https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-05-08 https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/blog/weaving-a-willow-play-hut-and-tunnel monthly 0.5 2026-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/06a912b1-1b73-40c4-a36e-5341c3952aab/20220810_120611.webp Blog - Weaving a Living Willow Play Hut and Tunnel - Preparing the Ground In 2022, I worked on a project to create a willow hut and tunnel for my son’s school, Omihi Primary School. I ordered 70 living willow rods from Nicola Baham in Golden Bay during the winter. Once they arrived, I gathered ideas from the students about how they envisioned the space, and I incorporated their suggestions into my design for the tunnel and hut. The students from the environmental group assisted me by digging a shallow trench and laying down ground cover to prevent weeds from suffocating the willows until they were fully established. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a990a7e9-99b3-4d01-8aa5-c7dd5fb5ecad/20220810_135956.webp Blog - Weaving a Living Willow Play Hut and Tunnel - Planting the willow After preparing the ground, I dug holes for the willows and planted them 30 cm into the soil. The willows were positioned diagonally, creating diamond-shaped formations, approximately 40 cm apart. I wove the willows over and under each other diagonally and then connected them to their partner willows on the opposite side of the tunnel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/d1451cd1-009f-4e48-989f-62ee51bff39d/20220821_132244.webp Blog - Weaving a Living Willow Play Hut and Tunnel - Making it denser I wasn’t satisfied with how sparse the hut and tunnel were, so I supplemented the initial 70 willow rods I ordered from Golden Bay with willow from my own willow grove. This additional material created a much denser and stronger tunnel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/14fb8b89-efb4-4357-bc9f-35ae7821c466/20220821_144814.webp Blog - Weaving a Living Willow Play Hut and Tunnel I also wove some rods between the uprights to secure them and ensure that little children wouldn’t try to push through before the willow was properly established. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/694f1f8b-6030-4230-a26a-895146b4ebfa/20220821_144800.webp Blog - Weaving a Living Willow Play Hut and Tunnel I was a bit ambitious with the size of the hut, and the willow rods ended up being too short to weave a dome. As a result, I left them unwoven, hoping that by the next year they would grow long enough to create a roof for the hut. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/e8950dba-1971-4b3a-ac95-94e67f0309d6/20221026_144113.webp Blog - Weaving a Living Willow Play Hut and Tunnel This photo was taken the following summer. The living willow tunnel and hut were growing beautifully, and my two-year-old was enjoying running in and out of the tunnel and peering through the windows I had woven into the hut. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/f67fe0d5-31ab-4229-b202-d5f0feb73399/willow+hut+%26+tunnel.webp Blog - Weaving a Living Willow Play Hut and Tunnel - I would love to undertake more projects like this for schools and public spaces. Living willow huts and tunnels create magical and imaginative play areas for children. They are completely organic and biodegradable, actively absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and helping to mitigate climate change! It was the greatest feeling to collect my boys from school in the afternoon and see a child reading in the shade of the hut or children peeking through the windows. https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/blog/growingbasketrywillow monthly 0.5 2026-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/84d3d8c6-2293-4d5e-bac2-60a11ae46384/amberleywillowfarm.webp Blog - Growing basketry willow in North Canterbury, New Zealand - I began planting willow in July 2021. At that time, I had been weaving for seven years and teaching for three. Previously, I had only woven with imported rattan, but I wanted to transition to a sustainable material I could grow myself, knowing exactly how it was cultivated and what chemicals were used in its production. That winter, I ordered 150 cuttings from Nicola Basham in Golden Bay and embarked on my willow-growing journey. My parents have a lifestyle farm in Amberley, North Canterbury, just ten minutes south of my home, and they generously offered me space to plant my willow in their organic blueberry patch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/594550a8-ac32-4ce4-9fee-4050640fc49a/willowstool+%281%29.webp Blog - Growing basketry willow in North Canterbury, New Zealand - I started out with Green Dicks, Red Flanders and Noir de Villaines (which is a right mouthful and I still have trouble pronouncing!). First, I mowed a strip of land and then covered it with weed mat, as weeds can suffocate the willows if they aren’t controlled during the first year or two. I made holes through the weed mat, spaced 30 cm apart in a straight line, more or less. Using a pointed metal pole, I dug holes about 20 cm deep, then inserted the willow cuttings, ensuring that 10 cm were above ground. That was just the beginning! Next came mulching and weeding throughout the year. Since North Canterbury is a drought-prone area, I also had to water the willows consistently. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/dba0ed82-40c3-4207-9c84-1a579ac65de6/harvestedwillow.webp Blog - Growing basketry willow in North Canterbury, New Zealand I had just given birth to my 3rd son the summer before and as you can see in the photo he joined me for my first willow harvest. The first willow harvest was exciting, my reward for the year’s efforts! Willow stools only produce a few rods the first year so I took another 150 cuttings from my first harvest and planted a second row that winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/419f66fc-db4e-4481-adda-1a726bca6a3e/willowstool2.webp Blog - Growing basketry willow in North Canterbury, New Zealand In my second year, I had 300 willow stools, but I seriously underestimated the time required to maintain my willow withy. With three young boys, including a toddler, I found it challenging to find the time to weed and consistently water my willows. As a result, my willows were neglected, the harvest was poor, and I vowed to do better the following year! https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/workshops daily 0.75 2026-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/19f804e6-8a8b-4ba6-900c-d5e6883bff05/20260412_155545.jpg Workshops Group of women and one man outdoors on a grassy field, holding colorful woven baskets, with trees and mountains in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/00e413e7-eecd-42f6-8384-7e21293e655c/20250106-155504-677c886ddc4f6.jpg Workshops A group of eight people standing in a line outdoors, holding colorful woven baskets, with a white building and air conditioning unit behind them, smiling and appearing cheerful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/7be2f942-96b0-4593-becb-bddcaa915e3f/20250104-164750-677c8896b56f2.jpg Workshops Group of women and girls smiling and holding colorful woven baskets in a classroom with educational posters on the wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/e9ae0ef0-c753-4a1a-b040-19610b878ceb/Driftwood_basket+weaving_workshop.jpg Workshops A woman sitting cross-legged inside a wooden yurt, smiling while weaving a basket in her lap. The yurt has a stained glass window and a wooden lattice pattern on the walls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/4b4c3522-1726-4c9d-a5e6-b59cfb4251d9/Driftwood_basket+weaving_workshop-2.jpg Workshops A woman with short hair and glasses weaving a basket with natural fibers inside a room with wooden lattice walls and sunlight coming through windows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/3e484930-b59a-4106-96e2-5baf7cbc74c3/Driftwood_basket+weaving_workshop-3.jpg Workshops Woman with glasses weaving a basket on her lap, sitting on a chair in a cozy indoor setting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a26831e6-6dfd-41fa-b732-cb50b11e10ba/Tamar+teaching+cane+2.jpg Workshops Two women engaging in a craft activity at a table, one holding a piece of wood wrapped with string, while the other works with a rattan weaver, with a green chair and a window in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/7134a6e6-a96d-466c-a192-3b01f8dd824a/Tamar+teaching+cane.jpg Workshops Several women are working on a wicker basket weaving project in a bright room with large windows and mountain views outside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1258a1cd-741a-4036-af67-3fb75324573a/Weaving+cane+1.jpg Workshops Close-up of a woman wearing glasses and a pink shirt weaving a basket with natural and dark-colored strips of material at a worktable, with other people in the background also engaged in basket weaving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/004e00ed-fc55-43e4-8dd1-7f2ada1e82c0/weaving+cane+3.jpg Workshops Person weaving a basket with colorful strips of material at a workspace with pliers and a table in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a332be74-c860-4b49-bead-4e8a6fd8a18f/weaving+cane2.jpg Workshops A woman wearing glasses and a red apron with white checks is weaving a basket using thin wooden strips. She is sitting indoors near a window, with a table containing some cloth and crafting materials nearby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a1e12a1d-ba19-4b57-b397-3aef29e98985/IMG_4129.jpg Workshops Three woven baskets with driftwood handles on a wooden railing overlooking a beach and ocean under a clear blue sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/5eb91d66-b0f6-48b5-982c-e0277bcd2bab/20200829_143454.jpg Workshops A group of five women smiling indoors, holding woven baskets and art pieces, with a large painting of an ocean scene on the wall behind them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/7205198f-639c-4236-8a6e-b84e360ad3bd/Willow+Obelisk+Weaving+Workshop+vertical+format.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a54dbada-6826-48e5-8ba4-5adcb9183d9b/willow-bird-and-birdfeeder.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/97e31f9d-6d60-44a9-8a26-e8f093abee76/DSC_8021edit.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/e87d4428-4ea5-4150-bbe5-44a79967efe6/DSC_8044editvertical.JPG https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/book-a-consultation-1 daily 0.75 2026-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/f36adbb9-9e36-4697-a35a-3458d8098066/It+Flows+1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/4f995658-8509-4e93-89c2-9c89102f919d/Schools+Out.jpg https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/home daily 1.0 2026-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/7340c585-0fc4-4b56-9d00-a9e29ab782de/hand-woven-sculpture-red-stag.png Home A sculpture of a stag made from woven willow, situated outdoors on a grassy area with green bushes in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/43642608-2844-449d-9859-33acc2bac417/hand-woven-sculptural-basket-antlers.png Home A decorative antler basket made from antler and woven materials, placed against a plain white background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/8f0f7dc8-ace2-4543-adfc-d4a2ce88f493/Tamar-Guse---Oasis---Reed%2C-supplejack%2C-seagrass.png Home A woven basket with a wooden handle, featuring colorful woven patterns in orange, yellow, gray, and black on a white background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/da72fca0-db01-4afd-80b6-28f3459f8073/DSC_3624.png Home A sculpture of an owl made of woven rattan material, with a focus on the head and upper torso, against a plain background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/ee94f21d-5326-481c-bd84-450bcf40f310/DSC_6784edit.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/8f0f7dc8-ace2-4543-adfc-d4a2ce88f493/Tamar-Guse---Oasis---Reed%2C-supplejack%2C-seagrass.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/43642608-2844-449d-9859-33acc2bac417/hand-woven-sculptural-basket-antlers.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/b79529c6-3cee-47b9-9712-c58d5c33e776/Profile+Pic.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/e9ae0ef0-c753-4a1a-b040-19610b878ceb/Driftwood_basket+weaving_workshop.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/7340c585-0fc4-4b56-9d00-a9e29ab782de/hand-woven-sculpture-red-stag.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/f36adbb9-9e36-4697-a35a-3458d8098066/It+Flows+1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/4f995658-8509-4e93-89c2-9c89102f919d/Schools+Out.jpg https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/faqs daily 0.75 2026-05-04 https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/shipping-returns daily 0.75 2026-05-04 https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/about daily 0.75 2026-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/b79529c6-3cee-47b9-9712-c58d5c33e776/Profile+Pic.jpg https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/course-waitlist daily 0.75 2026-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/e9ae0ef0-c753-4a1a-b040-19610b878ceb/Driftwood_basket+weaving_workshop.jpg https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/basketry daily 0.75 2024-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a7ae6086-0b2d-4cd3-a55c-4822b618206d/Tamar-Guse---Oasis---Reed%2C-supplejack%2C-seagrass.png Basketry Handcrafted woven basket with a wooden frame and multicolored woven interior on a white background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1716430628069-7BZIV89QJUZJORG5PDV8/Swirl+%281+of+1%29.jpg Basketry Colorful woven basket with a black interior, placed on a white surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1716430358078-KT2RL8RQC50NUBJEIF0O/DSC_4573.jpg Basketry A woven basket with a curved wooden handle on grass https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1716430347550-VZSRLH8689WUQYFW2SCU/DSC_4551.jpg Basketry A decorative basket made from woven yellow and brown materials, attached to a curved wooden branch, placed on green grass. The basket has an oval shape and appears handcrafted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1716430028150-KWEY04ZFJ7FSQA7SVK4M/Close+up+%281+of+1%29.jpg Basketry Close-up of a multicolored woven basket with orange, black, and red patterns against a plain background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1716430016944-2GCZT2BLEFJC1O7EQR8K/Round+Basket.jpg Basketry Close-up of a woven basket with orange, black, and beige colors, positioned against a neutral background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1716430000136-1J8ZEEJHOUEGSB5USFBT/Rising+Up+%281+of+1%29.jpg Basketry A woven basket with orange, black, and red stripes on a white surface with a plain light-colored background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/bf98b731-cca7-42e9-ba71-a4662b34d3ac/ribbed+basket.jpg Basketry A woven basket with a wooden handle sitting in green grass and plants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/43642608-2844-449d-9859-33acc2bac417/hand-woven-sculptural-basket-antlers.png Basketry A decorative antler basket made from antler and woven materials, placed against a plain white background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/9e867003-5a12-4271-a452-54725f521d2a/DSC_5017.jpg Basketry A woven baby bassinet with a pink and purple pattern, empty, on green grass in front of tall, dry grass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/17e34906-4cbc-41f6-acd4-3ed7b8bb6cf7/DSC_5029.jpg Basketry Close-up of a woven baby bassinet on grass, with the edge of a white surface inside the basket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/412afb9d-893d-4f7d-b177-8680766a32b6/DSC_5035.jpg Basketry Close-up view of a woven baby bassinet with pink and purple accents on a grassy surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/6ddf429a-b5bb-4d17-a162-2ef53989340d/Tamar+Guse+-+Azul.jpg Basketry Hand-woven basket with a large, curved wooden stick resting on its edge, against a plain background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/56c06335-2d63-455f-9fc4-8ce8419d9ce0/Moses+in+a+basket.jpg Basketry A close-up of a woven basket with various shades of brown, black, and beige, with a floral patterned fabric in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a154ab9a-055c-491e-8f19-2d16459ca8b9/sea-blue-basket-nests.jpg Basketry Three woven baskets with blue and tan patterns placed on a rustic wooden branch against a plain white background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a998c320-a2ea-432d-a9df-e41a84aa89ac/Tamar+Guse+-+Sciathog+%28Small%29-2.jpg Basketry Colorful woven basket with a twisted design, empty inside, on a plain background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/6c6bbacc-2649-43f2-abdc-77c06d9e03b6/Sciathogcloseup2-%281-of-1%29.png Basketry Close-up of a woven basket made of brown and tan rattan with a light blue background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/c697a192-018a-49ba-be57-714052b7d225/Sciathogcloseup-medium.png Basketry Close-up of a woven platter with a pattern of brown and black stripes, placed on a white surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/48311e5b-203e-4e75-a80b-8a35334109d2/Tamar-Guse---Sciathog-Medium-%24135.png Basketry Decorative woven basket with a circular design, made of natural and dark-colored fibers, against a light blue background. https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/sculptures daily 0.75 2024-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/8f42284d-73f9-4d3e-9b2a-c0e288b37944/Escargot+%281+of+1%29.jpg Sculptures A woven sculpture with purple and beige colors placed on a piece of driftwood against a plain background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/6464b385-1243-4857-b524-8fa55ccf971e/Hei-Matau.jpg Sculptures A woven circular art piece with a spiral pattern in shades of blue, black, and beige, featuring thin wooden spokes radiating outward on a crinkled white surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/580dccea-e34e-4121-8c3b-d0fa118ab903/Tamar+Guse+-Africa.jpg Sculptures Top view of a handwoven rattan art piece with a circular pattern, placed on a light background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/f69735e5-0a12-433e-98e0-b698d9afa39f/Tamar+Guse+-+Autumn+-+Reed+and+Driftwood.jpg Sculptures A piece of driftwood with a natural, twisted shape, partially wrapped with colorful woven material in red, orange, yellow, black, and gray, set against a light blue background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/7340c585-0fc4-4b56-9d00-a9e29ab782de/hand-woven-sculpture-red-stag.png Sculptures Artistic sculpture of a stag made from woven willow standing outdoors in a grassy park with green trees in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/4f995658-8509-4e93-89c2-9c89102f919d/Schools+Out.jpg Sculptures Art installation of colorful woven fish mounted on a wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a231f754-ca41-41ba-9864-3d95010d3a55/It+Flows+%282%29.jpg Sculptures An abstract sculpture made of intertwined colorful rattan on a white pedestal, casting shadows on the wall behind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/11f035e6-3fde-4a57-9236-bd1d3c36de61/The+Hunt.jpg Sculptures An artistic sculpture of an owl made from intertwined brown and cream-colored wicker or rattan material. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/fb36583f-0258-4cd2-9376-b52ca82b8cdd/handwoven-contemporary-squid-sculpture1.jpg Sculptures A decorative arrangement of three woven rattan baskets in black, beige, and natural tones, resting on a piece of driftwood against a plain white background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/f58271ef-f50f-4e8d-80d8-79ea0c44195c/Tapestry.jpg Sculptures Close-up of a colorful, woven wall tapestry with a handle made of intertwined branches, resting on a light surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/a1527c2d-395a-4988-a676-4894fb502a52/DSC_9506-2.jpg Sculptures Woven wall art with abstract shapes and warm colors, made of sticks and thread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/72e373fc-d9cb-4aa6-9a43-b9e0581ab1b4/DSC_9472-2.jpg Sculptures Colorful woven tui sculpture mounted on a dark wooden base, casting shadows on a beige wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/701a48ad-7ed6-444e-8372-a625e6e8337a/Edna.jpg Sculptures Sculpture of a cow's head made from woven and intertwined natural and light-colored materials, mounted on a wall. https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/shop daily 0.75 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/c79d76fc-b7ba-4cf9-9088-3cae23f71e13/DSC_6100_%281%29%5B1%5D.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/1716430347550-VZSRLH8689WUQYFW2SCU/DSC_4551.jpg https://www.tamargusefibreart.com/gift-vouchers daily 0.75 2026-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6639adcb43ce70085901885e/dbc32908-5c6e-4b6b-9323-32f42d375a77/Obelisk+Willow+Weaving+Workshop+Gift+Voucher+Example.jpg