The Willow Hut
Basketry - Teaching - Commissions
About the Willow Hut
Handmade baskets crafted in Cornwall using English Willow, Cornish hands, and time-honoured tools and skills.
Each basket is subtly unique in form, function and beauty; whilst retaining uniformity in its robust nature. Using a combination of Somerset and homegrown Cornish willow, these baskets are made to last - whether you choose to fill it; hang it, or gift it: let your basket become part of your story.
The Maker:
Coming from a large family - who, by necessity, appreciated the simple things - creativity was always an essential skill. Having had a long standing interest in the art of weaving, nurturing first my love of nursing and then my five daughters, I was never quite able to find an opportunity to learn the skill. Patience, time and perseverance have assisted me, and it has been a great pleasure to discover that the craft I had a curiosity for has developed into a passion that now centres my business.
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My skills are always evolving, but at the core is a sound knowledge of willow craft, working with the same techniques and simple tools that have been used by basketmakers for hundreds of years, occasionally adding a contemporary twist.
Willow as a material is enormously versatile: provided generously by nature and grown readily in our British climate in an almost overwhelming array of tones, lengths and thicknesses; each has its unique place in a basket. No two baskets can ever be truly identical, and a means of mechanising the weaving process is yet to be discovered. With its sound credentials and sturdy nature, it is a perfect natural material for today's struggling world.
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By blending Somerset grown willow rods with those sourced from my own, ever-expanding willow beds close to the North Cornish coast, each product is one of forethought, focus and attention to detail. My aim every time being to deliver a refined basket that is tactile, draws the eye, and yet remains perfectly functional.
The Space:
Located in the stunning Cornish countryside, the Willow Hut sits at the core of our family smallholding. A collaborative project between myself and my carpenter skilled brother, we were able to breathe new life and purpose into a redundant Nissen hut, in order to transform it into the light-filled studio, that acts as the creative centre for all my willow work. With panoramic views over the wooded valley below, the studio acts as a calm and considered space, working just as well for teaching intimate groups as it does solitary focus.
My Work
These images demonstrate the varied nature of my work. Please contact me for prices, commissions and availability.
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Book a Teaching Day
This is where the world of basketry begins. Over the course of the day, students will learn how to craft a simple round basket.
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New Dates added for 2025...
Saturday 18th January - Full
Saturday 8th February - Full
Saturday 15th March - 4 spaces available
Saturday 5th April - 4 spaces available
Saturday 17th May - 4 spaces available
Saturday 28th June - 4 spaces available
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Christmas Workshops....
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I am currently taking bookings for Christmas weaving workshops. These fun sessions focus on making willow stars in a variety of colours. The stars finish at 50cm in size and are perfect for adding a festive decorative touch either inside or outside the home. The sessions run for approximately 3 hours and include tea, coffee and either shortbread biscuits or mince pies (to be confirmed at time of booking).
Typical timings are 10am-1pm, 2-5pm or 6-9pm. Costs are £120 for groups of up to 4 or £200 for groups of up to 8, these make the perfect activity for friends or alternative work events in the run up to Christmas. Please email me to discuss your desired dates....
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Gift Vouchers
Redeemable against basket making teaching days, these are ideal for those who are looking to gift an experience. Once gifted the recipient can contact me directly to book a date that is convenient to themselves according to availability - current dates are listed above. The perfect gift for Christmas, birthdays or simply surprises, please contact me to order.
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Open Studio Days
I will be hosting twice yearly open studio days to coincide with product release dates. These will commence in the second half of 2025, date to be announced.
Teaching Days
Sign up for a day to learn the art of basketry and leave with your very own hand crafted basket
Join me for a day to immerse yourself in all things basketry. The day will begin with an informal chat over coffee and locally made biscuits while we look at the process of making a basket and break down the individual components. Over the course of the day the structure will take shape so that by the end of the day each student should have completed a simple round useful basket to take home, along with a printout "recipe" for how to repeat the process at home. During the day students will be surrounded by examples of my work and we will look at the growing, harvesting, selecting, preparation and use of willow. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided but students are asked to bring their own packed lunch. Groups are kept small and intimate, limited to a maximum of 4 people to allow time to focus on individual needs. The days run from 10am-4:30pm. Individual or smaller group sessions are available on request.
If you have already had experience with willow and fancy taking on something more challenging then please get in touch.
Additionally I have the capacity to teach larger groups of up to 8 people smaller project work, again please contact me to discuss prices, availability and project options.
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Prices for a basketmaking experience day are £85 per person. Please see above to check up to date availability and to book a session, or email if you have any queries.
