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Whiskers and willows

Guess what I found in the park? Pollarded willow shoots!

What? Leave them there?

Last October in Oxfordshire, R and I watched several episodes of a show called Kirstie’s Handmade Britain, where Kirstie Allsopp learned various crafts and entered crafting competitions. One of the crafts was a willow tension tray.

So I decided to make one.

After all, I saw Kirstie demonstrate it, how hard can it be?

It’s always good to have an appreciative audience.

I’m afraid I’ve gone a bit willow mad with a try at willow cloches for the rhubarb and plans for willow pyramids for the sweet peas, and dreams of golden willow baskets for every possible use.

Does anyone out there have any directions, leads on helpful books or just helpful hints for projects? I’d love to be able to make something spectacular, like a beautiful basket.

Comments: 4

  • April 8, 2012
    reply

    WOW!! I am so impressed. This is amazing, really beautiful. Nice work!

  • April 14, 2012
    reply

    we planted 12 different colors of willow last spring. they all grew, but aren’t yet ready to be harvested. when they are, i want to make baskets. i have no idea how, but i will learn.

    we bought the coolest basket from an artist on the little danish island of møn some years ago. we use it as a bread basket. it’s built on a base of a stone – or more accurately, a brick that spent quite a long time in the øresund, after the brick factory was pushed into the water when they closed it down (yup, they used to do stuff like that). it’s a wonderful mix of materials. his website is here: http://klaustitze.dk/english/ i haven’t been to his studio in a number of years, but it looks like he’s doing some very interesting stuff…

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