Sunkota Ridge Baskets

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❤️❤️❤️

Fall has officially arrived, and our handwoven baskets are the perfect way to bring cozy autumn vibes into your home! 🍁 Each piece is uniquely shaped by nature’s flow and crafted with natural materials, inspired by the golden hues and crisp mountain air of the Great Smoky National Park and the Appalachian Mountains. With names drawn from cherished spots in the region, these one-of-a-kind baskets tell a story of heritage, artistry, and seasonal magic. Add a whimsical wonder to your fall décor—because every home needs a little autumn alchemy! 🧺🍂

My insight!

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I have to share how honored and excited I am to have been invited by Influential Women through LinkedIn! Their website, podcasts and magazine share the stories of different women, their journeys, insights and experiences to help other women in business, leadership and life! It is an honor to be invited to interview with them and among so many Influential Women! Their last magazine featured Suzy Orman, the financial guru, so to have been invited is amazingly inspiring! The interview is still in proofing and will be on their website and available for me to post as well! Here is a sample of giving them an insight I have regarding Sunkota Ridge Baskets❤️My website: sunkotabaskets.com
Influencialwomen.com

Sunkota Ridge Baskets-Bells of Christmas Basket! This sweet smaller basket has endless possibilities whether a part of your Christmas decor or as a gift! As decor Christmas Greenery and Cinnamon sticks or for a gift maybe a coffee or tea mug, with a bag of coffee or tea finished off with biscotti! Bells of Christmas Basket and any of my other baskets on my website I can gift it for you and have it full of whatever you would want, so it would be the price of the basket and what you choose to place in it for the final cost! We can work together by email!
Note: I love the AI bells however , the string does NOT go around the back of basket, AI generated it that way but the string is incorporated through the basket! Will be glad to take picture of the back of basket!
Website:sunkotabaskets.com
Email: [email protected]

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The mountains are calling—and now they're calling your living room! 🌄 Even if you can't hit the trails, a Sunkota Ridge Basket brings the wild beauty of the Great Smoky National Park and the Appalachian Mountains right to you. Each handwoven piece is a one-of-a-kind creation, shaped by nature’s flow and named after cherished mountain spots. No two are alike—just like the rugged, breathtaking landscapes that inspire them! Wrap a piece of mountain magic into your home today. 🌿🧺

Sunkota Ridge Baskets-Christmas and “Seng” Basket! The Christmas “Seng” basket depicts the times late fall until frost people of the Appalachian would dig ginseng to provide income for Christmas. It could be quite lucrative unless you were digging in the park, even worse if you were to sneak on someone else’s property. You would fair better by a Park Ranger than you would trespassing! Land owners took/take it very serious! The Christmas and “Seng” Basket can be used many ways with your Christmas decor! Loaded with big pine cones, Christmas arrangement on a table or beside a fireplace, giving as a gift full of goodies or placed with led lights to give a soft evening glow while you listen to Christmas music! All baskets can be found on my website: sunkotabaskets.com I also have some dates remaining for special orders. Special orders can be made by emailing me
Email: [email protected]