The Details
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Brittany Green willow, with its purpurea hues, is a favourite of mine. It’s slender, but still very strong and tough, and has a lovely sheen to it.
We use the large one to take tea and cake into the garden. Perfect! I have clients who use the small one for socks, while others use it for scarves, but whatever you put in it, it’ll look lovely and is a treasure to use.
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Brush with a soft brush if dusty. If it’s muddy, shower it and brush while rinsing, then dry it outside in the wind, in the shade. To clear any bugs, leave it out in snow or frost for a few days in winter.
Made with a Respect for the Material
Give every basketmaker the same project and they'll each finish a very different basket. I like to work very neatly, but I also like things to be natural. If a willow rod isn't quite what you'd expect, and it doesn't affect the integrity of the rod, I make a feature of it.
The connection between the material, me as the maker, and you as the person who will love and use it for many years is one of the main reasons I'm a full-time basketmaker.

