A brief history of Vass Ellis's Life. In the early 1990s, Bernice became ill and Vass retired in order to stay home with his wife. Quote I had to have something to occupy my time so I started making baskets, on quote that said. He never made a basket before 1993. The memories of his grandfather so many years ago came back to him, and he began crafting white old baskets. Quote I hunt up a Long Tree about 5 or 6 inches in diameter, I want it about 10 feet tall and clear of Limbs. I split it open and half, then quarters and whine up with the...more