Blog
How to make a round basket base
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. https://youtu.be/l4tRWXoxccM
Away from weaving
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. ...
Grading willow (sorting willow by size)
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...
Willow harvest 2020/2021
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...
What willow varieties should I grow?
I often get asked about what the best willow varieties are. I really can never give a straight answer to that. Willow will grow different in every location, depending on climate, weather conditions and soil composition. My advice is to start growing a wide range of...
How to weave a hanging basket?
This is another fun project. You can make these baskets in any size. They are handy because they are an easy and nice way to store a variety of things. From vegetables in the kitchen, to little bits and bobs in the bathroom. This basket it started by weaving the base...
How to weave a basket? Basket making for beginners.
Basket making is one of the oldest crafts. People have been weaving vessels for collecting, storing and transporting goods and food for thousands of years. I have been fascinated with basket making for more then 15 years now. I work in particular with willow, an...
How to make a Catalan tray from foraged materials
Weaving can be done with materials other then willow off course even though willow is easier to work with on many levels. But sometimes it can still be fun to use different textures and try out what else is available in your local area. In this video I weave a simple...
My making process
Some autumn snippets, thoughts and musings on making, slowing down and letting the willow guide what I make. I also explain what the willow disease, mentioned in the previous video, is and how I will handle it from now on. https://youtu.be/k0CAw3dr5sQ
Willow infestation
It all started about 5 years ago when we brought willow home from a friend with strange looking black nodules on it. I had never seen it before and did not make much of it. It looked quite harmless, a little like a gall. That next year I noticed some on our own willow...