Jo Costura

I have been a creative maker of some sort all my life and discovered the joy of willow basket making in 2016, learning from other skilled makers. I sell at the occasional local craft fair when I have made enough to sell and also take on a few commissions. Encouraged by friends who wanted to learn I took up teaching small classes in 2023 but am still in full time work as a Mechanical Engineer, so time is scarce.

I find inspiration from being outdoors in nature as much as possible, or watching it from my willow making shed through the window with my cats. I find the willow basket process is the opposite of the wood turning that I also enjoy - basketry starts from nothing to build a finished basket and turning starts with a solid block and subtracts until you uncover the beauty of the wood, so the two go well together. I enjoy the process of creating a design, and making it come to life. I love making oval and rectangular baskets as I find them the most useful, usually in natural brown willows with a hint of stripped white willow somewhere which I can't resist. I enjoy the process of using my home-made drawhorse to shape ribs for baskets too. There's so much fun to be had and always something to learn from others.

My workshops and sales get advertised on my Instagram (Jos_Wood_Willow_And_Wool) or possibly more reliable I send notifications via email if you request that.

I am in West Cambridgeshire, UK. PE28.

• Basketry
• Contemporary
• Garden Structures
• Traditional
• Willow (Basketry)