Thursday 20 September 2012

Weaving with willow...

If you follow me on Twitter, you will have the heads up on the most fabulous of days I had on Tuesday when I found myself in deepest, darkest Cambridgeshire learning the art of weaving willow.






When Celia tweeted about a skills swap she had done with Debbie of Salix Arts, I found myself, along with Mrs Dottycookie and Mrs Silverpebble, getting enthusiastic about it to the point where a workshop was arranged especially for us.






We were blessed with a crisp sunny day and soon were completely immersed in the task to hand. There was barely a whisper, which is very unusual for when bloggers meet!







Debbie is a fantastic teacher and we were quickly on the way to creating with this wonderful natural material. I knew I wanted to make a plant support for the garden so having been given a quick tutorial, things began to take shape.







I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo above, but there are a couple of different weaves happening there - the middle section being a fence weave. I loved working with the continuous amount of willow that you just added to as and when necessary to create a flowing design.







I think it is possible that my favourite part of my structure is this knot that secured all the ends together. Isn't it beautiful?






I love the natural ends of the willow so much, I couldn't bear to chop them off.






So here is my ta-dah! I'm not entirely sure I will want to cover it with foliage next year and so I'm thinking I might just have it as a focal point somewhere in the garden.


Oh! And there was cake!





Thank you so much, ladies, for yet another superb crafty, bloggy day xx

12 comments:

  1. This was one of the best days I can remember. It's so funny how we went so quiet with concentration wasn't it? Crafty cogs in action. What truly brilliant images and SO lovely to see you x

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  2. oh so beautiful. I'm suprised you didn't make one of the willow dragonflies too! xxx

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  3. Looks a wonderful day - and I Iove your knot too (and the rest of the structure too of course!)

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  4. What a great day! Your willow weaving is very impressive. I'd love that in my garden!

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  5. WOW, your willow weaving is gorgeous. Well done. It would make a lovely focal point somewhere in the garden. I had made it, I wouldn't want to cover it with foliage either.
    Anne xx

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  6. Oh wow, what a great day,,, oh yes and there was cake, fabulous

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  7. Wow I'm green with envy. Aside from the fact that you created that gorgeous trellis, you got to spend the day with the missus Dottie and Pebble. And cake too??? A Perfect Day!!!

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  8. Your photos have captured a glorious day to perfection! Such a brilliant time. I have a confession though - I realised once I arrived home that I'd made a big error with my rose knot; it will hold but now I'm going to have to make another one to get it right ;-)

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  9. Now that looks like a grand day out. And it made me smile to spy the willow dragonflies in your picture too. What are you going to grow up your snazzy support?

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  10. Oh you are amazing! Simply gorgeous. When can I start commissioning pieces for the allotment? Though I agree it's almost a shame to hide them under foliage! K x

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  11. Oh, how lovely! Amazed at that willow work. Looks like you've been doing it for years.

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  12. That is so beautiful! A real work of art - it doesn't need any plants at all!

    Pomona x

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