TERRE HAUTE —
Now a high school math teacher, Michele Stahly has not forgotten basket weaving skills she learned in 4-H, a skill she has turned into a business — Gal’s Baskets.
Stahly has been involved in Vigo County 4-H since about age 6, first joining mini 4-H. She showed cattle, and later served on the 4-H Council for several years.
But it was a basket weaving workshop she took with Missy Daughtery that made a lasting impression with the 27-year-old Terre Haute South Vigo High School teacher.
“When I got out of college, just trying to make some extra money, I started weaving and going to different festivals,” Stahly said. “I just enjoyed it and I keep doing it in my spare time.”
Stahly, a native of rural West Terre Haute, graduated from Indiana State University in 2007. This week she is busy making and selling baskets during the Vigo County Fair at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.
Stahly also regularly participates in the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival at Bridgeton and in festivals in Elnora and at Marshall, Ill.
“It is a side thing, but I do this year-round. I go to a lot of festivals in the fall,” she said.
A future goal is to set up her own shop.
“I would love to have a shop and have classes and sell materials, because you can’t really find materials for baskets around here. You have to order it all online mostly,” Stahly said.
Stahly can make up to 13 baskets a day. She also tries to create something special when she works, using a wrench, a potato masher, coke bottle opener, melon baller or even a small horse bit for basket handles.
“I want to make something unique,” she said.
Her mother, Rosa Puller, helps out by staining reed different colors, such as red or purple, which Stahly weaves into some baskets to add a different look. Her baskets in the Exhibition Hall at the Vigo County Fair range in size from two inches at the base to much larger, such as a 14-inch long tray basket. Stahly can make baskets even larger. Most of the baskets have a wooden base to make them more practical for daily use, she said.
She also takes special requests, noting that at the Covered Bridge Festival a person might ask for a certain type of basket in the morning, then return that evening to pick up the finished product.
Stahly got the idea to name her business from her older brother, Michael Puller, who at about age 3 could not pronounce Michele, but instead started calling his little sister “Gal,” Rosa Puller said.
“The name stuck,” Stahly said. “Even my husband (Daniel Stahly) is now starting to call me that. I am just used to it.”
Stahly can be contacted at Gal’s Baskets at (812) 208-5940 or via email at Tractorgal03@aol.com or on Facebook at Gal’s Baskets.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
2012 Vigo County Fair schedule
Tuesday, July 10
• 9 a.m.: 4-H Swine show
• 10 a.m.-noon: Master Gardeners “Little Sprouts” Tracker Program making animal footprints (Floriculture building)
• 10 a.m.-9 p.m.: 4-H/Open Class exhibits open
• Noon-9 p.m.: Commercial exhibits open
• 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.: Solution Action Sports-BMX Stunt Show
• 4 p.m.: 4-H Alpaca show (show arena)
• 5 p.m.: Carnival by Drew Exposition (unlimited rides $18)
• 6 p.m.: 4-H Cat show
• 5:30 p.m.: Pit Party (see the trucks and meet the drivers)
• 7 p.m.: All-Star Monster Truck Show (grandstand). Tickets $10 for adults; $8 children 12 and under
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza From the heart: Michele Stahly displays one of her finished baskets Monday at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza One of Michele's: Michele Stahly has recently created baskets that feature a unique handle like this one with a soda bottle opener while others feature a melon scoop or wrench for handles.
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza By hand: Michele Stahly builds a basket by hand as she and her mom, Rosa, tend their stand at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds Monday.
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Baskets of experience: Passers-by comment that Michele Stahly makes basket weaving look easy but she is quick to admit that it is the many hours of practice and experience that have got her to this point.
Discussion
Basket Gal at the Vigo County Fair
- Local & Bistate
-
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
I-70 Frye Road overpass contract awarded; construction to begin May 28
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the Interstate-70 Frye Road overpass contract was awarded to Halverson Construction Co. Inc. from Springfield, Ill., for $317,166.
-
Overturned truck in Greene County leaves Indiana 54 backed up
A gravel truck overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Richland.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 21, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
UPDATE: Damage surveys show 2 weak tornadoes hit near Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Weather Service says storm surveys show two weak tornadoes struck central Indiana.
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages
INDIANAPOLIS — A line of thunderstorms that moved across Indiana caused scattered building damage and power outages for several thousand homes and businesses.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Today in History May 22
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Today in History May 23
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
