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.
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…
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 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.
From the beginnings…
…to finished baskets!
The group made magnificent progress to produce these gorgeous zarzo baskets from cane in a morning.
