Willow Weaving

Tuesday, August 19

WILLOW WEAVING

Lyn Powell

The weather today was looking a little patchy, but we decided to set tables out on the lawn to run the workshop outside the house.  Artist Lin Powell arrived with a car load of willow, huge bundles of glistening stems, covered in wet towels.  Lin explained that she keeps the willow soaking in a bath tub in her garden.

We gathered round as she talked us through the differences in the types of willow – the variation of colours and width, which, when using them in varying ways, would impact on the work created.

Touching and working with natural materials

Three different types of willow

in this way helps you to connect 
the natural environment around you, regardless of what you might be trying to make or build, the raw materials found in nature are almost always the best tools for the job. You can easily appreciate the beauty and strength of the material and as we watch Lin deftly demonstrate a weaving pattern, it is easy to see how willow weaving was once an ancient life skill, and used to create practical, hard-wearing basketry.

Today though, we are aiming to make willow flowers for our gardens.  We weave the centre of the flower, then bend long pieces of willow into ovals to make the petals, finishing off the process by mounting the flower head on a stalk which can be stuck into the ground.  It is difficult to convey how impressive the willow flowers look – everyone is delighted with their achievements and talk enthusiastically about where they might install their work in their garden.  It is nice to think that the willow flowers will go on to serve another purpose, hopefully encouraging people out into their gardens to enjoy them!
Nikki Moore (Wye Valley AONB) is so impressed that she borrows a few of the flowers to take to the Monmouth Show to promote mindSCAPE with a Field of Memories on Thursday August 28.

Lyn shows Hannah Elton-Wall  and participants the willow

Willow weaving became really absorbing

Tai Chi Treat on third session

Tuesday, August 5

THE TAI CHI TREAT

We’ve been looking forward to this weeks workshop, ‘Tai Chi Movements For Well-being’ with artist Jane Spray.  We were rather hoping that we could work on the springy grass lawn outside of the Bracelands house but unfortunately the weather is not on our side today – there is a light, but constant drizzle.  Instead, we move the tables and chairs inside and relax into the session.

The session is an enjoyable sequence of movements taken from the traditions of TaiChi Chuan and Chi Kung. A form of ‘moving meditation’, this simple sequence is both relaxing and stimulating.  Jane tells us that Tai Chi can also help with balance, suppleness and strength, giving you some gentle exercise at the same time as helping you become more grounded, present and aware.

 We are joined by Andrew Nixon, Development Officer at the Wye Valley AONB.  Andrew completed the application to the National Lottery which successfully secured the funding for mindSCAPE so it is great that he’s able to see the group up and running.

After lunch (a hearty and warming jacket potato with plenty of cheese) the weather brightens up a bit, determined to spend at least some of the session outside we take a stroll down to the log circle site to end the session.