About James
Traditional Craft, A Family Connection
My journey into willow weaving began in 2023 when I was looking for a new hobby. My mum suggested I try basket making, as my grandfather had been a skilled basket maker. I went along to my first workshop in Somerset and was hooked. Discovering the craft for myself has given me the opportunity to continue that family connection in my own way.
Working with willow combines many of the things I value: traditional skills, natural materials, practical design and the satisfaction of creating something entirely by hand.
Baskets Made by Hand
Every Baskets by James basket is individually woven by me using traditional basket-making techniques. I take time over each piece, paying close attention to the weave, shape and finish to create baskets that are both beautiful and genuinely useful.
Willow is a wonderfully individual material. Its natural variations in colour, texture and character mean that no two handmade baskets will ever be exactly alike. Rather than being imperfections, those differences are part of what gives each piece its own character.
My designs range from practical baskets for the home and garden to more individual pieces and gifts, always combining function with the natural beauty of woven willow.
British-Grown Willow
The willow I use comes from Musgrove Willows, a family-run willow grower on the Somerset Levels established in 1928.
Willow is grown as a renewable crop in traditional withy beds and the rods are harvested annually from established stumps, which regrow to produce the following year’s crop. Musgrove Willows grows more than 60 different varieties and continues to process its willow using traditional methods.
For me, it adds another dimension to the craft: working with a natural, renewable material grown in Britain by a business with its own long tradition of willow growing and making.
Part of a Living Craft
I am a member of the Basketmakers’ Association, the UK’s leading organisation supporting basketry and related crafts. Founded in 1975, the Association brings together makers, teachers and others with a shared interest in basketry, helping to preserve traditional skills while encouraging contemporary design and new ideas.
Being part of this wider community gives me opportunities to continue learning and developing my skills, while also contributing to keeping the traditional craft of basket making alive.
A Truly Handmade Craft
Basket making is a craft that cannot be mechanised. Every basket is made by hand, with the maker working directly with the natural material to create its shape, structure and individual character.
Sharing the Craft
As well as making baskets, I run hands-on willow weaving workshops where I share the traditional techniques I use in my own work.
The workshops are an opportunity to experience willow weaving for yourself, learn new skills and enjoy the process of turning a bundle of willow into something you’ve made with your own hands.
Looking for Something Particular?
You can browse the baskets currently available in the Shop, or visit the Gallery to see examples of my previous work.
If you’ve seen something you like or have an idea for a particular basket, please get in touch and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.
