Kristi

I am a willow basket maker living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. An appreciation for baskets and making was instilled in me as a child by a grandmother whose baskets of all sorts of sizes, shapes and materials held her various handcraft projects and carried her handmade gifts. Making willow baskets allows me to make those baskets that grandma knew were both practical and beautiful.

I love taking a bundle of willow rods and slowly weaving them into a functional, handsome basket. A connection to nature and this ancient craft inspire me to make heirloom-quality baskets that bring natural beauty to the home.

I weave with basket willow sustainably grown by friends in the Upper Midwest and coppiced, or cut back to the ground, annually. The bark is left on, giving the different varieties of willow a range of warm, distinctive colors. Once dried, I sort the willow, soak it again to make it pliable and spend a day or two “on the bench” using my hands and a few simple tools to weave the basket.

With the support of expert teachers and fellow basket makers, I continue to learn new techniques and refine my skills.