Favorites June 2015

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It’s late June so time for the willow weavers to converge on our town at the 2015 Willow Gathering: A North American Conference focused on the art of the Willow.  People traveled from all over the U.S. and Canada to learn weaving techniques and enjoy each other’s company.  And to eat good food.

 

This basket was a gift to me from one of the Danish instructors, Eva Seidenfaden, as a thank you for providing them with nourishment throughout the week.  Lucky me!  The other instructors were Ane Lyngsgaard of Denmark teaching about wooden handled baskets and fitching, and Jennifer Zurick of Berea, Kentucky making baskets of willow bark.  If you’re interested in traveling the world to explore and weave, check out Willow Ridge basket tours to Spain this September.

 

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These willow shoots have been soaked and are now pliable for weaving.

 

This is a Polish breadbasket (a.k.a. a Tatzca or a Celtic Knot) in-the-making.  One of the most addictive parts for me about these baskets is the smell of the willow—sweet but a little tangy, like newly mown alfalfa drying in the sun on a summer’s afternoon.

 

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Two of the finished bread bowls sit next to the one in progress, showing the results of the magic.

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It’s fascinating to watch the process and progress throughout the week, individual parts and a pile of sticks being transformed into incredibly beautiful and functional pieces art.  These skills of how we bind elements together to form another creation, like making baskets or knitting or buckskinning, have been on the comeback in many circles both young and old, urban and traditional, hipsters and elders.  So come on out of the closet you crafty-ites…

 

 

 

 

 Favorites June 2015

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 Art is trash, by artist Francisco de Pájaro

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Rooibos Chai 

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My sister sent this site to me—our favorite is the purring cat

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Oh yeah, love this

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Time for a road trip

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Faucets like no other

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More tiny ideas

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Kale and Caramel—love her recipes and photos

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Picnic operettas in Minneapolis—Art and Edibles together!

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One of the French Square Work Baskets made during the first part of the week is already housing its maker’s tools.

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