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Looking for a new craft? Try basket making!

14 hours ago3 min read

Looking for a new craft? Try basket making!

Explore basketmaking and weaving with plant fibres. Create unique, beautiful pieces and enjoy the rewarding process of natural crafting.

The thrill of thrifting: Meet Jasper, a passionate treasure hunter

Ruth Woods

Dec 115 min read

The thrill of thrifting: Meet Jasper, a passionate treasure hunter

Discover the joy of thrift shopping! From secondhand treasures to sustainable tips, learn how to turn op shopping into a lifestyle.

Creating your own sewing sanctuary – A journey through my studios

Ruth Woods

Nov 135 min read

Creating your own sewing sanctuary – A journey through my studios

Discover how my sewing studio became a space for creativity, growth, and inspiration – each room a reflection of my journey and passion.

The everyday artist: how life’s small moments spark big creativity

Ruth Woods

Nov 65 min read

The everyday artist: how life’s small moments spark big creativity

Exploring Jenny Davis's world of creativity, vintage textiles, and hand stitching, where every piece transforms finds into heartfelt art.

Discovering hidden basket making treasures of Bowermere Cottage Garden

Ruth Woods

Oct 304 min read

Discovering hidden basket making treasures of Bowermere Cottage Garden

Explore the beauty of Bowermere Cottage garden & discover the best plants for basket making, plus tips on craft techniques and plant care.

Ruth Woods

Oct 234 min read

Exploring Japan's textile treasures

Explore Japan's textile treasures! From Tokyo’s fabric districts to shibori dyeing in Arimatsu, get inspired by my craft-filled journey.

Annie Clarke

Jun 244 min read

Fantastic tips for Raffia Basket Making

Explore tips on setting up, working with raffia, and storing it to make the most of your projects with Annie Clarke

A Basket Weaver’s Tale: Benita’s Experience with Baskets from the Garden

Ruth Woods

Jun 64 min read

A Basket Weaver’s Tale: Benita’s Experience with Baskets from the Garden

Benita's journey our Baskets from the Garden course turning plants into art. Get inspired by her story and explore your own creativity!

From garden to basket: using New Zealand Flax for weaving

Ruth Woods

May 75 min read

From garden to basket: using New Zealand Flax for weaving

Explore the beauty and versatility of New Zealand Flax in basket making.

Pretty, practical or peaceful: why would you practice visible mending?

Ruth Woods

Apr 226 min read

Pretty, practical or peaceful: why would you practice visible mending?

Mending a garment is something I get immense satisfaction from. I have always done this from when I started to sew. I would mend jeans,...

You want to write a book? My journey of writing Finding Form with Fibre

Ruth Woods

Apr 107 min read

You want to write a book? My journey of writing Finding Form with Fibre

Finding Form with Fibre was a journey from a dream to self-publishing achievement.

Ruth Woods

Apr 13 min read

Slow stitching ideas!

Discover Slow Stitching Ideas and Inspiration! There are countless projects waiting to be handcrafted through the art of slow stitching.

Using Vines and Creeper for Basket Weaving

Ruth Woods

Mar 253 min read

Using Vines and Creeper for Basket Weaving

There is something magical about vines. They defy gravity, winding and twisting creating environmental sculptures, sometimes in the most...

Slow stitching: the mindful craft embracing imperfection

Ruth Woods

Mar 196 min read

Slow stitching: the mindful craft embracing imperfection

Slow Stitching is a relatively new term yet the practice is ancient. Picture an era where every garment, every quilt was meticulously...

Ruth Woods

Mar 115 min read

Fast Fibre - weave without waiting!

I want to weave now! Hands up if you’ve experienced wanting to weave and realising you haven’t the right plant fibre or you have to dry...

Ruth Woods

Feb 215 min read

How to Prepare Plant Fibre for Weaving

It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of...

Finding Materials to Create Recycled Fabric Baskets

Ruth Woods

Jan 163 min read

Finding Materials to Create Recycled Fabric Baskets

To create gorgeous functional and decorative baskets you need to find some materials to create them with. This isn’t that difficult but I...

Can I Dye Raffia to Weave a Raffia Basket ? A guide to adding colour.

Ruth Woods

Oct 13, 20234 min read

Can I Dye Raffia to Weave a Raffia Basket ? A guide to adding colour.

Raffia Baskets dyed with plant dyes Can I dye raffia? This is a question I get asked a lot! In this blog post I will talk about dyeing...

Which plants can I use for basket making that grow in my area ?

Ruth Woods

Jun 15, 20233 min read

Which plants can I use for basket making that grow in my area ?

As a basket maker, I understand the excitement and inspiration that comes from seeing a beautiful basket made from a plant fibre that's...

Basket Care Made Easy: Simple Steps to Ensure Your Baskets Stand the Test of Time

Ruth Woods

May 31, 20232 min read

Basket Care Made Easy: Simple Steps to Ensure Your Baskets Stand the Test of Time

by Ruth Woods - As someone who makes baskets as well as collects them, I know the time consumed in making them - so I want to share some...

The Art and Craft of Nests by Zora Verona

Ruth Woods

Mar 24, 20232 min read

The Art and Craft of Nests by Zora Verona

If you have purchased the book Finding Form with Fibre - you might recall reading about and seeing the beautiful images of Zora Verona’s...

Weaving Practice Projects - what are they?

Ruth Woods

Jan 31, 20233 min read

Weaving Practice Projects - what are they?

You might wonder what I mean by practice projects. It’s a term I use to describe something that I think all curious crafters and makers...

How much raffia do I need to make a basket?

Ruth Woods

Apr 25, 20223 min read

How much raffia do I need to make a basket?

When I'm teaching, I'm often asked how much raffia is needed to make a basket. It's a good question, because, I assure you, once you...

Zak Foster: Artist, quilt master, and purveyor of memories

Ruth Woods

Mar 26, 20226 min read

Zak Foster: Artist, quilt master, and purveyor of memories

Ten years ago, if you'd told Zak Foster he'd be making a living as an artist making quilts he probably wouldn't believe you. Fast Forward...

Natural Dyeing as a sustainable practice with Kate James from Valleymaker

Ruth Woods

Mar 17, 20225 min read

Natural Dyeing as a sustainable practice with Kate James from Valleymaker

Think exquisite yarns and threads naturally dyed with local plants - and that's only the tip of the iceberg of what Kate James online...

Sustainable Craft with Raine Owen: knitter, basket maker, and creative business owner

Ruth Woods

Mar 14, 20225 min read

Sustainable Craft with Raine Owen: knitter, basket maker, and creative business owner

Raine Owen has carved out a slice of the sustainable craft business pie with her successful online store, the Unusual Pear. It's a...

Permaculture, basket making, and the Urban Nanna

Ruth Woods

Mar 7, 20225 min read

Permaculture, basket making, and the Urban Nanna

The Urban Nanna, aka Anna, has been crafting since she was 10-years old. Her work in the sustainability space, namely permaculture, came...

Meet our guest blogger, Retritus: fibre artist, slow crafter, and botanical dye expert

Ruth Woods

Mar 3, 20223 min read

Meet our guest blogger, Retritus: fibre artist, slow crafter, and botanical dye expert

My name is Norton Fredericks and I am a queer First Nations sustainable fibre artist living and working on Bullongin land, Gold Coast, Austr

A master of slow craft: An interview with Jane Milburn OAM

Ruth Woods

Feb 28, 20228 min read

A master of slow craft: An interview with Jane Milburn OAM

The first crafter we speak to for Sustainable Craft Month is Jane Milburn. Jane has worked tirelessly in the space, receiving an Order of...

Sustainable Craft Month - and why it matters

Ruth Woods

Feb 24, 20224 min read

Sustainable Craft Month - and why it matters

An environmental footprint comes in many forms: what we drive, our devices, electricity consumption, even what we eat. As crafters, we...

Unlikely plants to use in DIY basket making

Ruth Woods

Feb 11, 20223 min read

Unlikely plants to use in DIY basket making

There's no doubt that a basket made from plant fibre is a beautiful thing. Making baskets from natural materials is also one of the...

Growing banana plants for basket making in a cooler climate

Ruth Woods

Feb 1, 20222 min read

Growing banana plants for basket making in a cooler climate

Growing your Banana Plant in a cooler climate People often think you need to live in the tropics to grow excellent fibres for basket...

Ruth Woods

Jan 20, 20224 min read

Meet the Maker with Bindi Browning

It's interesting to see how many wonderful makers we have in our midst that aren't from traditionally creative backgrounds. Over the...

Ruth Woods

Dec 9, 20215 min read

Meet the Maker with Tanja Gawin

Speaking with felt artist, Tanja Gawin is a vibrant experience - there's a real air of joyfulness and creative play that follows her. She...

Ruth Woods

Nov 17, 20215 min read

Meet the Makers with Zora Verona

Zora Verona is a fibre artist who focuses on nest-like forms she creates using natural materials.

Natural dyeing techniques for fabric and raffia

Ruth Woods

Oct 25, 20213 min read

Natural dyeing techniques for fabric and raffia

What is Natural Dyeing? Natural dyeing is an extremely old practice. Evidence suggests that extracting pigment from organic materials is...

Not feeling creative? There's a reason for that: tips for the maker who’s stuck in a rut

Ruth Woods

Aug 21, 20214 min read

Not feeling creative? There's a reason for that: tips for the maker who’s stuck in a rut

Creativity is such a gift. Especially in times like this. The stress of constant lockdowns and covid updates, however, can certainly take...

Ruth Woods

Jul 26, 20213 min read

Fibre Artists Series: Jessica Leitmanis

In our Fibre Artists Series, we'll shine a spotlight on fibre artists from around the globe. If you're a basket maker like me, you'll...

Meet the Makers: Barbara van Gool and Kathleen Mason

Ruth Woods

Jul 8, 20214 min read

Meet the Makers: Barbara van Gool and Kathleen Mason

It's a general rule of thumb that anyone with a creative side is going to be forever searching for ways to satisfy it. I mean, you'd be...

Ruth Woods

Jun 19, 20212 min read

Exhibition Alert: Robyn Norris

From the Earth, Fire and Fibre Yarra Sculpture Gallery 117 Vere St. Abbotsford, Melbourne, Australia Open until July 4th Artist Story:...

Ruth Woods

May 25, 20214 min read

Meet the Makers We Love!

Meet Louise Freckelton Louise lives on a small-scale alternative farm and conservation area named Highfield Farm and Woodland. It's a...

Celebrating all crafty Mothers this Mother's Day

Ruth Woods

May 4, 20213 min read

Celebrating all crafty Mothers this Mother's Day

My mother was a brilliant seamstress. I remember the whirring sound of her sewing room. She would sit behind her industrial sewing...

Exhibition Alert: Nicole Robins, Sydney basketry and fibre artist

Ruth Woods

Apr 29, 20214 min read

Exhibition Alert: Nicole Robins, Sydney basketry and fibre artist

Nicole Robins is a prolific fiber and basketry artist with a wonderfully unique, contemporary style. Her latest exhibition When Nayure Moves

Ruth Woods

Mar 10, 20213 min read

Meet the Makers: Lee Atkinson

I’ve always enjoyed working with fibres, and love the tactile nature of the basketry, and the organic shapes and forms of baskets.

Ruth Woods

Feb 16, 20212 min read

Meet the Makers: Lisa McClure

I’m new at making baskets but I'm just loving the creative outlet. I enjoy the natural colour palette that creating them brings.

Creative Mending - renew your wardrobe with these fun mending techniques!

Ruth Woods

Jan 27, 20212 min read

Creative Mending - renew your wardrobe with these fun mending techniques!

Creative Mending adds a fun twist to traditional mending techniques. It allows you to use a garment’s flaws – a tear, a rip, or a lost...

Where to find recycled materials for basket making

Ruth Woods

Jan 2, 20212 min read

Where to find recycled materials for basket making

Crafting doesn't need to be a trip to the store for lots of new packaged items. That's the beauty of this craft - you can use mostly...

Ruth Woods

Dec 10, 20203 min read

Basket Making in Brazil

Ellen enrolled in our Baskets from the Garden online workshop last month. She asked me about plants she could use, and I was curious to...

Ruth Woods

Nov 12, 20202 min read

My favourite plants to use in basketry

Making baskets using plants is all dependant on where you live. The climate will have a huge bearing on what you will find growing...

Ruth Woods

Oct 4, 20203 min read

Meet the Makers: Kerrie Bowles

Kerrie is a basket maker, hand-dyer and painter amongst other things. She learnt to make baskets with us a few years ago.