into your world—one unique piece at a time. So lace up your boots or roll up your sleeves, because autumn adventures are calling! 🥾🧺✨
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Going to extend the October Sale until Sunday October 11th 🧡

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Celebrate heritage, heart, and soul with a special 40% off sale at Sunkota Ridge Baskets! 🎉 From Friday, October 2nd through Sunday, October 4th, honor a beautiful legacy—my mother's birthday on October 3rd and our youngest sister's retirement starting October 1st. This heartfelt weekend is all about love, tradition, and timeless craftsmanship. 🧺💖 Each handwoven basket is a one-of-a-kind creation inspired by the natural beauty of the Great Smoky National Park and the Appalachian Mountains, representing the soul of our craft. Now’s the perfect time to own a piece of that story and support a small business rich in meaning. Visit your website today to shop this exclusive sale! 🛍️✨
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HER STORY by: Influential Women and their Interview

About Lee Anne
Lee Anne Williams Hiatt is the Owner and artisan behind Sunkota Ridge Baskets, which she operates from her home in Mount Airy, North Carolina. After a 33-year career as a dental assistant and a period dedicated to caring for her parents, Hiatt transitioned into artisan basket weaving, turning her passion for heritage, nature, and craftsmanship into a business. Drawing inspiration from her roots in Bryson City near the Great Smoky Mountains and her Cherokee family connections, she taught herself the craft and developed a distinctive style that combines traditional weaving techniques with personalized embellishments, names, and themes. Each basket is carefully handcrafted to reflect the beauty and character of the Appalachian, Blue Ridge, and Great Smoky Mountains. Hiatt’s baskets are designed to be more than functional or decorative pieces; they are intended to preserve memories and encourage people to pause and appreciate the natural world. Her collections include the Smoky Mountain Series, Waterfall Basket Series, and Creek Series, with baskets named after meaningful places, creeks, waterfalls, wildflowers, and other elements of nature. Each piece takes approximately two days to create, and Hiatt allows the basket to develop its own natural shape before embellishing it. She studied at Surry Community College, earning an AAS, and has shared her work through local artisan markets supported by the Chamber of Commerce, Raffaldini Winery as well as online. Her commitment to craftsmanship reflects her desire to help preserve basketry as a meaningful and increasingly rare art form. Hiatt attributes her success to remaining faithful to her original goals, maintaining strong communication with customers, and making every effort to fulfill special and custom orders. She has persevered through challenges involving timing, limited space, and the difficulty of introducing an appreciation for nature and handmade craftsmanship in a fast-paced world. She encourages young women entering the industry not to view rejection as a permanent “no,” but rather as an opportunity to persevere and continue pursuing their ambitions. Guided by generosity, creativity, and her deep love of nature, Hiatt hopes each Sunkota Ridge Basket brings its owner a connection to heritage, a moment of reflection, and a reminder of the special memories worth holding onto.

QUICK FACTS

Industry
Artisan basket weaving
Based in
Mount Airy, NC
Specialty
Handwoven Basketry
+2 more
HER INTERVIEW

Ten minutes with Lee Anne
01
What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to staying true to my vision and remaining committed to the work I set out to do. I value maintaining open communication with my customers, listening to their needs, and going the extra mile to fulfill special orders whenever possible. It is incredibly rewarding to know that my work connects people to the beauty, history, and cultural significance of traditional baskets and the ways they have been used throughout generations. Being able to preserve and share that beauty while creating something meaningful for others is what continues to inspire me.
02
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I’ve received is to honor my passion while developing my own authentic approach. My journey into basket weaving was inspired by my love of heritage and nature, and while I deeply respect Native American weaving traditions, I learned to personalize and embellish my work to create a unique patterns of my own. With guidance from my son-in-law, who is full-blooded Cherokee, I spent about a year refining my technique and continuing to learn. I call my creations “Sunkota baskets” because I see them as memories that should never be forgotten. This experience has taught me the importance of respecting tradition, embracing creativity, and staying true to my own artistic expression.
03
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

The best advice I would give to young women entering my industry is not to take “no” as a negative or as a permanent answer. Sometimes “no” simply means “not right now,” so I encourage women to persevere, remain confident in their abilities, and continue pursuing what they truly want. If you believe in something and are passionate about it, go after it with determination and don’t let setbacks stop you.
04
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenge in my field is that basket weaving is becoming a dying art, and I am deeply committed to doing everything I can to keep it alive. Finding enough time and space to dedicate to the craft can be difficult, but one of my greatest opportunities is to help people recognize and appreciate the beauty of nature through my baskets. I hope my work will inspire others to value this traditional craft and ensure that its beauty and meaning continue to be appreciated for generations to come.
05
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are generosity, appreciation, and a deep connection to nature. I have always been the kind of person who wants to give something meaningful to others, and I consider myself a true nature enthusiast. In such a busy world, I hope my baskets give people a reason to pause, reconnect with nature, and remember the special moments and memories that make life meaningful.

Fall arrived loud and proud in the Smokies❤️

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Fall had arrived and in the mountains it came in loud and proud! Just returning from a week staying with my granddaughters while my daughter and son-in-law had to take a road trip! A much needed pause to enjoy special time with my granddaughters and my daughter and son-in-law when they returned! Always a fun time and lots of laughter❤️ I love Fall in the mountain for it is the time of year to gather the most available natural resources for basket weaving, black walnuts and berries to stain reeds and cutting of grapevines also different foliage! Our favorite orchard had opened for it yearly busy time until end of December. Apple cakes, apple c***r donuts(my favorite) apple fritters, apple turnovers, apple pies, apple cookies and APPLES! Barbers Orchard is the greatest place EVER! I just had 2
Apple c***r donuts! I brought Stewart his favorite Apple turnover! A much needed pause to recharge, spend time with my family and now back to basketweaving❤️❤️❤️