Jenny Crisp

My baskets are constructed from rods of willow, grown in my own willow bed.  Annually, depending on variety, one rod can grow from two to fourteen feet in length.  Each of these has its own character, some are dense, others pithy.  They can be straight or wrigley, but with all of these traits there is an abundance of rich natural colour.

The technical complexities of the craft are perhaps not immediately apparent.  Just as a weaver has to select the correct yarn to create a fabric suitable for a particular garment, so the basket maker has to choose the correct willow to suit the construction and technique necessary to produce a particular basket.

My involvement with the complete process, from the very first planting to the final stages of making has given me an awareness and understanding of the link between making a functional object from an indigenous material.  I try in my approach to be both forward looking and innovative, whilst at the same time retaining a respect for the sound and established traditions of my craft.

Photo credit
Arm Basket: Christian Barnett, Country Living