For the past 15 years, Justine Holdsworth has been transforming simple willow branches into both beautiful creations and pathways to inner calm. What began as a personal creative journey has evolved into The Workshop – a cosy studio where others can discover the meditative joy of traditional crafting.
Since founding The Workshop in Whitley Bay in 2023, Justine has dedicated herself to sharing the practice that changed her own relationship with creativity and mindfulness. Her mission extends beyond teaching a craft; it’s about creating space for people to reconnect with themselves through the work of their hands.
“Getting out of our heads and into our hands brings calm and peace back into our lives.”
This core belief guides everything at The Workshop. In today’s digital world, where screens dominate and thoughts race, Justine offers something different: the chance to slow down, focus on a tangible skill, and experience the subtle magic that happens when natural materials take shape under careful guidance. And now you can have that experience In-person at The Workshop or bring The Workshop into your home.
What Justine treasures most about teaching is witnessing the moment of revelation when students realize what they’re capable of creating. The surprised delight that spreads across someone’s face when they complete their first weave is what drives her practice forward.
“You don’t have to be naturally gifted to weave,” Justine often tells hesitant beginners. “You just have to want to do it.”
This accessible approach removes the intimidation factor that prevents many from trying traditional crafts. Whether online or in her Whitley Bay studio, every workshop is designed with this principle in mind.
Each workshop, whether for beginners or advanced weavers, offers more than just instruction – it provides a complete experience that honors traditional crafting while addressing modern needs for mindfulness and accomplishment.
When you join Justine for a workshop, you’ll find yourself focusing solely on the weave before you. Intrusive thoughts fade away as the rhythm of working with natural materials becomes a form of moving meditation. By the end of each session, you’ll have a traditionally crafted project made by your very own hands – and perhaps a new way of finding calm in a busy world.
The willow you use to create with The Workshop, either in-person or in our kits, is sustainably harvested, sorted, and graded by hand. As we work with these natural materials, we honour both the traditional craft techniques and our responsibility to the environment that provides our creative medium.
We believe in keeping traditional skills alive in our local area. We don’t just host workshops in the North East; we provide handmade, sustainable willow products across the region.
From Willow Obelisks in County Durham to decorative Willow Sunflowers in Newcastle, we create pieces that last.
Our Willow Foraging Baskets are popular with the coastal community in Whitley Bay and the rural woods of Northumberland.
Join a Sip and Weave in Newcastle for a social evening, or learn the delicate art of Seaweed Pressing in Whitley Bay.
Whether you’re seeking a creative outlet, a moment of peace, or a connection to traditional crafts, The Workshop welcomes you. Through Justine’s guidance, discover not just how to weave willow, but how working with your hands can weave a sense of calm and achievement into your life.
From beginners to advanced weavers, there’s a place for everyone at The Workshop with Justine Holdsworth.
