Big Barn School of Basketry
This is a special partnership with local basket willow weaving cooperative, Willows Bend Collective. We are delighted to host the Big Barn School of Basketry in our big barn! Here we host willow weaving workshops taught by members of the Willows Bend Collective. Check out our seasonal workshop series listed on the Willows Bend Collective’s website. We offer a variety of styles and varied materials for these workshops with a focus on willow which is all locally and sustainably grown by members of the co-op.
Please Visit www.willowsbendcollective.ca to find out more about workshops
ABOUT OUR TEACHERS:
SIAN GWYNNE TURNER
Born in Wales and raised in Canada, Sian has been a basket maker for most of her adult life. Her formal training began with splint work baskets and chairs felled from the Appalachian forest. After settling in Nova Scotia, she discovered willow work through the Nova Scotia Basketry Guild under the tutelage of both local and guest basket makers from other parts of Canada and Europe. After an early retirement she was able to shift to full time making and teaching using both imported and local materials. After vocational training with Adrian Charlton, a professional willow basket maker in France, Sian delved into all things willow, including growing her willow coppice, teaching classes and private lessons and selling baskets by commission, in galleries, farmer’s markets and her own home studio Helyg gallery.
Julie Stinson
Julie’s willow weaving journey is driven by creativity, curiosity and a care for our living environment. She got hooked on the magic of transforming a pile of sticks into glorious baskets of all shapes and sizes. A lifelong crafter, Julie has focused on developing her weaving skills over the past couple of years. She draws on her background as an educator when teaching and designing workshops. She is deeply appreciative of the mentorship from Sian Turner, the camaraderie from the Willow’s Bend Collective and the inspiration from basket makers near and far.
Susie Murphy
Susie’s adventure into basket making started back in 2007 with an introductory course as part of a permaculture school in Ireland. Since then, she has been mentoring under the tutelage of Sian Gwynne Turner in fits and spurts between the demands of co-owning a vegetable farm, Big Barn Little Farm, with her husband and raising two children. More recently the farm has added willow growing to the farm plan and provide much of the material for the School of Basketry which is held in the Big Barn on their farm in Antigonish county.
The Big Barn School of Basketry, located in Meadow Green, Antigonish county, is an incredible venue where we can share these skills and learn in a supportive and fun environment. Starting in the spring of 2022 we will be offering a variety of classes from simpler 1/2 day workshops to weekend long intensive sessions in basket making using locally grown and gathered materials. With few exceptions we will be providing sustainably coppiced basketry willow for these classes from our own plantations in Harbour Centre and Seabright, Antigonish county.
Basket making is an all encompassing set of skills that will test and improve your own innate abilities and provide many lasting useful and beautiful household objects. Once we have a community of weavers we can gather and share and move forward with the knowledge that our efforts are sustainable and life fulfilling.
Nothing like picking berries into a basket you have made by hand!