I am so proud!

I just received the nicest email from a student who has attended one of my workshops this summer.
I am so touched that I thought I'd share this with you:

"Dear Borbála,

'Beware! Basketmaking is highly addictive!' you said, and I agree, having just finished number 13 - see attached photos.

It doesn't seem long since it was all a mysterious art form, but your excellent workshop at EcoHouse Leicester in June made it clear and got me hooked - for which, many thanks.

And a picture of an impeccable oval basket he just finished:

 Isn't it amazing?

Willow Christmas decoration

It's only October, but I have been playing around to see what Christmas decoration I could make using traditional basket making techniques and natural materials. This is a Christmas tree made of green willow; hopefully it can be used for a couple of years; it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

The wreath also has a willow base that I embellished with ivy and some bright red berries.
Can't wait to make more!

Autumn workshops!

I am still in Hungary, enjoying the last days of my holidays, but I have been busy organizing the autumn basket making workshops in the UK as well :)

Here are the dates and places for the courses I am planning; if there is an interest, I would hold more seasonal workshops focusing on Christmas decorations (wreath, willow Christmas-tree, etc).

Saturday, 10th, November, EYNSHAM, TOLKIEN ROOM (10 am- 4 pm)
Saturday, 24th, Noveber, EcoHouse, Leicester (10 am-4 pm) WILLOW CHRISTMAS DECORATION!

Should you be interested in any of the above workshops, please send me a note to borbalahidvegi@gmail.com

Bird feeder, anyone?

It's been a time since I made one of these, but with the autumn coming I thought sooner or later the bird feeders will come handy...
To build the feeder, I used professional American willow which had been soaking for 3 days prior to use.
Although the weaving I used is pretty simple (basically an in-and-out step) it was difficult to make the feeder due to its tightness and size.
If there is an interest, I might be doing a one day workshop focusing on bird feeders this autumn/winter.

Back in Hungary

I am currently enjoying my holidays in Hungary, but will be back to the UK in October. I have started to arrange a couple of basket making workshops for the autumn-winter period; dates and locations will be posted soon.
This picture was taken on the river Danube (close to the historical town of Esztergom) where we spent a pleasurable weekend canoeing.

Salcey forest

Yesterday Akos had a day off, so we decided it was time for another minibreak, possibly the last one before I have to go home to Hungary...
This time we wanted to go Salcey forest, a lovely green paradise just next to Northampton. The whole idea was born when I picked up one of the free tourist brochures at the local library and saw a picture of the so called "tree top way"...I was immediately hooked.
The wooden pathway, built about 15 meters high, was even more impressive in real; here are two of my favourite pictures taken there.

River Leam

Last week we took a day off and went to Leamington Spa for some canoeing.
The weather was gorgeous, just perfect for such adventures, the newly bought rubber boat proved to be a great buy, so nothing could spoil our perfect day.
This is one of my favourite pictures I took while rowing.

Workshop in Daventry

As most of the people interested in basket making signed up for my mail list from the Northampton area, I decided to organize a workshop that is conveniently close to their home.

I have been struggling to find a suitable (and affordable) place in Northampton, but I finally managed to book a room a 20 minutes drive away in Daventry.

The Daventry basket making workshop will be held on 7th, July between 10 am - 4 pm.

The course is designed for complete beginners, however I am welcoming second timers who can try their hands on something new this time (an oval based basket, perhaps?) 

On this course I am able to tutor 8 persons so please book your

place to make sure you don’t miss it!

Come and learn this beautiful ancient craft with me and go home with a

finished rustic basket!

For further details and to book your place please contact Borbala at:

borbalahidvegi@gmail.com

Booking is on a first come first served basis.

Beware! Basketmaking is highly addictive!

EcoHouse follow up

So my first (but hopefully not last) workshop at the EcoHouse in Leicester was over yesterday afternoon.
I felt lucky again to have such enthusiastic, good humoured people attending the workshop; everybody went home with a finished, medium sized wicker basket and the basic knowledge to be able to start making a second one!
The EcoHouse is an amazing place with lots of interesting activities going on; it is definitely worth a visit if you live in the area and are interested in organic gardening, recycling and other green activities!
I am definitely planning to have a second workshop here, and next time we might be able to work in the garden if the weather is nice.
Although we used mainly grown buff willow on the course, I made sure we had some colorful green willow and red dogwood to make the baskets a bit more colorful; this is Monica, preparing the dogwood sticks for weaving. The best time to harvest your own material is between late November and early March, but you can still collect dogwood in the summer if you don't mind getting rid of the leaves.

Mini Mediterranean

I miss Mediterranean summer vacations; I usually spend one or two weeks on one of the Croatian islands each summer. I just love the sunshine, the glittering, crystal clear sea and the zillions of smells; grilled fish, lavender, oregano, pine, and so on.
This year I probably have to content myself with this "mini Mediterranean herb garden" I created on the windowsill; so far I have basil, lavender and mint (and there is going to be rocket in the blue pot soon).
All pots are from car boot sales and each rock is a memory of a walk we took in the countryside here in the UK.

Leicester workshop in the EcoHouse

At last I managed to organize my first non-Rugby workshop which will be held on Saturday, 16th, June in the EcoHouse, Leicester.
 

As usual, the one day workshop is designed to guide total beginners step by step through

each stage of the basket making process.

On this course you will learn how to weave a medium sized vegetable basket.

Date: Saturday, 16th, June (10 am- 4 pm)

Price per person:  £45

(all materials, tools and step-by step handouts included)

On this course I am able to tutor 6 persons so please book your

place to make sure you don’t miss it!

Come and learn this beautiful ancient craft with me and go home with a

finished rustic basket!

For further details and to book your place please contact Borbala at:

borbalahidvegi@gmail.com

or call: 07565231128

Booking is on a first come first served basis.

Beware! Basketmaking is highly addictive!

Ramblings

At last I joined the Rugby Ramblers...what a great idea it was!
I actually have been thinking about it for a while now, but there was always something going on every weekend. Last Sunday I finally went on my first walk with local nature enthusiasts, and spent a whole day of hiking on the sunny countryside near Adlestrop in the Cotswold district. I met wonderful new people; I think I am hooked :)
This is my favourite picture I took on the way:

Feedback on the first UK workshop

So my first UK course was over on Saturday afternoon; I feel very fortunate that I could work with such great, enthusiastic people!

The time went by fast as we were weaving, and by the end of the day everybody finished a large organic basket with a handle :)

This is me, helping Jo, one of the students.

I received such nice comments that I can't help sharing them:

" I found it very enjoyable and “therapeutic”, the time flew! You worked so hard and kept us informed, telling us in detail what to do. It was great, and I couldn’t have asked for a better day, I learned a lot. It was good to be able to take something home to give to my wife."

"Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed your workshop and appreciated your hard work in helping us all achieve a basket to be proud of."

Such positive feedback made me start organizing the next workshop, which will be on the 12nd, May.

Details coming soon... 

First UK workshop

Hooray!

People have been asking me about basket making courses, so I just couldn't resist and started working out the details; today I am happily announcing that my first UK workshop is all fixed up!

Here are the infos:
One day introductory basket making workshop for beginners.
Students will leave with their own finished, medium sized basket and the skills needed to continue this beautiful and therapeutic craft.
All materials and tools, plus step-by-step handouts included.

Tutor: Borbala Hidvegi, Hungarian basket maker (that's me :)
Course size: maximum 6 persons
Course date: 28th, April (10 am-4 pm)
Location: Rugby Baptist Church, Regent Place, Rugby, CV21 2PJ
Price per person: Ł 45

To book your place please contact me at: borbalahidvegi@gmail.com or call 07565231128

Colours, colours...

I have been busy collecting materials for basket weaving :)
Look at all the different shades of willow, dogwood and hazelnut! Aren't they fascinating?
I love experimenting with these materials that are partly new to me...where I come from we have slightly different variations of the same plants. For example dogwood never gets this gorgeous dark red shade in Hungary!

This is how the above sticks look like once woven into a basket base.
Like a rainbow...

First post

So this is my new blog.
Brand new, fresh, crispy!

We have been missing nature since we moved here a month and a half ago, so this weekend we treated ourselves with a little trip...drove up to Willow Withies in Moira to buy a bit of green willow for my upcoming workshop, then wandered around Charnwood Forest for a couple of hours.
What a lovely day!
PS: I wanted to take pictures of bluebell covered woods, but I guess it was too early for that...oh well, we still found a few pieces, plus it will be a good excuse for another excursion :)