What's in the basket?

I love baskets - paper, wicker, stripped wood, rope or plastic, you name it; I just can't get enough of them. My house is full and whilst I promised I won't buy any more there always seems to be a very good reason why I just need to buy just one more! I use them for shopping, storing magazines, firewood, shells, pine cones, wool, fabric and even the odd cat. Yes, my two cats are big on baskets too and have their very own collection.

My obsession with baskets also extends to photographing them and the objects they contain.  Wherever I travel around the world I'm peering in, picking up, sniffing and touching baskets and their contents.  Fancy coming basket watching with me? 

Local markets are a good place to start looking into baskets,  - flowers, exotic fruits and weird dried fish, they're all in there plus

puffed rice, hot, hot chillies or does anyone fancy a deep fried insect?

Baskets come in all shapes and sizes, to be carried on the head, in the hand or on the back.  In the top right photograph above, the tall baskets are used for catching fish in the Mekong Delta region.

Huge bundles of wood, a few live ducks and a pile of ginger on the back of a bicycle all with the help of a basket.

The lotus silk weaving sheds on Inle Lake, Myanmar had baskets full of temping things for the textile artist in me.

Given my passion for all things basket, you can imagine how excited I am that basket maker and willow weaver, Judith Needham, is making a return visit to the InStitches Studio in May.  This time Judith will be helping us to make a shallow Catelonian tension tray, great for serving fruit or bread, but will look equally fantastic on the kitchen wall when not in use.  Judith will also show us how to finish the tray in different ways including adding a handle should you want one.  I've some beautiful dogwood waiting to be pruned in my garden so I'm hoping to include that in my basket to give it some colour.

If you fancy joining us why not head over to Judith's page on our website and book your place now?  I promise you a fun and enjoyable day with all the materials and equipment provided including refreshments and a light season lunch - come and join us, be inspired this Spring!

Hazel & Terry