With this indoor activity participants will learn how to use locally sourced wild willow to make a decorative garden structure. They start by designing a bird before making a basic framework from recycled fencing wire. The technique of random weaving from willow will be developed to ‘flesh out’ the bird. Fine features can be randomly woven using split strappy leaves of the local plant lomandra longifolia or introduced flax. Willow is a declared weed that grows along the waterways in the Central Highlands. The Artist collects and uses this material to highlight and discuss the growth of willow in her local region.
Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Jodie Goldring, Willy Wagtail, willow, recycled fencing wire & rusted cord, 2020Jodie Goldring, Bird with Woven Fence, willow & recycled fencing wire, 2019
Flax Birds
Participants learn how to use natural plant fibre (flax) to create a bird from the imagination or using an image to inspire! They start with a simple framework of wire and slowly “flesh out” surfaces using the basketry technique known as interlacing or random weaving. The Artist provides a demonstration showing how to collect, split, dry and rehydrate flax in preparation for weaving.
Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Bird making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Small bird made with flax, workshop at Plant Craft Cottage run by Friends Royal Botanic Gardens (FRBGM) in November 2021Small bird made with flax, workshop at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in November 2021Small bird made with flax, workshop at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in November 2021Participants and their birds, workshop at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in November 2021Random weaving bird wings from flax at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in March 2023Bird weaving in progress at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in March 2023Bird weaving in progress at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in March 2023Bird weaving in progress at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in March 2023Participant and their bird, workshop at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in March 2023Participants and their birds, workshop at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM) in March 2023A participant sends a photo of her bird, post-workshop at Plant Craft Cottage (FRBGM), March 2023Jodie Goldring, Wren, flax, palm inflorescence, jute, handmade string with daffodil leaves & tie-wire, 2021Jodie Goldring, Bird on a Branch, jute, eucalyptus branch, raffia, & tie-wire, 2022Jodie Goldring, Green Bird, lomandra longifolia, embroidery thread & tie-wire, 2021Jodie Goldring, Flying Bird, flax, rusted cord & tie-wire, 2021
Willow Platypuses
With this indoor activity participants learn how to use locally sourced wild willow to make a decorative garden structure. They start by designing a platypus before making a basic framework from recycled fencing wire. The technique of random weaving from willow will be developed to ‘flesh out’ the platypus. Fine features (such as the webbed feet) can be woven using split strappy leaves of the local plant lomandra longifolia or introduced flax. Willow is a declared weed that grows along the waterways in the Central Highlands. The Artist collects and uses this material to highlight and discuss the growth of willow in her local region.
Platypus making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Platypus making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Platypus making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Platypus making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Platypus making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Platypus making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Platypus making workshop at Across the Arts Festival in Wangaratta in 2021Jodie Goldring, Swimming Platypus, willow & flax, 2021
Twined Fish
This activity is a fun way to introduce beginners to basketry techniques. Participants learn how to use natural materials to make a decorative fish using the traditional basketry technique of twining. Twining is the twisting of two strands of flexible material around stakes to create a tightly woven surface. To start, cordyline leaves are bunched together to create the tail. Weavers are twined around the cordyline stakes to create the body of the fish. The Artist provides a variety of strappy plant leaves to create interesting texture and colouration to each individual fish. Red hot poker, watsonia, irises, bulrushes and chasmanthe can be provided as well as information about how to collect, dry and prepare materials to use at home. Buttons, wire and fabric will be available to add details to finish.
Twined fish workshop at Friends of Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne in 2021Twined fish workshop at Friends of Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne in 2021Jodie Goldring, Swimming Fish, cordyline, red hot poker, buttons and waxed thread, 2020Jodie Goldring, Fish in Net, cordyline, red hot poker, buttons, recycled cotton and waxed thread, 2015
Birds cobbled together with a variety of materials
Participants are shown how to cobble together birds out of a variety of different grasses and other natural materials. They will be provided with some information about basketry techniques and materials but the main focus is enjoying the process of creative discovery! This quicker activity is great for the festival environment where people can drop in for an hour or two to make a bird and add it to an installation created over a weekend period. Or a more formal workshop can be delivered where participants spend 3 hours to develop more refined works.
Participant at Wild Weaving at the Railway Art Hub in Newstead, July 2021 Participant at Wild Weaving at the Railway Art Hub in Newstead, July 2021 Participant at Wild Weaving at the Railway Art Hub in Newstead, July 2021 Participant at Wild Weaving at the Railway Art Hub in Newstead, July 2021 Jodie with participant at Wild Weaving at the Railway Art Hub in Newstead, July 2021 Jodie with participants at Wild Weaving at the Railway Art Hub in Newstead, July 2021 Detail of the installation at Wild Weaving at the Railway Art Hub in Newstead, July 2021 A participant (Wild Weaving NAH in 2021) took her new skills home and created a couple more birds…well done Rochelle!Participant cobbling a bird for the inaugural Buninyong ARTpreneurs in October 2021Cobbled bird made at the inaugural Buninyong ARTpreneurs in October 2021 Cobbled Bird made by a participant at the Basketmakers of Victoria (BOV) annual Muster, January 2022Cobbled Bird made by a participant at the BOV annual Muster, January 2022Cobbled Bird made by a participant at the BOV annual Muster, January 2022Cobbled Bird made by a participant at the BOV annual Muster, January 2022Cobbled Bird made by a participant at the BOV annual Muster, January 2022Cobbled and randomly woven bird (in progress) at Central Craft for the Beanie Festival June 2023Cobbled and randomly woven galah (in progress) at Central Craft for the Beanie Festival June 2023Cobbled and randomly woven bird (in progress) at Central Craft for the Beanie Festival June 2023Finished cobbled and randomly woven bird at Central Craft for the Beanie Festival June 2023Participants and their birds at Central Craft for the Beanie Festival June 2023Participants and their birds at Central Craft for the Beanie Festival June 2023Jodie Goldring, Cobbled Bird, unknown plant fibre, copper wire and cotton thread, 2021Jodie Goldring, Cobbled Bird, hay dyed corn husks, copper wire and wool, 2021Jodie Goldring, cobbled and randomly woven bird, flax, dyed raffia, sisal & wire, 2023Jodie Goldring, cobbled and randomly woven bird, flax, dyed raffia, sisal & wire, 2023Jodie Goldring, cobbled and randomly woven bird, flax, dyed raffia, sisal & wire, 2023Jodie Goldring, cobbled and randomly woven bird, flax, dyed raffia, sisal & wire, 2023
Jodie Goldring 