Sadly it was our last session with the Tuesday Group this week Joan, Peter and Lizzie made their round baskets and Diane and Sarah carried on wrapping.
We have said au revoir until October when the exhibition goes up at Gressenhall.
Cecilia took up the ‘speed basketry’ challenge and made a lovely new design in just over an hour!
See you in October!
The Tuesday and Wednesday groups met at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum today when we visited to see the basket collection.
We put on our latex gloves and handled the baskets.
This one is probably a fishing basket.
Peter and Rachel having a look at very small bike basket.
Lauren and Megan the museum curators showed us the collection and explained about the baskets. The tools that were used in the past and the same ones we use today.
This lovely case that Liz is holding is made from woven straw.
We had a proper look at a bee skep and tried to work out how it was stitched together.
And then we looked at the photos from the collection of basket makers from the local area.
We even did a bit of al fresco weaving after a lovely lunch at the cafe.
Altogether a really enjoyable day!
Many thanks to Rachel, Lauren and Megan for making us feel so welcome and sharing the collection with us.
The Wednesday group made square zarzo baskets this morning; almost but not quite finishing – that will happen next week during our visit to see the basket collection at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.
Everyone worked like the wind…
There was just about time for a break…
But companionable work mostly filled our time…
This week the Tuesday group have been hard at it making baskets. Half the group made their first round zarzo baskets.
A trio of lovely baskets.
Those who are making theirs next time starting some wrappings – wool on willow structures.
These are works in progress.
We spent Sunday making zarzo baskets with these lovely people.
There’s a tricky bit at the beginning.
Then comes the fun part with scoops or swoops (take your preference)
Then the finished basket!
and a rosebud know for the handle
Proud basket makers
From the beginnings…
…to finished baskets!
The group made magnificent progress to produce these gorgeous zarzo baskets from cane in a morning.
The second group in Dereham started their basket-making adventure this week, beginning with tension plates, learning the weave.
Some decorated the finished plates with wrapped wool.
We really enjoyed meeting the group and getting started.
