Rachel's Willow Designs

Well this is exciting…. I’ve just picked up all the promotional material for Perthshire Open Studios. It’s not long to go now! My studio will be open from the 31st August to the 8th September from 10-5 everyday (except Wednesday the 4th). If you’re looking for a brochure to plan your visits, there will be some at my studio, at Home Interiors and also at Brian’s shop in Abernethy. I’ll also spread them further afield too 😀

I had a lovely group of first time weavers in the studio on Saturday to learn how to weave a garlic basket/bird feeder. They all did a fantastic job 😀. I’ll be adding more new workshops to my website in the next few weeks if you’re interested in learning

I’m really looking forward to taking part in Perthshire Open Studios in my new studio in Abernethy !

is basketweaver and willow sculptor who is opening her new studio in Abernethy for you to visit as part of our Open Studios Festival.

There you can see her hand weave willow baskets, animal sculptures, bird feeders and other small decorative items.

https://perthshireopenstudios.com/places/rachels-willow-designs/

I dropped in new baskets to Home Interiors in Abernethy yesterday. It was lovely to catch up with Fiona and see all her gorgeous new stock with lots of gift ideas, soft furnishings and upcycled furniture 😍. The shop is open 11-4 Thursday to Saturday.

It was lovely to drop in and see Fiona at Home Interiors yesterday to deliver some new baskets. The shop looks fantastic with lots of lovely gifts, furniture and soft furnishings.

One of the beautiful baskets dropped off yesterday by Rachel's Willow Designs . I love that Rachel's workshop is just across the road from my shop. I always look forward to her dropping some new bits in and displaying them.
Open today till 4pm. Fi. x

I haven’t made a log basket for ages so I decided to weave this sizeable one last week. I’m loving the colour change of the Brittany Green willow, from purple at the base of each rod to green at the tips, which really shows up in the weave of the midsection of the basket and is highlighted by two bands of white willow. The basket has intergrated handles and a false foot so the base won’t wear out. It is certainly large enough to keep any wood burner well supplied with wood 🔥👍

Day 2 of the Perth Show and the sun is shining ☀️! I had a fun day yesterday including lots of interesting chats, eating a delicious carrot cake scone from Johns Scone Mad and was delighted to win the ‘best laid out craft stall’ trophy for the second year running 😀! It’s an amazing day out so if you’re visiting don’t forget to pop into the craft tent 👍

We’re open at the Perth Show at the South Inch today and tomorrow. There’s food stalls, cooking demonstrations, lots of animals and farm machinery and a fantastic craft tent so pop in and see me if you’re here 😀

This week has been lots of weaving in preparation for the Perth Show, which is on tomorrow and Saturday at the South Inch in Perth. I’ll be taking this cute berry basket with me. It’s a combination of Black Maul, Dicky Meadows, Brittany Green, Flanders Red and white willows. I’m looking forward to a fun couple of days with lots of amazing craft and food stalls, and hopefully I’ll get the chance to sneak out and see some of the animals too 🐐. Pop in to the craft tent and say hello 👋

I had a lovely evening yesterday teaching these amazing first time weavers from Kinross Tangent to make a garlic basket/birdfeeder at Carnbo Village Hall. It was a fun evening and they’re interested in booking for a willow star workshop nearer Christmas ⭐️

This is Hartley the hare smelling the sweet peas in his garden. What a gorgeous spot for his home 😍! I’ve definitely got garden envy. Thanks to my customer for the lovely photo.

For everyone over in Fife, I’m teaching a willow garlic basket workshop at Bowhouse near St Monans on Saturday the 27th of July. The afternoon workshop is full, but we’ve added a morning session from 10-12.30. It’s a lovely introduction to weaving techniques and the basket can be used to store garlic or citrus fruits, or can be used in the garden as a fatball bird feeder.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Tea Green Pop Up Events at Bowhouse. It was a fun day and great to chat. Today I thought I’d highlight another aspect of my work. I have started to do repairs of sculptures. This little chap was in a bad way when he was handed over (next time I’ll remember to take a photo before I start work). I strengthened and repaired the frame then wrapped some new willow around it. He’s looking much happier now 😀. Please could the lady who dropped him off at the Bowhouse workshop get in touch, as I’ve not managed to get hold of you by email and I have a couple of questions 👍

We’re open here at Bowhouse near St Monans in Fife until 4pm (and yes I am near the butcher’s). There’s loads of amazing craft and food stalls. I think I’ll have to treat myself to some nice food later 😋

I’ve just dropped off my baskets and a sculpture for the first Perthshire Artisans exhibition which starts tomorrow at St Matthew’s Church, Tay Street, Perth. It’s open from the 13th to the 19th July from 10-4. I’ve included the large asymmetric basket pictured below. It’s a mix of Flanders Red, Black Maul and white willows with a driftwood handle I found on the banks of Loch Tay. I’ll be helping at the exhibition on Tuesday from 10-1pm and I can’t wait to see all my fellow artisans’ amazing work!

I’m looking forward to my first market with Tea Green Pop Up Events at Bowhouse near St Monans in Fife this Saturday the 13th July from 10-4 😀. I’ll be bringing this Celtic Knot basket with me. I haven’t used stripped willow for a while so it was good to weave with buff, white and buff noir willows for a change.

It was another milestone moment last night, when I hosted my first basketry workshop at my new studio. It was lovely to see the teaching space full of creative energy. These ladies worked really hard on their garlic baskets and we all had a fun evening. If you fancy giving it a go yourself, check out the workshop page on my website.

One of the lovely ladies from the Garlic basket workshop at Branklyn Garden NTS sent me this photo of her basket being out to good use. That’s an impressive harvest of garlic bulbs 🤩! Fifty in total 👍

I had a fun morning today teaching a garlic basket workshop at Branklyn Garden NTS in Perth. It’s such a lovely location surrounded by beautiful gardens. With its tearoom supplying cake and lunches in a gorgeous setting, it’s well worth a visit. I can vouch for how good the scones are 😋. Everyone today was a beginner and they all did a fantastic job! If you fancy joining me there, I’ll be teaching a willow flower workshop on Saturday 14th September from 10-12.30. You can book on Branklyn Gardens’ website.

I had an exciting day away from the studio yesterday, but I can’t tell you about it yet so here’s a new frame basket that I’ve woven. I thought I’d try a basket with four ribs this time. I found shaping and thinning the ribs much easier with my new whittling knife and decided to put them in with the bark downwards. It’s great being able to play around with colour combinations. Here I started with Flanders Red at either end then added a bit of Old French, before adding some Brittany Green then finishing in the centre with Dicky Meadows. I’m already thinking of what I’ll do next 😀

I have a willow flower workshop ready to book at on Saturday 14th September. What a beautiful location to learn to weave 🌹

Introduction to Willow Weaving Workshop Join willow weaver Rachel Kirk at Branklyn Garden and learn how to create your own unique willow flower for the garden.

It was lovely to get back to weaving after my time off and the first thing I made was this asymmetric basket commission. It’s made from Dicky Meadows, Old French, Black Maul and white willows. I sent out my first newsletter earlier today so if you signed up and haven’t received it yet, it might be worth checking your junk folder 👍.

I spent last night drafting my first newsletter. It details all my upcoming classes and events and lets you see what I’ve been weaving recently. If you’re interested in receiving it, just click on the link and fill in the subscribe to newsletter form at the bottom of the home page 👍

Home | Rachel's willow designs  I weave baskets, sculptures, bird feeders and other decorative items for the house and garden from my studio in Abernethy. Having been a gardener for many years, I was looking for a change, and wanted to work with sustainable, natural materials. I became intrigued with willow weaving and started t...

Last week I had a lovely few days away on the west coast. After a hectic few weeks, it was lovely to have break. I also took the opportunity to stock up on some driftwood handles while I was on the beach 😀

In all the excitement of opening my studio last week I completely forgot to post this photo. Tuesday was our last basketry class at Poldrate Arts & Craft Centre before the summer holidays. We’ve had a great term learning about frame baskets taught by Sandra Scholes. I finished this cute tray made with the wonderfully flexible Old French willow. The stripped ribs were a tricky and time consuming skill to practice but also weirdly addictive 😂.

I’m looking forward to taking part in the Perthshire Artisans Assemble exhibition. I’ll post further details nearer the time ….

🗓Save the date!

😍Keep an eye out on our website, socials and newsletters for more information about this exciting upcoming exhibition featuring our amazing Artisans.

I’m launching my new website today along with having an open evening at my new studio and teaching space from 6-8pm at Back D***s, Abernethy, PH2 9JY, (next door to A & B Motors - you’ll find me on googlemaps). So feel free to drop in this evening to check out my workshop and my work in progress and see the teaching space. You can ask any questions you might have about learning to weave willow and then I have my first classes available to book online now. I’ll be adding more dates and more types of workshop over the coming months but just let me know if there’s something in particular you want to learn or you would like to book your own date for a small group. Hope to see you this evening 😀

Home | Rachel's willow designs  I weave baskets, sculptures, bird feeders and other decorative items for the house and garden from my studio in Abernethy. Having been a gardener for many years, I was looking for a change, and wanted to work with sustainable, natural materials. I became intrigued with willow weaving and started t...

I really enjoy making these leaf-shaped, frame baskets. It’s fun to mix all the different colours and it’s good to be learning more about frame basket techniques.

I’ll be having my open evening next Thursday the 13th June 6-8pm to celebrate the opening of my studio and teaching space. Hope to see you there!

Here’s a photo of one of my baskets in its new home. Claire Pountney, an abstract painter based in Perthshire, bought this large basket for her studio. What an amazing space. I’d love to curl up in one of the armchairs with the wood burner blazing. How cosy it looks. The basket fits right in and it was lovely to meet Claire and chat.