Christmas Willow Crafts - Beginners

Course Description:  On this enjoyable and informative one day course you’ll have the opportunity to make your own Christmas decorations; choose from garlands, hearts, stars, wands, Christmas trees, spheres, mince pie platters or even an angel! You will be using different varieties of willow and learning a little about the history and folklore of willow and well as learning basic weaving techniques.

What do you need to know? No prior knowledge is required for this course, just come along and enjoy making some beautiful and unique Christmas decorations.

Instructor: Norah Kennedy made her first basket nearly thirty years ago and she is now a full-time basket maker and tutor. She works to commission in addition to producing a range of baskets for sale. The bulk of her willow comes from Musgrove Willows in Westonzoyland but she also incorporates more unusual coloured willows from Powys and Herefordshire.

Coming from a farming background, the appeal of basket making for Norah lies in the combination of natural materials with traditional skills. Her interest lies in making baskets that are “right in themselves and good for use” and in reviving at least a portion of the many traditional uses for willow that have been superseded, but not surpassed, by synthetic materials.