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We were delighted to hark back to times gone by, offering creative sessions to explore basic basket weaving techniques.

We worked with bramble foraged from Boxmoor surroundings, demonstrating how you can create direct from hedgerow to basket, and additionally working with Willow, the preferred Basketry medium used by Salters Baskets, a long-established family business formerly situated on the High Street of Boxmoor 1880-1973.

As this was our first Puddingstone Arts offering within the community, we were pleased to receive so much interest, and both sessions were fully booked.

We worked to the sounds of trickling lock water, bird song and the music of the Boxmoor Canal Festival. Listening to the stories of Heron, Weasel and Bramble crafted for the occasion by resident poet and storyteller, Kate Walton.

The baskets were woven under the shade of the oak tree, the natural setting was perfect to instil a sense of calm, fellow weavers reportedly found the location ‘perfect’, ‘relaxing’, and felt ‘at one with nature.’

The craft of basket making, once understood, can be incredibly therapeutic, relaxing and meditative.

Being in direct connection with Bramble, Willow or any natural resource, brings us back into relationship with the natural world and reminds us that we can co-create with not only the Human folk.

A process of exploration.

First steps towards lantern making. We were keen to work with Willow to introduce our fellow makers to a new artistic resource and its many uses. Willow is not only used in the creation of baskets but also to create beautiful lit installations and structures the World over.

Our next step at Puddingstone is to offer workshops in willow and tissue paper techniques to create lanterns and decorative structures, culminating in a festival of light and reflection to be held at Fishery Wharf Café.

Sessions are set to take place in local schools, community venues and Fishery Wharf Café from September.

A training session is offered to artists and interested individuals to learn lantern-making techniques.

We invite all members of the community to get involved in any of the following areas: making and creating, attending workshops or helping us to deliver what we envisage to be a fabulous community event.

Dates and more details coming soon, please do not hesitate to get in touch and email us to be added to our mailing list kerry@nysa.co.uk