In a fast-paced world dominated by pixels, notifications, and temporary distractions, there is a quiet, radical comfort in slowing down to create something tangible. For Cath Inman, the founder of Garden of Weaving, creativity isn’t a luxury or a casual weekend hobby—it is a fundamental human need.
Cath’s life has been a beautiful, winding map of Australia, stitched together by a lifelong passion for nature and hands-on making. From growing up in Brisbane’s Moreton Bay to working in the prestige car industry sewing leather interiors in Melbourne, and eventually studying horticulture in Bendigo, a common thread has always connected her experiences: a deep, sensory relationship with raw materials.
The Art of the Practical
Many people view art as something meant solely to be hung on a wall and admired from a distance. Cath, however, has always marched to a different, more utilitarian beat. Even as a child sewing and hand-stitching with her mother, she possessed a strong desire to forage from her surroundings and build things she could actually use.
“I wasn’t interested in painting to create something for people to see and admire,” “I wanted to make things she could use.”
Cath Inman
This philosophy found its ultimate expression when Cath was working in horticulture. Surrounded by the natural cycles of growth and pruning, she looked at garden waste not as rubbish to be discarded, but as a medium waiting for a purpose. While pruning grapevines, she began collecting the leftover runners and experimental materials, translating her industrial stitching background into the ancient, rhythmic craft of basket weaving.
Creativity as a Pillar of Well-Being
There is a unique medicine in slow craft. When you are weaving a basket, your mind is forced to step off the modern hamster wheel. You become present. You listen to the tension of the vine, feel the texture of the organic matter, and use your body to shape something from the earth.
For Cath, staying true to this creative calling became a massive source of personal grounding. When she first sought to deepen her skills, she found a lack of basketry workshops available in Western Australia. Rather than letting her passion flicker out, she took her well-being into her own hands, teaching herself through online courses and relentless experimentation—even expanding her repertoire to weave with local seaweed.
By refusing to suppress her creative side, she didn’t just build baskets; she built a sanctuary for you community.
Weaving a Community from Scratch
An unexpected side effect of choosing to live an authentic, passion-led life is that it acts as a magnet for others. Today, Cath’s “side hustle” has evolved into a thriving, deeply connected community of makers. Her workshops and retreats regularly sell out because people are hungry for the exact things she offers:
- Tactile Connection: Stepping away from screens to touch the earth.
- Honouring History: Reviving a disappearing cultural skill with deep historical roots.
- Collective Healing: Gathering in a space where there is no judgment, only the shared hum of creation.
Cath’s vision is only growing. Alongside travelling interstate to connect with the National Basketry Network, she is currently working to establish a formal basket weaving association right here in WA, with the ultimate dream of hosting a major national event on home soil.
The Lesson
Cath Inman’s story—from foraging childhood treasures to spinning grapevine waste into sold-out workshops—is a gentle reminder to the rest of us. You don’t need to be a “master painter” to claim a creative life. You just need to listen to what makes you curious, step outside, and let your hands do the talking.
Your mental health, your community, and your spirit will thank you for it.
Want to experience the meditative magic of basketry yourself? Sign up to her upcoming Garden of Weaving workshop hosted right here at The Locals WA.
