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Weaving together design and necessity

This week's Mid-Week Mugging features artisan Amy Billinghurst and her brand, Woven
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Amy Billinghurst hand makes baskets from 100 per cent cotton rope. She will be bringing the baskets to farmer's markets this season including an artisan market in Thornbury April 15. Erika Engel Photo

Practicality and creativity were the drivers for Amy Billinghurst to start her own business.

Billinghurst makes her own line of cotton rope baskets under the name Woven. She made her first basket because she needed something for her black lab’s toys. She kept going from there and now word is spreading fast about her unique hand-crafted baskets.

They come in all shapes and sizes. For now, they are mostly white with light or dark stitching. She’s also been experimenting with vegetable dyes and has made a basket with darker accents using dye made from black beans.

There’s a small leather tag on each of them where the rope stops. That’s purchased locally from a leather worker.

“I love creating something with my hands that is tangible and beautiful,” said Billinghurst. “I’ve also really enjoyed promoting and marketing the products.”

This is Billinghurst’s first venture into owning her own business. The components are basic, cotton rope and thread. She stitches them together with a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine her mother bought her for Christmas a couple years ago.

Her mother used to sew Halloween costumes for Billinghurst and her siblings when they were young. She also made drapes and other household items. She taught Billinghurst to sew when she was young.

Billinghurst went to University of Guelph for sociology, but she also took classes in fine art. She and her husband lived in Whistler for a few years where she worked as the director for an art gallery. Billinghurst is from Muskoka but her husband is from Collingwood. They returned to the area a year ago and are expecting their first baby.

“I’ve always been really interested in interior design and decor,” said Billinghurst. “I could see myself doing that as a career, I’m really into homes, interior and exterior design and architecture.”

Since she started marketing her baskets, the response has overwhelmed her.

“It all happened in a week,” she said. She started an Instagram account, built her own website, and has been selling online. Eventually she hopes to grow so she can do some whole selling. She will also continue experimenting with vegetable and natural dyes to add some different colours to her baskets and other items. She also makes coasters and is hoping to try herhand at a large tote bag soon.

She will be a vendor at an upcoming Artisan Market hosted by the Cheese Gallery in Thornbury on Sunday, April 15 from 1 to 5 p.m.