all gorgeous photographs for this story by chris chen.
Before I hopped on the plane back to Amsterdam, I grabbed the latest issue of country style at sydney airport for two reasons. 1. because I’ve always loved this mag (the photography is perfection, and they often feature the homes of country artists whose style is natural, real and inspiring) and 2. because a little birdy told me that the feature article would make my heart sing. Indeed it DID make my heart sing because it is all about Harriet Goodall, her home & property in Robertson NSW, and her incredible woven creations…
Harriet’s story about how she came to be weaving baskets is as beautiful as her creations themselves. She says she has always been drawn “to the ephemeral and imperfect beauty of natural materials and have forever collected buckets of shells, driftwood, beautiful leaves, bones, moss and feathers with no particular purpose in mind.” Sounds delightfully familiar. She saw a flyer for a basketry course in Mittagong and decided to join up because it fitted perfectly with her love of art made from nature. After another course she was well and truly hooked on the craft. Inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy, Herman de Vries, and Chris Drury, Harriet says that the wonderful thing about baskets is that “it’s possible to harvest your garden then sit on a patch of ground and, just with your hands alone, make something that’s strong, useful and beautiful – while knowing that women have done this for millenia”…
Harriet and her husband Mat collected all their furniture from the local tip shop and family hand-me-downs. The area where they live is surrounded by national parks, waterfalls, beaches, rainforests, and incredible escarpment and rolling green hills – all within a 30km radius…
Meet Banjo: Harriet and Mat’s little guy who loves being in nature as much as they do.
It’s a beautiful, inspiring story, and I encourage you to find yourselves a copy of the february issue of country style to learn more about harriet’s home and work…
cover shot by mikkel vang, styled by sibella court.
Thank you for the inspiration Harriet! I hope to come and visit you one day, and see your creations in person.
……………………………………
Harriet’s baskets are available to purchase. They start at around $140.00 AUD. For further enquiries, click here to email Harriet, or you can call her on +61 402 346 106.
A big thank you to Country Style and photographer Chris Chen for the use of the images.
that really is a beautiful home…
February 16th, 2010 | #
i LOVE that pic of the little boy holding the hen, that is the cutest thing i have ever seen
February 16th, 2010 | #
beautiful article and amazing photos. I want to live in their home!! 😉
February 16th, 2010 | #
Gorgeous!!! I want to take a basket weaving class immediately. Thanks for the photos…I want to live in that house too.
February 16th, 2010 | #
It’s great to see a family having such a gentle relationship with nature and our planet – recycled furniture, art from the garden and very little in their home that looks mass-manufactured or plastic-y. Harriet’s basketry is beautiful, and it seems that this beauty extends into the way her and her family live, too.
February 16th, 2010 | #
P.S… Pia, I see on the cover of this mag their line “escape the everyday”… I reckon your version, “enhance the everyday” is much more inspiring! Nice one 🙂
February 16th, 2010 | #
Hi rachel, thank you :-). I noticed that phrase too. Yes I agree, isn’t Harriet’s home refreshing? Totally inspirational AND aspirational.
Riley – I knew you’d love it! I can see you in just such a setting. I want to take up basket weaving too, i’ve been threatening to do it for a few months now. Just need to find that elusive time that keeps slipping through my fingers.
Ivette, Sara, Enia – glad you like.
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February 16th, 2010 | #
I love country style to, the mag gives me so much inspiration. I agree the photography is stunning to. Lisa 🙂
February 17th, 2010 | #
thank you for this! Harriet’s baskets are truly beautiful. I never would have been able to see this up in Canada.
February 17th, 2010 | #
Her work and space are so inspiring! Thanks for sharing this!
February 17th, 2010 | #
Hi Pia!
What a nice suprise to see you put A little hamster as one of the blogs in the spotlights!
I feel honoured! Have you seen the website of Made by l e n n e b e l l e (www.lennebelle.com) as well? Sohia from So Binique took the photo’s! They are truly amazing. You can check them out at the ‘news’ part!
Looking forward to the book about Amsterdam!
Love Len
February 17th, 2010 | #
Hi Pia,
I feel neglectful, not having welcomed you back, not enthusing over the fact that you did manage to experience a snow-dusted Amsterdam and all your lovely posts since your return but hey, this glorious spread could not go unacknowledged! What I really love about it is that it looks so YOU, meaning that we could see you walking straight into this life, this house and garden…and the nest-like basketweaving. Even the photography reminds me of yours!
It’s good to have you back!
February 18th, 2010 | #
Gorgeous and so inspiring! Thanks for sharing her life and studio pics: wish we got that mag in the USA!
February 18th, 2010 | #
Wow!!Harriets work is truely magical!
How small our world is…I can’t believe I am reading your beautiful blog, sitting in my wee village ..Okarito and at the same time looking also at one of my favourite mags!!on your pages …time out/escapism could’nt get better!
Thank you Pia for your inspiration.
Arohanui from Okarito xx
Edwina
February 19th, 2010 | #
Hi Pia, Wow. those baskets are absolutely beautiful. that house is gorgeous. I love the phrase, “ephemeral and imperfect beauty of natural materials.” so true. thank you.
February 20th, 2010 | #
These are absolutely stunning, and hark back to your little collections of bits and pieces of the Australian countryside. I love the aesthetic of bringing the outdoors in. And I love her heeler 😉 I’m a cattle dog girl myself.
February 22nd, 2010 | #
there’s an artichoke in this post
May 4th, 2010 | #
[…] (images via pia jane bijerk) […]
December 2nd, 2010 | #
The picture of your kid holding the chicken is adorable.
January 5th, 2013 | #