Come and immerse yourself in the world of willow basketry, a satisfying craft, which will impress you with what you can create in what will be a relaxed day of weaving, connection and delicious food & drinks provided by NSM;
No previous experience required.
We will be making a small/medium sized round basket suited to whatever you’re feeling in to at the moment, based on the strand and stake method; you’ll be leaving with a sustainable basket made of locally grown willow for fruit or bread, a bread making banneton or even a slightly wider cats basket, for yourself or as a seasonal gift to a friend or family member. There’ll be a range of willow colours available to play with on the day and Femke will be guiding you through each step so you can build up your creation with confidence.
£95 per person (includes all materials and lunch)
More about Femke
Femke is based at Fellows farm in Suffolk and has been weaving baskets for six years. She’s particularly interested in baskets with a round or oval base, to form harvesting or serving baskets to do with fresh produce and food; and as with all basketry repetition has been key. However she is both driven and humbled to share this skill with others, something which came forth from receiving guests and volunteers on the farm and ‘giving something back’ where new connections and inspirations were established.
Basket making is a thoroughly sustainable craft, especially where the luxury of a bit of land is involved; and so the local willow patch has been growing the most beautiful colours, the stakes of which were shared by weavers in Brittany, Somerset and Sussex.
Femke has received training with some very experienced makers in her short career with willow, one of which Annemarie O’Sullivan, who has built up a prolific career designing and making high end basketry but with true making at its core.
After a short break learning more skills, she is back to sharing this format, holding close the pleasure many people have had over the years of learning with Femke both at the farm and in a formal workshop setting in East London, to be now at the wonderful New street market, a place for inspiration, yummy things and relaxation.