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growing willows #farmtobasket at #dunbargardens in the #skagitvalley with @willowbasketmaker Katherine Lewis

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Katherine is on her way to teach for four days at Willow Fest Northwest. In the past week she made a couple of paniers à jour for samples for that half of the class time. You can see the finished baskets in photo 2. Two different base styles that could be made. Although they are different in size, they are made on a base hoop the same size. The white basket was made from mostly peeled Whissender which won’t be an option in the class. We also loaded a third one into the car this morning that you can see in photo 3. That one was originally made for a “hands on” exhibit at the Renwick Gallery back in 2013. Last photo shows all of the willows getting loaded for the class. Lots of small rods for the rope coil weave baskets leaning up against the back. Quite a haul on a hot day here in the Pacific Northwest. Weaving begins tomorrow!.#willowbaskets #willowbasketmaker #katherinelewis #nwbasketweavers #willowfestnorthwest by @dunbargardens

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3 days ago

We did a little bark peeling recently. Katherine was getting a willow bark supply together for a couple of classes that she will be teaching in October at North House Folk School in Minnesota. You can see we have a size range of willow rods to peel. Taking advantage of the sunshine to dry the bark rolls. Last two photos are class samples..#willowbark #willowbasketmaker #katherinelewis #dunbargardens #handwork2026 by @dunbargardens

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10 days ago

Katherine has been busy preparing for Willow Fest Northwest at the end of the month. Yesterday she was weaving a rope coil basket as a sample for her class. Lots of sorting of willows too. It should be a great event with five excellent teachers with four full days of class time. All the teachers grow their own willows so the classes will have a farm to basket atmosphere. Besides the rope coil weave, Katherine will also be teaching a fitched oval market basket..#willowbaskets #willowbasketmaker #katherinelewis #dunbargardens #willowfest by @dunbargardens

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18 days ago

Black-capped Chickadees and Swallows have used the nest boxes this year. I have seen the Chickadees using 4 boxes, Tree Swallows in one and Violet-green Swallows in one after the Chickadees had fledged. I was worried for awhile that the Swallows would try to force the Chickadees out since they were so persistent in going to the box even after I moved and placed 2 more boxes in the same area.First two photos show the Chickadees with insects for the nestlings. Third photo shows the nest with their eggs and the next two photos shows the nestlings later. Sixth photo is the Violet-green Swallow claiming the box the day the Chickadees fledged. The seventh photo shows the new Swallow nest built on top of the Chickadee nest. The Swallows are lucky that the Chickadees are such good house keepers..#birdsonthefarm #dunbargardens #skagitvalley #blackcappedchickadee #violetgreenswallow by @dunbargardens

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a month ago

Katherine will be teaching her willow “potluck basket” at Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) on August 29-30. Photos show a few examples of Katherine’s work. The class was recently posted so there are still spaces available. This class is a good one for people with previous experience weaving with willow. You can read the details on BARN’s website here: https://create.bainbridgebarn.org/event/willow-potluck-basket-181760/register.By the way, if you were wondering how Katherine’s classes at the Northwest Basket Weavers Guild Retreat went, they were great. Photos? Katherine didn’t come home with any! Let’s hope she takes a few when she is teaching at Willow Fest Northwest in a month..#willowbaskets #willowbasketmaker #katherinelewis #dunbargardens #bainbridgeartisanresourcenetwork by @dunbargardens

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a month ago

Happy Summer Solstice! Katherine giving a wave from the willows which are growing well. We hope your gardens are doing well as we move into warmer and drier days..#dunbargardens #basketrywillow #farmtobasket #katherinelewis #willowbasketmaker by @dunbargardens

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a month ago

View of one of the willow patches and garden area. Nice to get some rain the past few days. I have been a little slow at getting willow harvested and the vegetable garden going this spring, but happy to be here to enjoy it..#dunbargardens #farmtobasket #willowcoppice #willowbasketmaker #skagitvalley by @dunbargardens

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2 months ago

Several of Katherine’s willow baskets that have found new homes this spring. I realized we hadn’t posted in awhile so wanted to share some recent work. Well made baskets that should give many years of use. There were also a couple of ninth anniversary presents there which is a nice gift..#willowbaskets #willowbasketmaker #katherinelewis #farmtobasket #basketsmadetobeused by @dunbargardens

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3 months ago

Living willow fence and archway pruned for another year though I should probably prune the arch top more. A few photos from different views and the last one is from fall before the new growth was cut. Originally planted in 2018 with willow varieties Continental Purple, Irette, Purpurea x daphnoides, Harrison’s B and Golden..#livingwillowstructures #dunbargardens #skagitvalley #salix by @dunbargardens

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3 months ago

Another year of shipping willow cuttings is almost finished. I think I started mail orders back in 2008 (though now I am using UPS as the carrier). I managed to get several thousand cuttings out though I began to realize back in January that recovery from radiation and chemo therapy for cancer last year was going to slow me way down. The good news is that there are many more sources for cuttings than when we started for people to order from. I do hope customers have been happy with our cuttings over the years..#willowcuttings #dunbargardens #skagitvalley #farmtobasket by @dunbargardens

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3 months ago

In need of a haircut? It was time for the annual pruning of the living willow hut that was originally planted in 2011 on the farm with Salix purpurea Eugene rods. First photo is halfway through after pruning while standing on the ground. Second is actuallly a couple months back when I pruned off some larger rods. Third photo is after I got a ladder to trim the top. Fourth is some new growth..#livingwillowstructures #salix #dunbargardens #skagitvalley by @dunbargardens

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3 months ago

Katherine’s willow bark basket was juried into the Northwest Designer Craftartists exhibit at Allied Arts Gallery at the Park in Richland, WA which will be open March 31 - May 1. The exhibit is part of Handwork 2026 which is a national celebration of craft by Craft in America. I have posted images before of this “Treasure Box”. Second exhibit it has been chosen for so others must like it as much as we do..#willowbark #willowbasketmaker #katherinelewis #nwdesignercraftartists #handwork2026 by @dunbargardens

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4 months ago