Have a look at the gorgeous work done by the group at Herbies drop -in.




Have a look at the gorgeous work done by the group at Herbies drop -in.
We’ve been sharing the skills of the basketmakers with families at community events in Great Yarmouth. We were at the Family Fun Day at the MESH community centre in Gorleston and the Fun Day at Community Roots in Great Yarmouth.
We are delighted to be back at Herbies drop in at Great Yarmouth Salvation Army to be weaving again with the group for Catching the Memories Project.
We’ve been making small things for Easter – egg baskets and a decorative platter all in cane.
The group at Headway are putting their new found skills to use weaving some beautiful things out of cane and willow. We have also had the chance to look at one of the baskets from Time and Tide Museum to compare the techniques we are using with those of the past.
Joan has nearly finished her basket.
Janet has finished hers and started on an egg basket.
Owen has been weaving with willow, making an obelisk and a tension plate.
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…