Willow-weaving and Basketmaking Workshops

Make a simple container suitable for holding any of those pots of herbs you buy in the supermarket - so much nicer than a black plastic pot sitting on your kitchen windowsill! Woven from natural willow and using several traditional basketry techniques, this is a very easy project to complete in half a day - ideal for complete beginners.

Dispense with unsightly plastic in your garden and make a beautiful willow bird feeder which you can hang from the branch of a tree or on a hook in your garden. The birds will love perching on the side to get to the fat balls inside.

Catalan platters, also known as tension trays, are one of the simplest yet most effective items to make from willow - ideal for the absolute beginner but equally fun for those with some experience. They can be used for serving bread or cheese, displaying fruit, or (my favoured option) mince pies! On this workshop you will be able to make at least two platters, allowing you to experiment with size and colour of willow.

On this half-day workshop you will make a large two-dimensional fish, woven from natural willow. This makes a wonderful statement platter for your dining table for serving or displaying bread, fruit or cheese, or alternatively hang it on your wall as a piece of decorative art. You will be able to make one large fish during this workshop or, if you prefer, several much smaller ones. No previous experience is required - ideal for beginners to willow weaving.

This is a sweet little basket that is made using traditional basketry techniques - but kept as simple as possible. The quick and easy border, and the single rod handle mean that a complete basket can be whipped up in a day, even by a beginner!

These festive stars make lovely Christmas Decorations. You will make one woven star using a mix of different willow colours for variety, and if time allows you can also make a string of simple stars, each from one rod of willow. NB: There is a second Christmas Stars workshop : More Stars (Saturday 23rd November, afternoon), where a different design of star is made, should you wish to take part in both!

Weave yourself a Christmas Tree! You will make one or more Christmas Trees during this workshop, varying the shape to your design. Once at home, decorate with mini baubles, ribbons, place in a pot or hang from a ribbon. However you display them, they bring a simple rustic touch to your festive decorations. You might like to combine this workshop with Stars workshop in the afternoon or one of the other decorations workshops over this weekend.

Learn how to weave one or more cute little reindeer to add to your rustic decorations this Christmas. Simple to make, once you know how! - you should be able to make several during this workshop. Pop one or two on the mantelpiece or a window sill, or add to an existing festive scene, or if you can bear to part with them they make lovely gifts. You might like to combine this workshop with the Christmas Trees workshop in the afternoon or one of the other decorations workshops over this weekend.

Weave yourself a Christmas Tree! You will make one or more Christmas Trees during this workshop, varying the shape to your design. Once at home, decorate with mini baubles, ribbons, place in a pot or hang from a ribbon. However you display them, they bring a simple rustic touch to your festive decorations. You might like to combine this workshop with the Reindeer workshop, either immediately before or after this one, or one of the other decorations workshops over this weekend.

Learn how to weave one or more cute little reindeer to add to your rustic decorations this Christmas. Simple to make, once you know how! - you should be able to make several during this workshop. Pop one or two on the mantelpiece or a window sill, or add to an existing festive scene, or if you can bear to part with them they make lovely gifts. You might like to combine this workshop with the Christmas Trees workshop in the afternoon or one of the other decorations workshops over this weekend.

These festive stars make lovely Christmas Decorations. You will make one woven star using a mix of different willow colours for variety, and if time allows you can also make a string of simple stars, each from one rod of willow. NB: There is a second Christmas Stars workshop : More Stars (Saturday 23rd November, afternoon), where a different design of star is made, should you wish to take part in both!

This is a second workshop making stars, although there is no necessity to have attended the previous one - each workshop is a stand-alone. On this workshop we will be creating larger stars which use threading and tying techniques rather than weaving. As before, they make a great Christmas decoration - decorate if you like with lights or greenery (not provided) and hang in a window or on your front door in place of a wreath. If time allows you can also make a string of simple stars, each from one rod of willow. NB: The alternative Stars Workshop takes place on the afternoon of Thursday 21st November or again in the morning of Saturday 23rd just before this workshop. Why not do both?!

Weave yourself a Christmas Tree! You will make one or more Christmas Trees during this workshop, varying the shape to your design. Once at home, decorate with mini baubles, ribbons, place in a pot or hang from a ribbon. However you display them, they bring a simple rustic touch to your festive decorations. You might like to combine this workshop with the Reindeer workshop in the afternoon or one of the other decorations workshops over this weekend.

Learn how to weave one or more cute little reindeer to add to your rustic decorations this Christmas. Simple to make, once you know how! - you should be able to make several during this workshop. Pop one or two on the mantelpiece or a window sill, or add to an existing festive scene, or if you can bear to part with them they make lovely gifts. You might like to combine this workshop with the Christmas Trees workshop in the morning or one of the other decorations workshops over this weekend.

Make a simple container suitable for holding any of those pots of herbs you buy in the supermarket - so much nicer than a black plastic pot sitting on your kitchen windowsill! Woven from natural willow and using several traditional basketry techniques, this is a very easy project to complete in half a day - ideal for complete beginners.

With St Valentin'es Day just around the corner, make a collection of willow hearts for your loved one(s!). Choose your sizes, either little ones to pop in a card or hang from a door knob, or larger ones to accompany a bouquet of flowers, potted plant gift, or just to hang on the wall as a pretty decoration. You could later decorate them with ribbons and dried flowers.

Dispense with unsightly plastic in your garden and make a beautiful willow bird feeder which you can hang from the branch of a tree or on a hook in your garden. The birds will love perching on the side to get to the fat balls inside.

Two-Day Workshop: Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th February 2020, 10am-5pm each day. On this two-day workshop you will make a traditional round basket with a handle - suitable for just about anything! . . . shopping, gathering garden produce, picnics. This workshop is suitable for absolute beginners and those who have a little previous experience.

A topical little basket. Using 'random weave', make a little nest basket with a simple cross-over handle. Lovely for displaying mini eggs, egg gathering, or just as a pretty Easter decoration. Depending on your speed of work, you may be able to make more than one during this workshop.

On this evening workshop you will make a large two-dimensional fish, woven from natural willow. This makes a wonderful statement platter for your dining table for serving or displaying bread, fruit or cheese, or alternatively hang it on your wall as a piece of decorative art. You will be able to make one large fish during this workshop or, if you prefer, several much smaller ones. No previous experience is required - ideal for beginners to willow weaving.

Get ready for Easter Egg Hunts with this simple Egg Gathering Basket. The quick and easy border and simple handle make this basket very achievable in a day, even if you have never made one before. If, however, you prefer to make it without the handle (or simply run out of time!) it is perfect as a bread basket.

A topical little basket. Using 'random weave', make a little nest basket with a simple cross-over handle. Lovely for displaying mini eggs, egg gathering, or just as a pretty Easter decoration. Depending on your speed of work, you may be able to make more than one during this workshop.

Two-Day Workshop: Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March 2020, 10am-5pm each day. This is such a useful basket for gardeners, or anyone who carries their hand tools around. The extra-wide base provides stability so it doesn't topple over and the long handle makes the basket easy to grasp with very little bending down!

These dragonflies make a lovely addition to your garden, either within the border or in pot, but especially lovely by a pond. They appear to float, waving gently in the breeze. You will be able to make more than one during this workshop - one for you and one for a friend!

Make a wigwam plant support (approx 3ft high) to fit into a patio plant pot, suitable for training clematis or other lightweight climbers. Fast workers may be able to complete two small wigwams during this workshop.

These large wigwam plant supports, or obelisks, add height and drama to the garden. Plunge into the border for training climbing beans or flowering climbers for instant effect. You will make at least two large wigwams during this workshop, size to suit. NB: The height and diameter of these wigwams requires a large car to transport them home! You may wish to consider the size you can accommodate in your car before you weave! Max size we can make is approx 24" dia and 7'-8' high, but narrower/shorter may be preferable.

These dragonflies make a lovely addition to your garden, either within the border or in pot, but especially lovely by a pond. They appear to float, waving gently in the breeze. You will be able to make more than one during this workshop - one for you and one for a friend!

Weave a charming sweet pea planter - a basket with extending uprights which form the supports for climbing plants such as sweet peas to scramble up.

These large wigwam plant supports, or obelisks, add height and drama to the garden. Plunge into the border for training climbing beans or flowering climbers for instant effect. You will make at least two large wigwams during this workshop, size to suit. NB: The height and diameter of these wigwams requires a large car to transport them home! You may wish to consider the size you can accommodate in your car before you weave! Max size we can make is approx 24" dia and 7'-8' high, but narrower/shorter may be preferable.

Weaving a sunflower not only provides you with a lovely decoration for your home or garden, but provides the basic techniques you might later use for weaving a basket. In this workshop you will make at least one flower, depending on your speed of working - perhaps some little daisies too! This is a perfect project for a complete beginner.

Make a simple container suitable for holding any of those pots of herbs you buy in the supermarket - so much nicer than a black plastic pot sitting on your kitchen windowsill! Woven from natural willow and using several traditional basketry techniques, this is a very easy project to complete in an evening workshop - ideal for complete beginners.

This is a sweet little basket that is made using traditional basketry techniques - but kept as simple as possible. The quick and easy border, and the single rod handle mean that a complete basket can be whipped up in a day, even by a beginner!

Weaving a sunflower not only provides you with a lovely decoration for your home or garden, but provides the basic techniques you might later use for weaving a basket. In this workshop you will make at least one flower, depending on your speed of working - perhaps some little daisies too! This is a perfect project for a complete beginner.

Make your favoured pooch the perfect bed to suit them! In this two-day workshop you will make an oval bed with a lowered front for ease of entry. Note: the size will be suitable for a cat or a small dog. Two-Day Workshop: Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2020, 10am-5pm each day. Suitable for those with some previous experience (see Description below).