Dunbar Gardens  Willow Baskets

willow baskets handcrafted in the USA by Katherine Lewis
Katherine Lewis weaving willow garden basket Handcrafted Willow Baskets

by Katherine Lewis

Katherine Lewis is a willow basketmaker in the Skagit Valley of Washington State, USA. She has a small farm where she and her husband Steve Lospalluto grow much of the willow used in her baskets allowing her to choose the quality, color, and texture of her weaving materials. Although willow is a common basketry material throughout the world, she is one of a few who are actively growing and crafting their own willow in the United States.

She has taken courses in willow basketry from accomplished basketmakers from England, Switzerland, France, Scotland, and the US. She traveled to the UK in 2004 and 2006 to study with basketmakers and tour the willow growing areas. In 2006 she also went to the Loire Valley in France to learn more about the willow basketmaking traditions there. Katherine headed back to Europe in 2011 to visit several basketry festivals and willow basketmakers in France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic.

While the techniques used are traditional, each piece is unique and not bound to any specific tradition. Katherine's goal is to weave willow baskets that are useful and durable while reflecting the natural beauty of the willows. In 2011, Katherine was honored to have three of her baskets acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum as a result of a generous donation by basket collectors Martha Ware and Steven Cole.

From the harvest of the basketry willow to the finished baskets, the work is all done by hand by Katherine and Steve. The willows are grown in a sustainable manner on our farm. The baskets are carefully handcrafted to last a lifetime. These photos represent a sample of Katherine's work. Click on a thumbnail photo to see a larger image of the willow basket.

willow garden basket

garden basket

$110

willow flower basket

flower basket

$120

willow gathering basket

gathering basket

$85

oval fitched shopper

$175

willow square fitched shopper

square fitched shopper

$175

wine bottle basket

wine bottle basket

$120

oval willow shopper

oval shopper

$110

large willow shopper

large oval shopper

$125

square willow shopper

square shopper

$125

willow magazine baskets

magazine baskets

$135

willow tote with leather handles

willow tote with leather handles

$135

casserole or potluck basket

casserole or potluck basket

$120

round willow laundry basket with roped handles

round laundry with roped handles

$120

oval willow laundry basket with inset handles

oval laundry with inset handles

$135

large willow laundry with roped handles

oval laundry with roped handles

$150

log basket

with French randing

17"w x 13"h +handles

$110

log basket

with English randing

17"w x 13"h +handles

$110

log basket

with slewing

17"w x 13"h +handles

$110

large round log basket

21"w x 17"h +handles

$175

willow log basket

large oval log basket

26"l x 18"w x 14"h +handles

$185

square laundry with roped handles

square laundry with roped handles

$225

Joyce country potato basket

potato basket - Joyce country

$135

Irish potato basket

Irish potato basket

$135

willow berry baskets

berry baskets

$50

willow fruit baskets

small fruit baskets

$55

round tray

deep round tray

$125

oval tray

oval tray

$135

willow serving tray

serving tray

$175

table flatware basket

table flatware basket

$125

square tray

square/rectangular trays

$85-150

round trivet or cooling tray

willow trivet or cooling tray

$50

oval trivet or cooling tray

oval willow trivet

$50

bread rising baskets

bread rising basket

$35-50

willow bassinette

bassinette

fits 14"x29" mattress

$275

willow trunk

willow trunk or hamper

$325

willow laundry hamper with lid

laundry hamper with lid

$275

willow rope coil baskets

willow rope coil

$350

willow picnic hamper

picnic basket

$275

willow tool or lunch basket

tool or lunch basket

$200

willow camera basket

camera basket

$200

willow purse with braided leather strap

willow purse

$200

bakery display baskets

willow bicycle basket

bicycle basket with straps

$90

front rack bicycle basket

$200

bicycle panniers

$250 each

willow kitchen drawers

custom kitchen drawers

willow mudroom baskets

custom mudroom baskets

with roped handles

willow mudroom baskets

custom mudroom baskets

with inset handles

Prices

Each basket is handcrafted by Katherine Lewis and prices will vary somewhat depending on the order. Customers can make a preference for colors and some other attributes. Do keep in mind that the colors are all natural and variable by nature. Please contact us with questions.

We are not currently taking orders for custom sized baskets due to a backlog of orders. If you want custom sized baskets for your kitchen, mudroom, laundry room, etc. please contact us after 10/1/2012.

We accept payment by check, PayPal, or credit card. We will ship baskets with the buyer paying the necessary costs of shipping and packaging (and sales tax if you live in Washington).  Please contact us to order and for an estimate of the total cost including shipping. (We do not have an on-line order form.) We prefer e-mail at baskets@dunbargardens.com. Please remember that a willow basket will take some time to plan and prepare the materials, but the finished product will last a lifetime.

Need it today? If you would like to see photos of willow baskets we have in stock, click here for the web page.

Join our emailing list for periodic messages about classes and events:

Customer comments

"Thank you, Katherine. I could not have hoped for anything more beautiful. It's a work of supreme craftsmanship. I look forward to using it."

"An exquisite piece, beautiful color. The pictures of the basket did not reveal the exceptional shape and color. I love the basket."

"I received the baskets today - they are GORGEOUS- love the color, look, everything."

"The baskets are amazing!  The color is even more lovely than I'd expected, darker and richer looking.  I opened them immediately, checked the fit (perfect), and promptly filled them up.  I can't believe what a relief it is to have a previously unusable space become usable.  I wish I'd had these for the last two years we've lived in this house! They arrived in immaculate condition, and I can't thank you enough for taking the time for this order." 

"The basket arrived yesterday safe and sound.  It is really splendid and everyone in the family has been admiring it.  I know we will use it and admire its beauty for years to come."

"Baskets came though in fine shape and are beautiful. We are so happy to be able to give them as gifts. It has been a pleasure working with you."

"Thanks again for such a beautiful, sturdy and useful basket.  It's on display in my kitchen now and I plan to put something in it soon.  Right now I'm just admiring your work and the willow produced by Dunbar Gardens (with Mother Nature's help!)."

"I just received my large garden basket, which was my Mother's Day gift from my husband and the kids, and I just have to tell you how beautiful it is!  I've always wanted a big, beautiful garden basket and this was it!"

For more information on Katherine's willow baskets, willow basketry or for sales see the links below. You can also see an on-line resume of Katherine's work at the Skagit Artists Together website.

  Follow us on  


willow basket gallery   basketmaking classes   shows & events

baskets in stock   basketry willow   willow cuttings

farmstand   basketmaking demos   links   blog

Dunbar Gardens / 16586 Dunbar Road / Mount Vernon, WA 98273 USA

©2007-20012 Steven Lospalluto & Katherine Lewis

blame Steve for this website