Colette Basketry

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Colette Davies

Basketmaker

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I am an artist and basketmaker; I make contemporary baskets rooted in and inspired by traditional techniques. I live and work in Monmouthshire, Wales.

South Wales Fibre Basketry Group get together in t

South Wales Fibre Basketry Group get together in the walled garden above Dunraven Bay last week. Lots of cordage included from different Basketmakers made from many different plants all woven together into a beautiful frame basket created by @mortimerwillow
This is our contribution for The Big Weave, for the Basketmakers Association 50 year anniversary. I can’t wait to see other groups create, what a lovely project.

@welshbaskets @ruralskillscentre Jo and Julie

#basketmakersassociation #basketmaker #thebigweave #weaving #cordage #framebasket #willow #naturalmaterials #plantfibre #rush #rushbasketry

A sturdy little tool bag I made for myself for non

A sturdy little tool bag I made for myself for non sharp tools like my growing collection of rush threaders. I road tested it for a week camping recently but I only managed to get the handle on it yesterday. Third picture has a little copper flower I made at Bearded Theory festival last week while working with friends (taught by the talented Dan) love the way the copper looks against rush 💚

#basketmaker #basketmakersassociation #heritagecrafts #rushbasketry #rushweaving
#toolsofthetrade #naturalmaterials #plantfibres

This is one of my favourite pictures @elizabethfay

This is one of my favourite pictures @elizabethfayephoto recently took of my work for @weaveonlyatrace group exhibitions. I adore the way my baskets and this beautiful old stool look together. Thanks for the capture Liz 💚
Pictures two and three are our lovely basket group photo.

Weave Only a Trace includes
@travellingweaver
@lesleybutlerbaskets
@mortimerwillow
@maryeluned_craft
@vine_willow_wood
@wondersofwillow123
@black.barn.baskets
Shirley George
@phi.weaves
@wegnallswillow
@bloomin_lovely_
Please message me if I’ve missed tags 💚

#weaveonlyatrace #naturalmaterials #basketry #rushbasket #basketmakersassociation #maker #shropshire #herefordshire #heritagecrafts #weaving #contemporarybasketry

I am thrilled to be asked to join the group of ski

I am thrilled to be asked to join the group of skilled artists and makers from @weaveonlyatrace this year to take part in two exhibitions. More information and dates to follow shortly.

A very rare picture of me with two of my basket bags, but one is hidden behind the other and I’m kind of hiding behind them both 🍃

#weaveonlyatrace #basketmakersassociation #basketmaker #rushweaving #naturalmaterials #rush #basketryexhibition #heritagecrafts #contemporarybasketry #britishcraft #design #makers

A rush lampshade I’ve been working on recently.

A rush lampshade I’ve been working on recently.

#basketmaker #basketry #rushbasketry #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #maker #basketmakersassociation #craft #rushweaving #interiordesign #britishcraft #traditionalcrafts #contemporarybasketry

And more samples! All sent safely off on their way

And more samples! All sent safely off on their way now. It was fun using a little bit of fine willow to weave my usual rush around, I’m quite pleased with the results 💚

#basketmaker #basketry #rushbasketry #maker #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #rushweaving #basketmakersassociation #craft #design #britishcraft #traditionalcrafts #basketmaking #contemporarybasketry #weaving

More sample gathering today #basketmaker #basket

More sample gathering today

#basketmaker #basketry #rushbasketry #maker #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #rushweaving #basketmakersassociation #craft #design #britishcraft #traditionalcrafts #basketmaking #contemporarybasketry #weaving

Some samples for a current project, mainly rush bu

Some samples for a current project, mainly rush but a couple of day lily ones have snuck in there 🌱

#basketmaker #basketry #rushbasketry #maker #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #rushweaving #basketmakersassociation #craft #design #britishcraft #traditionalcrafts #basketmaking #contemporarybasketry

A recent weaving created from left over pieces col

A recent weaving created from left over pieces collected at the end of two workshops I recently ran for Gwent Parent Carers Network. I taught other parent carers how to make plaited valentine hearts with rush I gathered from the river last summer. The workshops ran on 13th and 14th February in Tredegar and Pontypridd. It was really special to give a little something back to other carers and an amazingly supportive organisation 💚♥️

#weavings #woven #materialsketch #rush #string #materialsketches #naturalmaterials #foundobjects #autisticjoy #actuallyautistic #rushbasketry #detail #naturaltreasure #wovenmaterials #collectingart #natureart #weaving #detailoriented #naturetreasures

My first basket of 2025, it’s been a slow start

My first basket of 2025, it’s been a slow start due to many other things going on. However I managed to finish this one just in time for it to go into the current basketry exhibition at the Makers Guild gallery, Craft in the Bay, ‘Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining’ where exhibiting makers also have additional contemporary designs for sale.

This is the latest result of the continued evolution of my essentials cross body bag. Including a toggle made from a beautiful stick that caught my eye on a walk and a fine plait made from trailing nasturtium stems from my garden.

#basketmaker #basketry #rushbasketry #maker #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #rushweaving #basketmakersassociation #craft #design #britishcraft #traditionalcrafts #basketmaking #contemporarybasketry #weaving #rushbag #basketbag #rushhandbag #foundmaterials

I had to take a break from weaving baskets for a m

I had to take a break from weaving baskets for a month or so which was torture. I tried to ignore all the odd neurological symptoms in my hands for a while which of course got worse. What I thought was carpal tunnel may be to do with a pinched nerves in my neck.
Anyway it has given me an opportunity to explore some ideas I’ve had in my head for a little while. I have been creating lots of little, what I call my material sketches. Being such a visual thinker drawing ideas out never seemed to work for me. I need to actually feel the materials, play with them, see what they can do to learn how i can use them. Not sure if I’m explaining that very well!
Also I’ve been indulging my autistic joy of honing in on tiny details, collecting all the sticks and other ‘treasures’ and bringing them together in little collections. The details of bark textures, colour variations, lichen and moss on twigs, plant fibres, rust, found objects. I can’t help but notice so many minute details of things the whole time. This is completely absorbingly wonderful but can also be completely exhausting as I can’t turn it off. I spend# most of my time when out walking looking at the ground looking for treasures 💚

#sticks #naturalmaterials #foundobjects #autisticjoy #actuallyautistic #mothernature #naturaltreasures #weaving #wovenmaterials #collectingart #natureart #foundobjects

Everyone is still busy moving ladders around and a

Everyone is still busy moving ladders around and adjusting lighting but it is all looking fantastic here already.

Basketry
Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining
Wales Focus

The exhibition opens at the @makerswales gallery, Craft in the Bay in Cardiff 25th January- 23rd March 2025.

@makerswales @basketmakersassociation @basketmakerscompany @heritagecrafts @ruthincrafts @celfcymruarts @maryeluned_craft @welshbaskets

#heritagecrafts #heritagefund #welshbaskets #endangeredcrafts #traditionalbaskets
#basketmaker #basketry #basketmaking #basketmakersassociation #traditionalcrafts #wales #welshcrafts #historicalbaskets

The baskets arrived yesterday at Craft in the Bay

The baskets arrived yesterday at Craft in the Bay from Ruthin so it’s set up today and tomorrow. A few pictures of some of them here after unpacking. It’s so exciting to have them in this space and to be involved with the set up.

#basketmaker #basketry #basketmaking #naturalmaterials #basketmakersassociation #traditionalcrafts #wales #welshcrafts #historicalbaskets #traditionalbaskets
@makerswales @basketmakersassociation

It was lovely to spend some time @makerswales yest

It was lovely to spend some time @makerswales yesterday and see my work in their Winter Show. It’s on at Craft in the Bay until 5th January so do pop in if you are after some beautiful gifts. My work is pictured here alongside Margo Shelby’s wonderful woven textiles.

@margoselbystudio @makerswales

#cardiff #gallery #exhibition #craft #designermaker
#basketmakersassociation #basketry #rushbasketry

I’ve been pondering rush lampshades for quite so

I’ve been pondering rush lampshades for quite sometime now, this is the first realisation of one. l’m pretty pleased with how it has turned out 💚

#keepmaking #basketry #rushbasketry #rushbasket #heritagecrafts #lightingdesign #woven #crafts #contemporarybasketry #naturalmaterials

I haven’t posted for quite a while as things hav

I haven’t posted for quite a while as things have been busy and complicated. I often just don’t have the energy to put the words and pictures together for an Instagram post. However I’m still weaving away in the background. I managed to get a collection of baskets and other work to the Makers Guild gallery for their Christmas show which is currently running and well worth visiting if you are nearby. I’m now getting things ready for a local December pop up craft sale in Monmouth 💚

Double five strand plait heart made from rush and fastened with waxed linen. Rush harvested by me from the river last summer, these are £15. Message me if you would like one made for you.

#keepmaking #basketmaker #basketmaking #basketry #rushbasketry #maker #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #basketmakersassociation #craft #design #weaving #artisan #interiordesign #welshcraft #britishcraft #heritagecrafts #contemporarybasketry

Playing with left over leaves and bark. #basketma

Playing with left over leaves and bark.

#basketmaker #basketry #rushbasketry #maker #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #basketmaking #basketmakersassociation #craft #workinprogress
#contemporarybasketry #design #naturalmaterials #foraging #weaving #artisan

I’m busy finishing off a collection of work to s

I’m busy finishing off a collection of work to send to @makerswales gallery for their Christmas show at the moment, nearly there.

#basketmaker #basketry #rushbasketry #basketbag #maker #naturalmaterials #craftswoman #craft #basketmakersassociation #basketmaking
#contemporarybasketry #maker #design
#weaving #artisan #interiordesign #basketmaking #welshcraft #britishcraft

Colette Basketry
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