Feeling Crafty
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Having a couple of dozen staves still available, I decided what we need, is 2 flower holders for infront of the windows.
I went on a “wild weaving day” last week not far from Gourin. Firstly we went foraging in the woods to pick stuff to weave with then went and sat in the shade of the trees and learnt to make a basket. Mine had willow, bramble, ivy and holly in it. It was a fantastic day, I would highly recommend it if you are interested in crafts.
Great effort WP. My family did it professionally (me for about ten years), employing about 20 people and I can tell you it’s physically a hard way to make a living. You should continue the craft, you seem to have the knack.
That’s praise indeed WP! And very well deserved I’d say, well done you!
Blimey that is praise indeed, I feel like I have been given a medal, thanks Pete! How wonderful that it was done professionally in your family and by you, I would never have imagined you doing something like that, a big lesson in never assuming anything! Do you miss it? I should imagine it was pretty hard work and a lot of effort for not much return, more a labour of love than anything? I really enjoyed it but think my fingers would fall off if I had to do it day in day out. I shall be picking bits out the hedgerow and trying for myself at some point but think I will struggle a bit doing it without a teacher next to me.
@gleaner love the flower boxes, get them filled up!!
I can’t even draw a straight line!
Well done all you arty crafty folk!
WP – It was the family firm and I started working there in my early teens for pocket money. I returned to the firm after spending many years at sea before moving permanently to France in the ’80s. It was the largest private company of it’s kind in the UK, probably Europe and served the fishing trade (trawlers etc) plus oodles of other domaines like theatrical hampers and hot-air balloons very much more. The company was founded in about 1840 and finished when my brother decided to retire about five years ago tho’ he still works on his own for some extra cash. The majority of the workforce worked on ‘peace-work’ so the more they made the more they earned and that was hard work, believe me. I made various types of baskets but spent most of my time either in the office or the finishing-off dept, or in the willow fields harvesting and processing the willow & osier etc. A lot of the cane was imported from Malaysia.
That is so interesting Pete, what a piece of history to have been involved in. I have to say that I will be looking at basket work with much greater respect from now on, anything that is created by hand has taken a lot of time, effort and care. Were the willow fields in the UK? The lady that taught us was talking about cane and how expensive it is but then of course it is being imported. That was the thing I really liked about using the brambles, a very sustainable resource. Just need to work out if we can use Stinky’s @stinky bindweed to weave things!
Well I alway say everyone is good at something! What a lot of talent! Fruits could have a cake shop in her spare time! ( I can hear her splutter from here!) WP and Pete could have the French Basket Company, Gleaner has all his wooden delights from the barrels. Koat with her wines assisted by Spike! Actually there is enough talents to fill a Craft Centre when you think of it! I bet there is loads more out there too, knitting, crochet, jam making etc!
Your very fascinating story Pete took me back to our Norfolk holidays when a trip to Hovells in Norwich was always a must, just loved the smell in that shop and it’s creaky floorboards.
We used to supply Hovells f/c, they were just down the road from us. We also supplied stores in London and overseas though most of the products were more ‘industrial’ and heavy duty. We produced quite a varied mix of things when I think about it.
Corks- I too missed this post and wow how fantastic it is. Just love the photos and hearing from you
BRILLIANT- well done
Regards
We probably bought one of your baskets Pete! We never came out of there without something. They tragically had a big fire didn’t they? Must have gone up like a tinderbox the amount of stuff that was in there – such a shame!
Hovells closed down in 2012 after 150 years !
There’s a good display of the fishing baskets produced in the Time and Tide museum in Gt Yarmouth. The museum was created a few years back and uses an old herring curing premises near the docks. Well worth a visit if you like local history etc. Some of the museum is dedicated to the allied fishing trades like basketmakers, coopers and net makers etc.
Here’s my dad with the Queen Mother in the ’50s (at the Royal Norfolk Show)
The small open weave basket on the left on the table is a frame which was put inside the busby hats of guardsmen to keep them erect (the hats, not the men !)
Oh, what a wonderful souvenir for you to have of your dad Pete! A very proud day for him. I’d heard about those frames for the busbies but hadn’t seen one, isn’t it a shame that a lot of these crafts are in decline now?
Hovells closing after 150 years? Wow! that’s amazing isn’t it? I doubt that the shop was ever quite the same after the fire, it must have lost some of its character.
I always wondered if the fire was an ‘accident’…….
Really interesting history Pete, and love your precious photograph of your Dad with the baskets and The Queen Mother.
Was there any doubt about the fire then Pete, or just your wonderings?
The museum you say has parts dedicated to allied fishing trades, some of those that you mentioned must still exist, like net and basket makers but probably only a dedicated few, such a shame that a lot of skills will eventually not exist anymore and will only be seen in museums such as that you have shown us.
Just remembered this! I made a serving tray whilst in Mrs Moxon’s class, 4X, in 1961. This photo was taken probably 10 years ago. It is still going strong in Selby at 57 years of age!
Was there any doubt about the fire then Pete, or just your wonderings? The museum you say has parts dedicated to allied fishing trades, some of those that you mentioned must still exist, like net and basket makers but probably only a dedicated few, such a shame that a lot of skills will eventually not exist anymore and will only be seen in museums such as that you have shown us.
Just my idea f/c but a view shared by many…..
None of the trades for local usages ie basketmaking, net-making and coopering (barrel making) stopped in the town in the 60 when the fishing industry in the area was replaced by oil and gas exploration. The fishing trade continued in other ports around the UK (Aberdeen, Grimsby etc) however though to much leser degree than the halcyon years.
I occasionally feel crafty , and do a bit on my long-time project ( I started it about 15 months ago ) . I am building it from scratch. Here’s a photo of one piece , so , what is it ?
Well done all you arty crafty folk!
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