Beginners Willow Baskets Workshop with Jes Clark, November 6 & 7, 2025

Waitlist: The workshop is currently sold out, if you would like to be on a wait list for any  openings please email us at info@russelljanis.com

Dates: Thursday & Friday November 6 & 7, 2025

Workshop Fee: $350 Material Fee: Approximately $50, based on weight of material used. Paid to the instructor at end of thee workshop. 

Description: In this class, students learn and practice traditional weaving techniques while creating beautiful and functional harvesting baskets. We will use an innately colorful selection of willows and learn about the cultivation and processing of this historically important natural material. Our baskets will be built from a round base with weaves mostly in the European tradition, including pairing, waling, randing and woven borders. Every student’s basket will be different! This class is suitable for beginners wanting to learn a base of weaving knowledge or intermediate weavers looking to improve skills and control. Willow is a stronger more tension-y material than many other basketry materials, strong hands are recommended for this course. 

Workshop Size: 8 students.

Schedule: 9am-5pm each day (7 hours class time + 1 hr lunch), lunch provided.

Instructor: Jes Clark (they/them) is the farmer and weaver at Willow Vale Farm in Stanfordville, NY. Jes weaves traditional and contemporary functional pieces and the basket forms created are a result of their conversation with each stick of willow. All of their willow is grown without pesticides using regenerative practices and with loving care. Jes has been teaching weaving since 2018 and has taught hundreds of students ranging from absolute beginners to experienced weavers looking to refine their craft. They have taught at the Stowe Basketry Festival, for the National Basketry Organization, at the Met Cloisters just to name a few, and also privately in one-on-one tutorials. Jes has woven a set of three baskets entitled ‘i am made to hold’ for Our Fragile Moment, an exhibition of artists to address the climate crisis. Discover more of their work at:  @willowvalefarm  willowvale.farm.com

Location: 85 Sharon Mountain Rd, Sharon CT. The workshop will take place in the great room at Fiddlestyx, a Russell Janis space located in the foothills of the Berkshires in North West Connecticut.

Accommodations: There are 4 guest rooms at Fiddlestyx available for the workshop. To inquire send an email to info@russelljanis.com. Other acomodations nearby: Sharon Country Inn , The Inn at Iron Masters , Cornwall Inn