Wyldwood Willow

Welcome to Wyldwood Willow.

Wyldwood Willow is a small business that was established in 2000. My aim is to re-educate people in the versatility and sustainability of this natural craft which i do by running and teaching workshops throughout the year. I keep in stock many types of baskets that i make during the year to provide the customer with a natural and beautiful handmade product.

January 2012

2012 already! Another very full on year has passed! I have now moved from Somerset where I have lived for the last three years to Llangygi a parish just outside the beautiful town of Usk in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It has been a tough start with the autumn gales at twice the ferocity on an exposed hilltop and colossal amounts of mud! The children are not amused by the mud but the horses love it! Barely recognisable the only similarity at times is the shape of them…

Springtime last year saw a leaping deer installation in Middleham Memorial Gardens in Lynmouth, North Devon. A commission on behalf of Exmoor Parks which has I think been very well received. I am fairly new to the world of sculpture but I love doing it and they seem to just flow into being. I have been asked by the Lynton Cottage Hotel to place some sculpture work in the grounds which I am looking forward to. Also closer to home for the Usk Open Gardens event at the beginning of June by very kind offer an opportunity to display some pieces in the grounds of Usk Castle.

One of the things I have been missing from Somerset is working with the wonderful and talented craftspeople from Muchelney Forge. It is an amazing and inspiring place to work and I enjoyed the creativity and energy of the people around me. I have collaborated with Nicholas Ostroumoff to create a couple of floating woven chairs one of which was sold on it’s first outing at the Bath and West Show. It was a fantastic weekend and the chair and life size woven horse were a real attraction.

In July I went to Minnesota with Bart and the girls and Bart’s family . We had an amazing time during the three weeks we were there. We discovered by accident that the common rush was growing right beside the lake cabin! This is one o those plants that has always been elusive to me and so in an overjoyed fashion Bart and I spent an afternoon by the back dock cutting back the rush in the channel that the barge uses on it’s fishing trips round the lake. It was so hot that it only took a couple of days to dry. I set to and made a rush hat- my very first one for Gaius, Bart’s baby nephew. It was a little small for an adult but pretty good for a first attempt with no prior knowledge of hat making! I made a rush mat and carved some spoons from maple, all in all very relaxing and most enjoyable. A big thanks to auntie B for looking after us all and the peanut bars.

August came and went swiftly with intensive teaching at 4 different events and September and October were filled with shows. A highlight in October for me was the textiles event which happened at Penpont House where I exhibited my Baskets and my homemade yurt alongside demonstrating and teaching. The talks and exhibits of finely woven and embroidered textiles were hugely inspiring and I felt privileged to be included. A huge thankyou to Penpont for having me. I had a few commissions in the run up to Christmas but did not go overboard on festive markets as building our new porch come workshop became priority.After a short rest and a wonderful New Year on the Isle of Wight with best friend and family I am recharged and ready to go once more.

Surprisingly now, lots of commissions for January. I am also aiming to promote my self locally this spring and will be putting my work into galleries, including Beacon Crafts in Brecon (see link) More to follow on this.

Workshops are running now at the amazing Carymoor Environmental Centre nr Castle Cary in Somerset. The setting is tranquil and peaceful allowing the creativity to flow in this natural rustic timber framed and cob walled building with views to inspire over the reserve. A homemade farmhouse lunch is included in the price of the workshops with lots of homemade cake and tea…. For more info see workshops.

Shows and festivals will begin as soon as the weather warms enough for camping…bbbrrrrr, even the thought of it at the moment makes me shiver. I am on the lookout for suitable teaching venues locally here in Wales now too, so please get in touch if you know of somewhere with good facilities and enough space to weave giant birds nests!!!

Have a great year

manda

NETFIRMS

For any enquiries, questions or orders please contact Amanda on either of the below

Mobile +44 (0)7816 005251

Or Via the Contact form.

Webmaster www.aj-brett.co.uk