Invited by a friend in Hampshire to run a willow sculpture workshop, I found myself with a class of six, eager to make willow birds. 

We started with the body, making a teardrop shaped frame, and then added legs, heads and tails according to the type of bird we were aiming for. This resulted in four pheasants, one chicken and one duck!

It was lovely to see everyone gaining in confidence as the morning progressed… willow is a lovely medium to work with and once the fundamental frame was established, the filling in of the free weave brought character to each creation, shaped by each unique combination of the willow and the person weaving it. 

Though most participants had not worked with willow before, they all succeeded in beautifully mastering the free weave technique as well as the frame-making for the internal structure.

By the end of the session the birds were robust, bursting with personality and identifiable as the species that the maker intended (although the chicken later transitioned into a peacock!). 

Well done to everyone and hopefully see you all again! 

To book a private workshop please email me at info@sargiesmess.co.uk