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.
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
We are working with a group from About With Friends, based in Cromer, continuing the Stitch in Time project whose starting point is the coast.
Our first session was a visit to West Runton to collect ideas and images to inspire us for our print making and stitching in weeks to come.
Sara took photos for reference and we spent time looking at coastal features…
…plants and sea creatures…
The public involvement day was a roaring success. The weather was good so there were lots of people in the park enjoying the sunshine. Many people came to see the demonstrations and find out more about what the volunteers have been up to and learn about willow.
Several of our younger visitors helped with the scribble weave sculptures.
or made willow stars
The toilet block hurdle and the garden enclosure were both finished.
The new hurdle for the bin enclosure was started and volunteers demonstrated willow fish making and how to make the covers
We even had a canine visitor who was more interested in the water in the bucket than the willow itself to be honest.
Proud volunteers and Withy Arts workers at the end of a delightful project.
