So it was off to join the Friends of Cotteridge Park on one of their weekly Sunday morning maintenance missions to tame the sproutings. With loppers and secateurs in hand, Judith, of Pollen Floral Joy, and I squelched over the boggy grass to do some serious snippage in the late autumn sunshine. Yes we are kind ladies, but not entirely altruistic ones. We wanted willow, and we wanted lots…. Why? To twist into wreath bases just in time for Christmas….
I've just signed up for another Christmas market, so its time to get twisty with those supple willow wands, and make circlets of the lovely green, flexible stems. Some will have dried ingredients added, some might get mossed, and some might just get sprayed and glittered - a range of fates await them…
Working with willow is quite addictive as it is so versatile. Bending and twisting the wands back into tidier tunnel and igloo shapes was incredibly satisfying. After an hour of chopping and twisting, the wigloo looked a little tamer but it has filled my head with ideas of woven shelters for my own garden. Maybe I'll stab a few willow whips into the ground and see if they take root of their own accord...
Heaven knows we came back with plenty of them! Plenty to go round for my wreath workshops. I've already turned some into bases of various sizes ranging from the tiniest dolls house front door wreaths (napkin rings??) to monsters of about 80cm in diameter.
We have a great supply of willow at the allotment and the owners permission to take as much as we want. I set about making a rustic willow obelisk ... took me hours .... total disaster! Had a great laugh doing it though. Might give your Christmas wreath a go and let you know how I get on!
ReplyDeleteWould love to see how it works out! You can always consult the video for tips if you need them.... My top tip is wiring the join when you start off. Otherwise prepare for it to ping apart with lots of swearing.....!
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