This past weekend I went and did a Basket Weaving workshop with Tim Palmer, from Inverness.  I have done a workshop with Tim in the past, and so was keen to return and do a workshop making square baskets rather than round ones which I made in the last workshop back in 2010.

[caption id="attachment_8231" align="aligncenter" width="640"]The round basket I made back in 2010 The round basket I made back in 2010[/caption]

The techniques used are quite different, and from a starting point of this:

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you slowly build up and up, using various different techniques (and yes, the rocks are crucial!):

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Tim had bought some of his own baskets to inspire us, and they were beautiful.  This particular one was made out of willow bark and was so delicate:

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and the colour on this basket really caught my eye

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While Tim's baskets were inspiring, they were perhaps a little beyond some of our capabilities!  I could see the despair in Tim's eyes each time he came to check on my progress.

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Watching Tim weave smoothly and quickly was quite hypnotic at times.  And the eagle eyed knitters among you may well recognise his sweater as Colinette - colour Peacock!!

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By the end of two days, I was rather chuffed to have a completed basket.  Not quite flat, not quite symmetrical,  and quite a bit larger than I'd planned, but hey, perfection is overrated.  And besides, it makes the perfect basket for storing our veggies.

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And I love looking at the different shades of the different willows we used.

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A good weekend's work I think.