Willow Weaving Workshop

A very satisfying way to spend a grey and blustery February day in Newquay. I'd been introduced to Jenny Gracie (Making Space to Make) by my sister last year and we'd woven a willow leaf platter together in her garden near Totnes, so when Bridget and I were discussing our first Away Day for Design-Nation Cornwall & Devon cluster I suggested we throw in the chance to learn a new skill as well, using a material none of us were necessarily familiar with and so would be fun and relaxing session.

Seven of us joined Jenny, who was a very patient tutor, at Newquay Orchard; a new community garden space with café on a windswept North Cornwall coast. In less than three hours we had all woven a willow bird feeder or garlic/lime holder using brown willow with the addition of a stripe of freshly cut green from her garden, Abi used red cornus and Carin used ivy which did look very Swedish! I think everyone was delighted with their results and the chance to do something different. 

We then retired to the Canteen for a delicious lunch of tacos, followed by an afternoon of catching up on news, discussing future show venues and also three Pecha Kucha presentations by Bridget, Helen and myself featuring twenty slides of images answering twenty questions posed by myself and Bridget about work, life, dreams, dogs, films / books etc. A chance to get to know some of the other members when we've often only ever met on Zoom over the past two years.

Jenny Gracie Making Space to Make

Newquay Orchard

Design-Nation Cornwall & Devon