Providing a range of courses for the beginner and those wishing to further their knowledge and skills.
Organising fantastic festivals that celebrate basketry and bring together people from across the country and beyond
Creating projects working with people of all ages and in partnership with other organisations.
We are based in the South West of England and work with people across the globe.

Workshops are in a variety of great locations in Devon. See Courses page for further information.

These feathersticks and the larger star lanterns launched as the sun went down were made from willow and tissue paper, buoyed by cork floats and weighted with stones  in a basketry cage to keep them level in the water. Each one had a return label attached.

Star lanterns lined up in front of the church

Enthusiasm for the celebration exceeded expectations and a whole day of events developed that included a trapeze performance of The Cornish Mermaid over the harbour, a procession led by African drumming, a Town Band concert, belly dancing, a carnival of decorated fishing boats and a ceilidh on the harbour head.

The Gala Day ended with the 200 star lanterns lit with candles floating magically out of the harbour at dusk.

This event, celebrating the turn of the century was funded by a ‘Year of the Artist’ Arts Council grants programme.

Although most of the feathersticks were returned from local Cornish beaches, two did eventually arrive in Brittany close to Porthleven’s twin town.

Lanterns on the pier

The following year the PORTHLEVEN MAKER’S FAIR was held to commemorate a visit from Breton residents of Porthleven’s Twin town, Guisseny.

Links between agricultural and fishing baskets of Brittany and Cornwall were explored with demonstrations of lobster pot making and other crafts taking place on the harbour head green.

Photo of Breton basketmaker

These two festival events that took place in the small fishing village of Porthleven in Cornwall led by Geraldine Jones and Hilary Burns, two willow enthusiasts, to establish Basketry and Beyond.

A National Architecture Week event made possible by a grant from Awards for All.

In June 2006 a bamboo and paper structure was created on Loe Bar, Porthleven. The project was led by Geraldine Jones, Hilary Burns and Susan Deakin, and profiled Cornish bamboo from Penrose Estate and the national collection at Carwinion Gardens, Mawnan Smith.

Prints were made in community workshops based on the shingle flora and fauna of Loe Bar reflecting its SSSI status.

RNAS Culdrose provided a helicopter to transport equipment to the beach.

The structure was a spiral maze constructed using trellis weave, prints were made on Japanese paper.