Workshops

For SPRING 2023

Workshops

For Spring 2023

BASKETRY FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS

On Saturday, 28th January, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including all the tools and materials

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

This workshop at Brede in East Sussex is aimed at complete beginners. Working with natural English willow and English rush, you’ll learn how to weave a simple willow tray, and an elegant frame basket, using a traditional weave called randing. This is a fun introduction to basketweaving for total novices. No previous experience necessary, but please note that a certain amount of dexterity is required when working with natural willow.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

 

ROUND WILLOW BASKETS

On Saturday, 11th February, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including tools, equipment and materials for the day

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for keen beginners and those wishing to improve their skills

In this full-day class you’ll learn to make a traditional round willow basket. You’ll weave the base, construct, and build up the basket’s sides, then add a border, and a simple handle if there’s time. We’ll cover several weaves, including pairing, waling and randing, and you’ll find out about this lovely natural material and the tools too. This class is suitable for keen beginners and those with a bit of experience of handling willow.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SKIBS

On Saturday, 25th February, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including all the tools and materials

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch 
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for those wishing to improve their skills (not for beginners)

In this class you’ll learn to make an Irish Skib, a shallow round basket originally used for potatoes. This style of basket has an attractive ‘grid-like’ centre to the base. Several varieties of willow are used for the weaving, creating interesting tones. First you’ll construct the base, then weave the sides, and add a border to your work. You’ll learn about traditional weaves, including pairing, waling and randing, basketry tools and this lovely natural material. This class is for those with a little experience of willow, who wish to improve their skills.

HEDGEROW FRAME BASKETS

On Saturday, 11th March, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00)
£110 including tools, equipment and materials for the day

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for improvers and proficient beginners

In this workshop, you’ll create an attractive and versatile ‘frame’ basket, using natural English willow. With this type of traditional basket, hoops and ribs form the basic structure. You’ll make a ‘god’s eye’ to attach the two hoops, then weave the basket using a mixture of willow, rush and other materials. This class is suitable for those who have a little bit of willow-weaving experience. All the tools and materials are supplied.

 

ROUND WILLOW BASKETS

On Saturday 15th April and also
on Saturday 10th June, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including tools, equipment and materials for the day

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for keen beginners and those wishing to improve their skills

In this full-day class you’ll learn to make a traditional round willow basket. You’ll weave the base, construct, and build up the basket’s sides, then add a border, and a simple handle if there’s time. We’ll cover several weaves, including pairing, waling and randing, and you’ll find out about this lovely natural material and the tools too. This class is suitable for keen beginners and those with a bit of experience of handling willow.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

 

 

WILLOW PLANT SUPPORTS

On Saturday, 13th May 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye)
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including all the tools, equipment and materials 

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for beginners and those wishing to improve their skills

In this full-day workshop, you’ll learn how to weave a tall, attractive willow obelisk for your sweet peas. The plant support is designed to place directly in the flower border or it will fit a large, round plant pot. There’ll also be an opportunity to make a willow ‘cloche’ support suitable for your other garden plants.

 

SIMPLY SQUAREWORK

On Saturday, 27th May, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)

£110 including all the tools, equipment and materials 

Please wear comfortable clothes, and bring a packed lunch
(teas, coffees and cake are provided)

In this class you’ll make a shallow rectangular willow basket, with or without a handle. Square baskets more difficult to make than round or oval shapes, so this class is for those who have some willow experience. We’ll be working with a simple randing weave on a wooden ‘jig’, and you’ll weave up the sides using scalloming, waling and another weave of your choice.
If there’s enough time, you can add a handle and tie to your basket.
Suitable for those wishing to improve their skills (not for total beginners)

 

BASKETRY FOR BEGINNERS

On Saturday, 28th January, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including all the tools and materials

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

This workshop at Brede in East Sussex is aimed at complete beginners. Working with natural English willow and English rush, you’ll learn how to weave a simple willow tray, and an elegant frame basket, using a traditional weave called randing. This is a fun introduction to basketweaving for total novices. No previous experience necessary, but please note that a certain amount of dexterity is required when working with natural willow.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

ROUND WILLOW BASKETS

On Saturday 15th April and also
on Saturday 10th June, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including tools, equipment and materials for the day

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for keen beginners and those wishing to improve their skills

In this full-day class you’ll learn to make a traditional round willow basket. You’ll weave the base, construct, and build up the basket’s sides, then add a border, and a simple handle if there’s time. We’ll cover several weaves, including pairing, waling and randing, and you’ll find out about this lovely natural material and the tools too. This class is suitable for keen beginners and those with a bit of experience of handling willow.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SKIBS

On Saturday, 25th February, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including all the tools and materials

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch 
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for those wishing to improve their skills (not for beginners)

In this class you’ll learn to make an Irish Skib, a shallow round basket originally used for potatoes. This style of basket has an attractive ‘grid-like’ centre to the base. Several varieties of willow are used for the weaving, creating interesting tones. First you’ll construct the base, then weave the sides, and add a border to your work. You’ll learn about traditional weaves, including pairing, waling and randing, basketry tools and this lovely natural material. This class is for those with a little experience of willow, who wish to improve their skills.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

HEDGEROW FRAME BASKETS

On Saturday, 11th March, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including tools, equipment and materials for the day

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in,
and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for improvers and proficient beginners

In this workshop, you’ll create an attractive and versatile ‘frame’ basket, using natural English willow. With this type of traditional basket, hoops and ribs form the basic structure. You’ll make a ‘god’s eye’ to attach the two hoops, then weave the basket using a mixture of willow, rush and other materials. This class is suitable for those who have a little bit of willow-weaving experience. All the tools and materials are supplied.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

ROUND WILLOW BASKETS

On Saturday 15th April and also
on Saturday 10th June, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye),
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including tools, equipment and materials for the day

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for keen beginners and those wishing to improve their skills

In this full-day class you’ll learn to make a traditional round willow basket. You’ll weave the base, construct, and build up the basket’s sides, then add a border, and a simple handle if there’s time. We’ll cover several weaves, including pairing, waling and randing, and you’ll find out about this lovely natural material and the tools too. This class is suitable for keen beginners and those with a bit of experience of handling willow.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

PLANT SUPPORTS

On Saturday, 13th May 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede (near Rye)
East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00 please)
£110 including all the tools, equipment and materials 

Please wear comfortable clothes to work in, and bring a packed lunch
(teas and coffees are provided)

Suitable for beginners and those wishing to improve their skills

In this full-day workshop, you’ll learn how to weave a tall, attractive willow obelisk for your sweet peas. The plant support is designed to place directly in the flower border or it will fit a large, round plant pot. There’ll also be an opportunity to make a willow ‘cloche’ for other garden plants.

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

 

 

SIMPLY SQUAREWORK

On Saturday, 27th May, 2023

At Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede, East Sussex TN31 6DX

10.15-4.30pm (arriving by 10.00)

£110 including all the tools, equipment and materials 

Please wear comfortable clothes, and bring a packed lunch
(teas, coffees and cake are provided)

In this class you’ll make a shallow rectangular willow basket, with or without a handle. Square baskets more difficult to make than round or oval shapes, so this class is for those who have some willow experience. We’ll be working with a simple randing weave on a wooden ‘jig’, and you’ll weave up the sides using scalloming, waling and another weave of your choice.
If there’s enough time, you can add a handle and tie to your basket.
Suitable for those wishing to improve their skills (not for total beginners)

To book please use, EMAIL FORM.

 

Photograph of Christiane Gunzi

Christiane Gunzi Basketry

Address: Hastings, East Sussex, UK
 

I’m a member of:

The Basketmakers’ Association and The Basketry Collective.

I was Trade Advisor to The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers 2017-2019, and am also a Yeoman Maker.

You can follow me on Instagram.

 

Booking Details

To book a class, please send a message via the contact form on my website, or email me at christianegunzi5@gmail.com. To secure your place, payment needs to be made in full by bank transfer at the time of booking. For practical reasons, places on my classes are not transferrable or refundable (please think of it as if you were buying a ticket for an event).
If, however, a class had to be cancelled by me for any reason, you would be reimbursed.

I am running most of my classes at a light, airy village hall in Brede, near Rye, East Sussex, with plenty of room for social distancing. In this venue you have your own table and tools, and tables are at least 2 metres apart. Places on my workshops are strictly limited to small groups so that everyone gets enough individual tuition, and the places go quickly. 

Lastly, if you would like to give someone the gift of a basket lesson, I am happy to help! Private tuition for small groups can be arranged for a special occasion, such as a birthday.

Please use the contact form below to email me if you are interested in basketweaving workshops, or if you have an enquiry about a basket commission or repair. If you give me your email address, I’ll add you to my mailing list.

Photograph of Christiane Gunzi

Christiane Gunzi Basketry
Address: Old Town, Hastings, Sussex

I’m a member of:
The Basketmakers’ Association
The Basketry Collective and Sussex Arts Collective
You can follow me on Instagram.

Booking Details

To book a class, please send a message via the contact form on my website, or email me at christianegunzi5@gmail.com. To secure your place, payment needs to be made in full by bank transfer at the time of booking. For practical reasons, places on my classes are not transferrable or refundable (please think of it as if you were buying a ticket for an event).
If, however, a class had to be cancelled by me for any reason, you would be reimbursed.

I am running my classes at a light, airy village hall in Brede, near Rye, East Sussex, with plenty of room for social distancing. In this venue you have your own table and tools, and tables are at least 2 metres apart. Places on my workshops are strictly limited to small groups so that everyone gets enough individual tuition, and the places go quickly.

Lastly, if you would like to give someone the gift of a basket lesson, I am happy to help! Private tuition for small groups can be arranged for a special occasion, such as a birthday

Please use the contact form below to email me if you are interested in basket classes, or if you have an enquiry about a commission or repair. If you give me your email address, I’ll add you to my mailing list.