Tom Hare, Willow man

New walls, new burner and hot soup!

2012-01-19T04:52:00.000-08:00

Today seemed quite a significant day to share recent activities with you, but to paint the full picture, you need to know about the last couple of months and beyond...

Since Christmas I have been mainly office bound, pencil to paper working on designs for proposed projects throughout 2012 and it's great to get this contrast from time to time. There's a completely different climate to start with! and then there's working and planning on a totally different scale. Building huge sculptures relies on a different group of muscles as well! Exercising the creative parts of your brain like this is so rewarding, plus it's great to be in the warm to do it!

Anyway before Christmas I scheduled some time to rebuild my workshop as running back to back with projects in the past few years has meant the space has suffered from neglect and has had to function on minor repairs - this is beginning to sound like an analogy of me!

To give you a brief history of the space, it is situated on an old train line, next to the Ashby canal. There is a horse chestnut tree immediately outside the front door and some silver birch for shade. 15 years ago I set up this creative space with some friends which has evolved from a portacabin to a temporary lean-to, from large bivvys to some sort of yurt?! and then into a tin roofed shack in 2002 with some more permanent uprights to stop it blowing away! Still challenged by time and budget the walls were wrapped in lorry curtains and the gaps woven with surplus willow, until November last year, then I finally built a floor! Extended a few metres, gaining enough space for a willow store and soaking area (luxury!), built some large opening doors and locked in all the walls with tin and installed a new wood burner. Of course this isn't quite finished, the insulation is yet to be fitted.
I cannot express the absolute joy, even at this unfinished stage, that I have found myself in a few days ago. My first official day weaving in 2012 wrapped up in my new revised building and then to make it even better, punctuated with a bowl of steaming borshch for lunch, home-made and (most importantly) shared by my Ukrainian mate Pete.

Here's to many more happy days creating and interesting lunches!!

Griffefields Sunflower Theatre

2011-10-27T03:09:00.000-07:00

I've got some catching up to do on this dusty old blog, so its out with the besom to clear away them cobwebs...
I've had a brilliant summer! And before the children packed away their satchels for the school holidays , we started a new build at a school in derby at Griffefield primary.
The brief was to create an outdoor performance area, a theater of sorts for the children to bring out their inner thespian.
The design is based on a sunflower, the petals forming a boundary and giving a feel of enclosure. We installed hard-wearing oak benches throughout to seat a couple of classes.
A gateway of honey bees and foliage invites the children, performers and audience into the space.
The whole school (400+!) helped to weave the petals, each class created a 3D sunflower seed on a stick and a seed hat!
The children will keep them in their classrooms and carry the seeds to and from the space as its used, like a permanent cycle of seed dispersal, which I'm all for.

Thank you to Emma Smith of Griffefield for support/Tea and cakes, also Frazer Johnston, Andy Cowling and Pete Z.

All These cards are hand drawn Thank-yous. Beautiful illustrations and messages from some of the children that took part, attached to a willow Ball!

Victoria Special School, Birmingham.

2011-08-13T13:02:00.001-07:00

Victoria Special School in Birmingham won the peoples millions and developed an outdoor space for their students to interact with each other.
It is a very well considered and finely polished design with a seamless network of wheelchair friendly pathways winding through their raise-bed area and solar-dome, which will become an outdoor/indoor learning space where the students can just get messy and plant and play in all weathers and feel some direct connection with the weather and seasonal changes... I love it! and could instantly see its effect on the children and staff alike.

My part in this was to create some seed form sculpture around the garden - namely poppy heads and physalis - and to create height and structure, the next phase of the project will see a living willow dome planted in the new year.

ITV came to the opening and filmed performances and the carnival atmosphere.

City Waterside bulrushes.

2011-08-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

City Waterside was the location for the third installation for British Waterways, this time in Stoke-on-Trent and this time a series of woven bulrush appeared from the paved canal bank, in the shadows of a stunning bottle kiln.
The day the images were shot we had a celebration of the project and then the mayor arrived on a restored working boat! It was a lovely day even dressed in my jacket a just had to grab the line and moor the beast.

Etruria locks Dragonfly

2011-08-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

One of the four commissions for the British Waterways was at Etruria where the bone and flint mill sits on the junction of the Caldon Canal, the Trent and Mersey, it's also home to Stoke-on-Trent's industrial museum!
I created the dragonfly here, 4.5 meters high, to give some drama above the roof tops of the lower sheds, dragonflies are a great indicator of good water quality and as the industry calms down and we reflect on it's history everything gets a chance to breathe.
The sculpture is overlooked by some sheltered housing... I hope they like it, either that or they are having nightmares about giant insects!

Ryton Gardens.

2011-08-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

After meeting with head gardener Andy Strachan at Chelsea 2010 and sampling some kohl rabi on the build up of the show straight out of Garden Organics feature - sliced raw and dipped in salsa, mmm! - it was only a matter of time before we hooked up to to install some sculpture in this incredible garden near Coventry.

I've visited a few times over the years and it just so happened to be pumpkin season one time, we indulged in some exquisite soup and pie, grown and hand crafted on site.
The staff at the garden are second to none with 100% commitment to their natural uncomplicated art of growing and inspiring real stuff!

I took my dad on this installation, while we were their we took a quick look over their new allotment garden which is just beautiful and I found myself dribbling over the fence at all the veg and salad crops, don't worry, I didn't touch it, well, I didn't eat it..
Here we are below installing the exhibition piece .
You've just got to get down see for yourselves....

A heron for British Waterways.

2011-08-05T03:11:00.000-07:00

Since February I have been working in Stoke-on Trent on a commission for British Waterways, a series of four installations spread over the city all with a direct link to the canal and communities that use them.
The Heron below is at Westport Lake the largest body of water in the city, well known for its waterbirds, it's a great spot for a walk and has an environmental centre cantilevered over it, its pretty smart!
My heron stands about 4 meters up on its pole and is very much a willow sketch against the skyline.
Whilst there I ran a workshop onsite and created bits and bats with the visitors to discuss the ideas and engage folk in the process.
Incidentally my friend has a sculpture on this site too, a series of huge stainless steel feathers designed by Martin Heron (appropriately) and fabricated by www.artfabs.co.uk see below
More Stoke-on-Trent sculptures to follow!

RHS Chelsea Florist of the year.

2011-06-03T04:17:00.000-07:00

This year at Chelsea Flower Show, this year's theme was based on 'A day at the races'. The competition was set in two halves Senior and Junior, each competitor had a jockeys vest to design and build which was co-ordinated by the British Flower Association.
Some of the detail is simply jaw dropping !

My other contribution this year was to make this life-size 2D willow sketch of a racing horse to set the scene, here it is being hung from the grand pavilion on show build week and a few shots during press day.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2011.

2011-05-23T03:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneaky peak at our tree feature in the continuous learning area based on the physalis (Cape gooseberry) form (Japanese lantern) as it degrades and exposes its berry.

I've created a 4.5 meter tall piece with a handsome canopy made from a combination of willow, steel and tissue paper, subtly illuminated with LEDs.

The project pulled in assistance from the whole family, my three year old daughter presented me with a real physalis stem last autumn "hey daddy, this is for you" and I hung it in my office and drew inspiration, my father in law volunteered his skills more than once, my brother in law helped out, my nephew (Rory) who is an electrical whizz, the wife and finally my Dad. It's a touching realisation that this is 4 generations pulling together, to help me achieve my goals, if ever there was a reminder of the beauty of families...

So onsite last week, I tapped up my friend from Kew, a flower show wouldn't be complete without help planting from Steve, we have ferns, foxgloves, scabious, grasses and lavender all set naturally beneath the foot of the tree framed by a lovely oak bench.

The show is on until next saturday and will be covered by the BBC.

I wonder what my daughter will find this year ..........

The Landscape Show at Olympia Kensington.

2011-04-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

Last week we created a show feature for the this year's Landscape Show at Olympia Kensington,
Olympia really is lovely inside, with lots of natural light flooding in and the whole show was very well... erm... organised... by the organisers!
The 2 day event saw a steady flow of professionals seeking out its charms, aimed at urban garden spaces with a huge wealth of ideas and creativity for lovely green interiors too.
We put together a poppy and honey bee installation dressed with hostas, bark and our handsome oak bench.

Here is a view from the balcony, can you spot us?

Significant Figures.

2011-04-01T00:54:00.000-07:00

I've got my name in a book... it's alongside several makers that I have the utmost respect for, I am in fact doffing my linen cap as we speak.
It's a book by Derek Reay which logs 86 working artists and craftsmen in Britain, a broad cross-section of makers from a bookbinder to a stone carver.
It feels like a moment in time captured.
Some of the said makers are the last in their line, some achieving the highest awards their industry can bestow, all carving out a path of their own.
In the foreword section of the book written by David Linley, he reminds us that 'Significant Figures' rejoices in the skills of craftsmanship, it also serves as a prescient reminder of the need to encourage the British government and educational authorities to nurture the skills of such trades in the younger generation and help to preserve them.
This seems so apt at present, for years we seem to have been moving away from anything with a simple healthy process, but then in recent years I've noticed a real change... more and more people are growing, cooking, baking, making, fixing and creating! It's simple stuff, but process is the calming, grounding focus that all our minds need from time to time. Thank goodness for deadlines or I would be far too content and relaxed!

Anyway the author Derek Reay is planning a traveling exhibition very soon, based upon the book so I will keep you informed where and when, but for now here is the section written about me and my sticks:

Please click on the image to read the text.

Available at all good independent book stores, or here.

Poppy seed heads.

2011-03-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

These 'Poppy Seed Heads' were designed as a Public Art Feature for a site near to Livingston to marry in with the construction of a new garden center, they are sitting beside the Old Road (A89) to and from Edinburgh.
The seed heads incorporate a steel armature and are woven tightly with a basketry willow. They stand a whopping 5 meters tall and there are 11 in total, some of which lean around and communicate whilst others are a little aloof! They're set against the landscape of the Pentland Hills, which is a stunning site and helps to frame the work.

Incidentally on the drive up North the co-pilot and Sat-Nav system failed me and we were heading as the crow flys directly over the snow laden hills in our 7.5 tonne truck, an executive decision took us around them, safety first!
Standing or driving beneath the poppies is quite a childlike experience and ethereal, which reminds me of being under water looking up at plant life trailing under the surface... hmm, that gives me an idea...

Pastures Primary School, Leicester.

2011-03-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Pastures primary school in Leicester is celebrating it's 20th anniversary and I was invited along this year as part of the celebrations to make an outdoor classroom for the children within the school grounds!

The week before half term, we got busy with some living willow and planted out a whopping 5 meter diameter structure with the children. The living willow will (as you can see in the pictures) is/will sprout some lovely green leaves to help shelter from the sun and light rain.

Inside it we installed some very strong fresh green oak seating and under that some recycled rubber flooring, to make sure there would be no soggy shoes and socks!

It was an absolute pleasure working with this unique school whom whilst we were working with them, they adopted 11 rescue hens, 1 for each class, they (the chickens!) have a very handsome house, see the image at the bottom, and they're producing super local free range eggs for the parents! Very inspiring... Keep up the good work :)

2011 willow weaving course dates.

2011-01-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

Please find Tom Hare (that's me!) willow weaving courses running this year at Harcourt Arboretum on these dates:

Living Willow Course - Saturday 19th February 2011 - Tel: = 01865 343501

Plant Support course - Thursday 24th or Friday 25th March 2011 - Tel: = 01865 343501

These Study Days take place from 10.00am to 4.00pm at the Arboretum.
Tickets cost £60.00 (includes a sandwich lunch).

I'll also be enjoying the summer sun (hopefully) and getting my weave on, at the courses listed below:

Sweet Pea Climber Course - 16th April at Spring Wood, South Derbyshire - contact Peter Wood at www.greenwood-days.co.uk - Tel : 01332 864529

Willow Sculpture Course - 23rd/24th June at MusgrovesWillows, Somerset - Contact Mandy at www.musgrovewillows.co.uk - Tel : 01278 691105

Beginners Basket making - 25th/26th June at Spring Wood, South Derbyshire - Contact Peter Wood at www.greenwood-days.co.uk - Tel : 01332 864529

Willow Sculpture Course - 14th/15th July at Spring Wood, South Derbyshire - Contact Peter Wood at www.greenwood-days.co.uk - Tel : 01332 864529

All prices and Information are on the relevant websites, I hope to see you there!

Zantedeshia.

2011-01-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest piece created for a new garden centre in Ashford Kent .
The design was inspired by a collection of Zantedeshcia that were on display at the Chelsea Flower Show last year.
Whilst the communication for this started way back in 2010, I have been very excited to see this realised and installed.

My apprentice Andrew Cowling, who has been working alongside me since the 'Vegas project' last summer (blog to follow), is no stranger to digging deep on the final push of a project so a little finishing off on the weave last week...

...and then a long run down south.

Although it was a bright day for part of the installation, the images below were taken as the light had fallen.
I will return with some better images when the building and center is open.
But here's a quick glimpse...

Catch up with Kew.

2010-11-29T03:02:00.000-08:00

This is long overdue, but quite apt since 2011 is set to be the third year that the Seed Walk is to be exhibited at the the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
It was way back in summer 2008 that Kew contacted me to discuss the project, the brief was to design and build 10 seed sculptures of Gigantic proportion to celebrate their 250th anniversary and to mark the millennium seed-banks collection of 10% of the worlds rarest seeds now safely stored at Wakehurst place.
Kew brought a shopping list of potentials and I added mine, the final 10 were selected on their ability to translate and be recognised by the viewer and here they are ..

The first five were installed during march 2009 and then I delivered 1 a month to Kew where I ran workshops to help involve the visitors. This was great for me working within Kew meeting some of the UK's most respected horticulturalists and such an international draw of visitors made for a very exciting residency.
It's such a charming space and a privilege to be on-site at those quite times before the gates open, sun rising, parakeets stretching their wings, squirrels scampering in the bins and staff on bicycles... I spent a lot of summer 2009 in Kew staying local and feel a real connection with the place and people... there are far too many people to mention who made this special and contributed to the Seed Walk, there is no denying that this was an Epic project, weaving with frozen sticks, digging narrow 1.5 meter deep holes, sleeping in the back of the van.
The seeds now firmly planted near the main gate are well established and really have nestled themselves into the landscape .
If you haven't had chance to see them yet, 2011 may be the last year, so, treat yourself to a day at the Gardens!

Shaving horse

2010-11-28T14:25:00.000-08:00

The shaving horse is a holding device for working wood. I like to think that before the age of the D.I.Y. store most good households would have had one to work timber down to size.
I built a standard H frame horse around 12 years ago when I first discovered greenwood, which is now firewood! This served it's purpose but I never found it that practical having to feed the 'job' (wood) through the 'H' especially if it was a long job.
I've been meaning to make a 'dumbhead' style horse for ages since I had the eye for a Mexican design folding chair that would require some serious draw-knife action. The dumbhead is based on a 'T', so you can slide work in from the side and in and out with ease.
Thankfully a little pocket of downtime allowed me to play and here it is! There's still some fine tuning to do, and to add to my shopping list next time I visit the woods I'll be looking out for a bit of bowed ash, this will become the front leg (singular) and the two existing front legs will be 'retired'. Four legs is great on the flat but on uneven ground they're a pest. 3 legs are the future!

The body and components are all made from left over oak grown at Staunton Harold in South Derbyshire (up the road) and the legs are sweet chestnut.
It was all roughed out with a chainsaw first, then fine tuned with hand tools.
I took the opportunity to rattle out duplicate blanks for my mate to so he could build one too.
The head here was an experimental bit of whittling from way back and I thought it may work for this delicate job, it will need an upgrade soon enough to a good heavy one.

Ironically my families business has been in tool holding specifically chuck jaws for lathes dating back to 1946. My Great Grandfather William Morris was in partnership originally with a man called Dunn, hence the name Mordun, their work moved into a computerised era producing work internationally with my father also William at the helm and here's me building possibly one of the very first holding devices in history operated with my foot... fresh from the tree!
Brilliant! I'm sure he'd approve...

Award winning!

2010-07-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

I've Just Heard!
Anthea Guthrie's Shakespeare garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace flower show has been awarded a GOLD Medal, Congratulations!

My contribution to this was three little woven lambs in white willow, the garden is called 'As you like it' designed and built by Anthea Guthrie.

Phoebe, the shepherdess in the play lives in the Forest of Arden where she has created a romantic forest garden. Her garden features a small meadow enclosed by hazel fencing, an oak stump shelter with honeysuckle around the entrance and a mossy bed.
The planting is calming and natural it includes trees such as English oak, silver birch, hawthorn and hazel. Ferns, ivy, ladys mantle, even flowering tobacco and wild strawberries are spread throughout the garden.
Those lambs are gonna be well fed over the next few days... they have broken free from the folly and may well be terrorising some of the other show gardens!
The Flower show is on until the weekend so you could see it in the flesh or BBC two are covering the show on Monday, Thursday and Friday this week around 7.30pm .

One last brew.

2010-05-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

One last brew as we eagerly await my father-in-law with his machine to load the new works for The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2010.

Next to the iPhone, the 'Kelly kettle' or storm kettle pictured below, has been a tool that fits directly into my life and has become a reliable friend... and of course, if I had to choose between the two?? Kelly kettle would win! Where would we be without a brew?!
A chance to stand back and reflect on where we have been and where we are going, whilst keeping us warm and quenching a thirst.
The Kettle is powered by fire, so also soothes my pyro-tendencies in a controlled environment.
If you haven't seen one it's a device of two halves, the bottom pan contains a small fire, - dried leaves and Willow offcuts are perfect! - and the top section is basically a double skinned chimney/flask that holds the water, the heat passes through the chimney boiling the water in anything from two to five minutes depending on how dry your kindling is.
Such a charming creation compact ,robust and works in all weathers . Don't leave your cork in though while brewing unless you have a soap on a string handy!

We're loaded, strapped down and ready to go.

A 4am start and arriving at the showground at 7.30.
Here are the components being lifted into place, directed by Pete Loramer who personally worked on the steel frame for this giant sculpture.

Another piece being lifted into place guided by Andrew Langley MD of Artfabs and Pete who I have strategically shot here behind the sculpture so as not to distract from it's beauty - they're not looking their best at this time of the morning!

Here it is, The RHS Tree of knowledge, designed for the Royal Horticultural Society's first ever garden which sits within the continuous learning area in the Grand Pavilion .
The tree ties in with the year of biodiversity and we have invited members and celebrities to share their words of wisdom/messages that encourage life in the garden. All of which are to be written on leaves and attached to the tree... Still there's a lot to do before then!
Jeremy Irons, Chris Beardshaw, Sarah Greene, Julian Fellowes and David Bellamy are amongst the contributors.

At this point I had been onsite weaving for two days and true to his word as always Leigh arrived with our bench and it's two makers.. Sue Tranter and Gary Ramsden, both of which are students at Warwickshire college studying furniture making.
They both embraced my design and the opportunity to create a piece for the show and to put the final piece towards their end of year project. Problem solving, decision making, and communicating throughout resulted in a final curved bench that is absolutely Gorgeous!

Piecing it together...

and it's comfy too!

I also enlisted the help of my friend Steve who has been the plants man for all of the BBC Gardeners World Live features that I've been involved with.
He's on the Kew diploma now. Chrissie offered her help too, which was quite a relief to have them there and great to watch them reacting to the sculpture with confidence .

Made in Leicestershire

2010-05-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

I am exhibiting work at the Ferrers gallery renowned for it's British contemporary craft exhibits on the Staunton Harold Estate.

The exhibition simply called 'Made in Leicestershire', features selected artists from the said www.madeinleicestershire.org.uk.
The venue is fantastic situated within the courtyard of the Ferrers Centre for arts and crafts. I've run workshops there annually for the past few years .
I've created a gourd pod here woven in willow which sits centrally indoors, yeah I know, indoors! on the middle floor of the gallery .
Catching my eye at the show was work by Jenny Creasey who makes sculptural ceramic pieces small, delicate paper-like forms from porcelain.
Jan Bowman with intricately woven yarns and fine copper set into drift wood.
Also, Claire Fairall's hand knitted/felted bags seamless and perfectfly formed.
In fact the two floors of work delivers a real cross section of talent in Leicestershire, the exhibition is on until the end of June.
Check it out, grab a coffee and a cake in the courtyard and then walk it off in the grounds for a very pleasant day out!

Woven flowers and honey Bees

2010-05-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Wakehurst Place is Kew Garden's country garden set in the beautiful West Sussex countryside.
This time they've asked me to create a feature in their wild meadow where this year they've been working hard on an apiary. 2 of the 4 hives were in action today... more to come.
The exhibition will feature a closer look at the world of the sweet and fundamental importance of bees existance for all life on earth.

The large flower is 11 feet tall and has been woven around steel in a Flanders willow which will mellow to a kind of coppery colour as it seasons.
The bees are also steel framed to which I've woven a steamed Salix Triandra and a vivid yellow willow, the name of which escapes me...
The idea is to use the arch feature as a view point to observe the bees and lean on the fence and have a natter.
It was a very long day, a 4.30am start should be back for 9pm !... I am though, very pleased with the result and I hope you like it too.

Thanks to Ian for all the support and the wedge of carrot cake! And to my Dad, for driving and grafting.

View over the millennium seed bank.

Signage, oak frame... Nice!

View of the apiary through the new gateway feature.

Here come the 'Gourds'!

2010-03-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

Here are 'The Gourds', there are three in total tightly woven around a steel frame, designed for a very special Nursery, as play structures within the Norman Jackson Centre in Richmond.

They are a development from my root sculptures which reside at RHS Wisley model vegetable garden.

The project in Richmond has drawn form a variety of artists, each bringing something very unique to the table. Work is still in progress at Hampton Hill.

The garden itself designed by Benedict Green at www.greengardendesign was an idea driven by Pheone Cave, this will be an exceptional space once completed and I will revisit to document it in the spring.

Below, The Gourds in the workshop and then on site being installed:

Willow gardener.

2010-02-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

It must seem like I've been missing in action since I last wrote on this little blog, and you would be right, although I'd prefer 'weaving in action'!

Here is my friend the blackbird who has been a regular visitor to the workshop this year singing for his supper, indulging in my sandwich left overs and he sometimes gets a look in before I do!

In the lower half of the image is a willow gardener designed for a new garden center in Aberdeen, he's near completion here.
The second image is a close up of the weave and then finally the installation which was timed during a blizzard which hit across the East Coast and raised the bar from what was already an epic road trip from down here in the Midlands to a Real adventure, bailing off the main car logged tracks at times to investigate some of the more slippy scenic routes .

Willow man

Weave

Does my bum look big in this?

11ft high gardening Willow Man, Aberdeen.

Bathgate retirement home.

2009-11-18T16:53:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of September we were invited up to Bathgate near Edinburgh to create a woven screen in a retirement home together with the Global Action Plan (A charity that promotes sustainable living) and their sponsor at present Sky television.
They gave us a cavalry of enthusiastic volunteers which meant that over four days we whittled and weaved together a fabulous screen from willow, hazel and sweet chestnut. They were unstoppable!
We camped out of the town up on the hill, Beecraigs country park.
With the solstice wind blowing hard, Spencer (my willow weaving colleague) and I took the trail to Cairnpapple a very old burial mound that in deep darkness has to be experienced. It's the original earth works.

Such a warm crew, big thanks to Tom, Anne and David, all at Sky and me old mate Spencer Jenkins, who on the return journey took responsibility for all the driving so I could rest my bones in time for a weekend teaching at Spring woods!
Thanks all.

Wisley's glass house echoed in Willow.

2009-11-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

Over the summer the education team at Wisley have been developing a 'natural' play area for their younger visitors designed with creative investigative play in mind.
I was asked to contribute to this area so got to work designing and building some play structures that echo their breathtaking glass house.
And here they are from rough sketches to fully installed, foundations dug and fixings tightened.

Thanks to Art Fabrications for their skill and consistent support with the steel works.

Rough sketches.

A willow den.

The willow tunnel.

The twist in the tail!

Some close-knit weave to help withstand the kids attention..

Working the willow - Part 1

2009-11-18T16:25:00.001-08:00

As part of the Somerset arts week in early September this year, Musgroves the wonderful willow growers pulled together a collection of international willow work. From the very solid functional vessels to the more contemporary, sculptural and experimental pieces weavers came together for 'Working the willow'. All of which drew from a wealth of makers who at some stage have purchased their quality materials from Mike and Ellen Musgrove (I reckon over 150 makers contributed!).

The variety of colour, technique and beauty was overwhelming, some of my personal favorites were that of artist/maker Sarah Webb, coiled work, bound with jewelry wire which was very precise and flowing. Joe hogans work also really stood out for me as well, a stunning 'closed pod' worked onto ash-wood, showing both disciplined and anatomical traits. Also, Lizzie Fareys wall hanging of wagtail sketches really captured my imagination .

Alongside the exhibition I ran two 1 day workshops sharing some of my techniques which proved to be popular, the sun shone the willow was very local and clients were spotted leaving with arms full of their own creations.

There will be more dates coming soon for sculptural workshops 2010, watch this space!

Of course my work had to be fork-lifted into place, proving that Big can be beautiful too!
My Hanging Nest seat is constructed from tightly woven steamed willows around a mild steel frame.

Herrick Primary School revisited

2009-11-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

One year on from completing the first stage of this project I was asked to add some important features to the Amphitheatre:
60 metres of gorgeous sturdy green oak seating for the audience
And for the performers a clean dry platform/stage area made from recycled rubber matting, the area is tough enough to be stood on, trod on, danced and skipped on without carving into the mud! In time the grass will grow through to help blend with the natural surroundings.

Thanks going out to Peter wood for his help on this project.

St.Martin's outdoor classroom.

2009-09-10T17:49:00.001-07:00

My old secondary school, St. Martin's, have been busy building a vegetable garden with raised beds. As a teaching facility they want to make this veg plot a fundamental part of the school life, getting in touch with the process of growing, the year cycles/seasons and of course, their soon to be full and very healthy bellies.
I was made up to be invited to build an outdoor classroom for them! Some lovely oak benches a teaching table and a couple of huge cobwebs to screen the space and provide a trellis for some lovely climbing plants has helped transform the space.
The teaching staff intend to cook and demonstrate with the produce outside in this new space and invite guest chefs too. There is even talk of building a cob bread oven to bake their own super fresh pizzas! Wow! Count me in!
It has been great working here as I have so many good memories of schooldays.

Thank you to Doreen Rose for her patience and enthusiasm .

Westonbirt's 'Festival of the tree'

2009-09-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

The 'Festival of the Tree' 2009 took place last week at Westonbirt Arboretum.
In 2007 I had created a huge willow maze based on the growth rings of the tree it was so loved by the little people that this year I returned and built them a new one.

This years festival was based on climate change and I chose to celebrate the humble bumble bee and made a honeycomb maze from a sweet chestnut framework and visitors were then encouraged to pitch in and help with the willow weaving.

Over the bank holiday weekend I ran workshops helping visitors create woven 'bits n bats' for them to take home. There was never a dull moment, at one point I was even asked for my autograph by a lady who explained she'd visited Kew Gardens (blog to come soon!) the previous day, seen my work and was very pleased to then see me at the festival, the day after that I was bitten by a small dog keeping my ego in check!

It's a great event made better by the volume of live making and doings of 12 chainsaw artists, sundry turners, axemen, furniture makers and story tellers. All very inspiring.

Basket making at Spring Wood

2009-09-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

Set within the beautiful Spring Wood in North Leicesteshire/South Derbyshire lies the Greenwood Days centre where all things green and crafty are produced from pole-lathing to coracle building, long bows to rustic furniture and of course basket making!
The centre is set within the Staunton Harold Estate nr Melbourne, South Derbyshire ran by Peter Wood a fine chair maker and evidently an extraordinary soup maker too!

Twice yearly I tutor a simple basket making course, it runs over two days and is a great introduction to the sport, not only do clients leave with their own wares, but also the knowledge to continue their newly found craft.

Now, although we are talking about some seriously ancient technology here, the centre has it's own website and there is a basket making course running in September this year (26th and 27th) with a few places left, so if you're feeling the urge to get involved, click on the link and reserve your space now.

Below is the result of our last session from the 17th and 18th of August. Everyone from curious folk entering the woodland to obsessive weavers in just two days!

Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire.

2009-08-17T03:41:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned to build this gorgeous little pear on site at the Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire. This is home to the well known Art in Action festival where some of the UKs finest makers get together for a giant exhibition .

The pear stands proud opposite Pear Tree Restaurant, so parents can indulge in their fabulous home made cakes and pies, of which I can recommend the apple pie an all time favourite of mine mmm......pie... whilst the children of course can play in the pear tunnel!

During it's construction I ran workshops sharing the weaving with visitors to the garden, then on day two I was fully absorbed in the calming surroundings weaving until nightfall.
The evening before the garden hosted an outdoor play of Wind in the Willows, next year it's The Railway Chidren, I'm booking early!

2009-06-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

What a Treat! I was invited back to RHS Wisley for another residency throughout spring.
This year I brought together a drift of woven bullrushes, a village of giant pine cone dens and a Huge acorn producing a sapling:

- Week one of the Easter holidays I worked with visitors on site in Seven Acres, weaving the bullrushes and acorn components and with the weather on our side we were able later install these soon after, near the Pagoda which were then framed with a hazel loop border made from some of Wisley's own hazel freshly coppiced on site!

- Week Two of the holidays I worked in the Pinetum, creating pine cone dens which were then installed inbetween some very tall Scotch Pines towards Howards Field.

All the pieces seemed well recieved by Wisley visitors young and old.
It was also great to see some faces from last years residency.

Special thanks to RHS Wisleys education team, logistics onsite : Simon and Andrew, Art Fabrications and everyone who came along and paid such high praise!

Wakehurst sheep

2009-05-18T03:21:00.000-07:00

Blimey what a year! Wakehurst Place, Kews Gardens country gaff commissioned a flock of sheep to replace the original ones that I'd made as part of the Big Draw '07 with visitors from the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew .

After a couple of late nights weaving in the shed, here they are arriving on site 7am may 1st.

jostling for position to get onto the juicy grass..

they were very keen to get out of the van and make their way to the new meadow exhibition opposite the Millennium Seed Bank.

The timber frame buildings on the left here were built on site by Wakehurst staff and all the hurdles were built with the gardens own hazel top marks Ian! very inspiring.

At last, the tasty green stuff!

Thanks to Spencer Jenkins for back up with the weaving and a big thanks going out to Annette and Glyn for putting me up for the night!

Willow planting!

2009-03-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I wrote on this pretty little blog as I've been working on a very secret project (if I told you, I'd have to kill you etc.), but it's a biggie and all will be unveiled soon.

For now, I thought I'd just jot down some words and show some pictures of my new plot of land that I've 'borrowed' to grow some willow on. That's right growing my own willow!

In a couple of years, this should all be good to go, I'm very excited.

Step one, get the membrane down to stop the weeds taking over the willow twiglets.
It was actually very windy when we did this, this is a moment of photo calm.

Step two, get friend (Ed Garland) to cut over 900 sticks to plant in your soon to be forest.

Step three, plant out over 900 sticks and in no time you'll have your very own willow forest!

Action shot of willow taking root in their new home, you might have to get real close, if you can't see it, your screen resolution is too low!

Thanks to the willow, Ed for pitching in a day before he was due to fly to New York when he should have been packing etc. and Mother Nature.
Incidentally, I also organised 2 willow forests in miniature at Barley Croft School in Leicester during the same period, thus my tree planting over the last 7 days has been over 1,000!

Project X Church/Slum Goths yurt build in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

2008-12-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

I was invited by the 'X Church' and 'Slum Goths' of a Victorian 'former' church in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (run by Marcus Hammond) to build a yurt type structure in this grand old building, funded by CFBT - Lincolnshire School Improvement Service. The structure has to provide a space for a warm, comfortable practice room also suitable for workshops and meetings etc.... 'warm' was the operative word as we found out, a church doesn't hold its heat too well.

Willow mock-up.

Freshly chopped willow sponsored by builder John Courey, from Ratby, Leicestershire.

Prepping the twigs!

'Bruising' the twigs

The finished dome/yurt now requiring covering to keep the heat in and the sound contained.

After a midnight finish I find sheep running round the lanes, that kept the local bobbies busy for a while!

Special thanks to Marcus Hammond, Frazer Johnston and Leigh Adams.

Herrick Primary School, Leicester

2008-11-14T06:33:00.000-08:00

I've recently completed an amphitheatre for Herrick Primary School in Leicester with my good friend Peter Wood and the whole of Years 5 and 6!

Together we created a very large gateway arch and a sturdy boundary screen for their new outdoor performance area.
Apple and plum trees have been planted around the willow and sweet chestnut construction to give height, shade, beautiful blossoms and fruit for years to come. There are a few cooking apple trees, russet (my personal favourite) and various types of plum were planted with care and love from members of each year group, which is highly appropriate as the area used to house an orchard before they were cleared to make way for a new housing estate.

White's Wood Lane Junior School, Lincolnshire.

2008-11-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

This is the first part of some work for White's Wood Lane Community Junior School in Lincolnshire.

Mowmacre Hill Primary School/Creative Partnerships and Leicester botanical gardens

2008-11-14T05:17:00.000-08:00

I started working with Mowmacre Hill Primary School in November 2007 with workshops with Year 6 to instigate a design process, which then progressed into an exhibition of the children's work and their ideas for new spaces/areas within school grounds. After this stage, parents, staff and children of the school voted for their favourite.

Then the build began! A large watertight shelter/eco-dome for use as an outdoor classroom with a large staged area for performance with seating next to it.

This is the performance area, a 4 metre pentagon makes up the stage and seating all made with oak decking while the seating also has willow backing.

Inside the dome before the weather-proof membrane is attached.

The dome from the outside before the membrane is attached. Plants will be planted around the dome and allowed to grow up and over the dome which will help to make it even prettier!

Finishing off the inside of the dome, with the membrane now attached, more pictures to come...

These are shots from Cloud Wood from where the oak decking came from, all felled and planked to size on-site!

The Boston Hakusan friendship garden in the Giles school, Boston, Lincolnshire.

2008-11-14T04:29:00.000-08:00

This was a wonderful project I started with my friend and colleague Peter Wood in March this year for the Giles school in Boston, Lincolnshire.
They have an exceptional Art Department who had the vision for this beautiful Japanese garden which all importantly had living willow as part of the structure.

The garden with finished structures, just waiting for the living willow to take hold..

Just a few months later, the willow has rooted and introduced lots of lovely greenery to the garden, a splendid sight to behold!

The garden was unveiled in July by the Mayor of Boston, Councillor Peter Bedford and Japanese exchange students from Hakusan City - who were incidentally brilliant at weaving willow, despite my very poor grasp of the Japanese language!

Hare, Coleman and Garland show at TBWA, Manchester

2008-11-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

At last an opportunity to work with Inkymole (aka Sarah Jane Coleman) who pulled together a perfect crew to build install and execute 13 witches/poppets for TBWA advertising agency in their converted offices in St. Paul's church in Didsbury.

Concept by Inkymole, confessions by Ed Garland.
Check out Inkymole's blogspot for more information and pictures.

The Ravens at Manor House School, Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire.

2008-10-24T18:39:00.001-07:00

These 3 handsome guys are called 'The Ravens'. They are the guardians commissioned by Ashby Arts Festival to overlook the Victorian Manor House School and the Ashby de la Zouch castle which was originally built as a manor house in the 12th century
The Ravens were woven using willow around a steel armature and now reside on oak plinths in their new historic home.

Sun God at Brocks Hill, Oadby, Leicestershire.

2008-10-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

The crow here represents our very own native English Sun God Ra!
I carved his footprints into a delicious eight foot slab of seasoned oak, which was grown, felled, planked and rested on the Staunton Harold estate.

The footprints wind their way up this tasty slab of oak, on a journey to and past the willow 'sun' woven around a steel sphere nestled within the wood.
This handsome Leicestershire Sun God survived a rainy unveiling, but now casts a welcoming glow over Brocks Hill Park, Oadby and beyond.

Thomas 'Hare' in Market Bosworth

2008-10-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sleepy Hollow at BBC Gardeners' World Live

2008-10-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

For BBC Gardeners' World Live this year, I created this Sleepy Hollow inspired tree.

The tree finished and assembled down 'the yard'

Fully decorated in situ

RHS Wisley - Fruit, roots and seeds.

2008-10-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

This year I got to add my own willow touch to RHS Wisley with this sliced apple, root system, maple seeds, mushrooms and pear tunnel, it was a busy summer!

Tresco and Bryer primary school on the Scilly Isles

2008-10-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

My own eco-chopper, it runs on willow! ok, it doesn't, but my options were limited.

I was asked to add a little willow love to Tresco and Bryer's primary school:

and here are the finished results:

Outdoor classroom

Outdoor classroom from the opposite angle.

The inside (?) of the outdoor classroom, come one admit it, you wish you'd had one of these when you went to school don't you?!

A living tunnel, not too lively here, but when it gets going, what a beauty!

The tree seat at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2007

2008-10-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

This ever popular 'tree seat', 'egg chair', 'tree swing' or whatever you care to call it, was installed for the BBC Gardeners' World Live 2007 at the NEC. The seat/swing/chair part of the installation is available to buy, please feel free to contact me for details if you're interested.

A den at Westonbirt Arboretum from 2007

2008-10-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

A joyful little den for the punters to hide away in at Westonbirt Arboretum.

Large woven vessels at the Harley Gallery from 2006

2008-10-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

These beauties reside at the Harley Gallery in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Mmm, curvy.

The world's biggest basket of flowers at Gardeners' World Live 2006

2008-10-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

OK, I can't guarantee it's the world's biggest basket, but it was a whopper! Made especially for exhibiting at BBC Gardeners World Live 2006.

Cactus at BBC Gardeners' World Live NEC 2005

2008-10-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome...to my new Blog Spot.

2008-10-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

Keep your eyes on this spot for tales woven from the sticks of the willow tree.