Our new project has started; we are working with two groups of women using a number of textile techniques to create pieces inspired by the panels made by Lorina Bulwer.
We made textured felt from wallpaper paste and cotton wool. We’ll incorporate the finished felted elements into panels when they have dried
We also made panels with strips of fabric
We also made prints using a gelatine plate.
Today we headed to Barrington Farm, laden with freshly cut willow from Repps Meadow (thanks to Broads Authority volunteers)…
We then spent some happy hours weaving with the artists at Barrington Farm, introducing the artists to the medium. The room was buzzing with creative energy, and after some initial experimentation willow sculptures of all shapes and sizes began to emerge!
The final group we’re working with on this project have now finished their frame baskets, constructed in the style of the Great Yarmouth herring swill.
Not only did we weave baskets during the session, we also laughed a lot, learned some words in Spanish, and there was basket head balancing….
Today was our final session working at Headway. The group have made some beautiful Swill-style baskets…
Impressive work, particularly as nobody in this group had any previous experience working with willow.
The group are looking forward to a return visit to the Time & Tide Museum, where they will now be able to examine baskets in the Museum’s collection with a willow-weaver’s eye!
We were delighted when Karolina brought her gods eye back to Saturday’s session – she had been working on it at home and completely covered the sticks with weaving!
We have been using gods eyes, woven in willow, to attach the swill basket frame to the handle. This picture shows the two materials, wool and willow, side by side…
Having made willow plates last week the group we are working with at Headway moved on to make a start on their frame baskets, based on Great Yarmouth’s herring Swill.
We have been finding ways to support baskets during weaving – our experimental jig was a success!
We’ve been at Headway, having a play with willow and string in preparation for making swill-style baskets over the next few weeks.
The group were justifiably pleased with their willow plates – and we can’t wait to get stated on the baskets!
Today was our final session with the cran weaving group.
We added splints and sticks to mimic the reinforcement in the Quarter Cran baskets we have seen in the Time & Tide Museum collection.
Rather than the horizontal row of weaving halfway up the basket side, some of the group decided to create a ‘wave’ of weaving sweeping in a spiral from bottom to top…
All the baskets looked very beautiful, and the basket makers felt very satisfied with their work.
This week was our final week working with the group at Herbie’s.
Swill style baskets were completed and fun was had by all. Many thanks to everyone at Herbie’s, you’ve made us feel so welcome.
We continued the basket weaving we started with a group of women a couple of weeks ago. The designs are based on the traditional Quarter Cran herring basket.
We wove basket sides, sharing conversation, laughter and some peaceful silence.
As well as the satisfaction that comes from making a useful, beautiful item, everyone described the feelings of calm and relaxation that they experienced throughout the workshop – it was a great session.
