3 day Willow woven stool course with Hilary Burns and Ambrose Vevers. 4-6 October 2024

This course is a rare opportunity to combine willow basketry and furniture making.  In 3 days you will make a strong, lightweight and comfortable ash stool with expert guidance from Hilary Burns (master basket maker) and myself.

Day 1:  After a short introduction you will dive straight into shaping your ash stool legs and rungs using super sharp tools such as drawknives and spokeshaves. Experience the satisfaction of creating beautiful handcrafted textures that don’t require sandpaper!. Following the set design you will drill the angled holes and make tight tenon joints with rotary planes.

Day 2: In the morning you will glue and assemble of the ash frame ready for weaving in the afternoon. You will then prepare the willow with Hilary, learning the art of skeining willow using a cleave, which is on the Heritage Crafts red list for endangered crafts.

Day 3: Learn scalloming willow, which involves some tricky knife work, patience and a steady hand. Followed by weaving the main seat and finishing off, allowing time for late afternoon tea and cake.

Some basketry or woodwork experience would be useful.

All locally sourced ash and Somerset willow willow included.

Includes a wholesome lunch each day made by my sister Emily.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10am-4:30pm (may run later on Sunday)

The course will be held in a beautiful off-grid timber framed barn surrounded by woodland on the edge of Dartmoor.

Venue address: Ashburton Christmas Tree Farm, Newton Abbot TQ13 7EZ, Devon, Googlemaps.

Places to stay around Ashburton here

Adults only. 18+

Terms and Conditions.

Weekend courses require 4 weeks written notice (email) to cancel or reschedule and the course cost will be refunded. A £30 admin fee will be deducted from the full amount for each booking.  

Less than 4 weeks from the beginning of the course the booking is not refundable unless your place can be filled the original place is filled; in which case the full amount will refunded. a £30 admin fee will be deducted from the full amount for each booking.  

Please get in touch for more info 07816 899527