We are thrilled to share our passion for willow and weaving with others. We offer seasonal workshops and private small group sessions. Please sign up on our mailing list to be the first to find out about classes offered.
Workshops
Weaving Willow Wonder: Kids and Adults Playshop!
Come explore the wonders of willow in this workshop designed especially for kids and adults to create together using this versatile, natural and sustainable material. Everyone will get a chance to weave their own willow dragonfly to take home then we invite you to play around with other willow creations for a fun start to summer!
Suitable for beginners. Recommended age is 8 and up. Adults are invited to both build their own dragonfly and assist kids. Includes all supplies and light refreshments.
Cost: $45 plus HST for one adult and one child.
Fall 2025 Workshop Series
Upcoming workshop Series.
Instructors
Sian Gwynne Turner
Born in Wales and raised in Canada, Sian has been a basket maker for most of her adult life. Her formal training began with splint work baskets and chairs felled from the Appalachian forest. After settling in Nova Scotia, she discovered willow work through the Nova Scotia Basketry Guild under the tutelage of both local and guest basket makers from other parts of Canada and Europe. After an early retirement she was able to shift to full time making and teaching using both imported and local materials. After vocational training with Adrian Charlton, a professional willow basket maker in France, Sian delved into all things willow, including growing her willow coppice, teaching classes and private lessons and selling baskets by commission, in galleries, farmer’s markets and her own home studio Helyg gallery.
Sian's story
“Born in Wales and entering the Canadian forest as a young girl, handmade and home grown has been the theme of my life. My journey in basketry began during a three year woodworking apprenticeship in North Carolina where we felled and rived (split) white oak to make splintwork baskets and chairs in the Appalachian forest. After settling in the Nova Scotian Acadian forest 38 years ago, I discovered willow work through the Nova Scotia Basketry Guild under the tutelage of both local and guest basket makers from other parts of Canada and Europe. Raising our family and running a rural business took up a chunk of life and at that time basketry was a bit of a sideline, but with an early retirement in 2012 I was able to focus on both making and teaching using a variety of local and imported materials.
A turning point came in 2018 when I did a vocational training with a professional willow basket maker in France (Adrian Charlton, Norfolk Baskets). This gave me the confidence to explore and delve into all things willow. Including growing my own specialty willows, coppiced for long term sustainability (carbon sink).
In the past 10 years I have perfected my craft through practice and skills acquisition and introduced basket weaving to many a willing hand through classes in Community Centres, Art centres, private homes and in my own studio. I sell through commission, galleries, farmer’s markets and in my Helyg (Welsh for willow) Gallery here in Harbour Centre. My goal is to promote the use of renewable and sustainable household basketry goods and show those interested how to make their own functional, durable and beautiful containers for use in everyday life.
With the recent demise of single use plastics now is the time to embrace reusable and ecologically long lasting baskets to do the heavy work, or delight the eyes and the senses. Through teaching, promoting and using willow baskets, I hope to fill a gap in a tide of desire to make things by hand, from scratch. Imparting a quality that only daily use and appreciation will reveal, willow and all natural fibres are the only sustainable and durable materials we ought to be using.”
Julie Stinson
Julie’s willow weaving journey is driven by creativity, curiosity and a commitment to environmental sustainability. She got hooked on the magic of transforming a pile of sticks into glorious baskets of all shapes and sizes. A lifelong crafter, Julie has focused on developing her weaving skills over the past couple of years. She draws on her background as an educator when teaching and designing workshops. She is deeply appreciative of the mentorship from Sian Turner, the camaraderie from the Willow’s Bend Collective and the inspiration from basket makers near and far.
Susie Murphy
Susie’s adventure into basket making started back in 2007 with an introductory course as part of a permaculture school in Ireland. Since then, she has been mentoring under the tutelage of Sian Gwynne Turner in fits and spurts between the demands of co-owning a vegetable farm, Big Barn Little Farm, with her husband and raising two children. More recently the farm has added willow growing to the farm plan and provide much of the material for the School of Basketry which is held in the Big Barn on their farm in Antigonish county.
Location
Big Barn School of Basketry
The Big Barn School of Basketry was established in 2020. We began to offer workshops in willow craft in a newly renovated corner of the Big Barn. And we’ve been weaving together ever since! We host two series a year, one in Spring and one in Fall. Our lead teacher and mentor at Willow’s Bend Collective, Sian Gwynne Turner has led the bulk of the workshops and we have covered everything from foraging baskets, lampshades, garden supports and seasonal decorations. We also occasionally invite visiting teachers to share with us their specialty skills coming from other parts of Canada, the US and abroad.
Hope you have a chance to come and join us in the Big Barn School of Basketry in beautiful Meadow Green, Nova Scotia!
Just a quick note to say a huge thank you to all of you for the wonderful workshop weekend just ended. I’m thrilled with my basket: a joint effort indeed, and will always be reminded of your kindness and sense of fun.