This Summer I made several Willow Baskets. Willow is one of my favorite materials to work with for basketry. I took pictures of each step in the process. The willow I used for this basket is from a basketry friend who gathered the willow in California and Utah. One of the most challenging aspects of making willow baskets in dry Colorado is having a large enough body of water to soak the willing in before and during weaving. Since I don't have a pond, I found that a large stock tank works pretty well. Last Winter I found an amazing place to gather willow in Colorado and I look forward to working with Colorado Willow for my next basket.
Enjoy the photos.
~Gelsey
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXoRWKIXgSWMKRvSB-WbRaZQ5byfqJ-gRqLdpa7Dso6kCUTM0sDSefebq5dD45gOiMgncOdFublYJBewMQzYzfoGsapDSVuqT9VfyMkB0Zn6gQXCo126PPIa8JMLx673fIPYtDKRxn1OQ/s320/IMG_6239.JPG) |
Starting the base |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z-dSWEr_wpfyd4LwZWjfww78sZzkboFzhathWCVoOVJ2bpV4O22d4hnIaoge9uNYEPTaglf4GtXdi7pV0b5lcY9k5e2Zju5fMOoH4KlPrkdhttroyf02XhGu-ZR6nAgz0g9UWg9ma-93/s320/IMG_6243.JPG) |
The first weavers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuSbMa3tC6WV78c55wzPAfglZpoyODHI_vwxeuI7QTKaVSBnCBLMf6g62pijHPpIVcYvNTXMfXVM95QgM3bnh7fgIhKCCyjAF2BXRzTIkryRRSrd__05EbS70vL_8UBpHwhwX7D3IqcWT/s320/IMG_6246.JPG) |
Constantly soaking! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzihpFG05HDnNY8ZpDqFuCh46etLNxZaOn7kfMtcUZBmihaEY3c3G7z9h-wsfBBkee9O-WleHGiqfaAZNQOlTp677Etd1kwu_3U_Qi0CQoSlI0Jw9ceqOXo-2XSRXf18LkO9MDTU7w3HTT/s320/IMG_6251.JPG) |
Adding the spokes into the base |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MN1lNCTLQv2oDNfioONWWuSgPwjInyOyFz8-sx8TtWVy1FFeRW0_Q2eQQXY_7IfRe3tmGuarZ6RAtVHWtz7tblcmLGCUQ_Q2edwlhGi1bEYdA9U2PQJxCIbu7PA7Xg9QgERogXUCFxU5/s320/IMG_6254.JPG) |
Bringing up the sides |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mfHzEl923QGJXZs2g_e9ynz3YU-60iAc_8-sKz4my-Ljs5Y-kRFKSSK6ZVtsBuEf096fXbOk1TaG7vzIemyOoyU35rmZ4qJA-5ei_SDbAE97htsqoc5o1rQHTqRHcI5yUdIUlNgTY1IU/s320/IMG_6258.JPG) |
In this basket, I added an "open twined" section |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCWQawAVvBpd7YJBANto8blDwC2Aqk-cP-dl4qI4acEUB4hUG8amlOlbUnbngph4zSb2OW5It-PaHeqaE6ZyMGATa-8lSamuwePeu4puYlPtg1AW0CtUiYqDHoF0TNfM0o-udxJR1kGLn/s320/IMG_6337.JPG) |
Completed basket |