Baskets and Christmas Fair

Here are some items and commissions I have been working on this summer.

Since September I have been making items for the Weekend Shopping Companys Christmas Shopping Event at the Buxton Dome on November 10th and 11th. See http://www.theweekendshoppingcompany.co.uk

Entry is £1 and they have a great selection of designers makers, food producers and unique Christmas gift items. I am bringing log baskets, course vouchers, Christmas tree decorations, willow stars, hearts, sculptures and wreaths and I will be demonstrating making willow wreaths each afternoon. Hope to see you there…

course

I have 4 places left on my Christmas Willow Crafts course on 1st December at Oakamoor Village Hall, Staffs.

You can  Christmas trees, wreaths, stars and tree decorations. Beginners or intermediates welcome. Refreshments provided (apart from lunch).

Price is £45 and includes all materials and tea, coffee and cake. Email wheatcroftwillow@googlemail.com or phone to book. 07779121031

baskets

I have been madly creating baskets while my new baby has been asleep in bed!!

here are a few of my latest commissions.

New course

Basketmaking day for beginners and Improvers. June 11th. 10-4.

Spend the day making a round willow basket, no experience needed and all materials provided. Course to be held at Cauldon Lowe Village Hall. More experienced makers can learn new ways of making bases and try out new weaves. £45.

Phone Rachel on 07779121031 to secure your place.

baskets and events

Lots of time passed since my last blog, I have been busy on various projects, large and small and getting closer to finishing my ‘appreticeship’ training with ace basketmaker Adrian Charlton. (Although I could keep training with Adrian for many years before I feel like a pro!!).

I am now working on baskets with partitions, lids and D- shapes such as bicycle baskets.

Have attended some great events this month, Art in the Park in Leek, the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Plant Sale at Meerbrook, the Wildlife and Countryside Fair at Stafford Castle.

Next weekend 28-29th May, I will be attending Kedlestone Hall Plant Fair where I’ll be selling baskets and plant supports and other willow items.

Come along and say hello.

snowed in

Am snowed in at the moment, had to trudge daughter to school. Struggling to soak willow as tank has frozen solid. Trialling steaming willow this week as I am making a willow miner on saturday and panicking about having enough willow. Any advice?

willow baskets and willow pigs

Have been very busy from November onwards with projects and making.

I started a 6 week project working with a young girls project called Little Angels based in Hednesford. I taught the girls some willow skills over 4 evenings and the last 2 evening were spent on their own individual projects and a public exhibition. The girls were great fun and we were  really proud of all the effort they put in. The individual projects ranged from horses to baskets, to dolphins, reindeer heads and even a Take That logo!

I also made some willow pigs for a client from Suffolk, panicking slightly that they would not make it through the snow in time for Christmas. My daughter was quite fond of them and didn’t want to let them go.

Willow fish sculpture

 On 13th October I worked with St Peters Primary school in Yoxall to produce a giant 2 dimensional willow fish for their sensory garden.

Each pupil made a woven scale and some wove the tail, face, an eye and fins as well as a school of smaller fish to keep it comany.

There are also a prickle (not sure what the collective name for them is?) of hedgehogs been created in 3 schools in Staffordshire.

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