Beautiful Willow Hoop Earring, woven from English willow, with gold plated ear wire and jump ring. Handcrafted by Edinburgh based basketweaver Anna Liebmann. Posted in a recycled card box, with recycled tissue paper wrapping. *please note i have stopped using the green jewellery boxes in the photos as although recycled, they came a very long way which is not environmentally friendly enough for me!

The earring is made using all natural buff willow grown on the Somerset Levels, near Bridgwater, England. The willow has been boiled and stripped giving it a gorgeous golden colour. The earring is extremely lightweight and with use the willow will gain a rich patina, becoming shinier over time. Willow is a natural and renewable resource, being cut every winter once the leaves have fallen, then graded for use in basketry, fence making and.... jewellery in this case!

Gold Plated ear wire and jump ring.
Hoop size approx 6cm x 6cm.
Drop from ear lobe approx 8cm.
English Somerset Buff Willow.
Recycled Postage Box.
Handmade by Basketweaver Anna Liebmann.

I make functional baskets and teach traditional basketry in Edinburgh and beyond. I make these earrings in my workshop overlooking the sea, as a small wearable taster of willow weaving past and present. The willow is soaked in water for 2 hours to become pliable, left to mellow for at least half an hour (just as in basketmaking!), then I proceed to make the hoops. It's very difficult to make a circle without making a kink, and to get the hoops to match in size.. but worth it for the beautiful result.

Also available in my Etsy shop.