Colleen Covey - Baskets - Crowan Crafts Artist, Cornwall, England

Colleen's baskets at Kynance Cove, Lizard, Cornwall

Colleen Covey

Traditional Willow Baskets

"I get great satisfaction from making strong, functional baskets using traditional techniques.

A well made basket from natural materials will provide good service for many years and can be repaired if needed.

Baskets are the ultimate renewable resource."

Colleen initially qualified and worked in science, then changed careers to pursue a long-held interest in crafts and the natural world.

She learnt to make baskets around ten years ago while living in Scotland, and has been addicted to the smell and feel of willow work ever since!

Beaded basket in white willow

Medium log basket

A move to Cornwall in 1996 brought the opportunity to concentrate on willow work full time, supplying local markets, galleries and producing work to commission, ranging from bread baskets to Moses baskets in a range of traditional styles.

Garden basket in buff and green willow

All Colleen's work is made with native willow from Somerset, or harvested locally in Cornwall.

Willow can be prepared in three main ways: with the bark on (known as brown willow), the more traditional buff colour (which has been boiled and the bark removed), or white willow which has had the bark removed without boiling.

Some of Colleen's baskets also include other hedgerow materials such as dogwood and other willow varieties to increase the range of textures and colours available.

Colleen is always willing to discuss commissions, repairs, or one-off individual pieces.

Colleen Covey
Perranwell Station
Cornwall

Phone: 01872 862649
E-mail: colleencovey@lycos.co.uk