Sunday, 11 October 2020

The willow workshop

A huge thank you to Victoria and Olivia at the Willow Barn in Stockton on  Tees.  If you fancy trying your hand at willow weaving then I can highly recommend booking a session there. Now might be  good time too before we are all locked down again

http://www.thewillowbarn.co.uk/

Before I tell you about our day I want to show you all a couple of amazing sculptures that Victoria has made.  There is a nice selection of handcrafted things to buy in the shop and  Olivia is currently making beautiful felted clocks with a sheep theme.  They are absolutely gorgeous and would make a lovely Christmas present if you are looking for something a bit different. I was very tempted to buy a bundle of curly sheep locks.  They would make a fun hairpiece for anyone with a sense of humour. You could of course just use them to create gorgeous felted pictures. 

A huge stag peeps out from the shrubbery

I wonder if she's chilly

Now let me tell you what we have been up to because you know the suspense is killing you  :-)
Tony and I have been on  a willow weaving workshop that I booked for an early birthday present for himself.. It was touch and go for a while whether it would take place due to this flippin virus but we were so pleased that we were able to go.  Victoria was such a great tutor too. Her instructions being clear and concise. Tony is great at following instruction but I am utterly rubbish until I get the hang of it and made every mistake possible... some of them more than once. I may well have been the worst student that Victoria has ever encountered... I'm ok with that.  :-)

Victoria and  me.
We each made an obelisk and Victoria was kind enough to give us the one that she had made and a bundle of willow to take home with us. Victoria also gave me the car tyre that had been drilled so that I could make more obelisks .

Tony working on his obelisk

 Needless to say I came home and made another and then with the last few willow rods I made the base for a Christmas wreath. We now have four obelisks for my garden next year. 






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22 comments:

  1. Susan Smith11 October 2020 at 21:29

    Lovely & just what I need in my garden too, though there aren't any workshops here anything like that & it's something I envy about UK & all it's wonderful courses & retreats. I'll keep an eye on that wreath & see what you do for Xmas. I hope the lockdown doesn't happen for you, as I'm sure we'll never be out of some restrictions here for years. Take care, stay safe & huggles.

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 10:13

      I suppose it's because we are a tiny island and everything is so close that travelling isn't a problem

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  2. Joy11 October 2020 at 22:18

    Oh, lovely. I so enjoyed the willow weaving courses I went on. It's very satisfying and very tactile, isn't it?
    xx

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  3. Anonymous12 October 2020 at 01:02

    Very nice! That was fun to see and looked fun for you to do! Andrea

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 10:11

      We had such a lovely time and have learned a smashing new skill

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  4. buttercup12 October 2020 at 07:13

    Just the thing for my bind weed to grow up🤣xxx

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  5. Meanqueen12 October 2020 at 07:55

    Looks like a lot of fun.

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 10:10

      It certainly was. I bet you could make some really creative willow things

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  6. mamasmercantile12 October 2020 at 09:11

    That sounds like fun, what a great gift idea.

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 10:10

      We've reached the point of having everything we could possibly need. We decided some time ago that workshops and classes was the way to go.

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  7. Vix12 October 2020 at 09:16

    What fun that must have been! They often run willow workshops at festivals, if I wasn't busy trading I'd definite;y have a go. x

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 10:08

      Vix, it was great fun. I am hoping to learn how to make willow sheep and pigs next year if this ruddy virus disappears.

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  8. Allie jane12 October 2020 at 11:20

    Wow, my parents live in Stockton oh Tees, I live in japan now, In Tokyo. I cannot wait to see them next year fingers crossed.

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 16:06

      That sounds very exotic compared to Teesside. Is it lovely there?

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    2. Allie jane14 October 2020 at 07:58

      I have lived here for comming up 16 years now and I have no intention of comming home. It’s very beautiful but very busy at the same time. But there is always time for refection

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  9. Living Alone in Your 60's12 October 2020 at 14:58

    That's brilliant, they would make very useful presents for people too.

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 16:06

      They would indeed. I would have been really pleased to receive one as a gift

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  10. Crafty in the Med12 October 2020 at 15:29

    That looks so interesting!! The first time I heard of willow weaving was in Wiveliscombe,Somerset when I was visiting my Aunty and we called in her friends house.While waiting for my Aunty I sat beside this elderly lady out the back who was weaving what I thought was cane into a tall structure similar to what you have in your photos. She said it was willow ***** (weaving) but she called it something else but it was definitely weaving! It must be an old craft because I was a child then. It is so good to see these old crafts are not dying out! keep well Amanda x

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    1. Cherie12 October 2020 at 16:05

      Tony and I earned how to weave willow baskets quite a few years ago. He is game for anything bless him. x

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  11. EmmaT16 October 2020 at 16:30

    I love weaving - its so satisfying. Emma

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