Weave, Gather & Make
25-29 June 2026
*Two places left!*
Join us on the gorgeous Isle of Eigg for a creative and grounding retreat- we’ll be using Eigg grown willow to create a beautiful gathering basket, gathering wild plants for printmaking and learning about foraging and island life.
What’s included?
🍃 Four nights of accommodation in a peaceful setting- The Glebe Barn
🧺 Basketry tuition with @allaboutwillow , suitable for all levels. Complete your very own gathering basket.
🧘 Mindfulness session, guided walks and foraging guidance with @laurieinthewild
🎨 Botanical printmaking workshop with @laurieinthewild
🥘 Fully catered – delicious meals, teas and snacks, prepared by a local chef @straveigg
Leave the island with a gathering basket of your own creation, a set of homemade cards, inspired by plants gathered on the island, and a renewed sense of connection to nature.
To book visit:
laurieking.org/retreats
✨ 🌱 Weave, Gather & Make 🌱🧺 May Retreat
Join Laurie King and basket makers from All About Willow, Catherine Davies and Pascal Carr, for a creative retreat on the beautiful Isle of Eigg. From Sunday to Thursday, this retreat offers practical ways to connect with the plants and landscape of the remote island.
Guided by Laurie’s expertise in nature connection, foraging and printmaking, and Catherine and Pascal’s expertise in basketry, you’ll explore the island’s wild beauty through walking, weaving, foraging, and print making.
You’ll leave the retreat with a country gathering basket of your own creation, a set of homemade cards, inspired by plants gathered on the island, and a renewed sense of connection to nature.
Find out more: /retreats
Link in bio!
#retreat #isleofeigg #creative #creativeretreat #craft #craftretreat #scotlandretreat #artretreat #willow #basketry #weaving #foraging #gathering #gatheringbasket #natureconnection #nature #highlands
Our biggest basket yet....commissioned for Scottish Opera's new Falstaff production. 1.6m long x 0.9m wide x 0.7m high. The brief was that it had to be very light but strong. With a 17.5st Tenor inside, it had to be lifted up and turned upside down by four people so that the Tenor would be thrown into the river every performance. We were not allowed to use metal reinforcement inside in order to keep it light. We used multiple bystakes with 9ft Harrisons uprights. For the Wales and weavers we used 7ft Packing Twine and Brittany Green. The base ribs were 25mm softwood dowels and the corner posts were screwed to the outside base sticks with copper pipe bends. The weavers were inerted with the Creel Knot to give it extra strength. #isleofeigg #scottishopera #bigbaskets #theatreprops #theatre #basketmakersassociation #basketmakets #craftscotland #isle20shop
Back pack with an Irish twist for Clare at #westhighlandherbal in Lochaline. #heritagecraft #basketmakersassociation #isleofeigg #basketmakers #isle20shop #backpack #visitscotland
Connemara turf basket using Continental and Packing Twine. The "Irish Twist" in the middle is the weaver insertion for a creel knot, used to give strength to a big basket. #logbaskets #isleofeigg #basketmakers #basketmakersassociation #isle20shop #interiordesigns #smallisles
Hen basket and an......acorn...maybe! Playing around with traditional and contemporary weaving. #giftbaskets #endangeredcraft #basketmakersassociation #basketmakets #isle20shop #isleofeigg #playingwithwillow
Fishing creel (without hole in lid) going to the US. This is the basket that we made for "Clare Fraser" in #Outlander, series one or two, can't remember. She used it as a foraging baskets to collect her herbs so our customer wanted the same. #fishingcreels fishingbaskets #heritagecraft #endangeredbaskets #isleofeigg #isle20shop #basketmakersassociation #basketmakers
A pair of tall, slim log baskets going to the Isle of Skye. For Outlander fans, they are filming again and we have been busy making baskets for them. #logbaskets #isle20shop #heritagecraft #basketmakers #basketmakersassociation #isleofeigg #craftscotland #endangeredcrafts #interiordesign
Hello.......we have been closed for a wee while to catch up on orders and to cut this year's willow harvest which we finished last month. We have around 5000 willow stools, spread over two fields. Depending on variety, each stool is now producing between 30 to 100 rods per stool....a lot of willow. We were supposed to have a German basketry student for five months this year to help but alas, due to Covid, this could not happen. The last picture is of me chipping live willow on to the garden soil as a ramial wood mulch to encourage mycorrhizal fungi......hope it works 😉
#willowharvest #heritagecraft #isleofeigg #mycorrhizalfungi #basketmakers #basketmakersassociation
Last of January's orders completed. Thank you to all our customers for their continued support. We will be CLOSED for two months from now until the 1st of April. We need to focus on current orders and harvest our willow for this year. If there is something that you consider urgent then please contact us. #isleofeigg #smallisles #heritagecraftsassociation #organicwillowbaskets #basketmakers #basketmakersassociation #usefulbaskets
First of the new year orders. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers and our followers for their continued support of our work and for their appreciation of an endangered, heritage craft. It sustains us. Also all the basketmakers out there and those learning our craft, you are our inspiration 💗 #heritagecraft #supportforheritagecraft
We have one of these log baskets left in stock. I'm sorry to say that we cannot take anymore orders for delivery before Christmas.
Due to workload, the earliest delivery date will be the end of January/Beginning of February.
#isleofeigg #heritagecraft #logbaskets #basketmakers #basketmakersassociation #greencraftsinitiative
