by Hannah Van Aelst | Jan 6, 2026 | Uncategorized
When asked by one of my students in my online program about copyright in the basket making community, I realized I do have some thoughts on this topic. I would like to share them below.Everyone has copyright on their own creations.Copyright is the exclusive legal...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 15, 2025 | Willow
In late summer I managed to capture some scenes of the willow beds. There is not that much to do in summer. The willow is growing. But I like to walk through the beds all year and keep an eye on possible pests and diseases in case I do need to step in. And I like to...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Aug 16, 2025 | Life as a basket maker, Uncategorized
I often get asked what I do in a day. My days vary considerably and change throughout the year. In January I spend my time harvesting the willow. We harvest everything by hand. February is spent grading the willow and tidying up the willow beds. Then I have a spring...
by Hannah Van Aelst | May 12, 2025 | living willow
In this video you see me going back to some 2 year old living willow structures to see how they are doing. One of them being in bad repair, I show you how I bring it back to life. Living willow structures need attention every year during winter. Especially the younger...
by Hannah Van Aelst | May 9, 2025 | Musings, Uncategorized
I have made another YouTube video. This one is a little different. I talk about what it means to me to make by hand, the importance of using our bodies and learning while doing. Would you like to become a basket maker? Check out my program BECOMING A BASKET...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Jan 4, 2023 | Willow
How to start growing willow for basket making. A question I get asked a lot is how do I get started growing willow? How much area do I need to plant? What varieties would you recommend? Let’s dive into all of that here. But firstly I want to say I do not have...
by Hannah Van Aelst | May 12, 2022 | Life as a basket maker, Uncategorized
What do I do in winter? Working with willow is very season dependent. Winter starts with the harvest. After that the long process of grading willow, sorting by size, starts. This winter I also planted some longer stemmed willow for pollarding, and I got the...
by Hannah Van Aelst | May 12, 2022 | living willow
How to make a living willow structure? Watch as I take you through my process step by...
by Hannah Van Aelst | May 12, 2022 | Uncategorized, Willow
I often get asked about why we leave some of our willow on higher stems (pollarding). In this video I dive a little deeper into that question....
by Hannah Van Aelst | May 12, 2022 | Life as a basket maker, Uncategorized
Moving into my new studio has been such a joy! The space is beyond amazing and it is fun to see how the physical space has started to influence my work, in a good way… Watch the video here or on YouTube. Would you like to become a basket maker? Check out...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Jan 10, 2022 | Willow
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by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Willow
Come along as I walk through my willow beds and point out some issues with pests and diseases now visible, my thoughts on how to manage willow and willow...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Life as a basket maker
As I settle into my new studio you can see me here make new work, try different working stations and listen to some thoughts on the inner critic. What do you...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Life as a basket maker
I have been a full time basket maker for about 10 years but I have never had my own work space. I have worked from the kitchen table, from the willow shed and a corner of the tunnel and moved between all of those over the years depending on the weather, space and...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Willow
The one question I get asked the most is on how to prepare willow. Does it need to be dry before weaving, how to make it flexible again, how to soak, and what about steaming? In this video I go deep into all of those questions. Time stamps are provided in the video...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | basket making tutorials
New step by step video on how to start, weave and finish a round basket base without background music. Just a simple step by step video that will help you on your way to making your very own baskets. ...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Life as a basket maker
I am not alone in that sometimes I do need a break! From weaving and grading in this instance. Come along as I go for a hike, make bread, plant willow in a new willow bed and you can see the very start of us building my new studio. ...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Willow
Once willow is cut and brought home the work is not finished. As each stool produces willow of different lengths and thickness I will go through each bundle to grade them by size. This means I put a bundle in a barrel, with a measuring stick beside it. First I take...
by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Willow
Our harvest season was different this year as due to restrictions we could not allow people to travel to help out. But we still got some lovely neighbors and friends helping out, making the entire experience a lot more enjoyable. Have a look at what treasure we...
