Course Description

"Mollie was a great teacher - calm and patient. I felt like we achieved a lot in the time without being rushed"

At a glance, this course:

• Uses natural sustainable materials
• Supports people's wellbeing

About these two half-day courses

You can either book one or both workshops. If you decide to treat yourself to a full day of festive crafting, perhaps bring a friend and enjoy a delicious lunch at our Beech Cafe?

Join us on these fun, half-day festive decoration courses.  Our friendly tutor, Mollie McMillen, will show you how to make sustainable decorations made from willow. Weave these charmingly-rustic creations to adorn your home for Yuletide. We will supply the willow together with trimmings and foraged sprigs to add finishing details plus ideas for displaying and reusing your item year after year.  

9:30am - 12:30pm: Willow 5-point Star and Reindeer

Learn to weave a large 5-point willow star with a figure of 8 weave to bind the corners.  Additional willow can then be added to create pattern throughout your star. ​Secondly, we will weave a cute little reindeer, which will have its own wooden stand and antlers. These make a great table decoration or an unique handmade gift. 
A great few hours in the warm for crafty folk.

1:30pm - 4:30pm: Willow 8-point Star, Small Star and Yuletide Tree

We will make 3 festive projects, a lovely 8-point star, tied on all points and decorated with a sprig of greenery. We will then make a stunning small wrapped star and a lovely rush tree decoration.  Each of these projects make perfect decorations for hanging on your tree or to decorate your home. 

The course will give you:

• Skills in crafting with willow
• Knowledge about the ecological credentials of willow.

This course is suitable for:

Those with some or no previous experience, but at least some manual dexterity, hand strength and patience is required. If you have a recent injury, please check with us first.

What to bring:

• Some sharp secateurs
• An apron (optional)
• This course will take place indoors.

Cancellations, refunds, and bursaries:

Read the full Adult Courses Cancellations and Refunds Policy and Courses Bursary Fund Information.

About the tutor

Mollie’s basketry story started in the woods in West Sussex, where she trained to be a bushcraft instructor.  Around the open fire, she first learned to use tree barks to make pouches and vessels.  From that moment, weaving bark and plant fibres has been an integral part of her personal and working life.

Mollie has been teaching basketry for over 15 years, from her own studio and for many other establishments and organisations, including City Lit College in London.  She is proudly a Yeoman Basket Maker of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.  Mollie weaves in willow, rush, bark and many mixed plant materials and weaves a wide range of projects and commissions from interior lighting, fencing, coffins and of course, plant fibre baskets. | ​@molliemcmillen_basketmaker