Chris Baxter's Baskets

23/10/2024

Ah! Autumn, my chance to breathe. Soon be cutting time.

19/09/2024

I'm going to be walking the Erewash Canal during October for Greenpeace's 25 mile challenge. Here's my page: https://challenges.greenpeace.org.uk/fundraisers/chrisbaxter/25-mile-challenge
This challenge is like a retrospective for me:
During the 70s in London I became involved with Greenpeace and raised some funds by selling t shirts and other merch - always a supporter, in those days membership was not available.

Since moving to the Midlands in the 80s initially to study at Loughborough College of Art and Design (as it was then) I became fascinated with canals (something we didn't have a lot of in south London). I'll try and upload an early lithograph print I did here.

In this challenge I'm putting the two together. I've chosen to walk the Erewash canal as it is one I don't know so well - in Loughborough my house backed onto The Grand Union Canal - I really don't have the energy to walk that one!

At just 11 miles I reckon I can manage the Erewash and back, even with these old pins.

Yesterday we cycled it to check out where it meets up with major roads and junctions for me to exit and join over a few days (22 miles too much for me in a day!)

Please consider sponsoring me, I'm hoping to take a sketchbook with me and capture some of the urban meets rural landscape which I'll share here.

I'll also prvide you with updates, it starts on October 1st, funnily enough it would have been my Mum's 94th birthday. Another link!
https://challenges.greenpeace.org.uk/fundraisers/chrisbaxter/25-mile-challenge

29/08/2024

Just a 50+ year old willow and cane basket mended and back into active service. Quite pleased with this one - as was the owner! Let's keep the old ones going!!

02/06/2024

Trigger alert! Far too many pictures of my garden. Feel free to scroll on by!
Thanks to all 535 people (plus children and dogs) who came to our garden yesterday. Lots of money taken for Salaam Shalom Kitchen and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Woodthorpe Meadows. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers from SASH and friends who did the wonderful gatekeeping. Oh and thanks to everyone who bought my wares from dragonflies to baskets, making me reconsider the retirement issue once more! Thank you all - a lovely day.
Sherwood Open Gardens

30/05/2024

Look at these willow dragonfly hatchlings all ready for Sherwood Open Gardens this Saturday. Also, that lily is seriously tall now! Come and see me on my stall in my garden.
21 Trevose Gardens NG5 3FU
​We inherited apple and pear trees from the original orchard at Woodthorpe Grange and have further developed fruit production. Being keen on sustainability and very concerned about climate change we have been working to increase biodiversity in the garden.
Annuals, perennials and herbs are grown together in the centre bed providing food and shelter for pollinators. A section of lawn has been stripped back and sown with wildflower seeds. Small swathes and paths are mown throughout the growing season and the rest of the grass is allowed to grow as high as it wishes before being cut down.
Willow provides materials for many things in the garden, a reindeer, a fence, a fedge, obelisks, bird houses and feeders. As this is the home of Chris Baxter's Baskets there will be the opportunity to buy some baskets or just chat about how Chris uses her own grown willow and other garden materials in her work.
Children will enjoy finding animal ornaments in the garden. https://www.sherwoodopengardensnottingham.weebly.com

20/05/2024

23/02/2024

Hasty bit of coppicing this morning. Elegantissima bursting into leaf!

15/02/2024

Old 50s/60's 'hen' basket......can you fix it? Yes we can!

26/11/2023

Hey fresh willow snood!

27/10/2023

This Sunday I'll be at the Museum of Timekeeping 10-4 demonstrating my craft. Come along and watch me weave some traditional basketry and a frame basket. I'm still taking commissions and undertaking repairs but I'm rarely out in public! I'll see you there maybe?

16/09/2023

A week in the Lakes, time well spent, foraged basket materials; Oak frame, hazel ribs, grass, bark, brambles and Virginia creeper weavers. Even walked up Cat Bells! Always inspired to make when I visit.

03/09/2023

Definitely a favourite time of the year to enjoy late flowering rudbeckia from and some ' leftovers' dragonflies

31/07/2023

So, today I finally uninstalled twitter, deciding here was a nicer place to be. I still have no idea how to do posts but here's a little egg basket I made last week, just to keep my hand in - both making baskets and posting on insta 😆

08/01/2023

01/09/2021

*coughs* gah! it's dusty in here!
Right so apologies for no posting for a while but y'know, Covid and that.

This is me crawling out from under the duvet and getting back to work (ish).
This Saturday and Sunday I will be at Sutton on Trent Festival 2021 the focus will be on me demonstrating some basket making. I've done prep to make a celtic frame basket, a Hen basket and, if we have a good wind behind us a gardening trug (or flower trug as it is traditionally known). The Flower trug is a 'square' and as 'squares make me swear' only attend if you don't mind a bit of profanity thrown in (it'll be mild).
It's an otherwise lovely family day out and the committee are hard working and amazing, they bring together all kinds of countryside craft, local produce and music. It's the first event I've done since 2019 and they enticed me out!
During the pandemic I was able to sort through all those projects that were waiting for the right day and also, to make room in my work room I'll be bringing them along - so although there won't be a huge stock of my work to buy there will be, in no particular order:
Re seated furniture
Vintage basketware that just needs a new home
Hens going cheap (see what I did there?)
This seasons dragonflies at half price

25% of all sales to go to Sutton on Trent Festival coffers, vintage ware sales will be split 25% with SOT and 75% to charity.
So come along with your hard earned pennies, or just come and watch me weave, it'll be a great day out - see you there?
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September from noon
https://www.suttonfestival.co.uk/

03/03/2021

Working on some ideas with the head gardener and resident artist at

17/02/2021

Finally got around to making some rush hearts, thanks Rough Around the Hedges for the kit and the great instructions (and vid on You Tube) such value for money - managed to squeeze an extra two weeny ones out due to an extra rush being included!

16/02/2021

Treated myself ... Because I'm worth it. Thanks very prompt service