Arc and Nut Baskets with Nadine Anderson

Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th and Friday 26th September

Cost £320 includes materials, Suitable for intermediate and advanced students. (8 students)

The Arc & Nut Baskets are designed to be stored on a hook and are used for harvesting small fruit or nuts, but could equally be used as a handbag, needlework, or tool bag. Willow and rush are combined in a hybrid frame and stake &strand basket with the twined rush vessel woven about a preformed willow or cobnut handle bow. The bunched and bound start of the tapered Nut and the larks head lashing of the horizontal based Arc, allow for play with different twining techniques. Nadine will encourage you to create varied patterns, textures, and shapes and explore different Trac borders with the use of firm paper moulds to control shaping and the final form.

Nadine will bring preformed handles and there will be the opportunity to use a steamer to form your own. Students are encouraged to bring any interesting leaf material from their garden such as Iris or Crocosmia and any willow bark they may have to experiment with.

The Nut & Arc baskets were designed in 2015 when Nadine looked to rustic split hazel and chestnut work from France and willow “graticcio” fruit drying trays of Italy. She is enjoying the chance to revisit the marrying of willow and rush in her own practice and her workshops