Woven over a tall glass vase using ⅜ inch willow bark spokes (Salix x Ruben’s ‘Hutchinson’s Yellow’) and 1/4 inch weavers of a slightly darker colour of the same willow. The decorative diagonal design is ⅛ inch willow with the inside of the bark facing out; twined at the bottom with willow twining. The rim is willow, lashed on with Irish linen thread. I grow this willow myself for the bark and the colours change slightly from year to year depending on weather conditions and whether they are one-year or two-year old willow rods.
Nancy Phillips
Every 1 2024 / May 7, 2024
Stand Tall
H: 8.5" | W: 2.5" | D: 2.5"
Photo by artist
Nancy Phillips
Saturna, BC
Growing up in the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest, I had a wonderful elementary school teacher who regularly took us out into nature. We walked the beaches collecting driftwood, seaweed and shells we scrambled through the forest and gathered leaves and mosses and made all manner of things with what we found. We all became “artists”. I took my first basketry class with the world-renowned basket maker, Joan Carrigan, in 2014. Hilary Stewart’s remarkable book, ‘Cedar’, provided much insight. Living amongst the First Nations basket makers and artists is a constant source of inspiration. Having tried a variety of material, I am drawn to using bark for its warmth, depth of colour and texture. I love the challenge of making precise, orderly objects.