So as I was creating our weekly What’s On Newsletter I came across an event at Peterborough museum that caught my eye, so immediately booked a place.
Saturday morning at 10am I promptly arrived on foot excited to see how I would do. A class of seven of us were located in the workshop area along with Catherine Tregaskes our tutor for the day for creating a Willow Obelisk. Around the room were placed these very strange looking boards which obviously we would learn what they were for once we began. So after a complimentary coffee and biscuits, Catherine took us through our basics.
We selected our main branches of willow which would be our thick upright posts and placed these into the holes in the board – that’s what it’s for!!! She then unwrapped her soaked, covered slim willow strands that we would be use for the weaving. Catherine slowly showed us how to add three strands together and intertwine the branches.
Twisting in and out of the branches was not easy work and most of this was done squatting or sitting on the floor (an option to place them on the table too). We had to go round three times to make the base a firm one, before starting our rise like a helter-skelter. You think it’s going to be easy, but it’s a lot of forcing, holding and twisting in and out. However, as you see it grow, it’s worthwhile.
It was a very quiet room as we were all beavering away quietly throughout the morning. We stopped for a pause every now and again to stand back and ensure that the obelisk wasn’t leaning too much, and to also ensure that the rise of the weaving was spaced out evenly. The obelisks were all about 6-7ft tall in height and were looking splendid by the time we were all getting to the top. Tied with string and then retied with willow, it was now time to trim all those little sticky-out bits and ends of the strands to tidy it up. Our obelisk wigwams looked splendid. Only then did we realise we had to get them home – Me? – on foot?… err I think I’ll phone my husband to pick me up, as walking through the city centre with quite a few people around might be a bad option! LOL.
We were all very proud of our tall creations, all very individual, and I belive we all came away realising that once you get the basics, it’ ‘could’ be easy to do your own at home, after doing this first one.
On getting it home, mine was placed straight out in the garden – pride of place. I’m not sure if I’m going to add a climbing plant to it or not yet, or simply leave it as a creative ornament.. I’ll decide when I do some more gardening!
The museum does very different and creative workshops now and again, so keep your eyes peeled on their website or make sure you’re on our newsletter listing or theirs. This workshop was £42 and included all the willow you needed to make your creation. The class lasted from 10am to 1pm, however we were really quick learners so finished early at around 12.15pm. To fill some end time Catherine showed us some of her other creations we could make ourselves; baskets, a plane, bowls and other ornaments. You can find out more from her website at www.catherinesbaskets.co.uk
In the photos: Carol, Nicola, Nicky, Naomi, Catherine, Patricia (sorry can’t remember the other names)
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