Weaving notes
Our main aim on the croft is to support maximum biodiversity, and secondly, to be as productive as we can. I could plant more willow beds here, and I will. But there are trees and ponds, wildflowers and hedges, wet areas and heathery bits, a polytunnel and raised beds, fruit trees and nettles for tea, ducks and hens, brambles, and Phil has a tree nursery. The whole croft is made up diverse wee pockets of native flora supporting lots of wildlife. We also have a holiday cottage here that provides an income to help us manage the croft in this way. Basketry is one element in the patchwork of ways we make an income from this croft. We’re learning all the time and continue trying new things, figuring out what works, and what we enjoy. We struggle to keep on top of everything we want to do, and different aspects take over at different times. At the moment we are busy with baskets and the tree nursery, and everything else is ticking along…
It’s not really possible for me, with the tiny batches of willow that I grow, to make the same basket more than once (I don’t think I would enjoy that very much anyway). The cost of getting big bundles of willow delivered to the Hebrides means it’s not a viable option for me to work in that way.
My weaving journey is about planting willow beds, tending over the growing season, harvesting in winter, grading the bundles, drying the rods properly, selecting the rods for each new project, all the prep (soaking, steaming, mellowing) and finally… weaving a basket.
My aim going forward is to use my own home-grown willow as much as I can, and explore what I can create, sometimes incorporating the native plants that grow here in abundance, especially plants like Molinia and rushes. We don’t really have an issue with invasive plant species on the croft, but if we ever do I will definitely try and weave them. Next year I’m going to challenge myself to use only Skye willow. I won’t be buying willow in (unless we can collect it and avoid delivery costs). It will be a challenge, but my plan is to play a lot more, and focus on the process instead of the final product. This will also force me to slow down and hone the skills I still find tricky. I have so many ideas. There may be the odd basket available which I’ll sell locally. I have some baskets in Buth na h-abhain in Broadford at the moment for anyone keen to get their hands on a storage basket.
I’m super grateful for all the lovely people who have been buying baskets and supporting my work over the last year. I’ve taken down the shop section of the website for now. I have some orders to weave in November, and then I will begin harvesting and planting willow, and helping Phil with all the croft jobs we need to do over winter. We do very little practical work during the breeding season, that all happens over the winter.
My attention may get diverted away from willow, and so the amount I grow has to be manageable, and fit in with everything else. At the moment I don’t have anywhere suitable to dry the harvest, so that mostly happens in our kitchen. Baskets are my happy place. I love gifting them, bartering them, donating them and selling them. I love being able to create something functional and beautiful from the plants that grow here (except brambles – I didn’t enjoy that at all).