Willow Foraging Basket or Shoulder Bag
Basketry is an ancient craft, going back thousands of years. Weaving willow is meditative, soothing, and gratifying. Willow invites a relationship with the material. It is a somatic experience that connects us to ancient feelings and ways of knowing.
In this two-day workshop, you will learn to work with willow, making a stake and strand foraging bag that you can use for many years. On the first day, you will learn how to make an oval base, insert stakes, weave the upsett, and begin weaving the sides, using the French rand method. On the second day, you will continue the weaving, working to the top of the bag, completing a border and adding a leather carrying strap.
You’ll Walk Away With:
- A beautiful, handwoven basket you made yourself
- The skills to make additional baskets on your own at home
- Hands-on experience with creating bases, twining, waling, and borders
- The confidence to try again!
Meet Your Instructor:
Beth Bridgeman
Beth Bridgeman is a willow basketmaker and traditional skills instructor residing in Southwest Ohio. A former professor of sustainable practice at Antioch College and before that an Extension Educator with The Ohio State University, Beth is passionate about somatic learning ( “the Great Remembering”), reskilling, and connecting community, culture and craft
Beth came to this practice through an ivy basket workshop at an ethnobotany conference in British Columbia, which was taught by Salish and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh teachers. Later she became interested in working with willow, and was fortunate to find an Appalachian willow mentor, Talcon Quinn, who has mentored her over several years
Class Details:
Location: Green Door Folk School – 2312 E Kasson Rd, Cedar, MI
Date/Time: April 3-4, 2027 10:30 am -4:30 pm both days
Prerequisites/Skill Level/Age Requirements:
- No prior experience required.
- Ages 18+
- Moderate hand strength is recommended for this workshop
Policies:
