Last minute vacancies....

Due to a couple of last minute cancellations we now have single vacancies on each of two workshops at Weaving by the Sea 2017. If you are interested to join us please contact Mai at mai@skovflet.dk  as soon as possible as the places are sure to go quickly!

Prices are 235 € per course plus accomodation at the Cesar Hotel, Vilanova I La Geltru - further information on the workshop detail page.

We have one place on Mai's first course:

29th, 30th September & 1st October 
Texture and Structure - Explore weaving structures to create texture in your willow baskets.

with Mai Hvid Joergensen

Working with a variety of willows and Mediterranean materials such as olive and date palm, you will explore the variety of textures and patterns created by different weaving techniques and structures. Starting with round and oval bases, participants will have the opportunity to learn a variety of weaves such as Herringbone and Zig-Zag Weave, French Randing and the traditional Irish 'Donkey Windows'. These techniques may be used to create a variety of beautiful baskets and bags for functional and decorative use.

Mai is an experienced maker and tutor and is happy to cater for both beginners and more advanced students on a variety of projects.

Languages of the course will be English, Danish and Norwegian.

and one place on Monica's:

29th, 30th September & 1st October 
Catalan Cove - Fisherman's Landing Basket & Catalan Traditional Baskets
with Monica Guilera

Catalan basketmaking is a distinctive craft tradition that has fulfilled everyday needs of the Catalan people for centuries. Rooted in this distinctive local tradition this basket was used in Vilanova i La Geltru and along the Catalan coastline by fisherman to land their catches. Combining an unusual willow base with either willow or cane sidings, a three bundle rope border and two handles, this attractive basket will introduce many of the locally specific techniques whilst making a very useful household basket. 

Alongside the Catalan Cove workshop participants may also opt for a variety of other traditional pieces with the classic combination of Catalan base, rope border and a variety of handles. 

Some experience of working with willow is required for this course. 

Languages of the course will be English, Catalan, Spanish and French.

See you soon at Weaving by the Sea 2017!

Which basket will you take home?

Which basket will you take home? At Weaving by the Sea 2017 Monica Guilera will focus on two great traditional baskets used by fishermen along the Catalan coastline. The first of these is the Catalan Cove - Fisherman's Landing Basket that was made in a variety of sizes according to the catch and made with whole and split willow. One of the special features of this strong and economically made baskets is the now rarely seen cross base - also called the 'donkey base' - not because it was used for donkey baskets as you might think but because it was 'every day' and - apologies to the donkeys - quite simple! Simple in structure though it may be - compared to the well known Catalan and French bases that followed, the donkey base is very attractive and like the Catalan base has the great benefit of adding all the stakes right from the beginning.

Fishermen would unload their catches with these baskets forming chains of men walking up the beach to market their fish. We hope to re-enact this at the end of the course this year!

During our second week of courses Monica will teach the beautiful Fisherman's Nansa basket used by fishermen to carry their lunch, tools and whatever else they needed for a good day's fishing. During the course you will personalise your basket with your choices of colour and proportion.

Twining in World Traditions and Flexible Basketry Structures with Tim Johnson

Above: Openwork Pandanus basket by Rosie Bindal Bindal, Yilan near Maningrida, NT, Australia.

Now that all our courses for Weaving by the Sea 2017 are organised and online we can share with you some of the ideas and inspirations behind the workshops to come. Tim has already posted some images on his website here: ....some of my favourite baskets are twined featuring beautiful twined baskets from around the world which will be the inspiration for his course Twining in World Traditions , and no doubt on Tim's travels in Australia this spring he will continue to gather inspiration, samples and some of the extraordinary stories and making details that are densely woven into the diverse aboriginal twining tradition. 

Twining traditions exist all around the globe and the technique combined with the specifics of local materials have, over thousands of years, solved a huge variety of practical needs including gathering, winnowing, trapping, storage, costume and decoration. This adaptable technique offers the contemporary maker with one of the most useful joining techniques and all kinds of materials may be woven together utilising it's innate strength. 
 

Many baskets combine a variety of techniques and do not fit neatly into categorised collections. Above two related baskets used for sieving grain and flour combine coiling - to make a strong container and means of holding while sieving, and twined openwork bases to create a mesh to allow sifting.The top one is from Italy while the bottom one with extra fine alternate pair twining is made by the Oromo people of Ethiopia.

The special basket below while similar in form to the sieves above was used along the Catalan coastline to hold baited fishing longlines, while not twined this piece combines a braided esparto border with knotted netting which will feature in Tim's first course Flexible Basketry Structures - looping, netting and knotting.

Weaving by the Sea 2017 Courses announced !!

It's that time of year again! Yes the new course list for Weaving by the Sea 2017 has just been unveiled and we are delighted and excited to offer six courses over seven days with an additional special day out to visit basketmakers and a basketry museum in the south of Catalonia.....run for your laptops, smartphones and semaphore flags as Mai awaits your bookings!

Dates announced - Weaving by the Sea 2017

The Kalanchoes will soon be in flower along the seafront in the winter sun of Vilanova I la Geltru,
at Weaving by the Sea we take this time of year to plan our activities for you next autumn and work to check as many of the cafes, bars and restaurants are still up to the standard needed so that we can  recommend them to you next autumn....currently the coffee bar by the market is still very good with excellent sandwiches and croissants - it's a tough job but someone has to do it!

Soon we will have details of our new courses for Weaving by the Sea 2017 staying for the second year at the excellent Hotel Cesar . We will offer six courses over the seven day period - you will be able to choose 1 or 2 courses each depending on how long you would like to join us. We promise as usual a mixture of techniques, materials, traditional and contemporary designs carefully thought out by our expert tutors. Workshop details soon and some extra activities new for this year - but in the meantime save the dates:

1st courses  29th, 30th September & 1st October 2017
2nd courses 3rd, 4th & 5th October 2017 

As usual we co-ordinate Weaving by the Sea with the excellent basket fair in Salt near Girona, north of Barcelona so that you may attend this on the same trip. This year Salt will be: 

Salt Basket Fair 7th & 8th October 2017

Nearly time to pack your bags!

Welcome to Weaving by the Sea 2016!
Our teaching spaces are swept and tidy, willow and rushes are being gathered and prepared, the weather is looking promising and we look forward to meeting you all in Vilanova I la Geltru. Don't forget the excellent basketmakers fair in Salt near Girona on the 1st and 2nd October just before our event - an excellent event to learn all about the diverse Spanish basket making traditions in willow, palm, esparto, rush, straw and much else besides. 

If you have booked and secured a place for this years event then expect an email over the next couple of days with final arrangements and details of bus and train connections to Barcelona airport.

If you haven't booked a place and are feeling a little left out (!!!) then you have a last chance opportunity to to book - two places are now available on Tim's 'Invisible Stitch' course due to last minute cancellations.

 

See you soon at Weaving by the Sea 2016!

2016 courses - all sold out!

We have been enjoying some beautiful spring weather here in Vilanova I la Geltru - the spring flowers are in bloom, the almond blossom is already over and fresh green nuts are already ripening, swallows and swifts are passing through on the way to northern europe. 

We are happy to announce that all our Weaving by the Sea 2016 courses are now all sold out and we look forward to welcoming you all in October. If you have left it too late and missed a place this year then please be in touch and we will add you to our waiting list in case of any spaces becoming available. We will also add you to our mailing list for our next Weaving by the Sea event - we are already making plans for 2017! Best wishes from Mai, Tim & Monica.

Weaving by the Sea 2016

Yes the time has come to run for your diary and book in some creative and relaxing time in sunny Spain! Weaving by the Sea 2016 will be held on the 4th, 5th and 6th October in Vilanova I la Geltru, Catalonia, Spain, just after the the excellent basketmakers fair in Salt, Girona.

See you soon!

Looking back to Weaving by the Sea 2015

Already several months have passed since our 3rd annual Weaving by the Sea event in Vilanova I la Geltru, Catalonia. It's such a pleasure to look back on another great year and think ahead for our 2016 plans - watch this space dates and details shortly.....more photos and details of the 2015 workshops here: 2015

News from your tutors.....

2015 has been a busy year already for your Weaving by the Sea tutors! Mai, Monica and Tim are looking forward to our gathering in September and are working hard to make all the arrangements to make sure everyone has a great time in Vilanova i la Geltru. Places are booking up fast for the six courses - so don't delay if you would like to join us! 

 

Monica has been demonstrating at several markets in Catalonia this month including the excellent specialist craft market last weekend in Asco - here she is finishing the border on a large traditional basket called a 'Cove' used for a variety of agricultural jobs and today still in demand for both domestic storage and use outdoors. Made with split willow and european Arundo cane on a traditional Catalan base the basket is both strong and light.

Mai is always busy combining her making for markets, exhibitions and commissions with teaching in Denmark and Norway. At the moment Mai is preparing baskets for a special exhibition curated by Danish basketmaker Jette Mellgren themed around fruit baskets at the Frilandmuseet in Maribo on the Danish island of Lolland. This renowned museum is part of the National Museum of Denmark and is located in an area associated with fruit growing. Above three of Mai's special blue baskets using her own home grown willow varieties with a lovely plum like bloom.

Tim is just off the plane from a six week teaching and research trip to Australia having been hosted by groups such as Basketry NSW and the Basketmakers of Victoria plus the excellent gallery in Newcastle Timeless Textiles. Full of inspiration from downunder - including the stunning dancing ground of the Satin Bowerbird - above - at Harriet Goodall's place he is now developing a new body of work in his new studio in Vilanova i la Geltru - just two floors up from Monica's!

A collection of Tim's pieces (detail below) has just been on show in the exhibition Influence and Evolution: Fiber Sculpture…then and now at Browngrotta Art in Connecticut, USA alongside some of the leading exponents of the contemporary basketry and fibre arts movement.

So.....catching our breath....we look forward to greeting you with a nice chilled glass of local white wine at Weaving by the Sea 2015! See you there.....