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.
If workshops are full then please join our waitlist.
Workshops
Fall 2026 Workshops
Split willow tray with Johnny Suderman
Starting of the season with a new guest instructor bringing a more advanced class! This delicate practical tray utilises simple square work and more advanced willow handling techniques using split rods for the sides. It’s a darling of a little basket, a much smaller project with a lot of detail and finesse. This class is appropriate for adult weavers who are self directed with roundwork. Familiarity with pairing, waling and borders is important for a quality outcome.
Date and Time: September 27, 9:00- 4:30
Instructor: Johnny Suderman
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost: $190 +tax
Basic Beginner Basket
Join us to weave with willow and learn the fundamentals of stake and strand basketry. This is a one-day beginner crash course in weaving a base, sides and border of a basket of a small basket.Suitable for beginners, hand strength required.
Suitable for beginners, hand strength required.
Date and Time: October 4th, 9am -5pm
Instructors: Susie Murphy and Julie Stinson
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost:$180+tax
Kindling Basket
This popular stake-and-strand basket adds onto the techniques from a basic basket, including a foot and inset handles. Its size makes it a perfect floor storage basket. A beginner and improver level class, experience weaving with willow is an asset but not necessary.
Date and Time: October 17th and 18th 9am -5pm
Instructors: Susie Murphy and Julie Stinson
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost: $300+tax
Scallomed oval shopper
This is a next level basket for those wanting to add to their weaving skill set and improve knife techniques. Using the scallom method to tie on stakes and a hooped base, we will make a beautiful and oh so functional working basket. Best suited for more experienced weavers.
Date and Time: Nov. 6th, 1pm -5pm. Nov. 7 and 8th, 9am-5 pm
Instructor: Sian Turner
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost: $440+tax
Assymetric Basket
Come and join us for this intermediate unique basket project made with a slanted border, french rand driftwood handle. It is perfect for all kinds of uses and allows those with some knowledge of basket making to improve upon their skills.
Best suited for those with a few classes or projects under their belts.
Date and Time: Nov. 14-15, 9:30 am -4:30 pm
Instructors: Susie Murphy and Julie Stinson
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost:$300 +tax
Mini-skib/ Willow Tray
Learn to weave a willow tray! A slight variation on the stake and strand style base and sides that we cover in our other classes gives a new shape. Based on the Irish skib, this smaller tray can be used for countertop storage, herb drying or wall decor! Some experience weaving with willow is recommended but not required
Date and Time: November 28th, 9am -5pm
Instructor: Julie Stinson
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost:$170+tax
Lampshade
In this one day workshop we will use basic basketry techniques but without a base or fancy border and produce a beautiful hand woven lampshade. You will be given a selection of willow varieties to make your own unique table or floor lamp shade.
Date and Time: Dec. 5th, 9am -4pm
Instructor: Susie Murphy
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost:$170+tax
Whirligig / Spinning Icycle
This project is a delight to the eyes as it swirls and dances in the wind. Once started the repetitive nature of this weave is mesmerizing.
Suitable for beginners and improvers.
Date and Time: December 6th, 1pm -4pm
Instructor: Sian Turner
Location: Big Barn School of Basketry, 717 Meadow Green rd
Cost:$120+tax
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 care for our living environment. 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!
717 Meadow Green Rd, St Andrews, NS
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.