Hello

It’s been far too long since I posted anything on here. I think I just got out of the habit and the longer I left it the easier it seemed to put it to one side. There are only so many hours in anyone’s day for social media and I have found Instagram easy and quick to use. You can find me there @karen_lawrence_basketry

Another harvest has been and gone, 2023 was my best yet. The fence is doing a fantastic job of keeping the hungry muntjac and rabbits at bay. I’m looking forward to another great growing season and being able to supply myself with plenty of different willow varieties. I’m currently growing Black Maul, Dickie Meadows, Green Dicks, Chermosina, Harrisons, Welsh White, Flanders Red and a few rows of Le Bleu and Brittany Blue.

Harvest 2023

I look forward to keeping on top of my website going forward. You can reach me via email at Karenbasketry@gmail.com.

Willow harvest…

Willow harvest has begun.

Converge 6…. Framlingham

I’m all set up at the old Con club in Framlingham. Myself and 9 other makers have a pop up shop there for the next two weeks. Its open everyday from 9.30am-5pm until Dec 18th. Along with my baskets there will also be jewellery, lino prints, beautiful bags, candles and stationary to name a few.

10 Church Street, Framlingham, IP139BH.

There will be tons of gift ideas so pop along and shop local if you can. We really appreciate any support you can give our small businesses. 😊🎄

Karen Lawrence Basketry.

Fitched shopper…

Some of my friends from the Basketry Collective and I were fortunate enough to have a class with Francois Desplanches last week.

I am delighted with the fitched shopper I made. It was wonderful to see Francois at work and to learn his methods. For example, creating scalloms for both stakes and bi stakes at the same time from one rod.

Karen Lawrence Basketry.

Willow tumbler covers…

I have just finished a project that has been on the go for many months. Making replica tumbler covers for a 100 year picnic set.

The covers provide protection for the glasses whilst they are being transported. They are made from very fine white willow skeins. The skeins start as 7ft willow rods. These are split into 3 pieces using a cleave. Then each piece is passed by hand through 2 shaves. One gives you the correct thickness and the other the correct width.

It’s a time consuming process but one that can be meditative in its repetition. The skeins alone took many hours to prepare. Even though I lock the shaves in place with a clamp, I found I could only shave the willow for 2-3 hours at a time before the tension required to pull the willow through started to produce warnings pains and numbness in my hands.

Each cover took 5-6 hours to weave. There were three different types. The difference coming from either the size, the start or the finish or a combination of these. So it’s all taken some deciphering and a lot of patience.

Today they are winging their way back home to America and I really hope their owner will be pleased with the final pieces. 😊

Karen Lawrence Basketry.

Karen Lawrence Basketry

Open Studio…

Delighted to be taking part in Sarah Kirby’s open studio.

Sarah is a an artist and print maker based in Leicester. A lot of her inspiration is taken from Leicester’s buildings and gardens. I love the way she sees her subject matter, creating unique prints of so many beautiful places.

Sarah Kirby

Maryanne McGinn (@turnaleg) will also be selling her beautifully carved and decorated spoons. So please do come along if you can and see all the wonderful work on display. It will be open every Saturday in August 11-4pm. Details in the top photo.

Maryanne McGinn

Square work…

Last week I was in Harrogate for the basketmakers association spring school. I was very fortunate to spend the week making square baskets with 7 other basket makers under the watchful eye of Jenny Crisp.

Learning Jenny’s tips and techniques was just brilliant. One the first day we made two different square bases. One was the traditional screw block base and the other a jenny invention.

Karen Lawrence Basketry

The remaining three days were spent creating two square baskets, practising keeping the shape and borders with different sorts of corners. Jenny brought lots of lovely different willows with her. The tall basket is made with a mixture of Dicky Meadows, Black French and Petite Grisette. The reddish one was something steamed from Jenny’s freezer 😊

Karen Lawrence Basketry

Karen Lawrence Basketry

Peace for Ukraine…

This Sunday (20th), I will be selling my baskets at All saints church, Redgrave IP22 1RY from 12.15-2pm. All the money raised will be sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee fund for the Ukraine.

Please come and see me if you can. I can take cards, cash or cheques. 🇺🇦

New Collection

I’m in the midst of making a new collection of baskets for a Basketry Showcase I’m taking part in for the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers on March 8th.

They are all made on hoops/frames with a Catalan style base. It’s been a complete joy to be able to use some of my home grown willow in the process.

These are the first four of hopefully eight. A variety of styles and weaves. 😊

Karen Lawrence Basketry

Skein making ….

A short video showing the process of making skeins. Slow but satisfying. The willow is cleaved into three pieces and each piece passed through a shave until it is the desired thickness. An upright shave is used to obtain the desired width.

Karen Lawrence Basketry