For more details about these topics or for any other enquiries, please contact me.
FOR
Willow baskets, sculptures, garden structures,
corn dollies and straw work
Demonstrations at craft fairs and events
Workshops and talks for adults and children
Workshops for schools
Re-caning of chairs and other furniture
Simple Easter egg nests made by the boys from a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Reading, as part of a day's plant support workshop. They each wove the lower part of the willow hoop and then decorated them with ribbon and yellow chicks (thanks to the creativity of their teaching assistant!). The Easter eggs were taken home for the parents and the plant supports will go in their sensory garden.
Based on a traditional Danish basket, this mini-roundhouse project was designed for the school groups at Ufton Court Educational Trust.
The uprights are tied together to make the roof bars. This one has been “thatched” using old sea grass, but children can use any readily available material to thatch their houses..
Freshly cut “green” (as in” living” or “fresh”) willow cut from local beds near Reading. Willow is usually cut back in the spring before it starts growing. This is one year’s growth , although the crop gives willow rods of a variety of lengths. We were late cutting this year due to the poor weather so some of the willow was starting to bud.
Hand weaving the back panels of two antique chairs with cane in the traditional standard six-way pattern (woven in six directions or layers). The new cane will later be stained to “age” it to match the old cane on the chair seat. These backs were rectangular, making it relatively simple to cane.
Willow plant supports workshop. Plant supports are both ornamental and practical structured that adds height and interest to the garden . Plant supports can be made with a top that comes to a point, but the open top allows climbing plants greater space for flowering and bushing out.
Harvest sprite (spirit of the corn) made from woven straw with an open weave body and head. Arms and legs have a central wire that allows them to be positioned.. A modern take on the traditional corn dolly.