Life as a basket maker Archives

Winter willow work

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...

Moving into my new studio

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...

Settling into my new work space, new work positions and thoughts on the inner critic.

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...

Building my dream studio

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...

Away from weaving

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. ...