Hi Catriona! Tell us where you are from, and a little bit about yourself.
I live near the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia. I've lived in Melbourne my whole life. I'm an early childhood educator and creativity is an important part of my work with children. I'm a Christian.
What inspires you to make?
I'm inspired by many aspects of the world around me - nature, colour, art, ceramics, and music are just some that stand out for me. I'm also inspired by other basket makers. I love looking at what other people are making.
How did you discover basket weaving as a craft? What drew you to it?
I discovered basket making relatively recently, in December 2019 in fact. I came across Ruth from Craft School Oz on Instagram and I was really taken by her beautiful handmade baskets. I bought a basket-making kit for her textile baskets class, it came with beautiful fabric - and even though it didn't turn out quite as I had planned, I was hooked.
After that, I booked in to do a workshop with Ruth in raffia basket weaving, which I loved. I have continued to explore the craft ever since, trying different stitches, working with different materials, and trying different shapes. Raffia is my favorite material.
Basket making has become my favorite craft of all the crafts I've tried!
I love basket making because it's relaxing, it helps to calm my nerves. I love that every piece that you create has its own unique character and even when they don't turn out the way you had planned they have their own beauty about them. There is also the tactile nature of the craft, that lends itself well to natural materials. I love using my two hands to work with these materials. it amazes me that they can be transformed into such special objects.
What's your experience of being creative?
I enjoyed being creative growing up and into my early adulthood, I was really taken to drawing as a child, and as an adult, I tried my hand at screen printing, sewing, embroidery, and natural dyeing. Basket making has become my favorite craft of all the crafts I've tried!
I love that every piece that you create has its own unique character and even when they don't turn out the way you had planned they have their own beauty about them
Aside from basket making, what else fills your cup?
I enjoy traveling, I have been to India twice as well as South East Asia, and to various places around Australia. I especially love Sydney.
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