Jodie Goldring

On Sunday (Sep 18), I was at the Newstead Arts Hub with a small group who explored plants that can be used in basketry. I started the day by showing my baskets and talking about the plant fibres that were used to make each one and more importantly why they were used. We then went for a walk around Newstead and viewed relevant plants growing in local gardens. When the rained started, we made our way back to the Hub for a cuppa and string making demonstration. String making is a great way to get a feel for the inherent character of plant fibre. I provided dampened jonquil, red hot poker and chasmanthe leaves for the group to make string, so that comparisons could be made. After lunch I showed how to prepare, dry, store and rehydrate plant fibre for basketry. Towards the end of the day the group used happy wanderer (hardenbergia) to random weave a nest that was then lined with softer materials to finish. I have wanted to run this workshop for a long time as many beginner basketmakers express lack of confidence collecting natural plant fibre.