THE ULTIMATE WILLOW BASKETRY EXPERIENCE WITH DANISH BASKET MAKER STEEN H. MADSEN

What could be more exciting than to work with an internationally renowned expert in primitive crafts, learning the finer points of willow basketry? Even more so if you get to decide yourself which project you want to work on with him?

If you agree, you don't want to miss out on this opportunity at Lakeshore Willows, Wainfleet, Ontario in June 2017.

Danish willow basket maker SteenHedegaard Madsen is well known throughout the international willow basketry community for a variety of reasons.

He is indeed a master basket weaver and you will find many people who will claim that he is THE master. In his modest way he told me that he is not a genius in any way – he has just been around for many years.

I first met Steen in 2013 when I, during a visit to Denmark, had an opportunity to work with him for 2 days in his charming studio.

Here is Steen outside the house in which his studio is along with a kitchen, small dining area and sleeping area for visiting students.

Ever since he was a young boy Steen has been interested in history and antiquity. He would play “stone age” with his friends, hunting with their homemade flint arrowheads and cooking their catch over the open fire while making more arrowheads.

Later – for a total of 19-20 years he would work at a Danish Historical Archaeological Research Center.

Maybe as a natural consequence of his interest for old crafts and skills Steen fell in love with willow basket making and is today one of the foremost experts reconstructing baskets made during a time from which no written documentation exists.

Steen working in his studio

A collection of old and new fishing creels at the wall

But more than that today, for those of us who desire to learn the finer points in willow basket making, he travels the World to teach us classes. Historical baskets – if that is what you are interested in – but not just that. Steen will teach you almost any kind of willow basket and bark container; you just have to ask.

During a class Steen usually teaches whatever each student wants to learn! The topics for the class of the day are pretty much open – only limited by your previous weaving experience and skills.

Check out his information on facebook and his website.

And this is your chance for a new willow experience!

This basket maker whose skills are second to none will teach and guide you in creating the basket you are most interested in making.

The classes will fill up fast so if you want to participate, register NOW.

After you register, you want to spend time over the next couple of months exploring what you want to work on with Steen. Use books, the internet, pinterest, facebook etc for inspiration and bring photos or sketches for the class.

I will ask you a few weeks before the classes what you want to make so that I will be able to have the right sizes and amounts of willow prepared.

Some baskets (for example square baskets with or without a lid) are not for a total beginner and for oval baskets it is also recommendable that you have some experience with willow.

If you have any questions about that you can either ask me when you register or send me a mail.

Here are some pics from Steen that may help you to get started on your search for the perfect project!

 Go here for info about the classes and to register.

Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.

Willow basketry classes in Wainfleet, Ontario taught by Danish Anne Mette Hjornholm

Once again the talented Danish willow artist and basket maker Anne Mette Hjornholm will visit Lakeshore Willows in Wainfleet, Ontario to teach.

Anne Mette is a professional basket maker, and her beautiful work has landed her contracts for making baskets for TV shows and movies in addition to teaching engagements in several countries. For more information about Anne Mette, check out her website here where you can also find links to her blog and facebook page.

This year we have scheduled 6 days of weaving fun in September. 3 classes of 2 days each where you choose your project within a preset theme. 

September 15-16th the theme is "SCULPTURAL WEAVE" which can be for example a small animal sculpture as the swan above or it can be something abstract as the forms in the picture below.

You can find more examples of sculptural weave and inspiration on Anne Mette's website and on her blog.

September 17-18th and September 19-20th the theme is frame baskets (rib baskets) 

You can register for 2 days of frame baskets or for all 4 days. When you register for all 4 days you will be able to work across those 4 days to create as many or as few baskets as you choose to.

Frame baskets can take many different shapes and willow bark and other weaving materials can be added to the willow frame and weave.

The gallery at Anne Mette's website has a lot of frame baskets for inspiration and ideas about what you would like to make during the classes.
For more information about the classes and to register, go to Lakeshore Willow's website.
Book early as classes WILL fill fast.


Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.I

Exceptional willow basketry classes at Lakeshore Willows, Wainfleet, Ontario

Some things have to be scheduled early, far in advance of the actual event.
One such thing is the willow basketry classes taught by renowned Danish basket makers Ane Lyngsgaard and Eva Seidenfaden.
If you made it here for the classes last summer, you certainly want to come back for more - and if you didn't make it, you wish that you had. In both cases you have to be quick to be sure to get a spot this June.

2-day classes are offered June 15-16th:

Ane has a passion for working with bark (willow and other), creating beautiful bowls, purses, vases and much more.


During this 2-day class you will create your own bark container using willow bark and other natural materials. For more examples of Ane's bark work, see the class information on our website. 
This class is for weavers of all levels of experience.


Eva describes herself as a "non-traditional" basket maker with a thirst for exploring and experimenting.

During this 2-day class you will work with the frame of a traditional round willow basket - with the added benefit that you can make the side weave, handle, border etc your own design guided by Eva. 

If you are a beginner you will learn all the basic techniques in willow basket making and if you are more advanced, you have an opportunity to learn new techniques and details.
This class is for weavers of all levels of experience.


3-day classes are offered June 17-19th

Ane is well known for her beautiful asymmetrical, sculptural/functional organic baskets.

You will learn new techniques to accomplish this beautiful, flowing, organic shape in a tight weave. You choose if you want to make a more sculptural basket or a functional basket with a handle.
You can see more examples of this type of basket on Ane's website.
Some experience working with willow would be helpful.

Eva  and the French Perigord basket go hand in hand. She has studied this basket on numerous trips to France, visiting and learning from some of the "old" basket makers who made this market basket for practical use - and she even wrote a book about it! The book is in English and in addition to the stories and history of the Perigord basket it has detailed instructions and comes with a DVD.

The basket can be made with many variations and I think that everyone will agree that it is very beautiful in its clean, open look.
During this class you will study the basket learning the unique technique to create it.
For more images of the perigord basket visit Eva's website. Check out her gallery - you will find an abundance of beautiful images of her work.
Some experience working with willow would be helpful.

For more information about the classes and to register, please go to the event's page on Lakeshore Willows' website.












Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.

From 2014 Willow Basketry events to new adventures in 2015

2014 started very slowly as we had a very cold and long winter. 

This photo is from March 30th and some of the willow field still has snow drifts more than 1 meter (3-4 feet) deep. We were getting anxious to harvest the willow before it all started to grow again.

March and April are usually the time for workshops creating living willow structures in pots. Because of the winter dragging on and on we only managed to have a few sessions, but we had a lot of fun.

I haven't been good at remembering to take photos during workshops. I have to get better at that to save the memories of some wonderful hours with great people eager to learn and excited about their creations.

Several workshops took place here during the year where I had the opportunity to share some of the basket making techniques that I have learned.

For the third year in a row we were fortunate to have Anne Mette Hjornholm here from Denmark to teach 4 wonderful days of classes.

Just three weeks later we had two more of Denmark's talented willow artists visiting.

 Ane Lyngsgaard and Eva Seidenfaden taught 3 days of exciting classes.

The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild (SOBG) of which I am a business member, held a wonderful "Willow Retreat" at the Michaelite House Retreat Centre in London, Ontario

I had a great group of students making baskets on a Catalan base.

In August I also had the pleasure to visit The Branch Ranch to teach a week of classes. A wonderful place with great people and lots of fun.

We always end the year with a few winter/Christmas workshops that are fun and relaxed with emphasis on making smaller decorative items. We did have 3 sessions, but these two ladies were tough. They made it here in a severe snowstorm - all the way from Wisconsin and New York - while the other participants registered for that class (from Ontario)  cancelled because of the snow. 

Just as last year at this time we are now waiting for the snow to melt so that we can start harvesting our willow. Hopefully that will happen within the next 4-6 weeks.

In the meantime we have the first workshops of the new year 2015 this week, Wednesday and Thursday and more will be scheduled for the next few months including a few Living Willow sessions in March and April.

In addition to a few speaking engagements, workshops off site, a week long  series of classes at Haliburton School of Art and participation in Port Colborne's first Art week I am looking forward to once again welcoming Ane Lyngsgaard and Eva Seidenfaden to teach classes here in June and Anne Mette Hjornholm to teach here for the forth year in September. 

Watch out for my next newsletter with information about the upcoming classes.

Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.

Willow weaving classes in Wainfleet, Ontario

The event of willow weaving classes here at Lakeshore Willows, Wainfleet, Ontario last week with Danish basket maker Anne Mette Hjornholm was - once again - a great success.
With students coming from Canada's East coast to USA's West coast and many places in between it is without doubt that there is an interest for learning willow basketry from some of the World's most talented weavers.

Paying attention to Anne Mette's introduction

We worked in the barn most of the time with a few of us migrating outside when the sun finally decided to chase away the clouds. 

This year we had 4 days of classes arranged as two 2 day classes so that students could choose to take one or both of the classes.

Those who chose to be here for all 4 days had a wonderful opportunity to start and finish different projects during the course of the 4 days and some brought home 2 and others 3 baskets.       
 As each two-day class didn't have a specific basket to be taught, you could work on your projects at your own pace without having to take home half finished baskets or idle for half a day as is sometimes the case when you have to "follow" the class.


We had planned the classes over the theme of round and oval bases being the foundation to master when making baskets.
Each student could choose which basket to make guided by Anne Mette and paying attention to her level of experience and many beautiful baskets were created.
There was a lot to be learned for both beginners and experienced weavers alike and we were all so very inspired by Anne Mette, her talent and workmanship. 
I know that I am not the only one looking forward to next time!
In the meantime I am looking forward to Danish basket makers Ane Lyngsgaard and Eva Seidenfaden visiting to teach here in just over 3 weeks. Check it out here at the Willows blog in my last post and on Lakeshore Willows' website.

Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.

Willow Basketry Classes in Ontario with Renowned Danish Basket Makers

If you haven’t signed up yet for classes with the Danish basket makers visiting in June, now is the time to do it.

In June Ane Lyngsgaard and Eva Seidenfaden will be teaching for 3 days on the 17, 18 and 19th.
We have a couple of spots left for each class… (Class description when you click on the highlighted name above)


These professional, experienced Danish basket makers are known internationally for their skill, incorporating and transforming traditional techniques into new designs.


In addition to the previously announced program for Eva's 2-day class, you will have the opportunity to work on a more traditional round or oval willow basket with a woven base  - learning new techniques or adding new details to techniques that you already know. Take a look at the Gallery at Eva's website to see some of her amazing work and for inspiration.

Baskets made during Eva's 2-day class will be of many different sizes, shapes, weaving techniques, handles, borders etc as participants choose what they want to make/learn guided by Eva, paying attention to the individual's prior experience.

Send me a mail at lakeshorewillows@gmail.com or via the contact form at my website Lakeshore Willows if you need more information about the classes before you sign up.

Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.

Danish basket makers visiting Lakeshore Willows. Wainfleet, Ontario for exciting willow basketry classes 2014

2014 will see some extraordinary Danish basket makers teaching at Lakeshore Willows. Anne Mette Hjornholm, Ane Lyngsgaard and Eva Seidenfaden are all some of Denmark's most accomplished, talented, internationally known willow artists. They are all members of the Danish willow artist group Baskets4Life.

I am so excited to be able to share some of their abundance of knowledge and experience with people interested in learning willow basketry in Canada and the US. In addition to mastering all the fundamentals they each have their personal preferences and styles. Visit their websites (click on their names above) for inspiration to decide on which classes to take this summer.

Anne Mette Hjornholm 's third annual visit with two 2-day classes in May will focus on round and oval bases as a fundamental part of a basket.
You can choose to participate in one of the classes or both classes where you over the 4 days work continuously on your projects. Baskets made during these classes will be of many different sizes, shapes, weaving techniques, handles, borders etc as participants choose what they want to make/learn guided by Anne Mette paying attention to the individual's prior experience.

To register for Anne Mette's classes visit my website here.

Ane Lyngsgaard will be teaching one 1-day class and one 2-day class. One of Ane's passions is working with bark and other natural materials which will be the topic of the one-day class. 



























She will teach her petticoat basket and purses on a Catalan base on her 2-day class.
To register for Ane's classes visit my website here.

Eva Seidenfaden, who has visited British Columbia many times to teach willow basketry, will be teaching a 1-day class as well as a 2-day class.
Eva will teach the Polish breadbasket - Tatzca basket - on the one day class

 For her 2-day class Eva has brought some unique wooden bases for you to make your very special basket on. You decide how the beautiful wood slices will play along with the willow to create baskets, containers of different sizes, shapes and styles. 

 To register for Eva's classes visit my website here.

Don't miss out - classes WILL fill up fast!
Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.

Hello to the New Year 2014

2013 was an exciting year here at Lakeshore Willows with workshops and new developments.

Now that the Christmas markets, events and workshops  are done - the photo above is from the Christmas event at Vineland Estates Winery in December - and as the year is coming to an end, it is time to make some plans for 2014.

The garden globe has been popular at workshops here and is offered as a project to do at a one-day workshop again next year.
For other workshop projects available check out "Workshops and Events"

In January and February a workshop on the Tatza basket is offered at Vineland Estates Winery in combination with a delicious lunch at the winery restaurant and also winery tour and wine & cheese pairing seminar. Scheduled dates are January 25th and February 22nd. Further information to be announced at our website and also at Vineland Estates Winery's website.

From lush and green to naked with changed colour palettes the willow is now ready to be harvested. We expect to start sometime in February - weather dependent - and living willow for propagation and living willow structures will be available after harvest. 
Orders are coming in and filled as received for shipping later in winter/early spring after harvest.















A few workshops have been scheduled for January, February, March and April and information can be found on my website www.lakeshorewillows.com under "Workshops and Events".
In addition to that we are very excited about willow basketry classes in May and June with 3 of Denmark's most talented, internationally known willow artists.
Detailed information about these classes will go out in a newsletter in January as well as being posted here at the blog and on the website.
In the meantime I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year 2014.
Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.