With everything locked down, I had the perfect excuse to do lots of weaving over the summer. As well as the big log baskets, I practiced a number of different styles of smaller baskets. I had fun making wall-hanging baskets; it took a few attempts to get it right. These wee baskets have proved to be really handy and we’ve ended up having several of them hanging around the house holding all sorts of odds and ends that need to be easy to grab – buffs and gloves for cycling, dog leads. I originally thought of them for vegetables in the kitchen, but that’s the one place that doesn’t have one... yet. I managed to find a better place to store my dry willow. Up till now, I had kept it at the back of the old stables where we store all manner of gardening and other stuff. The problem there is that the stone floor and walls can get very damp with condensation when a damp warm wind blows through. I found that some of my willow was starting to get affected, with a risk of it going mouldy. I have now moved it to a part of the outbuildings that used to be a small sawmill – there is still part of of the old belt-driven saw there. It has been used for storing sawn timber, but with a bit of rearranging, there is room for all my growing collection of willow bundles. This space faces south and has a large glazed sliding door, so it stays really dry all year round. It’s getting late in the year now and the leaves have fallen from the willows at Dalgairn. This means that it is time to start the willow harvest as the one-year growth’s sap has dropped, making the rods better for weaving as they will dry more readily and the bark is less susceptible to damage. My son, Jonathan, and I made a start on cutting in mid December. There are two main varieties growing here; a green stemmed vigorous willow with a reddish tint to the thinner stems – possibly Flanders Red – a very popular willow for weaving, as it dries to a strong orange/red tone. Its main drawback is that it can take twice as long to soak as other varieties; the waxy bark slows the soaking process considerably. The other main crop here has a very bright beautiful yellow stemmed rod with a red tip – possibly Vitellina. It dries to a mottled dirty yellow with darker patches, but changes after soaking and dries to a variable mid-brown. I’ve been told it might not be as flexible for weaving as other varieties. There are small amounts of a couple of other willows, one is a dark purple/brown with a white bloom on the bark – possibly Daphnoides – and one other variety that I cannot identify yet with vigorous short glossy leaves and large buds. The main problem with this small planting of willows, I’ve been told, is that the coppiced trees are spaced too far apart. The trees are quite mature – perhaps 12-15 years old – and perfectly vigorous, but the space between them allows for wind damage and also encourages the outer rods to be very ‘branchy’. After reading The Basketmakers’ Association book, ‘Cultivation and Use of Basket Willows’, I understand that basketry willows should ideally be planted very close together. This encourages the rods to grow more upright, long and thin, as they compete for the light and reduces the formation of side shoots. The ideal basketry rod has no side branches at all and is slender and finely tapered. This close growing also encourages thinner growth, better suited for weaving. A further couple of visits to the plot and I’ve ended up with a few useful good bundles of willow. These bundles will now be graded by length and quality and stored carefully to dry over the next several months. I’ve been soaking willow for a few log basket commissions. The cold weather is meaning that my soaking times are nearly double the summer soaking times. Working with this chunkier willow is hard work for the hands, and I am struggling a bit to get the borders as good as I would like – too many kinks and inconsistencies. I think part of the secret is in the initial selection of rods; consistency is crucial! In the end they turned out not too bad, I enjoyed the repetition when making these, it really gives you a chance to practice technique. I made a couple of small willow stars from leftover rods, definitely something to do more of as I think people would buy them. I’ll need to think of other small willow items to make with leftover rods. We are using the garden obelisk/plant support as a Solstice tree this year – with a nice willow star of course! Karen has dressed it with evergreen branches, tinsel and lights – it looks really lovely and will still be good for the sweet peas next year. While finishing off the coppicing, I was chatting to George, who owns the ground of which the willow bed is a part, and he has offered a piece of ground beside some fruit trees that might do as a new basketry willow bed. I am going to measure the area and calculate what I need in the way of ground cover material and the cuttings themselves. In this space I am going to plant the willows much closer together as recommended in the SBC booklet. I will try several different varieties and see which ones do best in that spot. I have heard that the local soil and conditions can make a huge difference, with one site favouring particular varieties over others.
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Concern about Covid-19 had been growing at this time, and the weekend course with Jane Wilkinson involved social distancing and plenty of hand-washing. Shortly after this Karen and I started ‘shielding’ and I was fortunate that my employer at that time (Scottish Fire Service) was able to support our decision. Around the same time, I became ill with a fever and strange gastric troubles, our doctor was not able to have me tested at that time, so I do not know if it was Covid or just some random illness. Karen became unwell with similar symptoms a few days later. Luckily the acute illness only lasted a couple of days and after a few more days feeling washed out, I seemed to recover with no lasting ill effects. My attempt at making a second ‘Polish style’ basket got a bit out of control and it turned out a bit tall and narrow – characterful! I also had my first attempt at a larger log basket, using mostly locally grown willow. This basket didn’t turn out as perfectly as I hoped, but it was a perfectly functional, if slightly wonky log basket and it has pride of place beside our living room fireplace. My next log basket followed soon after, and happily, was good enough to sell to a neighbour. I’m still very much the beginner, each basket is a learning process; trying out new techniques, remembering important little details, developing ‘muscle memory’. I am just beginning to understand just how much there is to learn – every choice of materials, of techniques, each step in the process of making has an impact on the final outcome; there are so many variables to be considered. I am still some way off from holding an image of what I want to create and then actually realising it, making it for real. I then used some of the left over willow to make a sturdy wee berry basket, which I gave to my daughter. Looking at it now, I can see the flaws: I used material that was too thick in some parts, my border needs more practice, as does the wrapped handle. But Janey is really pleased with it, she is a keen forager of wild mushrooms and it goes everywhere with her. I think she needs a bigger basket! What I am noticing with my basket weaving, is the intense focus involved, hours pass by unnoticed. It is a really enjoyable form of mindfulness; I can see why this type of craft activity is regarded as therapeutic. I am convinced that my overall feelings of well-ness (and blood pressure) have improved since starting basket making. I also wonder if it is something to do with being away from my workplace, it feels good not to be wearing my pager; the knowledge that, at any moment of the day or night, I might have to immediately stop whatever I am doing and quickly drive to the Fire Station to attend whatever emergency has arisen. This has been my normality for the last two years since retiring from my 26 years of wholetime service with the Scottish Fire Service. I have been available for call-outs to my local station (Cupar) for a minimum of 120 hours in every week. Most of the time it is fine, and I enjoy the work and the people I am working with. I feel very lucky to have been of service to my community in this way. But there are times when having that pager go off is the most inconvenient thing – at the supermarket checkout, in the middle of a meal, in the shower, and let’s not forget in the middle of the night! I am certain that Karen is happier for the undisturbed nights. After watching a video online from the talented and prolific basket-maker John Cowan, I had a few attempts at his traditional oval potato basket. He made it look so easy, but it was deceptively difficult, especially getting the oval base to sit nice and flat without twisting. A couple of them are now used as general purpose baskets at home, one has been promoted to my tool basket for my selection of basketry tools. A good friend had expressed an interest in a Polish style asymmetric basket that she had seen on Facebook. This one I made with a pot bellied shape and a nice mix of local and commercial willows, finished off with a hazel wood handle. When she came to our garden a little later, I had two subtly different ones for her to choose from – my very first sale! Another friend got in touch, wanting to buy a couple of the baskets that I had shown on Facebook. Due to the Covid restrictions in place, we agreed to a socially distanced meeting at the car park beside the Tay Bridge. I had put a good selection of my baskets in the car, together with the two that he had specified as I wanted to show him and his partner what else I had been making. I was really pleased that, they decided to buy four of my baskets. It was really encouraging to see that people really loved the baskets that I had been making. A great boost for me to keep practicing and making. Another boost was the arrival of some lovely willow from Musgrove: Dicky Meadows, Old French and buff. The Old French has a wonderful fragrance (and weaves beautifully). Over the summer, I made a number of baskets, of different sizes and shapes; experimenting with different techniques and learning all the time what works and what doesn’t! Another friend came by to see my work and asked me to make him an extra large log basket. He wanted one that could hold a whole days worth of logs. I really enjoyed the challenge of planning a particular size, shape and style, and then the satisfaction of seeing it take shape. I wanted it to show off the different techniques I had been practicing, so it included English and French randing and a section of slewing with bands of waling between for added strength. I was pleased to be able to use some of the chunky locally grown willow in it as well. After sharing images of it online, I was commissioned to make two more for some other friends. This was a great opportunity for me to see how well I could reproduce these baskets. There were differences, one had a smaller base and a slightly more flared shape (which I liked). Other differences arose because I had to use slightly different selections of rods, but I was really pleased with them. My fingers and shoulders noticed how much more physical it is, working with the thicker willow. Extra large log baskets, made with a selection of willows from Fife and Somerset. With some of the locally grown willows from Tailabout Farm.
Karen and I often go to Falkland Estate to buy organic vegetables and other bits and pieces at the Pillars of Hercules shop. We’ve known Bruce and Judy for along time and have seen the business grow over the years; a long time ago we worked on a neighbouring organic smallholding called Bellfield. Falkland Estate is a beautiful estate, situated under the Lomond Hills and we often take our young Border Collie, Brodie, for walks along the many woodland trails. On this occasion, we had parked the car next to the Woodland Hub, which has a workshop and hosts outdoor educational activities. I glanced through the glass doors as I passed and noticed there were two people weaving baskets inside, very fine looking baskets at that. My natural inquisitiveness got the better of me and I felt the urge to go inside and say hello and see what they were about. It turned out to be a local, and very well regarded, basket maker called Lise Bech; she and her friend were preparing example baskets for a ‘master class’ that Lise was holding that weekend. I introduced myself and had a brief chat. She asked if I might like to join her soon, cutting some willow in the garden of a local Cupar man that she knows. Of course I jumped at the chance, and in early March I met with Lise and spent a happy afternoon snipping away at a long strip of coppiced willow trees; very satisfying work. Coppicing involves cutting all the branches down close to a few inches above ground level. The vigorous willow throws up slender new branches, ready to be cut the following winter. The owner was very friendly, and told me I was welcome to take away from the plot whatever willow I wanted. I was very happy to take away a few bundles of a green/brown variety and also of a golden yellow stemmed willow, although I was told it doesn’t keep its yellow colour as it dries. Karen and I came back a few days later to finish off the strip. Much of this willow that we cut had too many branches, was damaged or distorted or too thick. We were told that all the willow that was no use for basketry would be collected by another person that would use it as part of a leather tanning process, something I would love to find out more about. I had been in touch by email with another well known basket maker, Jane Wilkinson, who runs a number of basket making courses through the year. She was able to offer me a last minute place on her three-day workshop in Alyth. I was sure I had come across Jane’s name before and I found out that, several years ago, she had created some stunning willow fencing at Monimail Tower, which I had seen when visiting a friend that stayed there at the time. Rather than make another shopping basket, I took the opportunity to try some new and different techniques and made an interesting ‘Polish style’ basket with an asymmetric top and a hazel wood handle. Jane is a very skilled teacher and she pays great attention to detail, making sure that our hand and finger positions are used to control the willow as it is woven together, and stressed the importance of stepping back to see that it is keeping in shape. I discovered how crucial this close attention is later on at home when trying to recreate the same basket by myself! As well as all manner of willow basketry and fencing, Jane makes, and teaches how to make, amazing coracles - with a willow framework over which is stretched a skin or waterproof canvas. A highlight of the weekend was the opportunity to paddle one of her coracles on a local loch, great fun and not so easy to paddle in a straight line – and cold! For many people, this must rank as one of the worst years of their lives; but I find myself thanking the stars, the fates, the spirits, that have made this year, for me, very special - challenging - but special. I feel blessed for many reasons, perhaps it’s the wee dram I’ve just had, but I am feeling very lucky to be where I am right now. It’s the evening of Christmas day, 2020. I’m sitting here looking back on the year, with a small glass of The Balvenie, Triple Cask, 12-year-old whiskey. After enjoying a lovely meal of local venison in a cream and mushroom sauce, with potatoes ‘dauphinoise’, sprouts, carrots, cabbage and cauliflower, I’m feeling very contented. But what a strange and busy year it’s been! ----------------------- Before Lockdown, in February, at short notice and after some gentle encouragement from Karen, I booked onto and attended Anna Liebmann’s weekend basketry course in Leith. In a fit of enthusiasm, I gathered together the few tools required for a beginning basket maker: secateurs, a sharp knife, a ruler, a home-made bodkin (an old screwdriver filed down to a sharp point), and a great big tyre iron! I would recommend Anna to anyone that wants to give basket making a go. She has a wonderful mix of expertise, patience, and friendly approachability. Over two days she covered all the techniques needed to complete a superb shopping basket. It was exciting to be learning a (for me) brand new craft, even the particular words associated with willow and basketry were special. It seemed marvellous to me that simple flexible sticks, could be worked together to form strong, lightweight, useful and beautiful objects. Willow (Salix - Viminalis, Triandra & Purpurea are the three species used for basketry), what a wonderful astonishing tree; it can be sustainably coppiced every year to produce long thin withies – and so many varieties! Maybe it was beginners luck, perhaps it was having an expert tutor on hand; but I was really pleased with my first ever basket. I was hooked! I couldn’t wait to learn more, try more, make more. Here is my first basket, a round shopping basket with flared sides and a wrapped handle. Made with Carl Jensen, Bleu, and Black Maul willow varieties. The very next day I remembered (from a couple of years ago) seeing bundles of willow stacked in an old stable a couple of miles from home. I hopped on my bike and rode out to have a look and met a quiet chap, Robin, who works a smallholding beside the River Eden. He grows lots of willow, but most of it is left to grow for several years and then coppiced for firewood. He still had some anonymous bundles of basketry willow however, a few years old and slightly the worse for weathering, in the old stables. He couldn't remember exactly which varieties they were. A deal was done, and I took home my first few bundles of willow. Happy New Year! How much were were we all looking forward to 2020 - an auspicious year surely! It's been an interesting time, though not an easy time, for me. Transitioning from a career in the Scottish Fire Service into retirement. I had retired from the wholetime (full time) service, based at Glenrothes Green Watch, a year ago and was continuing to work with the retained (part time) service based at Cupar. But I knew I was ready for a change, ready to try something new. The only trouble was, I really had no clue what to do with myself. Looking back over journal pages I can see how I was drifting rather aimlessly, not really very happy and feeling as if my leaving the Fire Service was like a leap in the dark. It is a tradition of ours to do a card reading at the New Year. We explore what spirit suggests should be our focus moving forward. For me, it was a very clear message or rather a bunch of clear messages. Here is what I wrote in early January 2020. "My interpretation is that I need the courage to begin my journey - I need to commit and things will start to change. I need to leave behind my solitariness, my non-productive habits - in other words I need to get my shit together in a positive direction. This new direction is focussed on being bountiful, successful and prosperous. The necessary change is my attitude to advancement and growth. I need to get busy to be more successful and fulfilled. The non-ordinary realms offer guidance for this journey towards a new prosperity. I need to tap into my intuition and pay attention to my dreams. Look to the Moon for inspiration. I must have patience and be careful about who/what I separate myself from. I have to be open and welcome new opportunities. Be ready for unexpected positive changes. Set new goals and go for it!" I knew that it was important that I reconnect with my creative spirit and I started following my intuition exploring various creative notions - anyone fancy a labyrinth in their garden? K reminded me of a basket making weekend she took part in a number of years ago and remembered how excited and enthusiastic I was at the wonderful (and huge) basket she came home with. Something clicked, it felt as if I had to act quickly, I started looking for opportunities to learn basketry.
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