What a wonderful time to be weaving! April was a full and bustling month—still too chilly to work in the sleeping garden beds, but perfect for classes and basketmaking. Now, with warmer days upon us, we can finally take our weaving outside—and the mosquitoes haven’t even woken up to bother us yet!

We’d love for you to join us this May—whether in one of the upcoming classes listed below or by creating your own basket and sharing it with the Alberta Natural Baskets Facebook Group.

Edmonton

• May 30 - Open Weave - Bark Harvesting
  @Bonnie Doon Community Hall
  More Info
  
  
  

• September 27 - Open Weave
  @Bonnie Doon Community Hall
  Save the Date

Hinton

• May 31 - June 1 - 2 day Round Willow Basket
  @Entrance Ranch
  More Info

• May 31 - Willow Berry Boat
  @Entrance Ranch
  More Info
  
  

Edmonton

• May 10 - Miniature Baskets
  Contact Kelsey for more details at [email protected]
  

• June 28 - Miniature Baskets
  Contact Kelsey for more details at [email protected]
  
  

Ardrossan

• May 25 - Small Berry Basket
  More Info
  
  

Tofield

• Sept 12-14 Baskets in the Garden
  Save the Date!
  
  

Buck Lake

• Aug 8 - 10 Weaving in the Wilderness 2025
  More Info
  
  

Drumheller

• May 17 - Cobwebber Broom Workshop
  More Info

Evansburg

• July 4-6th Wild Roses Festival

  • Weaving Stars and Moons
    More Info
    
    
  • Hand Broom Workshop
    More Info
    

Edmonton

• March 22–June 7
  Treat! An exhibition dedicated to the pets we love and care for
  Location: Alberta Craft Council Feature Gallery
  More Info
  
  

Calgary

• June 28–August 3
  Treat! An exhibition dedicated to the pets we love and care for
  Location: Alberta Craft Council
  More Info
  
  

Field Notes: Basketry Harvesting

Winter willow harvesting is just about wrapped up for the season. As the sap begins to rise, the buds become sticky and the harvesting process becomes less sustainable for the plants—something we want to avoid if we hope to return to the same patches year after year.

Next up on the foraging calendar: bark harvesting, along with soft plant materials like iris, dandelion, and grasses. Here’s one of my favorite quick-and-simple videos on how to harvest willow bark—plus, it features a view that’s hard to beat:
👉 How to Harvest Willow Bark

Spring is here in full force, so get outside! Now’s the perfect time to weave in your yard or at a local park. There’s no better remedy for daily stress than fresh air and the rhythmic motion of weaving. Whether you're making supports for tomatoes and climbing flowers, a basket for farmers' market trips, or a trug for garden tools, creating something now will bring you joy all summer long. As you gather materials and weave outdoors, take a moment to notice what’s blooming around you. Spring offers a changing palette of colors, scents, and textures that can inspire your work in subtle ways—from the curve of a tulip petal to the soft gold of early grasses. Let your surroundings guide your creativity, and consider keeping a small field notebook to sketch ideas or record plant locations for future harvests.

Photo Credit: Maryann Borch(Contributed by Betty Attwood)

From our Spiral Open Weave, April 12, 2025. Photo Credit: Lauren Rosinski