Welcome to Weaving by the Sea 2024! We are delighted to announce the details of our Weaving by the Sea 2024 events. For the first time we offer both a Weaving by the Sea Spring School and a Weaving by the Sea Autumn School. These together comprise a varied programme of 15 workshops at our favourite venue, the Hotel Cesar in Vilanova i La Geltru near to Barcelona, Spain. Please find course descriptions below. Please find booking, pricing and accomodation details on the neighbouring page here: Booking Details 2024 Booking opens on Sunday 28th January 2024 at 2pm CET, no pre-booking will be accepted. Weaving by the Sea 2024 - Spring School 1st Courses: 2 days - Saturday & Sunday 6-7 April 2024 Mai Hvid Joergensen - Introduction to Bark Basketmaking Mònica Guilera - Round Collecting Baskets - an introduction to the Catalan tradition Tim Johnson - Finding Fibres - Cordage Making for Basketmaking Day off and special evening event - Monday 8 April 2024 2nd Courses: 3 days - Tuesday - Thursday 9-11 April 2024 Tim Johnson - Inspired by Kishies and Caishies Mònica Guilera - Nansa Beach Baskets & Handbags Mai Hvid Joergensen - Willow Baskets in Rope Weaving Techniques Weaving by the Sea 2024 - Autumn School 1st Courses: 3 days -Tuesday - Thursday 24-26 September 2024 Mònica Guilera - Round Baskets in Nansa Technique Tim Johnson - Neolithic Braiding Mai Hvid Joergensen - Squarework Bags & Baskets 2nd Courses: 3 days - Saturday - Monday 28-30 September 2024 François Desplanches - Frame Baskets in the English Tradition Mònica Guilera - Willow Backpacks Tim Johnson - Free Warp Tapestry - Inspired by fibre artist Tadek Beutlich 3rd Courses: 3 days - Wednesday - Friday 2-4 October 2024 Mai Hvid Joergensen - Frame baskets with Rush & Bark François Desplanches - Squarework Baskets Tim Johnson - Lattice Twining Venue: Hotel Cesar, Vilanova i La Geltru near Barcelona, Spain. Followed by Salt International Basketmakers Fair near Girona, Saturday & Sunday, 5th & 6th October 2024 Weaving by the Sea 2024 - Spring School Workshop Details 1st Courses: 2 days - Saturday & Sunday 6-7 April 2024 Introduction to Bark Basketmaking with Mai Hvid Joergensen Saturday & Sunday 6-7 April 2024 Willow bark is a beautiful soft and flexible basketmaking material, with many species and varieties commonly cultivated it comes in a wide variety of textures and colours. This two day workshop will give you an introduction to willow bark basketry discussing the harvesting and material preparation followed by plaiting techniques to create square and round bark baskets with a variety of folded and stitched borders. You will work with a willow bark grown and harvested on Mai’s own willow bed in Denmark and combine this with pine roots gathered in her local forest for structural details. This course suits beginners and those with some basketmaking experience. Languages of the course will be English, Danish and Norwegian. Round Collecting Baskets - an introduction to the Catalan tradition with Mònica Guilera Saturday & Sunday 6-7 April 2024 The Catalan basketmaking tradition includes several baskets useful for harvesting and gathering natural produce from the forest, field and garden. During this two day course you will focus on making egg and strawberry baskets that feature a round Catalan base, traditional wailing, a three bundle rope border and rope handles. This is the perfect course for willow basketmakers looking for a good introduction to rope borders and their variations. These baskets will be woven with different varieties of brown willow, there is also the possibility to weave with locally harvested Mediterranean Cane (Arundo donax) for those interested. This course suits beginners and those with some basketmaking experience. Languages of the course will be English, Catalan, Spanish and French. Finding Fibres - Cordage Making for Basketmaking with Tim Johnson Saturday & Sunday 6-7 April 2024 Humans have been spinning and plying string, threads and yarns for many thousands of years, the latest evidence from the south of France dates to at least 50 thousand years ago! This ancient technology is a core skill for basketmakers and fibre artists and can be applied to a wide variety of soft materials such as rush, grasses, bast fibres and recycled fabrics. During this two day course you will learn about a variety of plants, their identification, harvesting and processing. We will then go on to use a variety of string making techniques to make cordage with a variety of structures according to the number of elements and their twist direction. Different cordage structures have implications for making and we will look at examples from Tim’s basket collection to see how these technologies are used in techniques such as twining, looping, netting, ply-splitting and coiling. Some participants may like to pair this with Tim's second workshop where hand made cordage is used to make baskets inspired by the Scottish Kishie and Caishie traditions. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English. Day off and special evening event - Monday 8 April 2024 Weaving by the Sea 2024 - Spring School Workshop Details 2nd Courses: 3 days - Tuesday - Thursday 9-11 April 2024 Inspired by Kishies and Caishies with Tim Johnson Tuesday - Thursday 9-11 April 2024 The Shetland and Orkney basketmaking traditions are unusual within the British Isles having evolved without the use of willow. Shetland’s Kishie backpacks are traditionally made with Oat straw while Orkney’s Caisies were made with straw and a wider variety of locally available plant materials. Using these materials to fulfil various domestic and agricultural needs has evolved into a diverse and complex basketry tradition. In this workshop inspired by Kishies and Caisies we will make smaller twined baskets combining hand made cordage with a variety of soft materials for the stake bundles. During the course you will gain experience with several plant materials and make individual choices selecting different plants for different parts of your baskets. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English. Nansa Beach Baskets & Handbags with Mònica Guilera Tuesday - Thursday 9-11 April 2024 The Mediterranean is home to a beautiful and distinctive technique of weaving used by fishermen to make a variety of fishing baskets and traps. In Catalonia ‘Nansa’ fish traps were made in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the kind of fish they wanted to catch, the traps were usually made in the winter with a very tough kind of rush (Juncus acutus) as well as split cane (Arundo donax) and olive stems. In this workshop you will learn to make beautiful, lightweight and strong beach baskets ideal for a swim or picnic on the beach. The basket combines the traditional Catalan base with the 'Nansa' fishtrap technique siding, bundle border and leather handles. Working with willow, this workshop will provide you with a good grounding in this technique and a useful basket to treasure for years to come. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English, Catalan, Spanish and French. Willow Baskets in Rope Weaving Techniques with Mai Hvid Joergensen Tuesday - Thursday 9-11 April 2024 Working with bundles of willow you will explore a variety of weaving structures to create rhythm and texture in your baskets. Inspired by the the baskets of renowned English basketmaker Alistair Heseltine, Japanese weaving techniques and the volume and strength created by working with rope like bundles you will make your own contrasting collection. In the workshop you will learn a variety of techniques in these smaller baskets that will be easily packed in your suitcase for the journey home! This course suits beginners and those with some basketmaking experience. Languages of the course will be English, Danish and Norwegian. Weaving by the Sea 2024 - Autumn School Workshop Details 1st Courses: 3 days -Tues - Thurs 24-26 September 2024 Round Baskets in Nansa Technique with Mònica Guilera Tues - Thurs 24-26 September 2024 The Mediterranean is home to a beautiful and distinctive technique of weaving used by fishermen to make a variety of fishing baskets and traps. In Catalonia ‘Nansa’ fish traps were made in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the kind of fish they wanted to catch, the traps were usually made in the winter with a very tough kind of rush (Juncus acutus) as well as split cane (Arundo donax) and olive stems. In this workshop you will learn to make a round nansa basket with a handle. Combining willow with different coloured threads you will start with a traditional nansa ‘grid’ base attached to a willow hoop, then move on to the sidings, bundle border and handle. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English, Catalan, Spanish and French. Neolithic Braiding with Tim Johnson Tues - Thurs 24-26 September 2024 Neolithic Braiding, also commonly known as Burkina technique and Punto de Cofin, takes it’s name from baskets and woven fragments excavated from 8000 year old archaeological deposits in the south of Spain. Traditionally widely distributed from South Africa up to and around the Mediterranean and up to the far north of Scotland, this technique has many variations and applications. In this course we will use a variety of soft materials, including Cyperus, Esparto and Reedmace to create bags and pockets based on an oval start working from the base of the basket upwards (unlike some baskets in this technique worked from the top down). Inspired by traditional baskets from Tim’s collection we will also look at some variations giving more open structures for more flexible baskets. Long and short braided handles and straps may be added according to the desired function of your baskets. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English. Squarework Bags & Baskets with Mai Hvid Joergensen Tues - Thurs 24-26 September 2024 Develop your squarework techniques with a variety of useful willow handbags and baskets for home and office, shopping or bicycle. Based on a traditional Catalan base you will design your own basket varying the proportions as you choose. Different weaving structures may be used for the baskets siding in combination with different coloured willows from Mai’s own willow bed in Denmark. Soft materials such as willow bark and rush may be added for colour and texture and strong leather handles in a variety of colours will complete your design. This course suits beginners and those with some basketmaking experience. Languages of the course will be English, Danish and Norwegian. Weaving by the Sea 2024 - Autumn School Workshop Details 2nd Courses: 3 days - Sat - Mon 28-30 September 2024 Frame Baskets in the English tradition with François Desplanches Sat - Mon 28-30 September 2024 In this workshop you will make two oval frame baskets in the English tradition, one small and one large with various combinations of handle style and additional wooden feet as you choose. Starting with splitwood or thick round willow hoops (François will prepare these in advance so that they have time to dry into a rigid form), you will then carve and shave the first pair of split wood ribs of Hazel or Chestnut using a drawknife and shave horse, the following ribs and weavers will be of willow. Basket details: Dimensions: various lengths between 30 and 50 cm in order to be able to test different solutions. Number of ribs: 6 or 8 Three cross handle options: split wood, two thick rods or a classic handle bow wrapped with willow rods. Wooden feet shaped on the shave horse can be added to make the basket look like a Sussex trug, they are tied with willow rods. This course suits beginners and those with some basketmaking experience. Languages of the course will be English and French. Willow Backpack with Mònica Guilera Sat - Mon 28-30 September 2024 Ideal for picnics, shopping at the grocery store or a day on the beach, these attractive and light weight backpacks feature a traditional Catalan base combined with sidings and a bundle border borrowed from traditional fishing baskets. You will design your own colour combinations of leather straps and border stitching and add a twisted willow handle if desired to create your own individual and stylish statement. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English, Catalan, Spanish and French. Free Warp Tapestry - Inspired by Polish fibre artist Tadek Beutlich with Tim Johnson Sat - Mon 28-30 September 2024 Create your own fibre artworks inspired by the innovative 'free warp tapestry' techniques of Polish fibre artist Tadek Beutlich. Inspired by the findings of Tim's 2022 research residency working directly from Tadek's unpublished manuscript 'The Techniques of Free Warp Tapestry' you will combine colourful yarns with plant fibre such as esparto grass, rush and cyperus to create your own experimental fibre art works. In this course you will be encouraged to experiment in an open ended way with colour, form, scale and structure. Outcomes may then become sculpture, wearable art, wall pieces or baskets - we will find out on the journey! This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English. Weaving by the Sea 2024 - Autumn School Workshop Details 3rd Courses: 3 days - Wed - Fri 2-4 October 2024 Frame baskets with Rush & Bark with Mai Hvid Joergensen Wed - Fri 2-4 October 2024 Frame baskets are made in a different way to all other baskets, working with a hoop and a series of ribs the frame or skeleton of the basket is made first and then completed with the addition of the weaving elements. This unique system offers many possibilities for exploring shape and proportions according to the length, number and curvature of the ribs. In this workshop you will learn how to explore the creative possibilities that frame baskets offer creating a variety of basket forms from flat platters to bowl forms and larger handbags. You will learn how to weave in contrasting ways with the weaving elements using both traditional and contemporary ‘random’ weaving techniques and combine willow, rush and bark to create a wide variety of textures and colours according to your own design. Leather straps in a variety of colours will be available to complete your design if required for wearable baskets. This course suits beginners and those with some basketmaking experience. Languages of the course will be English, Danish and Norwegian. Squarework with François Desplanches Wed - Fri 2-4 October 2024 Improve your rectangular baskets working in the French tradition with scallomed stakes and single corner posts. Working with brown willow your baskets can be worked straight or a flared giving the basket quite different profiles as you choose. François will guide you through working with a screwblock for the base, up-staking and handle strategy and using a cross mould (or not!) to control the shape and different solutions for bordering around the corners. Dimensions: Base length around 40-45 x 25-30 cm, height without handle 15 to 20 cm Corners: single corner post (and blunt corners if some students can make two baskets) Siding: English randing or slewing At the end of the course François’s special squarework kits will be available for sale including all the particular jigs and measures required to make a perfectly symmetrical basket. This course suits those with some basketmaking experience. Languages of the course will be English and French. Lattice Twining with Tim Johnson Wed - Fri 2-4 October 2024 Inspired by bags and baskets of the North American Eastern Woodland Indians and ancient Peruvian textiles you will learn this special lattice twined structure. Combining twining and plaiting the structure offers many possibilities for exploring colour and creating dynamic patterns. Combining dyed chair seating cane with a variety of cotton, linen, hemp and sisal strings in different colours and thicknesses you will design your own bags to suit your taste and style. Your bags and baskets may be worn as small handbags or hung on the wall as functional or decorative containers. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Languages of the course will be English. About us: Monica Guilera is a Catalan basketmaker with many years making and teaching experience, she makes her living making baskets, teaching and demonstrating and has taken part in many exhibitions both in Spain and internationally. During 2024 alongside commissions and making for markets, Monica will attend basket fairs in Catalonia and Germany and teach a variety of workshops in Catalonia, France and Germany. Her work continues to evolve, while rooted in Spanish and Mediterranean tradition she brings colour and contemporary style to her baskets. Monica's Instagram page: Monica Guilera Mai Hvid Jørgensen is a Danish Basketmaker with many years experience as a maker and teacher, she combines excellent traditional making skills with a flair for good design. Her contemporary functional works add warmth and detail to many Scandinavian homes. Mai grows and uses a wide variety of willows which gives her a deeper understanding of its uses and potential for creative making. Her current work explores the possibilities of diverse international weaving techniques to create texture, form and functionality. Mai’s Instagram page here: Mai Hvid Jørgensen Tim Johnson - never happier than when he's out discovering a new basketry plant or extracting fibres for his latest work, Tim is an artist and basketmaker with many years of making, research and teaching experience.Tim combines a creative approach with great respect for traditional crafts and his fascination and extensive knowledge of the natural world. During 2024 Tim will be pursing his research into contemporary and traditional soft material basketry and teaching in the UK, Catalonia, France and Germany. Tim’s Instagram page here: Tim Johnson We are delighted that our good friend and excellent basketmaker François Desplanches joins the team again for Weaving by the Sea 2024. François specialise in willow basketmaking rooted in his research and making practice. With an exceptional eye for detail, an engineer's mind and a good sense of humour you'll be in for a treat if you join his workshops. François's Instagram page is here: desplanches.vannerie See you at Weaving by the Sea 2024!