For the past few weeks we’ve been working with people at Norfolk and Waveney Headway We are starting from scratch learning weaving techniques, using cane. Group members started with baskets on a base which Sarah had already fixed the uprights into.
Week 2 and Michael joins the group. The others start their baskets from scratch weaving their uprights into the bases.
We spent the last sessions with the Wednesday group by revisiting some of the small items with cane.
Weaving a gorgeous God’s Eye.
Small baskets and plates
A beautiful array of small objects
For the new year we’ve been making small items from cane. These pretty coasters are of Eastern European design.
These are zarzo baskets.
We also made delightful little egg baskets.
For the past couple of weeks group members have been making baskets using willow. First tackling the base…
…then weaving between the uprights…
…and finally making the border…
Here are three of the finished baskets
Withy Arts’ new project, Catching the Memories and Passing on the Skills, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, has just started. One of the aims of this year long project is to teach participants the skills of basket making which were so important to Great Yarmouth’s past. The fishing industry used baskets in great quantities until plastic took over and for this reason, Great Yarmouth was a place of skilled craftsmanship.
For the first few weeks participants have been learning the basics of weaving in both willow and cane and in the process, made some beautiful objects, pictured below.
And finally, cane work…
We spent our time together this week finishing off our pieces and making decisions about how they are going to be displayed in the exhibition.
Sarah and Katie tagteam stitching.
Suzanne and Keara finishing their work.
Emily working
We tried the finished pieces against different coloured backgrounds to see what the effect was.More about the exhibition in the coming days!
Several stitchers in the group and near to completing their pieces.
Lucy’s work has developed from her original plate…
She has added seaweed and pebbles to dramatic effect…
Here she is stitching
Katie has also been adding shells to her piece
…as has Emily
