ANITA WILLIS WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ARIZONA. FOLLOWING FOUR GENERATIONS THAT HAVE MADE A LIVING "OUT OF THE LAND" SHE DESIGNS AND BUILDS FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES MADE FROM NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPECIES OF WILLOW. THE LITTLE TOWN OF FORT THOMAS, AZ. IS HOME AND HAS WILLOW THICKETS ALONG IT'S BANKS. THE SMALL TOWN IS SURROUNDED BY FEILDS THAT HAVE BEEN IRRIGATED BY GENERATIONS OF FARMERS. THIS CONSTANT WATER SUPPLY FROM THE FIELDS AND THE NATURALLY FLOWING GILA RIVER HAS MADE A PERFECT HABITAT FOR THE WILLOW. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FARMERS IN THE AREA CONSIDER THE WILLOW A NEUCENCE AND

 HAVE TO CLEAR IT FROM THE TAIL-WATER PONDS, DITCHES, AND WATER WAYS THAT THEY DEPEND ON TO CARRY WATER TO THEIR CROPS. ALTHOUGH BAD FOR THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, IT IS HEAVEN FOR THE WILLOW FURNITURE MAKER. THE WILLOW IS SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD. LONG, THIN AND STRAIGHT, UNLIKE THE WILLOW IN SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. ANITA HARVESTS THE WILLOW BEFORE THE FARMERS PLOW IT OVER, ALLOWING IT TO SERVE A FURTHER PURPOSE. BUILDING FURNITURE IN HER BACK YARD IN A SMALL WORKSHOP, ONE PIECE AT A TIME, THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, IS HER PASSION. ANITA HAS MADE FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE LAST TWELVE YEARS AND ENJOYS THE CREATIVE CHALLENGE OF FASHIONING USEFUL THINGS FROM UNWANTED WILLOW