Its been a year full of new workshops, lots of learning, interesting commissions, exhibition work, meeting up with other basketmakers and a new basketry course. Thank you to everyone who has bought a basket or sculpture, booked onto a workshop, ordered a commission, recommended me or sent me their basket to repair. Your support means so much. |
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Willow Sculpture Workshops In 2023 I received so many requests to run sculpture workshops so this year I've held lots of them! Its mainly been hares, piggies, birds, poppy seed heads and dragonflies with so many first time weavers going home with some beautiful creations. Sculpture work is a great introduction to working with willow as it gives you a real feel for the materials and what it can do. If you have any suggestions or requests for a specific sculpture workshop then do get in touch with me. |
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I'm really pleased to have some of my work in an exhibition in King's Lynn this Autumn. The exhibition is curated by Contemporary and Country: "Lay of the land will celebrate the features that make the East Anglian landscape so distinctive. It will encompass recent work by artists and makers who show us why the east of England has maintained an enduring appeal among present day creative minds, how the landscape is changing, and the way it is represented in material terms in the work they produce." |
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This year I've been fortunate to attend workshops with Jenny Crisp, Francois Desplanches and Benjamin Nauleau to learn new techniques and baskets. Each time I learn from another maker I hope to use the new skills in future designs, adapting what I've learnt to make something new. |
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| | Frame baskets with Jenny Crisp - learning how to create different basket shapes using hoops and ribs. |
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| | Baskoden with Francois Desplanches - a traditional Breton basket used as an official measure of sardines. It is made upside down on a jig and starts with the smallest base. |
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| | Gondole Basket with Benjamin Nauleau. This is a very intricate basket that takes a long time! It starts with making hazel hoops on a former and adding more shaved hazel ribs. It is woven with willow skeins - where a willow rod is split into three and then shaved very thin. |
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And then there was Tear Up! Festival - a five day basketry festival organised by Eddie Glew and featuring some of the worlds best known basket makers. Lots of basket makers spending five days together in a field talking basketry, it was heaven! It also saw the launch of the Basketmakers Association's exhibition: 'Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining'. It is now on display at Ruthin Craft Centre in Denbighshire until January and then heads to the Harley Gallery in Nottinghamshire. Well worth a visit! |
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I'm very excited to start teaching my new basketry course here in Norfolk. It starts in October and we will meet once a month for six months. The course is aimed at beginners and we will focus on round willow basketry, learning as many weaves, styles and techniques as we can. There will be traditional and contemporary elements to learn. After the six months, learners will be invited to continue attending on a 'companion' basis (a cheaper rate but with access to materials and guidance) alongside new learners. I hope that over time, a regular group will meet and weave together. The first course is full but if you'd like to put your name down for the next one that starts in March 2025, then drop me a line by submitting your email address below. |
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Send me more information about the basketry course |
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Craft workshops make a great gift! I've set up some gift e-cards which can be sent directly to the recipient. | | |
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