Willow Weaving Bird Class

Weave a willow bird or fish in this short introductory willow weaving class! We will be using wild and cultivated willows to weave little birds or fish that will be perfect window adornments or garden decorations. We will also have time for some discussion around tending to wild willows around our city, as well as discuss some ideas for sourcing cultivated basket willows.

Saturday, July 25th from 10:00am to 12:00pm

Materials and tools provided, bring your favorite garden clippers if you have a pair! Everyone will leave class with at least one woven creature of choice. 

Willow basketry is a traditional craft that developed in numerous communities around the world, wherever willows have grown. The rib style weaving we’ll be discussing in class has connections to Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Willow baskets have been found in archeological sites across the region, with uses from harvest vessels, fishing traps, fish-pickling strainers, trunks, and miscellaneous storage. Throughout many cultures, basketmakers have chosen their weaving materials based on which plants grew in abundance, taking into consideration seasonality. 

Modern industrialization, combined with willow’s vitality and hardiness, has allowed for willow growing and processing to be economically viable in many parts of Europe, which is why we can see willow basketry flourishing in Scandinavia, particularly Denmark and Sweden. In this class, we will have time for some discussion around tending to wild willows around our city, as well as sharing ideas for sourcing your own cultivated basket willows.

Instructor Bio: Bozena lives and works in Minneapolis, weaving baskets, doing basic carpentry, and some timber framing. She was a Folk Art Apprentice at Vesterheim in Decorah, Iowa, and completed a Timber Framing mentorship at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina.