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!
0 Comments
|
Donald Spy
A bit of an experiment at the moment. Archives
May 2020
Categories |