August 2013 newsletter

Hello all,

Seems like it’s been a while since I last sent out one of my newsletters, and what a lot has happened this beautiful summer! July’s Open Studios was a great success, and I will definitely be doing it again next year. Thank you to all those who made it out to see the studio (in spite of the very interesting tennis the firstweekend), and of course thanks too for all the lovely feedback about my new work.

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Open studios also turned out to be a great incentive to finish off a few willowy features round the garden, as well as …… finally getting the pool looking like a pond! So, for those of you coming on courses in the near future, be prepared for a pleasant surprise outside the workshop and quite a few new willow features to look at round the garden. Big thanks to all the people who having seen our pond looking nearly lovely have so very generously helped us out with plants from their own ponds. Now, just a few weeks later, the water is clear, lilies are blooming and it is already teaming with wildlife - I’m very excited to have real dragonflies as well as willow ones! And speaking of willow dragonflies there are still places left on the plant supports and natural forms garden sculpture course next Wednesday (21st August) where you will have the opportunity to make your own, as well as large flowers, plant supports or sculpture based on the plant support type structure.

  

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Though I could write for hours on the other interesting things I’ve been up to recently, including an amazing women’s eco-build retreat in Pembrokeshire and a great day with photographer Nick Fleming (who photographed me for his craftsmanship project) I’ll go now and leave you with the workshop dates for the rest of this year.

Have a fabulous rest of the summer,
And hope to see many of you again very soon,
Warm wishes,
Debbie

WORKSHOP DATES

Wednesday 21st August - plant supports and natural forms garden sculpture

Saturday 31st August - Oval Handbag Baskets – sorry, fully booked

Wednesday 11th September - Berry pickers / small round baskets

Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd September - Weekend Oval Handbags (teaching for the Basketmakers Association) - sorry, fully booked

Wednesday 25th September (evening workshop) - platters

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th October - Ickworth Wood Fair

Monday 7th October - Getting to grips with rod borders / small lanterns

Wednesday 23rd & Thursday 24th October - 2 day stake and strand basket workshop

Sunday 27th October - Bird lovers workshop

Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November (date to be confirmed - alternative date likely to be 23rd & 24th November) - 2 day stake and strand basket workshop – Please see 23rd and 24th October above for full description of course

Thursday 21st November - Evening workshop – bark bangles – fun with the Turks Head Knot

Saturday 30th November - Christmas decorations