Because craftsmanship and know-how are part of our history, we invite you today to meet Emilie Dulac, a basket maker based at 6 rue du Mont-Sainte-Odile in Villé. Passionate about her craft, she shares with us her world, her aspirations, and above all, her creations.
Basketry: a passion, then a return to one's roots
Emilie developed a passion for basketry at a very young age. It all started when she discovered a book on "Basketry in the Garden" in a library, and then at a market where she attended a demonstration. Things moved quickly after that, with an introductory course followed by a professional qualification. What Emilie enjoys most is the hands-on, rustic aspect of basketry; very few tools are needed to make a basket.
Trained at the National School of Willow Cultivation and Basketry in Fayl-Billot, Haute-Marne, Emilie worked for several years in basketry, her first profession. To be of service and, above all, to help others, Emilie later changed course and moved into the social sector. After working as a caregiver, babysitter, and then as a trainer in personal assistance, basketry naturally returned to her.
A love story with wicker
Emilie works exclusively with willow, a plant cultivated for its unparalleled basketry qualities, and creates a variety of pieces: from the smallest and most intricate to the largest and most practical. Her current passion is crafting flowers, a highly creative and meticulous endeavor that breaks free from the strict, predefined rules of basketry. A new addition that is sure to delight basketry enthusiasts!
Traditional round basketry also occupies a large part of his work: chests and storage boxes, shopping baskets of all sizes… A wide choice of creations.
Basketry takes time. Time is needed to create unique pieces. A classic shopping basket (for going to the market) will take an average of 6 hours of work. A larger piece will take closer to 12 hours. As you can see, we don't count the hours.
Emilie's little tip
Emilie shares a little secret for properly caring for your wicker items. It's very simple: just clean them with cold water and wash them with Marseille soap (a light brushing is optional). Drying should be very slow and avoid any sudden temperature changes. For example, don't place your basket near a fire. Patience is key!
Make way for sharing and conviviality
Emilie will initially be offering creative workshops for adults (full-day or shorter sessions). Her desire to connect with people and share her knowledge remains strong! Her focus is on teaching, regardless of the participants' skill level, and beginners are, of course, very welcome.
Emilie is also considering workshops for children, but this will be a separate undertaking as she will need additional support for this type of service. It's an idea that will likely be developed and explored in the coming seasons.
Made of thread and wicker
Emilie is embarking on a new adventure called "Of Thread and Willow". Accompanied by Virginie FIORI (Suzanne et Moi), a passionate sewing designer, they are opening a magical place for your eyes where the know-how of basketry will blend with the creativity of traditional or vintage fabrics.
This shop offers traditional and practical wickerwork items (shopping baskets, laundry baskets, etc.) as well as creations still in development, such as the famous 100% wicker flowers that we can't wait to see! Very soon, Emilie will be offering a whole range of shoulder baskets, as pretty as they are practical.
This shop will also be Emilie's workshop, so during your browsing and shopping, you'll have the pleasure of watching her work live. A real bonus!
Opening from October 15th
From October 15th you will be able to discover Emilie's work and creations in the "De fil et d'osier" shop at 6 rue du Mont-Sainte-Odile in Villé.
Opening time :
- Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 13:30 p.m. to 17 p.m.
- Thursday and Friday from 13:30 p.m. to 17 p.m.
- Saturday from 9am to 12pm and from 13:30pm to 18pm.
And by appointment by contacting 06 82 88 39 47 or 06 89 81 22 97.
You will have the "best chance" of finding Emilie on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon.
Editorial board
Join us from October 15th to discover these magnificent creations. We especially loved the flowers, which we had the privilege of previewing.
© Alsatian Basketry – Emilie DULAC