Creative with Nature

The only Willow weaving shop on the UK high street. Creative with Nature specializes in willow sculpture, willow basketry, sales, commissions, teaching courses in weaving and a number of other functional crafts.

Joe Gregory is a willow basket maker and sculptor based in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

She started weaving as a hobby in 2004 and by 2008 after realising she could make a living doing a craft that she loved started Creative with Nature, initially from her kitchen table to now owning a 5 storey Georgian building in the centre of Todmorden.

“Weaving with Willow has provided me with the most rewarding career whilst enabling me to keep my family safe and healthy.

I love what I do! Weaving is the world’s oldest craft and I’m very lucky to get to share this with so many people, I’ve worked on some amazing projects over the years, occasionally teaching internationally and regularly teaching for larger organisations across the UK such as the Royal Horticultural Society.

I offer a number of courses from half day beginner and top up courses, full day sculpture and basket making workshops, to more in-depth 2 day basket workshops so students can produce more complex, or larger work.

The biggest feedback I get form workshops is how mediative and therapeutic weaving is.

Weaving with Willow is slow work, totally engrossing and the best part, you get to make something to be proud of that will last many years.

If you’ve never tried or wanting to improve I have a class for you.”

To see all of Joe’s courses have a look at her website and to hear about new classes and join her small crafting community sign up to her newsletter on the homepage.

If you would like to visit her Creative with Nature building and see a selection of her work The Willows Coffee House is open on the ground floor of the building Wednesdays to Sundays.