Freyja Ulveland
Freyja Ulveland is a basketry teacher and founding member of the Alberta Basketry Guild. She finds joy in exploring the connections between craft, community, and the natural world and in the mindful practice of creating with her hands.
In a past life, Freyja ran a small business making handmade leather accessories during the early heyday of Etsy and Calgary’s vibrant community art markets. She specialized in vegetable-tanned leather and natural dyes made from flowers and plants she foraged or grew in her garden. Self-taught in techniques for forming, tooling, and producing leather goods, she drew inspiration from her Norwegian ancestry and other historical methods. Her work was featured in shops and galleries across Canada and the U.S.
Recent lifestyle changes, including life as a new mother, led her to shift away from keeping dye vats in the living room. Basketry has become a way for her to continue making by hand in a way that feels connected to her past work while fitting her life today.
Freyja has found her place in a long-running community of weavers in Alberta and helped start the province’s first basketry guild. She continues to grow the community through workshops, retreats, and open weaves for all ages and skill levels.
In her workshops, Freyja guides participants through the rhythm of working with natural materials, helping them uncover the joy of creating something beautiful and functional. Each session is an opportunity to learn traditional techniques and to share in the connection of a welcoming creative community.
Willow Berry Boat
I love using this small tray to harvest quick snacks from my garden. Its shape is especially well suited to berries. By placing the boat beneath the branch I am harvesting from, I can easily catch any fruit that falls as my hand brushes by.
In this beginner-friendly workshop, you will learn to shape willow using a simple wooden jig, allowing the form to emerge naturally as you weave. We will explore how to find and identify willow for harvesting, and how to gather it responsibly. You will also learn methods for drying, storing, and preparing willow for weaving.
By the end of the session, you’ll have your berry boat well underway and all the skills needed to carry your weaving with you during the festival, returning to it as and when you wish.
Plan for about one additional hour of weaving to complete your boat. We will be working with fresh willow, rather than soaked, so as long as it stays out of the sun and wind, you should have two to three days to finish your piece.