Within our front garden you will find my basketry shed, better known as the ‘Witch’s Lair’ a wonderful space where I can enjoy creating, with all my materials at hand. The shed itself was recycled , ‘buyer to remove’ A lucky buy,as it was a hexagon shed with double glass sliding door and 2 windows. Before rebuilding we carefully sited it in the garden so it faced north to take advantage of winter sun and summer shade.  Once it was rebuilt with insulation and lined a cosy space emerged, fitted out with bartered shelving  and cupboards  through freecycle. Add our old lounge recov ..read more

Suitable basketry material from the garden will vary depending on the project however any material that is flexible and can be bent may be suitable. Test out plants flexibility twist and wrap leaves around your finger. If it’s flexible when fresh then it may be pliable when dried .Bend vines and poles to see if they bend the amount required. Try plants at different seasons to test flexibility and what they look like. Some materials are better used fresh and others better when dried and dampened. Some techniques are better with fresh others with dried. Fresh materials will shrink as they dry le ..read more

The Royal Adelaide Show hosts competition in all sorts of arts and crafts.The basketry has 4 sub sections and I was extremely shocked but very pleases to win  3 first places and Best in section Sculpture article;- First –OVERALL Winner. Best overall exhibit in basketry Best article using basketry techniques made from plants grown in Australia           Basket with or without a handle equal First             Other article using basketry techniques;- First           As members of Basketry SA we where given a ..read more

    Pine Root Basket. frame:willow weavers:pine roots .L26xW28xH12cm Gathering Basket frame:willow weavers :bulrush ,fique. L54xW40xH35cm Treasure BasketFrame: willow weavers: iris , tall spike rush. L26xW22xH40cm Cottage Basket Frame:willow weavers:iris, fique L60 W42 H 37cm ..read more

   Gardens are great places to construct large projects.           Using Tension Trays in the garden       Trellises in the vegetable garden made using knotless netting technique.   Prunings wrapped with florist tape and solar lights.   ..read more

The Basket Tree Rib baskets can take on many different forms. I set my project for the year to explore the various shapes and the effects of various materials. Just a few of Deb’s rib baskets ..read more

Stand –Apple prunings.Models – willow frame,iris ears,gumnuts. A study of framed basket ears. 32x30x47cm Natural fibre basketry techniques can morph into many forms including fashion ..read more

I have been busy harvesting my willow and dogwood. The quality is much better this year as I managed to  treat  the infestation of giant willow aphids sucking on the willow with a couple of pyrethrum treatments over summer ..read more

At our last meeting Adelaide Hill Basket Cases had some fun with interlacing willow at Nirvana Organic Farm. The challenge 'how to make something attached to a tree that stayed there'. Plus an opportunity to use some willow from Deb's willow garden. We would have liked it to be higher up the tree but... being only allowed up 2 steps this is what we managed ..read more

Natural Elements Adelaide Fringe exhibition at the Hahndorf Academy in the Adelaide Hills. 17th Feb -19th March 2017. All works by Deborah Cantrill. For those who could an not make it, enjoy this snapshop of the exhibition. Concentrating Thoughts Interlaced Hardenbergia violacea GARDEN VORTEX Random weave willow. Frame hazelnut H75cm L60cm W45cm Leaf basket Handle; Eucalyptus branch. Frame/ribs; willow Weavers; iris, chestnut root bark. H 22cm L 84cm W 32cm Add caption Garden Leaf Rib construction with knotless net ..read more