Wendling Workshops
A Few Notes Before You Book
Workshops are intentionally small—typically 5–6 students—so each participant receives individual guidance.
For full-day classes, lunch is served at Heleny’s home next to the studio. It is simple and homemade—usually soup, salad, and fresh bread—and is included in the workshop fee.
You’ll receive an email from Heleny 2–3 days before your workshop with details on what to expect, what to bring, and what’s planned for lunch.
Beginner and returning students are welcome.
Cancellation + Access
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you may cancel up to 14 days before the workshop for a 50% refund.
Workshops require a minimum of 3 students. If a class does not meet this minimum, it may be canceled and all participants will receive a full refund.
Upcoming Workshops
SOLD OUT
Build a full-sized willow basket with a fixed handle and finished border over two days of weaving.
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A 2 day hands-on workshop focused on weaving large baskets with handles.
Day 1: base and put in the uprights
Day 2: side weave, border and handle. -
Various techniques
Tools will be provided:
Bodkin
Knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
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2 Day Workshop: June 6 + 7, 2026 9:30am- 4:30 pm
Lunch included.
Cost: $240 plus $25 for materials
Class Size: 5 students
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start to receive a 50% refund.
Weave a traditional Irish willow basket perfect for serving and gathering.
It was originally used to drain and serve potatoes, the skib is defined by its shallow form and the natural variation of willow in the base.
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Today, it works just as well as a serving tray, a shallow dish for fruit or vegetables, or for everyday use in the home. An enjoyable and approachable basket for both beginners or advanced students.
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Traditional skib construction
Working with different willow tones in the base
Shaping shallow forms
Tools will be provided:
Bodkin
Knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
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1-Day Workshop: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Vegetarian lunch included.
Cost: $170 (includes materials and a lunch served at Heleny’s home next to the studio)
Class Size: 6 students
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start to receive a 50% refund.
Weave a traditional Irish willow basket perfect for serving and gathering.
It was originally used to drain and serve potatoes, the skib is defined by its shallow form and the natural variation of willow in the base.
-
Today, it works just as well as a serving tray, a shallow dish for fruit or vegetables, or for everyday use in the home. An enjoyable and approachable basket for both beginners or advanced students.
-
Traditional skib construction
Working with different willow tones in the base
Shaping shallow forms
Tools will be provided:
Bodkin
Knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
-
1-Day Workshop: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Vegetarian lunch included.
Cost: $170 (includes materials and a lunch served at Heleny’s home next to the studio)
Class Size: 6 students
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start to receive a 50% refund.
Weave a hanging willow basket with a shaped back and open front for everyday storage.
Hang it for plants, gather fruit and vegetables, or keep gloves and mittens by the door.
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This is an excellent class for beginners, and for those who want to strengthen their base-making skills. There is always room to refine the slath.
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Setting a strong base
Twining
Three-rod wale
Packing
Track border
Tools will be provided:
Bodkin
Knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
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1-Day Workshop: Thursday, August, 20, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Lunch included.
Cost: $170 (includes materials and a vegetarian lunch served at Heleny’s home next to the studio)
Class Size: 6 students
No experience needed. This is a good place to start and we love working with beginners.
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start to receive a 50% refund.
Weave a hanging willow basket with a shaped back and open front for everyday storage.
Hang it for plants, gather fruit and vegetables, or keep gloves and mittens by the door.
-
This is an excellent class for beginners, and for those who want to strengthen their base-making skills. There is always room to refine the slath.
-
Setting a strong base
Twining
Three-rod wale
Packing
Track border
Tools will be provided:
Bodkin
Knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
-
1-Day Workshop: Saturday, August, 29 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Vegetarian lunch included.
Cost: $170 (includes materials and lunch served at Heleny’s home next to the studio)
Class Size: 6 students
No experience needed. This is a good place to start and we love working with beginners.
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start to receive a 50% refund.
Weave a willow gathering basket sized for herbs, lettuces, flowers, and everyday collecting. This is the largest basket that can be woven in a single day workshop.
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This workshop is suited for beginners and intermediate weavers interested in building a practical handled basket while learning strong foundational techniques.
You’ll weave a slightly domed base around six base sticks, shape the sides, and finish the basket with your choice of traditional border and side weave.
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laying out and weaving a round base
staking up and shaping the basket walls
maintaining even tension while weaving larger forms
attaching and shaping a fixed handle
weaving and finishing a traditional willow border
Tools will be provided:
Bodkin
Knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
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1-Day Workshop: Thursday, September 17, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Lunch included.
Cost: $170 (includes materials and a vegetarian lunch served at Heleny’s home next to the studio)
Class Size: 6 students
Suitable for beginner and intermediate students.
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start to receive a 50% refund.
Weave a willow gathering basket sized for herbs, lettuces, flowers, and everyday collecting. This is the largest basket that can be woven in a single day workshop.
-
This workshop is suited for beginners and intermediate weavers interested in building a practical handled basket while learning strong foundational techniques.
You’ll weave a slightly domed base around six base sticks, shape the sides, and finish the basket with your choice of traditional border and side weave.
-
laying out and weaving a round base
staking up and shaping the basket walls
maintaining even tension while weaving larger forms
attaching and shaping a fixed handle
weaving and finishing a traditional willow border
Tools will be provided:
Bodkin
Knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
-
1-Day Workshop: Saturday, September 19, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Vegetarian lunch included.
Cost: $170 (includes materials and a lunch served at Heleny’s home next to the studio)
Class Size: 6 students
Suitable for beginner and intermediate students.
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start to receive a 50% refund.
Weave a strong willow apple basket designed for carrying apples, potatoes, and other harvest yields.
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Over two days, students will build a larger working basket in the traditional stake-and-strand style using six-foot stakes and five-foot strands. Willow for the workshop comes from both the Wendling willow patch and Lakeshore Willows in Ontario.
This class is intended for students who have already woven several willow baskets and are ready for a more advanced project focused on shaping, structure, and finishing techniques.
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pairing
double French randing
shaping a larger working basket
weaving with longer stakes and strands
forming and fitting internal handles
weaving a four- or five-pair border
weaving three-rod and four-rod wale
selecting willow suited to larger basket forms
You will also learn how to work with traditional willow basketry tools including:
Bodkin
Billy knife
Secateurs and clips
Measuring tape
Rapping irons
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2-Day Workshop: Saturday–Sunday, October 17–18, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM each day
Lunch included both days.
Cost: $340(includes materials and vegetarian lunches served at Heleny’s home next to the studio)
Class Size: 6 students
Recommended for students who have previously woven 3–4 willow baskets.
Payment is required to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the workshop start date to receive a 50% refund.
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