My passion for craft began in 2013 when I was introduced to green woodworking whilst volunteering with a woodland community called the Cherrywood Project. I began volunteering a year before completing my degree in Environmental Management at the University of the West of England, as the main focus of my studies was ecological conservation and the growing need for people to reconnect to their environment, understand it and to protect it.
From the beginning of this journey, I have helped to build cob houses, cob ovens, timber framed cabins, yurts, outdoor structures, and compost toilets; admiring the use of local resources intertwined with sustainable forestry and land use. Over the years I have had the privilege to learn from the best craftspeople who encouraged me to push my craft further, and my main passion lies in making ash splint baskets, bowl turning and leather work.
I enjoy working off-grid with hand tools, using only hardwood that is locally sourced, from sustainably managed woodlands as part of a natural thinning and woodland regeneration process. It comes either from the outskirts of Bristol, Gloucestershire, or the South/East of Wales, and is naturally air dried or solar kiln dried.
On top of selling my crafts, I am a freelance teacher of both ash splint basketry and pole-lathe bowl turning. I have had the privilege of working with Fazey Woodcraft, Wye Valley Forestry, Oxfordshire Basketmakers Association, Humble by Nature, Tree to Treen, Ardington School of Crafts, The Green Wood Guild, West Dean College, Craft Festival, Lorna Singleton, The New Craftsmen, Focus on Forestry First, Small Woods Association & Pen-y-Graig Woodland Centre.
I am currently a member of the Heritage Crafts Association, Basket Makers Association, Oxfordshire Basketmakers and the Association of Pole-lathe Turners & Green Woodworkers
2024 News
– Two of my hazel baskets will be shown alongside a huge collection of makers at the Ruthin Centre, North Wales as part of the “Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining” exhibition, 28 September 2024 – 12 January 2025
It is part of the continued work of the @basketmakersassociation Traditional Basketry Project supported by the @basketmakerscompany and delivered in partnership with @heritagecrafts, to celebrate our rich and diverse heritage of baskets which draws on a long history of function, form, materials, lineage, community and cultural influences.
– Fifteen of my baskets will be part of the “86 Baskets” Exhibition, Grizedale, 12th October – 30th November 2024.
This fascinating exhibition tells the story of seven basketmakers and their tutor, Lorna Singleton, as they immerse themselves in ancient Lake District woodland and the historic world of spelk basketry.
– Three of my baskets will be part of @thenewcraftmaker The Natural Room (stand D10) at @decorex_international, London 12-15th October 2024. The Natural Room features a collection of traditional and contemporary UK baskets, showcasing a range of weaving techniques and natural materials. This exhibition highlights the diverse regional basketry traditions, each reflecting its historical uses, demonstrating inventive solutions dating back to Neolithic times.
– My bowl turning work is featured in Kate Humbles new cook book “Homemade”, It’s a collection of home cooking from her life on the land which features twenty producers, craftspeople and artisans who inspire her in the kitchen.
2023 News
– I’m excited to announce that two of my baskets will be exhibiting with The New Craftsmen as part of London Design Festival for the Brompton Design District from the 16th – 24th of September. “Join, Assemble, Hold” is made up of several basket makers and craftsmen in different disciplines.
2022 News
– I’m proud to announce I am 1st place winner of The Worshipful Company Basket Makers 2022 Basketry Competition, Traditional catergory
– I have also received the new bursary for Black and ethnically diverse trainees in heritage crafts. The City and Guilds foundation and the Heritage Crafts Association have given me funding to learn how to weave with oak and hazel on a year long course with Lorna Singleton called Wood Water Weave.
– My work will be exhibited with the Oxfordshire Basketmakers group called “Material Conversations”, at The Sewell Centre Gallery, Radley College, Oxford during November and December 2022, to see what was on show, click here.
2021 News
– I recently featured in Escape to the Farm with Kate Humble on Channel 5 turning on a bowl on my pole lathe, catch my episode here.
– My pole-lathe work has also featured in Quercus Magazine, Issue 8 – September/October Issue; subscribe here.
– I’m proud to announce that I’m also 3rd place winner of The Worshipful Company Basket Makers 2021 Basketry Competition – For more detailed pictures, click here.
If you would like to get in touch for a commission, collaboration or even just to say ‘hello’, you can do so in the form below or through my Instagram page.
MICHELLE MATEO CRAFTS 